Dear Friends,
Hope that all of you had a great Memorial Day weekend and Memorial Day.
My day started with me going off to Lee to install a couple of air conditioners for dear old dad, a cutting of his postage stamp size grass, and the putting up of an American and Irish Flag. Dad was in good spirits, and he told me that he did join the Senior Center in Pittsfield. My sister and I hope that he takes advantage of what the Center has to offer each day of the week.
When we came home, Linda and I packed up the Potato Salad and the Crab Dip, and headed off to a Memorial Day picnic. The picnic was wonderful. There was much food, fun, and merriment from 2 PM until a little after 8 PM. One of the guests wanted to take a dip in the pool, but our hosts don't have one. The appetizers were some dips, homemade pork ribs, and a stuffed pastry which contain caramelized Vadalia Onions and feta cheese. The pastry was topped with a slice of prescuitto. The main meal consisted of grilled beef tenderloin, sausage, hotdogs, potato salad, and a green salad with several ingredients from one of the guests' garden. The hostess made strawberry short cake. She made her own biscuits and whipped cream too. These hosts really know how to throw a party!
One couple didn't eat any of the appetizers, and left before the main meal was served. I hope that it wasn't something I said. I did tell them that I was a Liberal Democrat. The husband of this couple fell asleep while we were munching on appetizers. He must have gotten bored with my conversation. To be fair, this couple partied until midnight the night before with their son and daughter-in-law. This couple is in the 50 year old range. They did admit that they very seldom stay up until midnight. They couldn't keep up with the 20 something's, and who really can except for a few us baby boomers.
My Ohio relatives and friends must be in a State of shock with all the bad press that the Ohio State football has been getting. Their Mr. Nice guy football coach has resigned. Ohio State is facing all kinds of NCAA violations and sanctions. One of their star players, who was suspended for 5 games last year for selling memorabilia, is being investigated again because he allegedly received cars too! My Ohio relatives are the ones who had me take them off of my daily blog because I beat up on the "Tea Party" too many days in a row. I had wished that they would just "give it" back to me by responding on my blog. When my conservative friends don't like what I say, there aren't afraid to respond.
Albert --> My weight loss program failed at the picnic. There might have been some artery clogging taking place during the picnic. Some red wine will open those arteries today.
Speaking of today, Linda has two fun activities. She has her usual Tuesday Mah Jongg Session at a friend's house, and then this evening she has her once a month BONCO night. Next month Linda will be hosting BONCO. If I am home on that night, I will be hiding in my Man Cave.
For me, I have a totally free day. I would be playing golf, but there is a Massachusetts State Amateur Qualifying round at Berkshire Hills Country Club. These are the golfers who shoot 30 to 40 strokes better than I do. I might go and watch some local golfers. I could possibly pick up a few helpful hints to help my pathetic golf game. Before I leave the house, I have to water all the flowers. When we pulled into the driveway last night, the hanging baskets on either side of our garage needed artificial respiration. Linda only likes the selection and planting part of all the flowers which we purchased. My job is to keep them alive throughout the summer.
CNN -- If you protest in Egypt, and you are a woman, and you are arrested, you are going to get a "Virginity Test". An Egyptian general did admit that this was done during one of the protests. Do you think that this country might want to adopt a more democratic style type of government? Women are treated like second class citizens in this part of the world! Do we as American believe that we can reach an agreement with people who violate their own people?
Another high level official got himself in trouble trying to assault a house keeper in a Manhattan Hotel. I guess this violation must happen more often that we think.
While at the picnic last evening, a friend asked Linda and me if we wanted to go camping with her and her husband during the summer. Linda said that she likes the camping atmosphere, but her sleeping on the ground days have just about come to an end. Air conditioned rooms with a shower and bathroom would be what she would be leaning towards. We do have the camping gear, and the tent, the grill, etc. We have the blow up mattress too. Our roughing it days might be over. We will visit the campsite for cookouts which are always fun. Port-a-Potties when you wake up in the morning or during the middle of the night were fine when we were younger. Maybe I will work on Linda, and we will try camping at least one time this summer.
Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and water the flowers before the heat and humidity arrives.
Have a great week at work or play.
We don't have a totally free day on our social calendar for the rest of the week including the weekend. Life is too short! Life is Good! Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Hello on Friday
Dear Friends,
It was a slug day for me on Thursday. I was able to watch the Red sox win another one. I did bond with Linda while doing a couple errands until we came home and had lunch. I parked my butt on the couch in front of the television while she went off to do a little recreational shopping.
She came home in time to whip up a crab dip for evening gathering with her girlfriends who are finalizing plans for their annual Cape Cod trip. Since I didn't have sports to watch, I hit the "list" button and watched previously recorded programs which I like to watch.
My lack of doing much physical labor on Thursday was an attempt to conserve my energy for today because I won't have time to take a nap. I will be going from a round of golf with my senior buddies to the ITAM for another one of those pasta fundraisers. Linda has a busy day also. She starts off with her once a month Pittsfield High School retiree breakfast, then on to a mid morning body maintenance appointment. She then ends the day with a matinee at the Beacon Cinema, and supper with some girlfriends.
We did get some rain in the Berkshires last night, but we didn't lose power like some western New York areas. There were no tornadoes in our area.
Our Super Mom daughter-in-law from Kansas gathered up her one year old, and her three year old, and went off to the MCI airport in Kansas. They were all set to get on an airplane to see our son who is currently in Tucson, Arizona. Well, things didn't go as planned. The airplane which they were supposed to depart on experienced hail damage, and the flight was cancelled. She was told that the earliest that they could get them out was on Saturday morning. I don't know what she did when she got this bad news.
We did get invited to a cookout on Memorial Day. Linda offered to bring a potato salad. I think she makes a pretty good one. I have had so many of them that each person has a little twist which makes each one unique. She also will be taking some of her crab dip which is always a big hit. I can't wait for the cookout!
We lost another 7 soldiers in Afghanistan. Could some one convince me that we should be there fighting a war? We are going to a send off party next weekend for a guy who will be deployed to a war zone. Our son will be shipped off to a war zone shortly after he gets his family moved to Southern Georgia. My radio talk show host friend thinks that all of us in the United States should write letters to our legislators, and begin protests like they did for when the Vietnam War was taking place. The Radio talk show host is a disabled Vietnam Vet, and he has the physical and psychological scars to prove it. There was a Vietnam Vet at the political fundraiser which I attended the other night. His body his so mangled from the ravages of war that he took 15 minutes to walk from a table at the Italian American Club to his car. I offered help, but he and his wife declined my offer. It took so much effort for this friend to take just one step at a time. He was trying to walk with a cane, but he looked like it is time for him to be in a wheel chair.
I see where they extended the Patriot Act. I believe that this was a good move since we have so many violent and crazy people in the United States and in the World. If you live by the rules in the United States, I see nothing to fear.
My Red Sox did win a rain shortened game in Detroit. They scored 14 runs for a second day in a row. When my day ends, I have the Red Sox and the Boston Bruins game to keep me entertained.
Well, I have to read the local newspaper and load up my car with golfing gear, and food preparation gear. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It was a slug day for me on Thursday. I was able to watch the Red sox win another one. I did bond with Linda while doing a couple errands until we came home and had lunch. I parked my butt on the couch in front of the television while she went off to do a little recreational shopping.
She came home in time to whip up a crab dip for evening gathering with her girlfriends who are finalizing plans for their annual Cape Cod trip. Since I didn't have sports to watch, I hit the "list" button and watched previously recorded programs which I like to watch.
My lack of doing much physical labor on Thursday was an attempt to conserve my energy for today because I won't have time to take a nap. I will be going from a round of golf with my senior buddies to the ITAM for another one of those pasta fundraisers. Linda has a busy day also. She starts off with her once a month Pittsfield High School retiree breakfast, then on to a mid morning body maintenance appointment. She then ends the day with a matinee at the Beacon Cinema, and supper with some girlfriends.
We did get some rain in the Berkshires last night, but we didn't lose power like some western New York areas. There were no tornadoes in our area.
Our Super Mom daughter-in-law from Kansas gathered up her one year old, and her three year old, and went off to the MCI airport in Kansas. They were all set to get on an airplane to see our son who is currently in Tucson, Arizona. Well, things didn't go as planned. The airplane which they were supposed to depart on experienced hail damage, and the flight was cancelled. She was told that the earliest that they could get them out was on Saturday morning. I don't know what she did when she got this bad news.
We did get invited to a cookout on Memorial Day. Linda offered to bring a potato salad. I think she makes a pretty good one. I have had so many of them that each person has a little twist which makes each one unique. She also will be taking some of her crab dip which is always a big hit. I can't wait for the cookout!
We lost another 7 soldiers in Afghanistan. Could some one convince me that we should be there fighting a war? We are going to a send off party next weekend for a guy who will be deployed to a war zone. Our son will be shipped off to a war zone shortly after he gets his family moved to Southern Georgia. My radio talk show host friend thinks that all of us in the United States should write letters to our legislators, and begin protests like they did for when the Vietnam War was taking place. The Radio talk show host is a disabled Vietnam Vet, and he has the physical and psychological scars to prove it. There was a Vietnam Vet at the political fundraiser which I attended the other night. His body his so mangled from the ravages of war that he took 15 minutes to walk from a table at the Italian American Club to his car. I offered help, but he and his wife declined my offer. It took so much effort for this friend to take just one step at a time. He was trying to walk with a cane, but he looked like it is time for him to be in a wheel chair.
I see where they extended the Patriot Act. I believe that this was a good move since we have so many violent and crazy people in the United States and in the World. If you live by the rules in the United States, I see nothing to fear.
My Red Sox did win a rain shortened game in Detroit. They scored 14 runs for a second day in a row. When my day ends, I have the Red Sox and the Boston Bruins game to keep me entertained.
Well, I have to read the local newspaper and load up my car with golfing gear, and food preparation gear. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Linda and I had another pleasant day on Tuesday.
I left the house first to deal with some golf committee stuff for our August UNICO golf tournament. I then met dear old mom at the Medical Arts Complex for her cardiologist appointment. She was taken to and from the nursing home by the Berkshire County Cabulance service. Mom's pacemaker and heart were doing fine. The appointment lasted no more than 10 minutes. Her hearing aide wasn't working like it should. My sister is always replacing batteries, and dealing with ear wax in the device. Oh Darn!
I didn't talk with my sister, but I would imagine that my dad's checkup in Springfield also went well.
I ate lunch with the Mah Jongg ladies when I arrive home. When they finished lunch, and starting playing the games, I took an afternoon nap. I did so because I wanted to stay up and watch the Red Sox in my Man Caver. Linda was watching the finales of many of her favorite programs.
I actually did watch the Oprah farewell which comes to an end today. Whether you like or dislike Oprah, she has had a powerful influence on millions of people during her 25 year reign as a talk show host. She launched the careers of many famous people like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, etc. Some of themed programs have saved the lives of some many people especially when she dealt with subjects like losing a child, cheating during a marriage, suicide prevention, etc. The list of important topics is endless. My thought was that too bad that she didn't get married and have her own children. She does have a man in her life, and she does have her dogs, but the experience of having children, like some of us who were fortunate to have, is and continues to be priceless.
Linda was telling me about one of her favorite programs "Dancing with the Stars". The winner was a football player named, Hines Ward. Linda said that she might even become a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers because he was so nice and such a talented dancer. I say not in my house! The Steelers are one of the teams that the Patriots have to beat each year to make it to the Super Bowl. I will have no one in my house waving those yellow flags during a Patriot game. Yellow and Black are the Steelers' colors.
I was thinking about the media, and how they report the news. Japan is still dealing with their broken nuclear reactors as well as rebuilding their country, but you haven't heard much about that lately. Sarah Palin has been on the back burner. The Tea Party seldom gets brought up. A democrat actually won an election yesterday which wouldn't have happened a few months ago. The tornadoes and the death and destruction they have caused have been front page news. The ash cloud going across Europe is also dominating the news. Our soldiers being killed each day has been put on the back burner until they show a funeral of a home town hero who has lost his or her life.
Speaking of tornadoes, our daughter-in-law from Leavenworth, Kansas called and chatted with Linda last night for over 30 minutes. The sirens did go off the other night in their area. Danielle had to gather up her one year old son and three year old daughter, and go to the part of the house which was designed for when tornadoes are possibly going to strike. During a visit, I saw this area in their house, and I thought that it was an extra storage area or a great place to hide when you are playing "Hide and Seek" with the children. Not!
As mentioned before, our military son hasn't been home since April 6, 2011 due to some training. Super mom, Danielle, has been functioning on her own. She told Linda that she even had a bout of pneumonia while trying to take care of their children. Oh Darn! The plan right now is for Mike to come home some time in June as the movers are packing up their possessions, and then drive one of their two cars from Kansas to Valdosta, Georgia. He has to be back for a graduation ceremony in Arizona around the 18th of June. He then gets his family settled in Georgia after the graduation. After a short couple of weeks together, our Lt. Colonel son gets shipped off to a war zone for several months. Like I always say, every one of us Americans should thank our past and present military people for keeping America the land of the free.
Social Calendar -- I have an 8:30 AM dentist 6 month check up which I am not looking forward to. Linda has her knitting gathering at Panera Bread this evening at 6 PM. I have golf committee meeting at the Italian American Club at 6 PM. After my meeting, I go upstairs into the main hall of the Italian American Club for a political fundraiser for our Ward Councilor, Paul Capitanio. Monday and Tuesday were the only two days this week when we fortunate to stay home and have supper together. Sunday is our next free day on our social calendar.
Weather -- Today is the first day that we don't have the word "rain" in the forecast. Two days of total sunshine won't happen until next week. Oh Darn!
Sports -- My Red Sox did win last evening. The Red Sox have a noon time game. The Boston Bruins do battle this evening in Tampa Bay. I will hopefully be able to watch the last two periods of this game.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I had another pleasant day on Tuesday.
I left the house first to deal with some golf committee stuff for our August UNICO golf tournament. I then met dear old mom at the Medical Arts Complex for her cardiologist appointment. She was taken to and from the nursing home by the Berkshire County Cabulance service. Mom's pacemaker and heart were doing fine. The appointment lasted no more than 10 minutes. Her hearing aide wasn't working like it should. My sister is always replacing batteries, and dealing with ear wax in the device. Oh Darn!
I didn't talk with my sister, but I would imagine that my dad's checkup in Springfield also went well.
I ate lunch with the Mah Jongg ladies when I arrive home. When they finished lunch, and starting playing the games, I took an afternoon nap. I did so because I wanted to stay up and watch the Red Sox in my Man Caver. Linda was watching the finales of many of her favorite programs.
I actually did watch the Oprah farewell which comes to an end today. Whether you like or dislike Oprah, she has had a powerful influence on millions of people during her 25 year reign as a talk show host. She launched the careers of many famous people like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, etc. Some of themed programs have saved the lives of some many people especially when she dealt with subjects like losing a child, cheating during a marriage, suicide prevention, etc. The list of important topics is endless. My thought was that too bad that she didn't get married and have her own children. She does have a man in her life, and she does have her dogs, but the experience of having children, like some of us who were fortunate to have, is and continues to be priceless.
Linda was telling me about one of her favorite programs "Dancing with the Stars". The winner was a football player named, Hines Ward. Linda said that she might even become a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers because he was so nice and such a talented dancer. I say not in my house! The Steelers are one of the teams that the Patriots have to beat each year to make it to the Super Bowl. I will have no one in my house waving those yellow flags during a Patriot game. Yellow and Black are the Steelers' colors.
I was thinking about the media, and how they report the news. Japan is still dealing with their broken nuclear reactors as well as rebuilding their country, but you haven't heard much about that lately. Sarah Palin has been on the back burner. The Tea Party seldom gets brought up. A democrat actually won an election yesterday which wouldn't have happened a few months ago. The tornadoes and the death and destruction they have caused have been front page news. The ash cloud going across Europe is also dominating the news. Our soldiers being killed each day has been put on the back burner until they show a funeral of a home town hero who has lost his or her life.
Speaking of tornadoes, our daughter-in-law from Leavenworth, Kansas called and chatted with Linda last night for over 30 minutes. The sirens did go off the other night in their area. Danielle had to gather up her one year old son and three year old daughter, and go to the part of the house which was designed for when tornadoes are possibly going to strike. During a visit, I saw this area in their house, and I thought that it was an extra storage area or a great place to hide when you are playing "Hide and Seek" with the children. Not!
As mentioned before, our military son hasn't been home since April 6, 2011 due to some training. Super mom, Danielle, has been functioning on her own. She told Linda that she even had a bout of pneumonia while trying to take care of their children. Oh Darn! The plan right now is for Mike to come home some time in June as the movers are packing up their possessions, and then drive one of their two cars from Kansas to Valdosta, Georgia. He has to be back for a graduation ceremony in Arizona around the 18th of June. He then gets his family settled in Georgia after the graduation. After a short couple of weeks together, our Lt. Colonel son gets shipped off to a war zone for several months. Like I always say, every one of us Americans should thank our past and present military people for keeping America the land of the free.
Social Calendar -- I have an 8:30 AM dentist 6 month check up which I am not looking forward to. Linda has her knitting gathering at Panera Bread this evening at 6 PM. I have golf committee meeting at the Italian American Club at 6 PM. After my meeting, I go upstairs into the main hall of the Italian American Club for a political fundraiser for our Ward Councilor, Paul Capitanio. Monday and Tuesday were the only two days this week when we fortunate to stay home and have supper together. Sunday is our next free day on our social calendar.
Weather -- Today is the first day that we don't have the word "rain" in the forecast. Two days of total sunshine won't happen until next week. Oh Darn!
Sports -- My Red Sox did win last evening. The Red Sox have a noon time game. The Boston Bruins do battle this evening in Tampa Bay. I will hopefully be able to watch the last two periods of this game.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hello on Monday
Dear Friends,
Our Sunday went as planned. Linda even weaved in some recreational shopping at Macy's. She and a couple girlfriends had some coupons which were about to expire. These coupons were just burning holes in their pocket books.
Our "Cookin" at a friend's home went very well. I always like attending parties because I often meet some interesting people. In his younger days, one of the guests at the party worked as one of those guards at Buckingham Palace in England. Yes, he dressed up that regalia which many of you had seen during the recent Royal Wedding. He told some interesting stories of the Queen and what she was really like, and what kind of beverages she preferred, how she treated people like the guards, etc.
The food at the party was great from the appetizers through the homemade dessert. The host did grill the shrimp, and beef on his grill, but we sat around the dinning room table because it was quite chilly outside.
We did come home in time so that I could watch the last few innings of the Boston Red Sox game. The Sox did win their game, but the other top two teams in their division were victorious also. The Sox move on to Cleveland which happens to have the best win / loss record in baseball so far.
President Obama is going off to Ireland, and he will be stopping in Moneygall, the town where his Irish ancestors came from. The town has a little over 300 people, and they can't wait for the Presidential visit.
The Boston Globe Magazine had an article on the best places to live in Massachusetts, the best places for outdoor activities, etc. Pittsfield came in second for the best place for "Art Omnivores." Pittsfield has become quite a Cultural Mecca for the Arts. Our outgoing Mayor had a lot to do with these changes.
There was also an article in the Sunday newspapers that said the wealthy segment of our population are spending a great deal of their money on Luxury items, while the middle class is trying to survive, and make ends meet.
Did you also see where a company called Fortune Brands is selling Titleist and the rest of the golf unit for 1.2 Billion to a group of Korean investors? For my non sport fans, Titleist is the golf ball most used by the professional golfers. I play the hard as rock Top Flite golf balls which are much cheaper than the Titleist golf balls.
Also, a cycling teammate of Lance Armstrong who was interviewed on 60 Minutes, said that that Lance encouraged doping among all the cyclists. It sound like the cycling world will soon be in turmoil like the steroid issue among baseball players. Will athletes do anything to get a winning edge?
Oprah Winfrey's last show on national television comes to an end on Wednesday. Some of the faithful fans of hers are already seeking psychological help.
Social Calendar -- I have a bunch of errands to do, one of which is related to the August 10, 2011 UNICO Golf Tournament. Linda is supposed to play golf at 3:30 PM with several female friends. From 1 PM until midnight, there is the possibility of thunderstorms. The temperature will be in the lower 60's. Golf is supposed to be played under better conditions. She might skip golf today. How about attending a chick flick with some girlfriends? The Boston Bruins play this evening at 8 PM so you know what I will be doing.
Have a great week at work or play!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our Sunday went as planned. Linda even weaved in some recreational shopping at Macy's. She and a couple girlfriends had some coupons which were about to expire. These coupons were just burning holes in their pocket books.
Our "Cookin" at a friend's home went very well. I always like attending parties because I often meet some interesting people. In his younger days, one of the guests at the party worked as one of those guards at Buckingham Palace in England. Yes, he dressed up that regalia which many of you had seen during the recent Royal Wedding. He told some interesting stories of the Queen and what she was really like, and what kind of beverages she preferred, how she treated people like the guards, etc.
The food at the party was great from the appetizers through the homemade dessert. The host did grill the shrimp, and beef on his grill, but we sat around the dinning room table because it was quite chilly outside.
We did come home in time so that I could watch the last few innings of the Boston Red Sox game. The Sox did win their game, but the other top two teams in their division were victorious also. The Sox move on to Cleveland which happens to have the best win / loss record in baseball so far.
President Obama is going off to Ireland, and he will be stopping in Moneygall, the town where his Irish ancestors came from. The town has a little over 300 people, and they can't wait for the Presidential visit.
The Boston Globe Magazine had an article on the best places to live in Massachusetts, the best places for outdoor activities, etc. Pittsfield came in second for the best place for "Art Omnivores." Pittsfield has become quite a Cultural Mecca for the Arts. Our outgoing Mayor had a lot to do with these changes.
There was also an article in the Sunday newspapers that said the wealthy segment of our population are spending a great deal of their money on Luxury items, while the middle class is trying to survive, and make ends meet.
Did you also see where a company called Fortune Brands is selling Titleist and the rest of the golf unit for 1.2 Billion to a group of Korean investors? For my non sport fans, Titleist is the golf ball most used by the professional golfers. I play the hard as rock Top Flite golf balls which are much cheaper than the Titleist golf balls.
Also, a cycling teammate of Lance Armstrong who was interviewed on 60 Minutes, said that that Lance encouraged doping among all the cyclists. It sound like the cycling world will soon be in turmoil like the steroid issue among baseball players. Will athletes do anything to get a winning edge?
Oprah Winfrey's last show on national television comes to an end on Wednesday. Some of the faithful fans of hers are already seeking psychological help.
Social Calendar -- I have a bunch of errands to do, one of which is related to the August 10, 2011 UNICO Golf Tournament. Linda is supposed to play golf at 3:30 PM with several female friends. From 1 PM until midnight, there is the possibility of thunderstorms. The temperature will be in the lower 60's. Golf is supposed to be played under better conditions. She might skip golf today. How about attending a chick flick with some girlfriends? The Boston Bruins play this evening at 8 PM so you know what I will be doing.
Have a great week at work or play!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Hello on Sunday
Dear Friends,
Everything is back normal in our house. I was the first one up on Saturday morning. I couldn't believe it when Linda comes downstairs at 7:30 AM and says : "Let's go to the farmer's market!"
We headed off the the parking lot of the Berkshire Mall where the Farmer's Market is now being held. After a short perusal of what they had to offer, Linda decided that the prices were too high for all the flowers which we wanted to purchase. We left the Mall, and went to Home Depot, Walmart, Price Chopper in Pittsfield, Stop & Shop on Merrill Road, Stop and Shop on Dan Fox drive, Price chopper in Lenox, and finally Burgner's on Dalton Division Road. My role in the whole adventure was to lift heavy bags of Miracle Grow Potting soil, and load flowers in my car so that they would not be crushed.
I chatted with one lady in Walmart who saw me with a cart full of treasures as I was resting on a stool by the check out. She told me that she leaves her husband home when she decides to go plant shopping. There is no way that this frail woman could have lifted up those 2.5 cubic feet of potting soil.
When we arrived home Linda placed the flowers in barrels and flower beds where she thought that they would look the best. I thought that this was the end of manual labor for the day. Not! She put on gardening gloves, gathered her favorite gardening tools, and got right to work planting the flowers. She was like a possessed woman. My role was to be at her beck and call to get her potting soil, throw away the containers which flowers come in, etc. She filled 6 barrels of flowers, planted two perennials in one of our multiple flower beds, and two flower containers under the windows of our storage shed. We still have the planters on the deck to take care of, but that can't happen until the deck staining project is over. We also have some flower pots which will go on the deck to be filled, but at least we made a little dent in the flower planting on Saturday.
Linda was one aching buckaroo when we decided to end the flower planting.
I am really going to try and be quiet today so that she can sleep as long as she wants. I am so hoping that the telephone doesn't ring until after 10 AM.
Linda had fun at the local Dancing with the Stars Hospice Fundraiser which took place at the Country Club of Pittsfield. She said the food wonderful from the appetizers through to dessert.
I was home alone, but it was okay because I finished savoring a book, and I had a chance to relax.
Sports -- I didn't go to bed a happy sports' fan because both the Boston Bruins, and the Red Sox lost their respective contests. If the Red Sox had won their game, they would have been in first place in their division.
Weather -- We are in for a mostly cloudy day for this Sunday. The long term forecast for this coming week has a chance of rain in the forecast right through this coming weekend. I am hoping that the rain holds off each day until the evening.
Social Calendar -- We do not have a free day today. We are off to a supper time cookout at a friend's home. I am hoping that the cookout doesn't become a cook in.
Every day next week through Saturday, either one of us or both of us are booked into some activity. Some days we have more than one function booked in.
I did forget to mention that Linda got a clean bill of health from the Wound Clinic when she went to her Friday afternoon appointment. The VNA had signed off on her earlier in the week. She is now free to return to her normal activities. It will be so nice to not have to work our social calendar around bandage changing by the VNA, and appointments at the Would Clinic.
News / Politics - Women in the United States think that they have a difficult time competing and working with men, but how about the Saudi women who had pictures taken of her driving a car in Saudia Arabia. She was detained by the authorities because it is illegal for women to drive cars in at country. That is repression at it's finest!
The deadly bombings continue in Baghdad, and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan the bombings took place in a hospital. How sick is that?
The alleged new Al Qaeda leader also is criticizing NATO's role in the Arab world.
An Irish town in Moneygal, Ireland claims to be the place where President Obama has Irish roots. The town council even spent a few dollars to spruce up the little town where the President's ancestors came from. The people of the village are hoping that our President stops into the town on one of his world wide tours.
One day people like Donald Trump is calling for the President's birth certificate, and now we find out that President Obama has Irish roots.
Maybe we should invite the President to the August 7, 2011 Pittsfield Ethnic Fair and he can hang out at the Irish Sister City Booth, and the Irish American Club booth. The Irish American Club President Kevin Cahill might even let him pull a pint of Guinness. He can even cook a few Irish Bangers at the Irish Sister Committee's booth. He will want the recipes for our Irish Whiskey Cake, and my Irish Soda Bread for sure.
Well, I have to read the Sunday newspapers!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Everything is back normal in our house. I was the first one up on Saturday morning. I couldn't believe it when Linda comes downstairs at 7:30 AM and says : "Let's go to the farmer's market!"
We headed off the the parking lot of the Berkshire Mall where the Farmer's Market is now being held. After a short perusal of what they had to offer, Linda decided that the prices were too high for all the flowers which we wanted to purchase. We left the Mall, and went to Home Depot, Walmart, Price Chopper in Pittsfield, Stop & Shop on Merrill Road, Stop and Shop on Dan Fox drive, Price chopper in Lenox, and finally Burgner's on Dalton Division Road. My role in the whole adventure was to lift heavy bags of Miracle Grow Potting soil, and load flowers in my car so that they would not be crushed.
I chatted with one lady in Walmart who saw me with a cart full of treasures as I was resting on a stool by the check out. She told me that she leaves her husband home when she decides to go plant shopping. There is no way that this frail woman could have lifted up those 2.5 cubic feet of potting soil.
When we arrived home Linda placed the flowers in barrels and flower beds where she thought that they would look the best. I thought that this was the end of manual labor for the day. Not! She put on gardening gloves, gathered her favorite gardening tools, and got right to work planting the flowers. She was like a possessed woman. My role was to be at her beck and call to get her potting soil, throw away the containers which flowers come in, etc. She filled 6 barrels of flowers, planted two perennials in one of our multiple flower beds, and two flower containers under the windows of our storage shed. We still have the planters on the deck to take care of, but that can't happen until the deck staining project is over. We also have some flower pots which will go on the deck to be filled, but at least we made a little dent in the flower planting on Saturday.
Linda was one aching buckaroo when we decided to end the flower planting.
I am really going to try and be quiet today so that she can sleep as long as she wants. I am so hoping that the telephone doesn't ring until after 10 AM.
Linda had fun at the local Dancing with the Stars Hospice Fundraiser which took place at the Country Club of Pittsfield. She said the food wonderful from the appetizers through to dessert.
I was home alone, but it was okay because I finished savoring a book, and I had a chance to relax.
Sports -- I didn't go to bed a happy sports' fan because both the Boston Bruins, and the Red Sox lost their respective contests. If the Red Sox had won their game, they would have been in first place in their division.
Weather -- We are in for a mostly cloudy day for this Sunday. The long term forecast for this coming week has a chance of rain in the forecast right through this coming weekend. I am hoping that the rain holds off each day until the evening.
Social Calendar -- We do not have a free day today. We are off to a supper time cookout at a friend's home. I am hoping that the cookout doesn't become a cook in.
Every day next week through Saturday, either one of us or both of us are booked into some activity. Some days we have more than one function booked in.
I did forget to mention that Linda got a clean bill of health from the Wound Clinic when she went to her Friday afternoon appointment. The VNA had signed off on her earlier in the week. She is now free to return to her normal activities. It will be so nice to not have to work our social calendar around bandage changing by the VNA, and appointments at the Would Clinic.
News / Politics - Women in the United States think that they have a difficult time competing and working with men, but how about the Saudi women who had pictures taken of her driving a car in Saudia Arabia. She was detained by the authorities because it is illegal for women to drive cars in at country. That is repression at it's finest!
The deadly bombings continue in Baghdad, and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan the bombings took place in a hospital. How sick is that?
The alleged new Al Qaeda leader also is criticizing NATO's role in the Arab world.
An Irish town in Moneygal, Ireland claims to be the place where President Obama has Irish roots. The town council even spent a few dollars to spruce up the little town where the President's ancestors came from. The people of the village are hoping that our President stops into the town on one of his world wide tours.
One day people like Donald Trump is calling for the President's birth certificate, and now we find out that President Obama has Irish roots.
Maybe we should invite the President to the August 7, 2011 Pittsfield Ethnic Fair and he can hang out at the Irish Sister City Booth, and the Irish American Club booth. The Irish American Club President Kevin Cahill might even let him pull a pint of Guinness. He can even cook a few Irish Bangers at the Irish Sister Committee's booth. He will want the recipes for our Irish Whiskey Cake, and my Irish Soda Bread for sure.
Well, I have to read the Sunday newspapers!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Hello on Saturday
Dear Friends,
Hope that you all had a pleasant Friday. I must admit that there was a little tension in the air at our home after Linda read my Friday morning blog. She knew my comments about Third Thursday would elicit a response from at least one person who I picked on. She was also upset that I semi spilled the beans about the surprise retirement party. Good thing that I was on the golf course, and not in the home when she read the morning blog. When I did arrive home from golf she wasn't speaking to me!
Her party did go well at the Asian Restaurant. After Linda told the whole story about me and my blog, one of the ladies wants to be added to my daily blog.
While the ladies were partying, a couple of husbands who belong to some of these women were bonding with me in my "Man Cave". We had a couple of beverages while watching the Red Sox game, and solved all the problems of the world. The Red Sox spanked the Chicago Cubs in an inter league game by a score of 15 to 5. The Boston Bruins hockey team plays this afternoon at 1 PM. I hope that I have finished my projects before game time.
In keeping with the thought than my family and friends provide some of best material to use in my blog, I will tell you a story. Last weekend, a friend had a couple relatives staying for the weekend. One morning the elderly guest got up early, which is not unusual for us aging citizens, and turned on television. She had the television cranked up to the maximum volume. Her daughter, who was also a weekend guest, comes down stairs and asks her mom: "Are you deaf?" The mother responds: "Yes, I am fu..... deaf!" The whole point of this little story is that every household has their tense moments, and you have to have a sense of humor to make it through each day. When our friend told this story we all started laughing so hard. Don't forget to include laughter in your life!
I hope that when Linda wakes up, and reads my blog today that she won't be in that fire breathing dragon mode. I hope that the adage that "time heals" has quelled some of the anger that I caused yesterday. I keep reminding Linda that life without me and my blog, and the stress that I cause because of some controversial subjects that I bring up, would end up being such a void in her life if I wasn't around.
She, like many of you, start off each day reading my daily blog. She loves it when I don't make any waves, but that is so difficult for me to do.
Social Calendar -- Linda is socially engaged tonight. She will be attending a "Dancing with the Stars" fundraiser for Cancer at the Crowne Plaza. Some of her girlfriends have actually been practicing with a professional instructors in the Albany area as well as locally.
I will be home watching sports in my Man Cave. When things are a bit tense in a home, it is best to use the "Separation is Good" principle which I go by.
Talking about tenseness in a house, my two male friends and I were discussing last night how all of our wives are getting a little more demanding and a bit crankier as we all age. They have less patience with all of us males. My newly retired friends are starting to notice this too. Our wives have started to create more and more lists of projects for all of us males to do. If one friend has a project done in their house, as soon as another friend sees the change, then this person wants a similar project done in their house. Has condo living become a more attractive alternative to owning a home?
I see where Cher has turned 65 years old? She has kept her youthful look with the help of many visits to the plastic surgeon. Why can't people just age gracefully, and not worry about retaining their youthful looks? Eventually you can fight Mother Nature!
I also see where President Obama got himself in trouble with Israel by saying that he wanted to return to the 1961 structure of Palestinian and Israel relationships and the separate State and border issues. Our President has some bad advisors!
Our son from Tewksbury had some deer in his yard the other day. As I have mentioned before, the Brodeur's and the Curley's from Tewksbury live one street apart from one another. There are wetlands between the two streets where these animals roam. Those deer have visited the Brodeur home before, and have eaten the bushes in front of their home especially in the winter. Deer can be cute, but destructive. The deer in Kevin's yard might be going after the beautiful ornamental bushes in their yard. There is a product which you can purchase at Home Depot called "Deer Away" which I have used before. I had to spray the chemical on the Tulip shoots which the rabbits were eating. "Deer Away" protects your plants and bushes from deer and rodents too.
Well, I am going to try and give the lawn a trim today. There is some chance of afternoon rain, but I can't believe the weather people. It drizzled a little while on the golf course when we teed off on Friday, but it turned into a sunny and nice day for us in the Berkshires.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that you all had a pleasant Friday. I must admit that there was a little tension in the air at our home after Linda read my Friday morning blog. She knew my comments about Third Thursday would elicit a response from at least one person who I picked on. She was also upset that I semi spilled the beans about the surprise retirement party. Good thing that I was on the golf course, and not in the home when she read the morning blog. When I did arrive home from golf she wasn't speaking to me!
Her party did go well at the Asian Restaurant. After Linda told the whole story about me and my blog, one of the ladies wants to be added to my daily blog.
While the ladies were partying, a couple of husbands who belong to some of these women were bonding with me in my "Man Cave". We had a couple of beverages while watching the Red Sox game, and solved all the problems of the world. The Red Sox spanked the Chicago Cubs in an inter league game by a score of 15 to 5. The Boston Bruins hockey team plays this afternoon at 1 PM. I hope that I have finished my projects before game time.
In keeping with the thought than my family and friends provide some of best material to use in my blog, I will tell you a story. Last weekend, a friend had a couple relatives staying for the weekend. One morning the elderly guest got up early, which is not unusual for us aging citizens, and turned on television. She had the television cranked up to the maximum volume. Her daughter, who was also a weekend guest, comes down stairs and asks her mom: "Are you deaf?" The mother responds: "Yes, I am fu..... deaf!" The whole point of this little story is that every household has their tense moments, and you have to have a sense of humor to make it through each day. When our friend told this story we all started laughing so hard. Don't forget to include laughter in your life!
I hope that when Linda wakes up, and reads my blog today that she won't be in that fire breathing dragon mode. I hope that the adage that "time heals" has quelled some of the anger that I caused yesterday. I keep reminding Linda that life without me and my blog, and the stress that I cause because of some controversial subjects that I bring up, would end up being such a void in her life if I wasn't around.
She, like many of you, start off each day reading my daily blog. She loves it when I don't make any waves, but that is so difficult for me to do.
Social Calendar -- Linda is socially engaged tonight. She will be attending a "Dancing with the Stars" fundraiser for Cancer at the Crowne Plaza. Some of her girlfriends have actually been practicing with a professional instructors in the Albany area as well as locally.
I will be home watching sports in my Man Cave. When things are a bit tense in a home, it is best to use the "Separation is Good" principle which I go by.
Talking about tenseness in a house, my two male friends and I were discussing last night how all of our wives are getting a little more demanding and a bit crankier as we all age. They have less patience with all of us males. My newly retired friends are starting to notice this too. Our wives have started to create more and more lists of projects for all of us males to do. If one friend has a project done in their house, as soon as another friend sees the change, then this person wants a similar project done in their house. Has condo living become a more attractive alternative to owning a home?
I see where Cher has turned 65 years old? She has kept her youthful look with the help of many visits to the plastic surgeon. Why can't people just age gracefully, and not worry about retaining their youthful looks? Eventually you can fight Mother Nature!
I also see where President Obama got himself in trouble with Israel by saying that he wanted to return to the 1961 structure of Palestinian and Israel relationships and the separate State and border issues. Our President has some bad advisors!
Our son from Tewksbury had some deer in his yard the other day. As I have mentioned before, the Brodeur's and the Curley's from Tewksbury live one street apart from one another. There are wetlands between the two streets where these animals roam. Those deer have visited the Brodeur home before, and have eaten the bushes in front of their home especially in the winter. Deer can be cute, but destructive. The deer in Kevin's yard might be going after the beautiful ornamental bushes in their yard. There is a product which you can purchase at Home Depot called "Deer Away" which I have used before. I had to spray the chemical on the Tulip shoots which the rabbits were eating. "Deer Away" protects your plants and bushes from deer and rodents too.
Well, I am going to try and give the lawn a trim today. There is some chance of afternoon rain, but I can't believe the weather people. It drizzled a little while on the golf course when we teed off on Friday, but it turned into a sunny and nice day for us in the Berkshires.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, May 20, 2011
Hello on Friday
Dear Friends,
The Third Thursday went very well, but I was one tired buckaroo when it ended at 8 PM. I was a little more tired than usual because I hovered over my "Grill to Go" gas grill, and an electric griddle pretty much alone. I did have the owner of Pasko Gift and Frame help out with the electric griddle, but her downtown store, like all the other ones, were open for business. If she had a customer in her store, she gave up the grilling and left it up to me. The electric griddle belongs to and is usually manned by our Irish Sister City President, but last night he chose to socialize for the whole evening. The Past President, who is recovery from a hip operation, chose to spend the night socializing too. I felt like the group decided to let the mostly Italian guy, who is 1/4 Irish, do the cooking. The female Irish Sister City Volunteers were my best workers. If I had to pay them, I would hire all of them. These female volunteers strung the Bangers on skewers, sold the Bangers, sold the Irish Whiskey Cake, as well as cookies, and water.
One of our last Irish Banger customers was a radio talk show host who helps promote events like this over the air waves of 1340 AM station.
When I set up my canopy for Third Thursday, I noticed that part of the frame was bent. I lent the canopy out for some event last year, and it came back in a damaged condition. If a person doesn't know what they are doing setting up and taking the canopy down, it is easy to damage. When I do get a new canopy, I will not lend it out.
Linda had a fun day, and she was just as busy as I was. She hosted an impromptu Mah Jongg session at our house at 1 PM. When the guests left, she whipped up her famous crab dip for her 6 PM Book Club meeting. When her book club meeting ended, she did make a guest appearance at Patrick's Pub where the Irish Sister Committee members met after the Third Thursday. Good thing she did show up at Patrick's Pub because I didn't have enough money for the food and beverages which I consumed.
At the home which didn't have television or internet service, their guest was last seen leaning out of a second floor bedroom window trying to pick up a signal for her cell phone so that she could communicate with her family in Florida. This family and their situation as described in yesterday's blog, and above would make a good skit for Saturday Night Live.
Social Calendar for Friday -- Linda tried to arrange a girls only surprise, and after the fact retirement party for a friend. Linda called at least ten female friends. She reserved a table for 10 at an Italian restaurant. The guest of honor didn't love the restaurant selection, not knowing that it was a party for her. She also thought it was a couples gathering at the restaurant, and had all intentions of taking her husband. Well the restaurant has been changed, and they will be going to an Asian restaurant. Linda has to cancel the reservations at the Italian restaurant, and call all the guests and tell them that the place has been changed. Even the simplest of plans can fall apart! This sounds like another Saturday Night Live skit. Do the Curley's have complicated sets of friends?
I did go to bed a tired, but happy man last evening. The Red Sox won their game which I was unable to watch. The Bruins did win their hockey game which I caught bits and pieces of at Patrick's Pub. I have my Red Sox to keep me entertained tonight. I might even invite the friend who has no television service over to keep me company. I would invite him over for a cookout, but our deck stain guy has not had several days of rain free weather to apply the stain. It doesn't look like it is going to be rain free today either.
I am supposed to play golf with the seniors this morning, but I don't do golf in the rain.
My car has so much Third Thursday stuff in it I can't even fit the golf clubs in the car right now. I also have to package and freeze the left over bangers and clean the grease laden grill.
The sun is supposed to come out for a little while during the middle of the day, but I have to see it to believe it.
Have a great day and a fun weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
The Third Thursday went very well, but I was one tired buckaroo when it ended at 8 PM. I was a little more tired than usual because I hovered over my "Grill to Go" gas grill, and an electric griddle pretty much alone. I did have the owner of Pasko Gift and Frame help out with the electric griddle, but her downtown store, like all the other ones, were open for business. If she had a customer in her store, she gave up the grilling and left it up to me. The electric griddle belongs to and is usually manned by our Irish Sister City President, but last night he chose to socialize for the whole evening. The Past President, who is recovery from a hip operation, chose to spend the night socializing too. I felt like the group decided to let the mostly Italian guy, who is 1/4 Irish, do the cooking. The female Irish Sister City Volunteers were my best workers. If I had to pay them, I would hire all of them. These female volunteers strung the Bangers on skewers, sold the Bangers, sold the Irish Whiskey Cake, as well as cookies, and water.
One of our last Irish Banger customers was a radio talk show host who helps promote events like this over the air waves of 1340 AM station.
When I set up my canopy for Third Thursday, I noticed that part of the frame was bent. I lent the canopy out for some event last year, and it came back in a damaged condition. If a person doesn't know what they are doing setting up and taking the canopy down, it is easy to damage. When I do get a new canopy, I will not lend it out.
Linda had a fun day, and she was just as busy as I was. She hosted an impromptu Mah Jongg session at our house at 1 PM. When the guests left, she whipped up her famous crab dip for her 6 PM Book Club meeting. When her book club meeting ended, she did make a guest appearance at Patrick's Pub where the Irish Sister Committee members met after the Third Thursday. Good thing she did show up at Patrick's Pub because I didn't have enough money for the food and beverages which I consumed.
At the home which didn't have television or internet service, their guest was last seen leaning out of a second floor bedroom window trying to pick up a signal for her cell phone so that she could communicate with her family in Florida. This family and their situation as described in yesterday's blog, and above would make a good skit for Saturday Night Live.
Social Calendar for Friday -- Linda tried to arrange a girls only surprise, and after the fact retirement party for a friend. Linda called at least ten female friends. She reserved a table for 10 at an Italian restaurant. The guest of honor didn't love the restaurant selection, not knowing that it was a party for her. She also thought it was a couples gathering at the restaurant, and had all intentions of taking her husband. Well the restaurant has been changed, and they will be going to an Asian restaurant. Linda has to cancel the reservations at the Italian restaurant, and call all the guests and tell them that the place has been changed. Even the simplest of plans can fall apart! This sounds like another Saturday Night Live skit. Do the Curley's have complicated sets of friends?
I did go to bed a tired, but happy man last evening. The Red Sox won their game which I was unable to watch. The Bruins did win their hockey game which I caught bits and pieces of at Patrick's Pub. I have my Red Sox to keep me entertained tonight. I might even invite the friend who has no television service over to keep me company. I would invite him over for a cookout, but our deck stain guy has not had several days of rain free weather to apply the stain. It doesn't look like it is going to be rain free today either.
I am supposed to play golf with the seniors this morning, but I don't do golf in the rain.
My car has so much Third Thursday stuff in it I can't even fit the golf clubs in the car right now. I also have to package and freeze the left over bangers and clean the grease laden grill.
The sun is supposed to come out for a little while during the middle of the day, but I have to see it to believe it.
Have a great day and a fun weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Hello on Thursday
Dear Friends,
Hope that your Wednesday went very well.
I went to bed a happy man because my Red Sox won a 1 run game in the fog, drizzle, and rain at Fenway Park. At one point during the game, a ball was hit to the Red Sox right fielder, and he almost dropped the routine fly ball because he lost the ball in the fog. If someone had given me a free ticket for that game I would have said: "Thank You, but I am going to watch the game in the comfort of my own home."
Today is our first Third Thursday of the May through October season. I just checked the hourly forecast on the Weather Channel on my I Pad, and the forecast is not good. When a few of us are setting up our canopy, tables, grills, etc., at 3:30 PM, there will be chances of afternoon thunderstorms. If any do roll in, then the forecast says it will rain for several hours after the thunderstorms. If anyone is free, and it isn't raining to bad, our Irish Sister Committee will be selling Irish Bangers on a skewer, Irish Whiskey Cake, and cookies. I picked up the 30 pounds of bangers, in three boxes, at Guido's and jammed them into our refrigerator. Linda does not like the confusion in the refrigerator. Everything in our refrigerator, including the freezer portion, is done by the scientific method. Order is important in the former biology teacher's world! Wow! I just thought of a great part time job for Linda. She could be hired to go into a person's refrigerator, and put things where they logically belong. Would anyone of the readers of my blog hire her as a starting point?
Observation -- We have a set of friends who are changing over from cable to digital television. They haven't had television this whole week because the digital guys like to do the installation when it is a sunny day, which we haven't had in over a week. They also have no computer service in their home, and they have to go to internet Café's to access their computers. They also decided that their cell phones will replace their in line telephones. They also have a guest at their home right now. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in this house watching the three of them interact without their devices. A lot of verbal communication must be taking place. They must be catching up on their reading too.
I would probably go absolutely crazy without my electrical devices if I were in their situation. I would have a heart attack without my sports to watch.
I did have a Chicken Novena last night while Linda was at Panera Bread with her knitting group. There were 18 knitters at Panera's which was one of the largest groups in a long while. When she did arrive home, she said that the house was fragrant. The candle which I lit, and had going on the stove, wasn't strong enough to mask the smell of my chicken leg quarters which I cooked in the oven. I might be banned from cooking greasy smelling chicken in the house for the rest of my life.
I see where Lady Gaga is going to help sell Starbucks Coffee, in what way I don't know. In my mind, Lady Gaga is a younger version of Madonna. All of Lady Gaga's outrageous theatrics are similar to what Madonna did during her younger days. I hope Lady Gaga realizes that we all get a little older and mature each year, and that her beauty will be such a temporary thing. She won't be in demand as she ages. It is good that she is doing her thing when she is young.
I also see where the ravenous media wants to get a picture on Arnold's love child. The media are like pit bulls, and they won't give up until they can identify this child!
Social Calendar -- I will be at the Third Thursday in downtown Pittsfield from 3:30 until 8 PM. I will then go with a group of Irish Sister City Friends over to Patrick's Pub to listen to an Irish Band called Rakish Paddy. This band will be playing there every Third Thursday. Linda won't joining me at all today. She will be going to a book club meeting while I am partying with my Irish Friends. Oh Darn!
Have a great day at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that your Wednesday went very well.
I went to bed a happy man because my Red Sox won a 1 run game in the fog, drizzle, and rain at Fenway Park. At one point during the game, a ball was hit to the Red Sox right fielder, and he almost dropped the routine fly ball because he lost the ball in the fog. If someone had given me a free ticket for that game I would have said: "Thank You, but I am going to watch the game in the comfort of my own home."
Today is our first Third Thursday of the May through October season. I just checked the hourly forecast on the Weather Channel on my I Pad, and the forecast is not good. When a few of us are setting up our canopy, tables, grills, etc., at 3:30 PM, there will be chances of afternoon thunderstorms. If any do roll in, then the forecast says it will rain for several hours after the thunderstorms. If anyone is free, and it isn't raining to bad, our Irish Sister Committee will be selling Irish Bangers on a skewer, Irish Whiskey Cake, and cookies. I picked up the 30 pounds of bangers, in three boxes, at Guido's and jammed them into our refrigerator. Linda does not like the confusion in the refrigerator. Everything in our refrigerator, including the freezer portion, is done by the scientific method. Order is important in the former biology teacher's world! Wow! I just thought of a great part time job for Linda. She could be hired to go into a person's refrigerator, and put things where they logically belong. Would anyone of the readers of my blog hire her as a starting point?
Observation -- We have a set of friends who are changing over from cable to digital television. They haven't had television this whole week because the digital guys like to do the installation when it is a sunny day, which we haven't had in over a week. They also have no computer service in their home, and they have to go to internet Café's to access their computers. They also decided that their cell phones will replace their in line telephones. They also have a guest at their home right now. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in this house watching the three of them interact without their devices. A lot of verbal communication must be taking place. They must be catching up on their reading too.
I would probably go absolutely crazy without my electrical devices if I were in their situation. I would have a heart attack without my sports to watch.
I did have a Chicken Novena last night while Linda was at Panera Bread with her knitting group. There were 18 knitters at Panera's which was one of the largest groups in a long while. When she did arrive home, she said that the house was fragrant. The candle which I lit, and had going on the stove, wasn't strong enough to mask the smell of my chicken leg quarters which I cooked in the oven. I might be banned from cooking greasy smelling chicken in the house for the rest of my life.
I see where Lady Gaga is going to help sell Starbucks Coffee, in what way I don't know. In my mind, Lady Gaga is a younger version of Madonna. All of Lady Gaga's outrageous theatrics are similar to what Madonna did during her younger days. I hope Lady Gaga realizes that we all get a little older and mature each year, and that her beauty will be such a temporary thing. She won't be in demand as she ages. It is good that she is doing her thing when she is young.
I also see where the ravenous media wants to get a picture on Arnold's love child. The media are like pit bulls, and they won't give up until they can identify this child!
Social Calendar -- I will be at the Third Thursday in downtown Pittsfield from 3:30 until 8 PM. I will then go with a group of Irish Sister City Friends over to Patrick's Pub to listen to an Irish Band called Rakish Paddy. This band will be playing there every Third Thursday. Linda won't joining me at all today. She will be going to a book club meeting while I am partying with my Irish Friends. Oh Darn!
Have a great day at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Hello on Wednesday
Dear Friends,
The Big Brothers and Big Sisters truck finally did come by to pick up the multiple bags of clothes from our closets. I saw the guy struggling as he put all the bags in the back of his truck.
There were two great articles in USA Today online. The first was an article about the Habitat Restore Outlets which are growing in record numbers throughout the country. Our friends the Christopolis' run the one which we have in Pittsfield. For my readers who have no clue what a Restore is, you should go to one in your community. Here is an example: Let's say that you are changing bedroom furniture in your house. If the furniture in your house is in good shape, you could donate the bedroom set to the Restore. Some one can then come into the Restore and purchase the bedroom set at a reduced price. The profits go to the Habitat for Humanity organization who will then use the money to fix up an old house, or build a new one for low income people. Sometimes the donated items are from high end donors, and you can get a real bargain at the Restore. Some people take their contractors with them to the Restore before they start renovating their own house. You may find vanities, doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, etc., which are in very good shape.
The second article was titled: "Men relax best when their wives are busy." I think that I already knew this, and I didn't need a study to prove it. When you do read the complete article it does also say the stress levels of our wives do drop as we husbands help with chores. They measured a chemical in our bodies called Cortisol, which increases in stressful situations. When I get up early, I start thinking of projects for Linda to do. Her Cortisol level must be off of the charts unless I am on the golf course for 4 or 5 hours at a time, or working one of the Pasta Fundaraisers. Do you think that she needed a study to verify when her stress levels are the highest?
Linda wasn't so lucky play Mah Jongg on Tuesday, but she did have fun socializing with a different group of friend's at Mazzeo's Ristorante. She said the restaurant was packed for a Tuesday night. You wouldn't have guessed that there was an economic downturn if you walked into this restaurant.
The Italian American Club was packed for the Steak & Dandelion dinner. People were sitting upstairs hall, and in the members' bar downstairs. I was among a group of people who ate our dinners at the downstairs bar. I wish that I won the 50/50 raffle because it was over $400. The function was run by the East Side Men's Club. I don't belong to this organization, but I have been asked to join it.
Linda is the only one socially engaged this evening. Today is her Wednesday Knitting Group gathering at 6 PM at Panera Bread. She loves going to this gathering of knitters. I feel a chicken Novena coming on while she is gone. I can't grill the chicken outdoors because we have rain and a flood watch in today's forecast.
Third Thursday is supposed to take place tomorrow, and I didn't realize that it takes place rain or shine. We did one Third Thursday in the rain last year, and it wasn't very nice. By the time we packed up, the police and our Irish Sister City booth were the only ones on the main street in downtown Pittsfield. I have to spend an hour or so loading up my car with all the items needed for our booth. I have to pick up the 30 pounds of Irish Bangers (pork based sausages) today, but I might end up freezing them if the weather turns out to be awful on Thursday.
I did have a chance on Tuesday to give my lawn a trim. Good thing that I didn't wait until today because it is raining out right now, and for most of the day. We might see the sun at some point this weekend. This sure has been one wet and damp spring for us in the Northeast. Usually, Linda and I stop using the crock pot when the warm weather arrives, but I might have to resurrect it. It is still comfort food weather in the Berkshires instead of grilling and chilling type of weather.
Sports -- My Red Sox game got postponed due to rain in Boston. I did watch the Bruins just barely squeak out a one goal win over the Tampa Bay Lighting team.
Arnold did a good job of keeping the fact that he had a "love child" out of the media for several years. I think that the current separation will lead to a divorce. This is not a unique situation, but if this happened with the average person, taking financially care of the love child might be a problem.
Well, I have to do some quiet chores, and take out the garbage since it is garbage pick up day for our neighborhood.
Have a great Wednesday at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
The Big Brothers and Big Sisters truck finally did come by to pick up the multiple bags of clothes from our closets. I saw the guy struggling as he put all the bags in the back of his truck.
There were two great articles in USA Today online. The first was an article about the Habitat Restore Outlets which are growing in record numbers throughout the country. Our friends the Christopolis' run the one which we have in Pittsfield. For my readers who have no clue what a Restore is, you should go to one in your community. Here is an example: Let's say that you are changing bedroom furniture in your house. If the furniture in your house is in good shape, you could donate the bedroom set to the Restore. Some one can then come into the Restore and purchase the bedroom set at a reduced price. The profits go to the Habitat for Humanity organization who will then use the money to fix up an old house, or build a new one for low income people. Sometimes the donated items are from high end donors, and you can get a real bargain at the Restore. Some people take their contractors with them to the Restore before they start renovating their own house. You may find vanities, doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, etc., which are in very good shape.
The second article was titled: "Men relax best when their wives are busy." I think that I already knew this, and I didn't need a study to prove it. When you do read the complete article it does also say the stress levels of our wives do drop as we husbands help with chores. They measured a chemical in our bodies called Cortisol, which increases in stressful situations. When I get up early, I start thinking of projects for Linda to do. Her Cortisol level must be off of the charts unless I am on the golf course for 4 or 5 hours at a time, or working one of the Pasta Fundaraisers. Do you think that she needed a study to verify when her stress levels are the highest?
Linda wasn't so lucky play Mah Jongg on Tuesday, but she did have fun socializing with a different group of friend's at Mazzeo's Ristorante. She said the restaurant was packed for a Tuesday night. You wouldn't have guessed that there was an economic downturn if you walked into this restaurant.
The Italian American Club was packed for the Steak & Dandelion dinner. People were sitting upstairs hall, and in the members' bar downstairs. I was among a group of people who ate our dinners at the downstairs bar. I wish that I won the 50/50 raffle because it was over $400. The function was run by the East Side Men's Club. I don't belong to this organization, but I have been asked to join it.
Linda is the only one socially engaged this evening. Today is her Wednesday Knitting Group gathering at 6 PM at Panera Bread. She loves going to this gathering of knitters. I feel a chicken Novena coming on while she is gone. I can't grill the chicken outdoors because we have rain and a flood watch in today's forecast.
Third Thursday is supposed to take place tomorrow, and I didn't realize that it takes place rain or shine. We did one Third Thursday in the rain last year, and it wasn't very nice. By the time we packed up, the police and our Irish Sister City booth were the only ones on the main street in downtown Pittsfield. I have to spend an hour or so loading up my car with all the items needed for our booth. I have to pick up the 30 pounds of Irish Bangers (pork based sausages) today, but I might end up freezing them if the weather turns out to be awful on Thursday.
I did have a chance on Tuesday to give my lawn a trim. Good thing that I didn't wait until today because it is raining out right now, and for most of the day. We might see the sun at some point this weekend. This sure has been one wet and damp spring for us in the Northeast. Usually, Linda and I stop using the crock pot when the warm weather arrives, but I might have to resurrect it. It is still comfort food weather in the Berkshires instead of grilling and chilling type of weather.
Sports -- My Red Sox game got postponed due to rain in Boston. I did watch the Bruins just barely squeak out a one goal win over the Tampa Bay Lighting team.
Arnold did a good job of keeping the fact that he had a "love child" out of the media for several years. I think that the current separation will lead to a divorce. This is not a unique situation, but if this happened with the average person, taking financially care of the love child might be a problem.
Well, I have to do some quiet chores, and take out the garbage since it is garbage pick up day for our neighborhood.
Have a great Wednesday at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Hello on Tuesday
Dear Friends,
I was in error about how many people UNICO served on Sunday at the Pasta Fundraiser at Berkshire Hills Country Club. We served 500 + people and not the 400 hundred which I estimated. Now I understand why my legs were so tired from being on them from 9 AM until after 5 PM. I am not at liberty to tell you how much the Fundraiser made, but I will say that it will help the family very much.
The UNICO Membership meeting went well last evening. My neighbor and UNICO friend was sick as a dog, and didn't even eat any of the delicious food which we were served. He would have stayed home, but as the UNICO Charity Board Chairperson he had to get some checks which required two signatures before distributing them to worthy individuals or institutions.
The Meeting was like a love fest with the incoming administration praising the outgoing administration. The formal transfer of power takes place at our June 10, 2011 Installation Dinner at Cranwell Resort and Spa.
Linda also had a pleasant day. She hooked up with her shopping buddy at 4 PM and they hit the sale racks at Macy's before going off to supper at a restaurant just outside of the Mall entrance.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a more fun packed day on tap for today than I do. She has her normal Tuesday session of Mah Jongg at a friend's home, and then she comes home to freshen up for her evening function. She is going off to Mazzeo's Ristorante with some mom's who had children the same time as Linda and I had our two boys. While the women are dinning at Mazzeo's, I will be off to the Italian American Club for their annual Steak and Dandelion dinner. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me so I might be dinning alone. The cost is $20 per person.
Observation 1 -- When it is daylight, I am going to haul almost 20 bags of clothes to the end of the driveway. A Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization out of Springfield, MA comes by and picks up the clothes. I just attach a post card which they send about once per month to one of the bags, and they load them on to an oversized truck. If you are thinking how many bags of clothes represent the male side of the family, a good guess would be about three bags. Like I always say us males are very simple creatures when it comes to clothes and shoes. We usually wear clothes and shoes until they fall off of our bodies. When are wives or significant others get tired of seeing us in the same set of clothes, change will occur brought upon by female pressure. If we don't go out and purchase a new set of clothes on our own, our better halves will do it for us.
Observation 2 -- The reason for the Arnold and Maria split finally was made public. Arnold got a little too friendly with a house staff member 10 years ago, and he and the women produced a child. He admitted his affair to his wife, but it didn't go over well. Separation was their solution right now. People who are famous and well off have these marital problems highlighted in the media, but this situation happens in every socio-economic group of people. For some reason, the group of our baby boomer friends, who we hang around with, is still with the same people whom we married. I think that living from paycheck to paycheck or pension check to pension check helped to keep us together. There was never a money issues to fight over. We kept ourselves busy by raising our children and going to work each day. By the end of each day, we were so tired that sleep was the primary thing that we had on our minds.
Sports -- When my friend and I left the UNICO meeting last evening, I turned on the radio in my car. My Red Sox were losing by a 6 to 0 score. The Yankees were losing their game too. By the end of the game, which I watched in bed, the Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the 9th inning, and won their game. The Yankees weren't so lucky and their losing streak continues. After I return from my evening adventure, I can watch the Red Sox, and the Boston Bruins do battle in their respective contests.
Weather -- The temperatures in Pittsfield never reached 60 degrees on Monday. There is a counter clockwise front that is going to keep this area with cool and damp weather around just about into the weekend. The weather forecasters aren't sure when we are going to see the sun this week. Our first Third Thursday takes place this week, and our Irish Sister City Committee is set to go weather permitting. People won't come out if the weather is like it was on Monday. Oh Darn!
My body rhythm is out of whack. My afternoon nap on Monday was too long. I might try skipping a nap today.
My Radio Talk Show host friend missed a whole bunch of events that he and his wife were booked into over the weekend including the fundraiser. If you heard how he sounded on the radio on Monday, you would know why he didn't attend any of his booked in events.
The VNA nurse who came to see Linda on Monday is signing off on anymore VNA visits. We are hoping that the wound clinic doctor on Friday does the same thing.
Well, I have to get to some quiet chores.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
I was in error about how many people UNICO served on Sunday at the Pasta Fundraiser at Berkshire Hills Country Club. We served 500 + people and not the 400 hundred which I estimated. Now I understand why my legs were so tired from being on them from 9 AM until after 5 PM. I am not at liberty to tell you how much the Fundraiser made, but I will say that it will help the family very much.
The UNICO Membership meeting went well last evening. My neighbor and UNICO friend was sick as a dog, and didn't even eat any of the delicious food which we were served. He would have stayed home, but as the UNICO Charity Board Chairperson he had to get some checks which required two signatures before distributing them to worthy individuals or institutions.
The Meeting was like a love fest with the incoming administration praising the outgoing administration. The formal transfer of power takes place at our June 10, 2011 Installation Dinner at Cranwell Resort and Spa.
Linda also had a pleasant day. She hooked up with her shopping buddy at 4 PM and they hit the sale racks at Macy's before going off to supper at a restaurant just outside of the Mall entrance.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a more fun packed day on tap for today than I do. She has her normal Tuesday session of Mah Jongg at a friend's home, and then she comes home to freshen up for her evening function. She is going off to Mazzeo's Ristorante with some mom's who had children the same time as Linda and I had our two boys. While the women are dinning at Mazzeo's, I will be off to the Italian American Club for their annual Steak and Dandelion dinner. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me so I might be dinning alone. The cost is $20 per person.
Observation 1 -- When it is daylight, I am going to haul almost 20 bags of clothes to the end of the driveway. A Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization out of Springfield, MA comes by and picks up the clothes. I just attach a post card which they send about once per month to one of the bags, and they load them on to an oversized truck. If you are thinking how many bags of clothes represent the male side of the family, a good guess would be about three bags. Like I always say us males are very simple creatures when it comes to clothes and shoes. We usually wear clothes and shoes until they fall off of our bodies. When are wives or significant others get tired of seeing us in the same set of clothes, change will occur brought upon by female pressure. If we don't go out and purchase a new set of clothes on our own, our better halves will do it for us.
Observation 2 -- The reason for the Arnold and Maria split finally was made public. Arnold got a little too friendly with a house staff member 10 years ago, and he and the women produced a child. He admitted his affair to his wife, but it didn't go over well. Separation was their solution right now. People who are famous and well off have these marital problems highlighted in the media, but this situation happens in every socio-economic group of people. For some reason, the group of our baby boomer friends, who we hang around with, is still with the same people whom we married. I think that living from paycheck to paycheck or pension check to pension check helped to keep us together. There was never a money issues to fight over. We kept ourselves busy by raising our children and going to work each day. By the end of each day, we were so tired that sleep was the primary thing that we had on our minds.
Sports -- When my friend and I left the UNICO meeting last evening, I turned on the radio in my car. My Red Sox were losing by a 6 to 0 score. The Yankees were losing their game too. By the end of the game, which I watched in bed, the Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the 9th inning, and won their game. The Yankees weren't so lucky and their losing streak continues. After I return from my evening adventure, I can watch the Red Sox, and the Boston Bruins do battle in their respective contests.
Weather -- The temperatures in Pittsfield never reached 60 degrees on Monday. There is a counter clockwise front that is going to keep this area with cool and damp weather around just about into the weekend. The weather forecasters aren't sure when we are going to see the sun this week. Our first Third Thursday takes place this week, and our Irish Sister City Committee is set to go weather permitting. People won't come out if the weather is like it was on Monday. Oh Darn!
My body rhythm is out of whack. My afternoon nap on Monday was too long. I might try skipping a nap today.
My Radio Talk Show host friend missed a whole bunch of events that he and his wife were booked into over the weekend including the fundraiser. If you heard how he sounded on the radio on Monday, you would know why he didn't attend any of his booked in events.
The VNA nurse who came to see Linda on Monday is signing off on anymore VNA visits. We are hoping that the wound clinic doctor on Friday does the same thing.
Well, I have to get to some quiet chores.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Hello on Saturday
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned for the Curley's in the Berkshires.
I did exit the house before Linda woke up, and I was teeing off with my senior buddies by 7:30 AM. Only 6 of us from our normal Friday group of four foursomes showed up. The weather was okay which was sunny to start, but cloudy and cool as we ended our round.
I came home and went for a nap. This allowed me to stay awake for the Yankees vs Red Sox baseball game.
For supper we went to the Shamrock for their Friday night seafood. We sat at the bar and played Keno, and socialized with a couple who we met for the first time. This couple told us how they play Keno, after we lost playing the way which we normally do. Linda won enough to pay for dinner.
We went directly home, put on our sleepwear, and Linda watched television in the family room while I went into my Man Cave to watch the baseball game. The Red Sox never make things easy, and they always keep us fans on the edge of our seats. The starting pitcher leaves the game with a 5 to 2 lead after pitching 7 very good innings. The next two relievers slowly let the Yankees back into the game. I was on the edge of my seat until their cleanup batter for the Yankees popped up in the bottom of the ninth with men on base and two outs. A single by their big hitter would have tied the game.
Speaking of baseball, I got into a conversation with a baby boomer friend who played on an opposing high school basketball team in the 1960's. His elderly dad died during this past year, and we started talking about dealing with aging parents. This guy said that his dad was a diehard Yankee fan. He died of a heart attack while watching the Yankees do battle. I thought this might not be a bad way to go!
Social Calendar -- I am in a mental funk right now. There is the Annual Webs yarn sale just over the mountain in a place called Northampton. I was set to go with Linda even though there is nothing for me to do at the yarn sale. I usually bring a folding chair, a cooler, and a book. Linda shops and socializes with fellow knitters for hours. There are a few males who are knitters, or they are like me accompanying their wives or significant others.
As I came up from my Man Cave when the Red Sox game ended, Linda says to me that I don't have to go with her to the Yarn Store. Guilt kicked in as soon as she made that comment. She has gone through so much since the Hernia from Hell operation that I thought that going with her to the yarn sale would be the least I could do.
Some of her girlfriends do knit, but not with the intensity which she does otherwise I would have asked her to go to the sale with a couple of girlfriends.
I told her that I would make a decision this morning. What would some of my married or connected e-mail recipients do?
Of course, there are the Yankees vs Red Sox game, and the Boston Bruins doing battle at 8 PM this evening.
News -- I see where a town which knew that one of their own was a Navy Seal involved with the killing of Osama Bin Laden wanted to have a party/celebration for the Seal. The media picked up on this, and now the Navy Seal has a target on his back. One of the Bin Laden followers will seek revenge on the Navy Seal, and his family. When people have family members in the military, and in war zones, you can't go broadcasting what your loved ones have done. Revenge is a very strong motivating factor for retaliation.
Don't forget that today is the Nationwide Postal Service Food Drive. I am going to put out canned goods when I pick the local newspaper off of our driveway.
Well, I hear the Queen stirring. The Curley Lad has to make a decision whether to go with her or not! Have a great Saturday! Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned for the Curley's in the Berkshires.
I did exit the house before Linda woke up, and I was teeing off with my senior buddies by 7:30 AM. Only 6 of us from our normal Friday group of four foursomes showed up. The weather was okay which was sunny to start, but cloudy and cool as we ended our round.
I came home and went for a nap. This allowed me to stay awake for the Yankees vs Red Sox baseball game.
For supper we went to the Shamrock for their Friday night seafood. We sat at the bar and played Keno, and socialized with a couple who we met for the first time. This couple told us how they play Keno, after we lost playing the way which we normally do. Linda won enough to pay for dinner.
We went directly home, put on our sleepwear, and Linda watched television in the family room while I went into my Man Cave to watch the baseball game. The Red Sox never make things easy, and they always keep us fans on the edge of our seats. The starting pitcher leaves the game with a 5 to 2 lead after pitching 7 very good innings. The next two relievers slowly let the Yankees back into the game. I was on the edge of my seat until their cleanup batter for the Yankees popped up in the bottom of the ninth with men on base and two outs. A single by their big hitter would have tied the game.
Speaking of baseball, I got into a conversation with a baby boomer friend who played on an opposing high school basketball team in the 1960's. His elderly dad died during this past year, and we started talking about dealing with aging parents. This guy said that his dad was a diehard Yankee fan. He died of a heart attack while watching the Yankees do battle. I thought this might not be a bad way to go!
Social Calendar -- I am in a mental funk right now. There is the Annual Webs yarn sale just over the mountain in a place called Northampton. I was set to go with Linda even though there is nothing for me to do at the yarn sale. I usually bring a folding chair, a cooler, and a book. Linda shops and socializes with fellow knitters for hours. There are a few males who are knitters, or they are like me accompanying their wives or significant others.
As I came up from my Man Cave when the Red Sox game ended, Linda says to me that I don't have to go with her to the Yarn Store. Guilt kicked in as soon as she made that comment. She has gone through so much since the Hernia from Hell operation that I thought that going with her to the yarn sale would be the least I could do.
Some of her girlfriends do knit, but not with the intensity which she does otherwise I would have asked her to go to the sale with a couple of girlfriends.
I told her that I would make a decision this morning. What would some of my married or connected e-mail recipients do?
Of course, there are the Yankees vs Red Sox game, and the Boston Bruins doing battle at 8 PM this evening.
News -- I see where a town which knew that one of their own was a Navy Seal involved with the killing of Osama Bin Laden wanted to have a party/celebration for the Seal. The media picked up on this, and now the Navy Seal has a target on his back. One of the Bin Laden followers will seek revenge on the Navy Seal, and his family. When people have family members in the military, and in war zones, you can't go broadcasting what your loved ones have done. Revenge is a very strong motivating factor for retaliation.
Don't forget that today is the Nationwide Postal Service Food Drive. I am going to put out canned goods when I pick the local newspaper off of our driveway.
Well, I hear the Queen stirring. The Curley Lad has to make a decision whether to go with her or not! Have a great Saturday! Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Hello on Thursday
Dear Friends,
Linda and I had another day go as planned.
We left the house at 10:45 AM, and headed to the Willams Inn in Williamstown for our retired educator luncheon. The 44 people had choices of fish, chicken or beef pot roast. Linda had the fish, and she said that it was wonderful. I had the pot roast, and it too was cooked to perfection. The people who had chicken at our table were happy too.
The meeting went very well, but I did make one big blunder. I thought that the main speaker had his wife with him, but it was a co-worker. I introduced them as husband and wife. Well Robert Dean, the head of Elder Services, took my mistake quite well.
As an advocate for senior citizens, his basic theme was that his organization wants to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. Nursing homes are the last resorts for our seniors. He pointed out that Elder Services deliver over 2000 meals per day to residents throughout the 460 square mile expanse of Berkshire County. Mr. Dean pointed out that he has over 400 volunteers working for his agency some of whom prepare the food and drivers who deliver the food to senior citizens. He said that you would not believe that some of these places where the food is delivered are on dirt roads in very remote areas.
My dad is one of those seniors who receive "Meals on Wheels".
Observation -- While on this leisurely 30 minute drive to Willamstown, I observed some people selling homemade wooden Adirondack Chairs. This got me thinking about these chairs. The chairs look comfortable, but this baby boomer sort of falls into the chair, and I can't get out of them. I have even tried to sit in the resin made chairs that you can find everywhere. The resin chairs are lighter than the wooden ones. I once tried to get into a resin chair, but the chair and I tipped over.
When we go to Tanglewood, or to the ocean we do not use "low to the ground" chairs anymore.
Our government is starting to make public some of the documents which were found when we took out Osama Bin Laden. He sure hated Americans. He wanted all of the Americans out of the Arab part of the world. He wanted all of his followers to kill as many Americans as they could. He wanted the deaths to occur in other big cities and smaller ones too.
I would bet that he didn't like the fact that our society has a one wife system. He had three wives, each of whom produced an offspring. Can you imagine that if you got tired or bored with one woman, you could just choose another younger one? I would like to have seen how his three wives got along in his house. I am not sure if they all lived under one roof.
Another thing I observed was when we were shown pictures of a bunch of poor people hovering over small televisions watching the news in their countries. I have thrown out perfectly good working old televisions when they had the electrical recycling day in Pittsfield. I have four more of those old televisions in the house right now. I wish that I could ship them to the poorer countries throughout the world instead of throwing them out.
My meeting went well last evening, but I have more jobs to do with respect to our August UNICO Golf Tournament.
Linda said that there were 14 knitters at her Wednesday night knitters gathering.
Social Calendar - I have to do some projects around the house before going off to the Babe Ruth Pasta Fundraiser today at the ITAM. My services are required at 3 PM, but we don't serve until the 5 PM hour. If I didn't ask my radio show host to talk about the fundraiser on his daily talk show, I am not sure if anyone knows about it except for the players and their parents.
Linda has a full day: Red Hat Breakfast at 9:30 AM, two body maintenance procedures, and a Book Club Meeting at 6 PM this evening.
I didn't go to bed a happy man because my Celtics and Red Sox both lost.
Today and Friday are the last two days of sunshine before the rain comes in on Saturday.
Well, I have to start some inside chores right now.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I had another day go as planned.
We left the house at 10:45 AM, and headed to the Willams Inn in Williamstown for our retired educator luncheon. The 44 people had choices of fish, chicken or beef pot roast. Linda had the fish, and she said that it was wonderful. I had the pot roast, and it too was cooked to perfection. The people who had chicken at our table were happy too.
The meeting went very well, but I did make one big blunder. I thought that the main speaker had his wife with him, but it was a co-worker. I introduced them as husband and wife. Well Robert Dean, the head of Elder Services, took my mistake quite well.
As an advocate for senior citizens, his basic theme was that his organization wants to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. Nursing homes are the last resorts for our seniors. He pointed out that Elder Services deliver over 2000 meals per day to residents throughout the 460 square mile expanse of Berkshire County. Mr. Dean pointed out that he has over 400 volunteers working for his agency some of whom prepare the food and drivers who deliver the food to senior citizens. He said that you would not believe that some of these places where the food is delivered are on dirt roads in very remote areas.
My dad is one of those seniors who receive "Meals on Wheels".
Observation -- While on this leisurely 30 minute drive to Willamstown, I observed some people selling homemade wooden Adirondack Chairs. This got me thinking about these chairs. The chairs look comfortable, but this baby boomer sort of falls into the chair, and I can't get out of them. I have even tried to sit in the resin made chairs that you can find everywhere. The resin chairs are lighter than the wooden ones. I once tried to get into a resin chair, but the chair and I tipped over.
When we go to Tanglewood, or to the ocean we do not use "low to the ground" chairs anymore.
Our government is starting to make public some of the documents which were found when we took out Osama Bin Laden. He sure hated Americans. He wanted all of the Americans out of the Arab part of the world. He wanted all of his followers to kill as many Americans as they could. He wanted the deaths to occur in other big cities and smaller ones too.
I would bet that he didn't like the fact that our society has a one wife system. He had three wives, each of whom produced an offspring. Can you imagine that if you got tired or bored with one woman, you could just choose another younger one? I would like to have seen how his three wives got along in his house. I am not sure if they all lived under one roof.
Another thing I observed was when we were shown pictures of a bunch of poor people hovering over small televisions watching the news in their countries. I have thrown out perfectly good working old televisions when they had the electrical recycling day in Pittsfield. I have four more of those old televisions in the house right now. I wish that I could ship them to the poorer countries throughout the world instead of throwing them out.
My meeting went well last evening, but I have more jobs to do with respect to our August UNICO Golf Tournament.
Linda said that there were 14 knitters at her Wednesday night knitters gathering.
Social Calendar - I have to do some projects around the house before going off to the Babe Ruth Pasta Fundraiser today at the ITAM. My services are required at 3 PM, but we don't serve until the 5 PM hour. If I didn't ask my radio show host to talk about the fundraiser on his daily talk show, I am not sure if anyone knows about it except for the players and their parents.
Linda has a full day: Red Hat Breakfast at 9:30 AM, two body maintenance procedures, and a Book Club Meeting at 6 PM this evening.
I didn't go to bed a happy man because my Celtics and Red Sox both lost.
Today and Friday are the last two days of sunshine before the rain comes in on Saturday.
Well, I have to start some inside chores right now.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hello on Tuesday
Dear Friends,
Linda and I had another pleasant and fruitful day on Monday.
I stacked the wood from the choke cherry tree which my neighbor cut down a couple of weeks ago while Linda was finishing her morning routine on Monday.
Linda never did get to sleep as long as she wanted to on Monday. The VNA nurse called at 8 AM to say that she was coming to change Linda's almost non existent bandage at 1 PM. Linda couldn't get back to sleep after the telephone call. Oh Darn!
After my little project, I assisted Linda in more thinning of her clothes. This time she went through about 8 buckets of her clothes. We finally are emptying a few of those 18 gallon buckets. She has one more closet to go through, and she should be ready for the summer. Luckily, we received a post card in the mail from the Big Brothers, and Big Sisters organization, and they will be picking up the bags of clothes on May 17. All we have to do is put the bags on the street with the post card attached, and a guy in a truck comes by and picks them up.
Don't forget that this weekend is the national wide food drive based out of local Post Offices. This means that I will have to go through the cupboards, and see what the Curley's can share. The drive takes place this Saturday.
We have another nice day predicted for today. It will be sunny and 65 degrees. You might be wondering why I am not on the golf course during these sunny days? This weather is ideal for doing projects. If I complete all of these projects then I can concentrate on my golf game, and not worry about anything else.
Speaking of projects, I think that I am going to head off to my father's place in Lee while Linda goes off and plays Mah Jongg at a friend's home. He has already asked me to do some window cleaning. His driveway and garage needs to be swept / vacuum cleaned. He uses the town of Lee salt and sand mixture during the winter, and the sand is everywhere. It gets tracked into his house which will need a cleaning too. I might save the installing of air conditioners for another trip to Lee.
I will definitely need an afternoon nap if Linda and I are going to make it through our 6 PM Irish Sister City Meeting. I am guessing that some of the Irish Sister City members, including Linda and me, might be heading off to Patrick's Pub after the meeting for some food, and merriment.
Sports -- My Boston Celtics looked like an old and worn out team as they lost last night in Boston. They are 1 and 3 in the playoffs against the Miami Heat. The next game, which could be their last, takes place in Miami.
On a happier note, the Red Sox won an extra inning game in dramatic fashion last night so I went to bed a semi happy man.
I see were Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced they are separating after 25 years of marriage. The curse of the Kennedy clan continues. They haven't said why the separation occurred, but some reporter will find out the sordid details.
I squeezed in a wake yesterday before going off to my long UNICO meeting. A friend's mom died. This woman was in the same nursing home which my mother is in. This was one of those wakes where I am convinced that the wishes of my parents when they depart this earth will be respected by my sister and me. My parents just want a graveside service at their previously paid for plots at the Catholic cemetery in Lee. They do not want a wake, or a Funeral Mass.
The wake for this elderly person yesterday had her son and his wife as the only people in line for us wake goers to express our condolences too. All the friends of this woman have long since departed this earth.
I see where some States got to use some of the $2.4 billion Dollars earmarked for high speed rail projects. In a couple States, the Republican governors rejected using the money. I am guessing that these Republican Governors wanted to show their constituents they want to stop spending what we don't have. Mark my words, their not taking the money will come back to bite them!
Our son, from Tewksbury, had a contractor (the Brodeur son) stop by and look at a project that needs to be done in Kevin and Kyla's lower level of their home. Kevin puts his son, Max, who is into Matchbox cars, into the front seat of the contractor's truck. Max, who will be two this summer, didn't want to get out of the truck.
Well, I have some quiet projects to do before heading off to Lee.
Have a great day.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I had another pleasant and fruitful day on Monday.
I stacked the wood from the choke cherry tree which my neighbor cut down a couple of weeks ago while Linda was finishing her morning routine on Monday.
Linda never did get to sleep as long as she wanted to on Monday. The VNA nurse called at 8 AM to say that she was coming to change Linda's almost non existent bandage at 1 PM. Linda couldn't get back to sleep after the telephone call. Oh Darn!
After my little project, I assisted Linda in more thinning of her clothes. This time she went through about 8 buckets of her clothes. We finally are emptying a few of those 18 gallon buckets. She has one more closet to go through, and she should be ready for the summer. Luckily, we received a post card in the mail from the Big Brothers, and Big Sisters organization, and they will be picking up the bags of clothes on May 17. All we have to do is put the bags on the street with the post card attached, and a guy in a truck comes by and picks them up.
Don't forget that this weekend is the national wide food drive based out of local Post Offices. This means that I will have to go through the cupboards, and see what the Curley's can share. The drive takes place this Saturday.
We have another nice day predicted for today. It will be sunny and 65 degrees. You might be wondering why I am not on the golf course during these sunny days? This weather is ideal for doing projects. If I complete all of these projects then I can concentrate on my golf game, and not worry about anything else.
Speaking of projects, I think that I am going to head off to my father's place in Lee while Linda goes off and plays Mah Jongg at a friend's home. He has already asked me to do some window cleaning. His driveway and garage needs to be swept / vacuum cleaned. He uses the town of Lee salt and sand mixture during the winter, and the sand is everywhere. It gets tracked into his house which will need a cleaning too. I might save the installing of air conditioners for another trip to Lee.
I will definitely need an afternoon nap if Linda and I are going to make it through our 6 PM Irish Sister City Meeting. I am guessing that some of the Irish Sister City members, including Linda and me, might be heading off to Patrick's Pub after the meeting for some food, and merriment.
Sports -- My Boston Celtics looked like an old and worn out team as they lost last night in Boston. They are 1 and 3 in the playoffs against the Miami Heat. The next game, which could be their last, takes place in Miami.
On a happier note, the Red Sox won an extra inning game in dramatic fashion last night so I went to bed a semi happy man.
I see were Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced they are separating after 25 years of marriage. The curse of the Kennedy clan continues. They haven't said why the separation occurred, but some reporter will find out the sordid details.
I squeezed in a wake yesterday before going off to my long UNICO meeting. A friend's mom died. This woman was in the same nursing home which my mother is in. This was one of those wakes where I am convinced that the wishes of my parents when they depart this earth will be respected by my sister and me. My parents just want a graveside service at their previously paid for plots at the Catholic cemetery in Lee. They do not want a wake, or a Funeral Mass.
The wake for this elderly person yesterday had her son and his wife as the only people in line for us wake goers to express our condolences too. All the friends of this woman have long since departed this earth.
I see where some States got to use some of the $2.4 billion Dollars earmarked for high speed rail projects. In a couple States, the Republican governors rejected using the money. I am guessing that these Republican Governors wanted to show their constituents they want to stop spending what we don't have. Mark my words, their not taking the money will come back to bite them!
Our son, from Tewksbury, had a contractor (the Brodeur son) stop by and look at a project that needs to be done in Kevin and Kyla's lower level of their home. Kevin puts his son, Max, who is into Matchbox cars, into the front seat of the contractor's truck. Max, who will be two this summer, didn't want to get out of the truck.
Well, I have some quiet projects to do before heading off to Lee.
Have a great day.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, May 9, 2011
Hello on Monday
Dear Friends,
Hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Linda and I had a very pleasant one. The cook out that we were invited to became a cook in. We tried to sit outside for a little while until the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. A friend did grill the Kielbasa and the burgers outside, but we ate the food at the dinning room table. Besides the meat, we had potato salad, and grilled vegetables. For dessert, a friend made lemon squares, and a strawberry / rhubarb pie. A person at the party who doesn't love rhubarb said that it was the best rhubarb pie that he had ever eaten. He had a couple of pieces of the pie.
Both of our sons called Linda to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. Maybe one of these holidays, we can all be together to celebrate the particular holiday.
Our military son sounded a little lonely because he hasn't been home since April 6. He missed his son's one year old birthday party, and he couldn't celebrate Mother's Day with his wife. This is another reason that we should thank everyone in the military for the sacrifices which military families make to keep our country safe. My son also had his upcoming move on his mind. He has to pack up his family and move from Leavenworth, Kansas to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia during mid June. Since he is currently doing some training in Tucson, Arizona he is trying to figure out how he is going to get his family moved.
I don't think that many of us would like the life style of moving to a new military base every two or three years. Joining the military service to "see the world" might be a little misleading.
Our son from Tewksbury spent Mother's Day together with his wife and son. Our grandson continues to love his matchbox cars. Every time we do a little cleaning in our house, we find a Matchbox under a couch, chair, coffee table, etc.
We receive pictures on an almost daily basis from our sons / and or their wives. The technology keeps us connected even if we can't be with them.
Social Calendar -- I am the only one who has something on our calendar today. I have a UNICO Board meeting at 6 PM. Even though Linda has no commitments, she will be heading off to get some pictures made for her Grandmother's Album at some point today. She likes the photo processing machines at CVS over the Walmart ones.
Weather -- The weather channel is forecasting 4 or 5 days of sunshine without a hint of rain for us in the Berkshires. I have to see it to believe it.
It looks like Memphis, and the Mississippi river are on a collision course. I might whine about cool weather in the Berkshires, but at least we don't have to worry about rivers overflowing their banks and destroying homes and lives.
Politics -- Our President made some comments on a talk program that Pakistan might have helped Osama Bin Laden hide in that compound where our military found, and eventually killed him.
It was actually a quiet weekend in most of the countries around the world. Could they have been celebrating Mother's Day too?
Our social calendar after today is pretty much filled up right through the end of May. We have at least three UNICO fundraisers booked in right now. One of them takes place on Thursday.
Observation -- Dull knives can hurt you more than sharp ones! While at the cookout on Sunday, I need to cut up some Kielbasa after my friend grilled it. I went into a drawer full of knives at the home which we were at to find an appropriate knife to slice up the Kielbasa. Every knife which I found was dull as can be. From now on, I am going to keep my knife sharpening tools in my car. Every party that Linda and I get invited to will have sharpened knives before we go home, or I will bring my own set of knives with me. I sometimes watch the people who own these dull knives proceed to chop and dice vegetables, slice up steaks, etc. They are so used to using dull knives that it has become their way of life. Once in a while I am asked to slice up lemons and limes for the beverage portion of a party. Did you ever try and cut lemons and limes with a dull knife? You may think that I am a bit anal retentive, but if you have been in the kitchen as often as I have been, you would know how important is to work with sharp knives.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Linda and I had a very pleasant one. The cook out that we were invited to became a cook in. We tried to sit outside for a little while until the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. A friend did grill the Kielbasa and the burgers outside, but we ate the food at the dinning room table. Besides the meat, we had potato salad, and grilled vegetables. For dessert, a friend made lemon squares, and a strawberry / rhubarb pie. A person at the party who doesn't love rhubarb said that it was the best rhubarb pie that he had ever eaten. He had a couple of pieces of the pie.
Both of our sons called Linda to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. Maybe one of these holidays, we can all be together to celebrate the particular holiday.
Our military son sounded a little lonely because he hasn't been home since April 6. He missed his son's one year old birthday party, and he couldn't celebrate Mother's Day with his wife. This is another reason that we should thank everyone in the military for the sacrifices which military families make to keep our country safe. My son also had his upcoming move on his mind. He has to pack up his family and move from Leavenworth, Kansas to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia during mid June. Since he is currently doing some training in Tucson, Arizona he is trying to figure out how he is going to get his family moved.
I don't think that many of us would like the life style of moving to a new military base every two or three years. Joining the military service to "see the world" might be a little misleading.
Our son from Tewksbury spent Mother's Day together with his wife and son. Our grandson continues to love his matchbox cars. Every time we do a little cleaning in our house, we find a Matchbox under a couch, chair, coffee table, etc.
We receive pictures on an almost daily basis from our sons / and or their wives. The technology keeps us connected even if we can't be with them.
Social Calendar -- I am the only one who has something on our calendar today. I have a UNICO Board meeting at 6 PM. Even though Linda has no commitments, she will be heading off to get some pictures made for her Grandmother's Album at some point today. She likes the photo processing machines at CVS over the Walmart ones.
Weather -- The weather channel is forecasting 4 or 5 days of sunshine without a hint of rain for us in the Berkshires. I have to see it to believe it.
It looks like Memphis, and the Mississippi river are on a collision course. I might whine about cool weather in the Berkshires, but at least we don't have to worry about rivers overflowing their banks and destroying homes and lives.
Politics -- Our President made some comments on a talk program that Pakistan might have helped Osama Bin Laden hide in that compound where our military found, and eventually killed him.
It was actually a quiet weekend in most of the countries around the world. Could they have been celebrating Mother's Day too?
Our social calendar after today is pretty much filled up right through the end of May. We have at least three UNICO fundraisers booked in right now. One of them takes place on Thursday.
Observation -- Dull knives can hurt you more than sharp ones! While at the cookout on Sunday, I need to cut up some Kielbasa after my friend grilled it. I went into a drawer full of knives at the home which we were at to find an appropriate knife to slice up the Kielbasa. Every knife which I found was dull as can be. From now on, I am going to keep my knife sharpening tools in my car. Every party that Linda and I get invited to will have sharpened knives before we go home, or I will bring my own set of knives with me. I sometimes watch the people who own these dull knives proceed to chop and dice vegetables, slice up steaks, etc. They are so used to using dull knives that it has become their way of life. Once in a while I am asked to slice up lemons and limes for the beverage portion of a party. Did you ever try and cut lemons and limes with a dull knife? You may think that I am a bit anal retentive, but if you have been in the kitchen as often as I have been, you would know how important is to work with sharp knives.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day from Pittsfield
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned for Linda and me in the Berkshires.
The Kentucky Derby party was great especially since Linda picked the winning horse, and I had a place ticket on the same horse. Neither of us knew what horse the other person was betting. Linda won $45 and I won $20. Too bad that we didn't place our bets at an off track betting parlor just over the mountain in New York State.
Our homemade ham salad sandwiches and tuna salad finger sandwiches were a big hit once again at the Derby Party.
The party broke up at 7 PM, but the evening didn't end for Linda and me. We went off to meet some friends at Patrick's Pub. They had just finished eating so we had a beverage and moved on to O'Laughlin's Pub. Linda and I had a quick snack while our friends had some beverages. We then headed off to a place called the "Back Nine", which used to be called the General Electric Athletic Association. They had a live band called Whiskey City, and they were great.
We left after the band completed their first set which was around 11 PM. Our friends partied on without the Curley's. Many of my former students were at the "Back Nine", and I was constantly quizzed to see if I could remember their names. They had to remind me who they were because I had no clue!
I am a little late with my daily blog because I woke up at 6 AM, and I started chopping up vegetables. We got invited to a cookout today, and I was asked to bring grilled vegetables. There will be 3 couples for sure, and 2 more who will arrive late. I fired up the grill at 6:30 AM, and it took me until 7:30 AM to finish grilling the vegetables.
When Linda came downstairs she noticed that I had on a pajama top, and underwear. She asked me if I did the grilling in my underwear. I said: "Yes". She also asked if I went out to the driveway in my underwear to get the local newspaper and the Boston Globe. I also said: "Yes". I guess that I must have done too much partying on Saturday night. Good thing that my underwear was almost the same color of my pajama top. Good thing that I have a wife who makes sure I don't walk out the door improperly dressed most of the time.
It is Mother's Day! As I always say most of our Holiday's are too short. All of us should thank our mothers profusely for all that they have done for us since we were born. Even though my mother is struggling to remember certain family members right now, I will only focus on those things that she did for the family to get us through some difficult times as we were growing up. My mother was a stay at home mom, and she did it all. She was the one who scrimped and saved, paid the bills, made sure that we were well fed, and made sure we were loved. My father and mother were great role models for us kids, and hopefully we have passed on what we have learned from them to our children. As we watch our two sons and their families, and how they interact with their own children, we can see that the chain has never been broken. Happy Mother's Day to all of you! Happy Mother's Day to my Linda! Moms are the glue which keeps families together.
Weather -- We have a day of warmth and abundant sunshine forecasted for today. It is so nice that we are going to have summer like weather for a change, and it looks like the next few days will be summer like too.
Well, Linda and I have to finish our Sunday routine before heading off to the cookout. Talk to you soon! The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned for Linda and me in the Berkshires.
The Kentucky Derby party was great especially since Linda picked the winning horse, and I had a place ticket on the same horse. Neither of us knew what horse the other person was betting. Linda won $45 and I won $20. Too bad that we didn't place our bets at an off track betting parlor just over the mountain in New York State.
Our homemade ham salad sandwiches and tuna salad finger sandwiches were a big hit once again at the Derby Party.
The party broke up at 7 PM, but the evening didn't end for Linda and me. We went off to meet some friends at Patrick's Pub. They had just finished eating so we had a beverage and moved on to O'Laughlin's Pub. Linda and I had a quick snack while our friends had some beverages. We then headed off to a place called the "Back Nine", which used to be called the General Electric Athletic Association. They had a live band called Whiskey City, and they were great.
We left after the band completed their first set which was around 11 PM. Our friends partied on without the Curley's. Many of my former students were at the "Back Nine", and I was constantly quizzed to see if I could remember their names. They had to remind me who they were because I had no clue!
I am a little late with my daily blog because I woke up at 6 AM, and I started chopping up vegetables. We got invited to a cookout today, and I was asked to bring grilled vegetables. There will be 3 couples for sure, and 2 more who will arrive late. I fired up the grill at 6:30 AM, and it took me until 7:30 AM to finish grilling the vegetables.
When Linda came downstairs she noticed that I had on a pajama top, and underwear. She asked me if I did the grilling in my underwear. I said: "Yes". She also asked if I went out to the driveway in my underwear to get the local newspaper and the Boston Globe. I also said: "Yes". I guess that I must have done too much partying on Saturday night. Good thing that my underwear was almost the same color of my pajama top. Good thing that I have a wife who makes sure I don't walk out the door improperly dressed most of the time.
It is Mother's Day! As I always say most of our Holiday's are too short. All of us should thank our mothers profusely for all that they have done for us since we were born. Even though my mother is struggling to remember certain family members right now, I will only focus on those things that she did for the family to get us through some difficult times as we were growing up. My mother was a stay at home mom, and she did it all. She was the one who scrimped and saved, paid the bills, made sure that we were well fed, and made sure we were loved. My father and mother were great role models for us kids, and hopefully we have passed on what we have learned from them to our children. As we watch our two sons and their families, and how they interact with their own children, we can see that the chain has never been broken. Happy Mother's Day to all of you! Happy Mother's Day to my Linda! Moms are the glue which keeps families together.
Weather -- We have a day of warmth and abundant sunshine forecasted for today. It is so nice that we are going to have summer like weather for a change, and it looks like the next few days will be summer like too.
Well, Linda and I have to finish our Sunday routine before heading off to the cookout. Talk to you soon! The Curley Lad
Friday, May 6, 2011
Hello on Friday
Dear Friends,
It is a balmy 35 degrees as I begin this email, but the temperatures should reach a high of 67 degrees as the day progresses. In a few short hours, I will be teeing off with my senior buddies for a round of golf at Berkshire Hills Country Club. I won't be able to engage in the 19th hole activities because I will be heading off to the Corporate downtown clean up of the main street of the City of Pittsfield. I will be part of the Irish Sister City team (at 1:45 PM) who will be cleaning up the area in front of Pasko Gift and Frame which happens to be owned by an Irish Sister City Committee member. Our base of operations is the Ralph Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield which is diagonally across from Pasko Gift and Frame.
Linda and I had a pleasant day on Thursday. We went off to the Beacon Cinema to see the top box office movie of this past weekend: Fab Five of the fast and furious series. It was non stop action from the beginning to end. Linda and I were the only ones in the theater # 6 for this 1:45 PM matinee. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we ate at a Mexican chain restaurant called Hot Harry's after the movie. We each had a burrito and we shared a Coke. I missed my afternoon nap, and the afternoon Red Sox Game. Good thing that I didn't stay home to watch the Red Sox because they lost by a score of 11 to 0.
Shortly after we arrived home, I went off to a neighborhood watch meeting. We had the outgoing public health commissioner, the chief of police, a beat officer, and our ward councilor as our guest speakers. The health commissioner talked about the new blight law which the city of Pittsfield has adopted. I would bet that most people believe that the law affected the little guy who owns rental property. The print and radio media helped to fuel this misconception. The health commissioner said that 85 % of the rental property in Pittsfield is rampant with code violations. Because of the new law, the health commissioner can go into the blighted property, observe the property after a complaint has been filed, and he can condemn the property. Any renters would then be evicted, and it is the property owner who must find a place for the people evicted to live in. Once the property is condemned, and boarded up, the police can arrest people who try and sneak into the property. The police officers pointed out there are such properties where it has become a flop house for the druggies especially on the weekends. Since this property has been condemned, the police now have the right to go in an arrest anyone who is in that building. After hearing multiple stories from the health commissioner and police officers, I am so happy that we in Pittsfield have instituted the blight law. Another scary thing is that when people can't take of their property, some owners just abandon the property. The banks don't want to deal with the property once it is abandoned. The abandoned property gets trashed by squatters, and the whole neighborhood is affected by the blighted property.
The new law gives the health commissioner and the police a way to address the situation.
I see where Justin Bieber, the teenage idol / singer got egged while playing at a concert in Australia. I would bet that he didn't feel the love when the egging occurred.
Well, I have to read the local newspaper, select my golf wardrobe, and load up my car with brooms, gloves, etc. for the downtown cleanup. Linda will be enjoying multiple hours of doing things at her own pace. I think that she has a mid morning body maintenance procedure.
I also want to wish our daughter-in-law Danielle and her son Gabriel a happy birthday on this May 6. Danielle is having a one year old birthday party for Gabriel today. They will be celebrating his birthday with a party at which some neighborhood kids will be coming to the house. Danielle and a girlfriend in the neighborhood share the same birthday. Danielle and her girlfriend secured baby sitters, and they are going to do dinner, and see a movie.
Have a great weekend.
We are supposed to have a pretty good one weather wise.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It is a balmy 35 degrees as I begin this email, but the temperatures should reach a high of 67 degrees as the day progresses. In a few short hours, I will be teeing off with my senior buddies for a round of golf at Berkshire Hills Country Club. I won't be able to engage in the 19th hole activities because I will be heading off to the Corporate downtown clean up of the main street of the City of Pittsfield. I will be part of the Irish Sister City team (at 1:45 PM) who will be cleaning up the area in front of Pasko Gift and Frame which happens to be owned by an Irish Sister City Committee member. Our base of operations is the Ralph Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield which is diagonally across from Pasko Gift and Frame.
Linda and I had a pleasant day on Thursday. We went off to the Beacon Cinema to see the top box office movie of this past weekend: Fab Five of the fast and furious series. It was non stop action from the beginning to end. Linda and I were the only ones in the theater # 6 for this 1:45 PM matinee. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we ate at a Mexican chain restaurant called Hot Harry's after the movie. We each had a burrito and we shared a Coke. I missed my afternoon nap, and the afternoon Red Sox Game. Good thing that I didn't stay home to watch the Red Sox because they lost by a score of 11 to 0.
Shortly after we arrived home, I went off to a neighborhood watch meeting. We had the outgoing public health commissioner, the chief of police, a beat officer, and our ward councilor as our guest speakers. The health commissioner talked about the new blight law which the city of Pittsfield has adopted. I would bet that most people believe that the law affected the little guy who owns rental property. The print and radio media helped to fuel this misconception. The health commissioner said that 85 % of the rental property in Pittsfield is rampant with code violations. Because of the new law, the health commissioner can go into the blighted property, observe the property after a complaint has been filed, and he can condemn the property. Any renters would then be evicted, and it is the property owner who must find a place for the people evicted to live in. Once the property is condemned, and boarded up, the police can arrest people who try and sneak into the property. The police officers pointed out there are such properties where it has become a flop house for the druggies especially on the weekends. Since this property has been condemned, the police now have the right to go in an arrest anyone who is in that building. After hearing multiple stories from the health commissioner and police officers, I am so happy that we in Pittsfield have instituted the blight law. Another scary thing is that when people can't take of their property, some owners just abandon the property. The banks don't want to deal with the property once it is abandoned. The abandoned property gets trashed by squatters, and the whole neighborhood is affected by the blighted property.
The new law gives the health commissioner and the police a way to address the situation.
I see where Justin Bieber, the teenage idol / singer got egged while playing at a concert in Australia. I would bet that he didn't feel the love when the egging occurred.
Well, I have to read the local newspaper, select my golf wardrobe, and load up my car with brooms, gloves, etc. for the downtown cleanup. Linda will be enjoying multiple hours of doing things at her own pace. I think that she has a mid morning body maintenance procedure.
I also want to wish our daughter-in-law Danielle and her son Gabriel a happy birthday on this May 6. Danielle is having a one year old birthday party for Gabriel today. They will be celebrating his birthday with a party at which some neighborhood kids will be coming to the house. Danielle and a girlfriend in the neighborhood share the same birthday. Danielle and her girlfriend secured baby sitters, and they are going to do dinner, and see a movie.
Have a great weekend.
We are supposed to have a pretty good one weather wise.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Hello on Thursday
Dear Friends,
I am off to a late start today due to my sports watching and listening. My dinner after my UNICO scholarship meeting didn't happen, but that was okay because I had a chance to watch the Red Sox, and Boston Bruins. The Bruins were winners, but the Red Sox failed to win their extra inning contest.
The Red Sox game never ended until 2:45 AM. I was listening to the game on radio hoping that I would fall asleep. The game started at 7 PM. There was a two hour rain delay. The Red Sox were two runs behind, and they tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning. They finally lost the game in the 13th inning.
I don't know how these ball players can be rested and ready to play for today's 1:30 PM game.
It is a balmy 42 degrees right now, and we aren't supposed to get out of the lower 50's. I had to turn the heat back on. Oh Darn!
I never got a chance to talk with Linda to find out how her BONCO session went. She will fill me in when she wakes up.
I am the only one socially engaged this evening. I will be attending a Neighborhood Watch meeting at 6:30 PM. Linda does have to pick up a few items at a grocery store, and that is it for her commitments.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Every Mexican restaurant in the county is celebrating the event in some form today, but I am not sure if Linda and I will be doing so.
It is good that President Obama is not going to release the bloody body photographs of Osama Bin Laden. The terrorists will use the photos against the big, bad Americans.
Politics at the local level -- The war of words from the mayoral candidates in Pittsfield are just about ready to begin. We will hear the typical rhetoric of: Cutting the waste in government, reducing taxes, maintaining a strong fire and police department, and a commitment to public education, fixing our pot hole laden roads, addressing the gang and drug problem, etc.
I want these candidates to tell me where the waste is. A good portion the the city budget is the salaries of the employees on the municipal side as well as the employees in the school department. There is also a large unfunded liability with respect to retired municipal and teacher pensions. What I am trying to say is that I want these candidates to tell me how they are going to accomplish the above mentioned goals with so little funds left over once you pay the salaries of the city employees.
The price of everything in our lives are going up. This means that the price of running government is going up. I want to see how many of the candidates promise us that they won't increase taxes if they are elected Mayor. Even a nominal increase has to take place just to keep the services which we now have.
The scenario which I described will be repeated throughout the nation in all sized communities.
I am watching the Today Show as I am composing this email. They have a American lady from Oregon that went in for oral surgery, and came out of the surgery speaking with a British accent. She has been speaking with this new accent for over a year, and she will not return to her normal American accent. She is one of several documented cases of this happening. She has been tested to see if she could be faking the accent, and the new accent was found to be real. I go to the dentist so often, could it happen to me?
The Brodeur Lad continues to do well at his home after his kidney transplant. When he went in for some blood work tests the other day, the tests showed that his body is accepting his new kidney quite nicely. He is also relieved that he doesn't have to go through dialysis three times per week. He still has a while to go before his body returns to completely normal, but everything is heading in a positive direction. When the positives outweigh the negatives, it can certainly lift anyone's spirits.
It is hard to believe that Mother's Day is this Sunday. Mother's Day for us has changed dramatically over the past few years since my mother has been in a nursing home. Linda and I used to host a Mother's Day cookout (sometimes a cook in depending on the weather). We would have my parents, some Aunts and Uncles who live locally, and my sister and her family at the cookout. This year it is just Linda and me. I am not sure what we are going to do on Mother's Day. Has this day for us turned to just another day of the week for us? Oh Darn!
Well, I have to get dressed. I might have to go into a storage bucket and retrieve a moc turtle neck that I put away a week ago. I had a chill all day long on Wednesday, and I don't want to spend another day feeling that way today.
Have a great Thursday!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
I am off to a late start today due to my sports watching and listening. My dinner after my UNICO scholarship meeting didn't happen, but that was okay because I had a chance to watch the Red Sox, and Boston Bruins. The Bruins were winners, but the Red Sox failed to win their extra inning contest.
The Red Sox game never ended until 2:45 AM. I was listening to the game on radio hoping that I would fall asleep. The game started at 7 PM. There was a two hour rain delay. The Red Sox were two runs behind, and they tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning. They finally lost the game in the 13th inning.
I don't know how these ball players can be rested and ready to play for today's 1:30 PM game.
It is a balmy 42 degrees right now, and we aren't supposed to get out of the lower 50's. I had to turn the heat back on. Oh Darn!
I never got a chance to talk with Linda to find out how her BONCO session went. She will fill me in when she wakes up.
I am the only one socially engaged this evening. I will be attending a Neighborhood Watch meeting at 6:30 PM. Linda does have to pick up a few items at a grocery store, and that is it for her commitments.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Every Mexican restaurant in the county is celebrating the event in some form today, but I am not sure if Linda and I will be doing so.
It is good that President Obama is not going to release the bloody body photographs of Osama Bin Laden. The terrorists will use the photos against the big, bad Americans.
Politics at the local level -- The war of words from the mayoral candidates in Pittsfield are just about ready to begin. We will hear the typical rhetoric of: Cutting the waste in government, reducing taxes, maintaining a strong fire and police department, and a commitment to public education, fixing our pot hole laden roads, addressing the gang and drug problem, etc.
I want these candidates to tell me where the waste is. A good portion the the city budget is the salaries of the employees on the municipal side as well as the employees in the school department. There is also a large unfunded liability with respect to retired municipal and teacher pensions. What I am trying to say is that I want these candidates to tell me how they are going to accomplish the above mentioned goals with so little funds left over once you pay the salaries of the city employees.
The price of everything in our lives are going up. This means that the price of running government is going up. I want to see how many of the candidates promise us that they won't increase taxes if they are elected Mayor. Even a nominal increase has to take place just to keep the services which we now have.
The scenario which I described will be repeated throughout the nation in all sized communities.
I am watching the Today Show as I am composing this email. They have a American lady from Oregon that went in for oral surgery, and came out of the surgery speaking with a British accent. She has been speaking with this new accent for over a year, and she will not return to her normal American accent. She is one of several documented cases of this happening. She has been tested to see if she could be faking the accent, and the new accent was found to be real. I go to the dentist so often, could it happen to me?
The Brodeur Lad continues to do well at his home after his kidney transplant. When he went in for some blood work tests the other day, the tests showed that his body is accepting his new kidney quite nicely. He is also relieved that he doesn't have to go through dialysis three times per week. He still has a while to go before his body returns to completely normal, but everything is heading in a positive direction. When the positives outweigh the negatives, it can certainly lift anyone's spirits.
It is hard to believe that Mother's Day is this Sunday. Mother's Day for us has changed dramatically over the past few years since my mother has been in a nursing home. Linda and I used to host a Mother's Day cookout (sometimes a cook in depending on the weather). We would have my parents, some Aunts and Uncles who live locally, and my sister and her family at the cookout. This year it is just Linda and me. I am not sure what we are going to do on Mother's Day. Has this day for us turned to just another day of the week for us? Oh Darn!
Well, I have to get dressed. I might have to go into a storage bucket and retrieve a moc turtle neck that I put away a week ago. I had a chill all day long on Wednesday, and I don't want to spend another day feeling that way today.
Have a great Thursday!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Hello on Wednesday
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned in Curley World.
The VNA nurse, who came to our house on Tuesday, is guessing that when Linda sees the Wound Clinic doctor on Friday, the medical staff might say that the Hernia from Hell ordeal is finally over. The wound area is so small that the nurses can just about fit any packing material in that area.
Linda had fun playing Mah Jongg with her lady friends on Tuesday. For two weeks in a row, she has been on the positive side of winning. Hadassah is having a fundraiser Mah Jongg tournament in June at the Cranwell Resort and Spa. Linda is signing up for the event. Could her friends be working on Linda to get her to join one of the local Temples?
I was in a lazy mood yesterday, so I didn't accomplish hardly anything at all.
The most I did yesterday was to prepare a pork loin dinner with all the fixings for supper. This is one of the joys of retirement with respect to doing anything you want, the procrastination of any projects, etc.
My friends who attended the Red Sox game at Fenway Park saw a great game. It was a pitchers duel for the first 6 or 7 innings of the game before the Red Sox bats came alive.
My Boston Celtics are 0 and 2 in the second round of the NBA playoffs. The other team seems to have younger players who appear to be heading for a NBA championship unless there is a decided turnaround for Boston.
Social Calendar -- Linda had to decide which of four events that she would attend this evening. BONCO won out, but it wasn't her first or second choice. She has been playing BONCO for over 34 years so she felt obligated. She really wanted to go to an all girls' cookout which has been on her social calendar for over a month. The second choice, which was to attend a dinner party at an Irish Sister City friend's home, almost won out too.
My social calendar involves a 5 PM UNICO Scholarship meeting at the chairperson's home. I will then proceed to the dinner party mentioned above.
Our Grandchild Isabelle from Kansas, soon to be Georgia, has been calling us over the past few nights. The three year old told us that she got her toes painted yesterday, and that she now has purple toes. We should be getting a picture of the painted toes today. I asked her if she was going to paint her brother's toes too. Not! Her brother Gabriel turns one year old this Friday. Linda and I wish that were there in Kansas to give both of those cherubs a big hug. We haven't seen them since mid January. As a matter of fact, our son hasn't been home since April 6 (training in Arizona), and super mom Danielle has been doing it all. Danielle and the two grandchildren will be visiting our son over the Memorial Day weekend in Tucson. They will be back together during mid June!
While I was off doing errands on Tuesday, I had to go to a grocery store. On the sidewalk right outside of the store, there were cigarette butts everywhere. I have a decreased sense of smell, but the sight of them, and the smell of them was disgusting. If that was my store, I would have had someone sweep up those butts.
Speaking of a sense of smell, I was sitting on a bench outside a store at the Lee Outlets the other day. A woman asked if she could sit on the bench too. I said: "Yes". Once again, a total stranger found a need to start up a conversation with me. I must project this friendly and non threatening personality. Most of the time men are sitting on these benches waiting for their wives or significant others. This lady said that her husband was in a shoe store, but she couldn't go with him because she is allergic to the smell of leather. She said that since the shoe store was relatively small, the odor is concentrated, and she had to leave the store. She also said that if she walks down the isle of a supermarket that has cleaning products, she gets sick too. I didn't ask her, but I am guessing that the husband might be in charge of cleaning the bathrooms in their home. He probably is in charge of doing laundry too!
I also got to thinking that this lady would not have a closet full of leather shoes, or leather pocket books. Her allergy might have some positive things to think about.
The Osama Bin Laden death is still causing quite a stir. Some people want to see his bullet ridden body, the burial at sea, etc. So many of our citizens don't trust our government at all!
Speaking of government, some the people in those tornado ravaged areas, and those flooded areas are the same people who want less government involvement in their lives. When their home and lives have been destroyed, they are the first ones who want help from the government. Do some people want it both ways?
Weather -- The rain finally arrived for us in the Berkshires. It is one of those gentle May showers that will jump start the growth of everything in the Berkshires. We might get a half an inch of rain before it is all over.
We finally received an invitation for the annual Kentucky Derby Party at a friend's home on Saturday. The 4 PM until 7 PM party is a lot of fun. Mint Juleps will be the main beverage of the party, of course in moderation.
Have a great Wednesday.
I have to put out the trash, and finish my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned in Curley World.
The VNA nurse, who came to our house on Tuesday, is guessing that when Linda sees the Wound Clinic doctor on Friday, the medical staff might say that the Hernia from Hell ordeal is finally over. The wound area is so small that the nurses can just about fit any packing material in that area.
Linda had fun playing Mah Jongg with her lady friends on Tuesday. For two weeks in a row, she has been on the positive side of winning. Hadassah is having a fundraiser Mah Jongg tournament in June at the Cranwell Resort and Spa. Linda is signing up for the event. Could her friends be working on Linda to get her to join one of the local Temples?
I was in a lazy mood yesterday, so I didn't accomplish hardly anything at all.
The most I did yesterday was to prepare a pork loin dinner with all the fixings for supper. This is one of the joys of retirement with respect to doing anything you want, the procrastination of any projects, etc.
My friends who attended the Red Sox game at Fenway Park saw a great game. It was a pitchers duel for the first 6 or 7 innings of the game before the Red Sox bats came alive.
My Boston Celtics are 0 and 2 in the second round of the NBA playoffs. The other team seems to have younger players who appear to be heading for a NBA championship unless there is a decided turnaround for Boston.
Social Calendar -- Linda had to decide which of four events that she would attend this evening. BONCO won out, but it wasn't her first or second choice. She has been playing BONCO for over 34 years so she felt obligated. She really wanted to go to an all girls' cookout which has been on her social calendar for over a month. The second choice, which was to attend a dinner party at an Irish Sister City friend's home, almost won out too.
My social calendar involves a 5 PM UNICO Scholarship meeting at the chairperson's home. I will then proceed to the dinner party mentioned above.
Our Grandchild Isabelle from Kansas, soon to be Georgia, has been calling us over the past few nights. The three year old told us that she got her toes painted yesterday, and that she now has purple toes. We should be getting a picture of the painted toes today. I asked her if she was going to paint her brother's toes too. Not! Her brother Gabriel turns one year old this Friday. Linda and I wish that were there in Kansas to give both of those cherubs a big hug. We haven't seen them since mid January. As a matter of fact, our son hasn't been home since April 6 (training in Arizona), and super mom Danielle has been doing it all. Danielle and the two grandchildren will be visiting our son over the Memorial Day weekend in Tucson. They will be back together during mid June!
While I was off doing errands on Tuesday, I had to go to a grocery store. On the sidewalk right outside of the store, there were cigarette butts everywhere. I have a decreased sense of smell, but the sight of them, and the smell of them was disgusting. If that was my store, I would have had someone sweep up those butts.
Speaking of a sense of smell, I was sitting on a bench outside a store at the Lee Outlets the other day. A woman asked if she could sit on the bench too. I said: "Yes". Once again, a total stranger found a need to start up a conversation with me. I must project this friendly and non threatening personality. Most of the time men are sitting on these benches waiting for their wives or significant others. This lady said that her husband was in a shoe store, but she couldn't go with him because she is allergic to the smell of leather. She said that since the shoe store was relatively small, the odor is concentrated, and she had to leave the store. She also said that if she walks down the isle of a supermarket that has cleaning products, she gets sick too. I didn't ask her, but I am guessing that the husband might be in charge of cleaning the bathrooms in their home. He probably is in charge of doing laundry too!
I also got to thinking that this lady would not have a closet full of leather shoes, or leather pocket books. Her allergy might have some positive things to think about.
The Osama Bin Laden death is still causing quite a stir. Some people want to see his bullet ridden body, the burial at sea, etc. So many of our citizens don't trust our government at all!
Speaking of government, some the people in those tornado ravaged areas, and those flooded areas are the same people who want less government involvement in their lives. When their home and lives have been destroyed, they are the first ones who want help from the government. Do some people want it both ways?
Weather -- The rain finally arrived for us in the Berkshires. It is one of those gentle May showers that will jump start the growth of everything in the Berkshires. We might get a half an inch of rain before it is all over.
We finally received an invitation for the annual Kentucky Derby Party at a friend's home on Saturday. The 4 PM until 7 PM party is a lot of fun. Mint Juleps will be the main beverage of the party, of course in moderation.
Have a great Wednesday.
I have to put out the trash, and finish my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Hello on Tuesday
Dear Friends,
Our Monday went exactly as planned including the Red Sox winning their game against the Los Angeles Angels while the Boston Bruins were winning their overtime game against the Philadelphia Fliers.
A bus of Jimmy Fund volunteers from Pittsfield are going to tonight's Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston. The bus and the Red Sox tickets to the game are free of charge.
Before I did get to watch any sports, we did have that Political gathering at the ITAM for one of the Mayoral Candidates (Peter Marchetti) who took out nomination papers on the first allowable day which was Monday May 1, 2011. It was a who's who of current and former city councilors, the outgoing mayor, a former mayor from a neighboring community, and pretty much anyone who has political clout. Linda, an Irish Sister City Friend, and me manned a table with political buttons, pens, pencils, stickers, signup sheets for volunteer activities, etc. We manned the table from 4 PM until a little after 7 PM.
Today Linda has her normal Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend's home. The VNA nurse is coming to change her bandage before she heads off to today's session. I have enough projects both inside and outside the house to keep myself busy all day long.
We never did get the forecasted rain on Monday. I am starting to lose faith with the weather forecasting people, and their computer models.
They are claiming that we are getting showers this morning, and thunderstorms this afternoon.
Politics -- I see where the conservatives are praising President Obama's move to take out bin Laden, but also they were saying that we can't lower our guard which all of us Americans are very well aware of. I just watched a report that a Pakistani leader is not happy with we Americans invading a sovereign nation without permission. I am convinced that the Pakistani's knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding especially since their version of a military academy was a mile from the bin Laden compound.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine. I also have to review a spread sheet of potential candidates for UNICO scholarships. I have to make my selections before our Wednesday evening Scholarship meeting.
Have a great Tuesday!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our Monday went exactly as planned including the Red Sox winning their game against the Los Angeles Angels while the Boston Bruins were winning their overtime game against the Philadelphia Fliers.
A bus of Jimmy Fund volunteers from Pittsfield are going to tonight's Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston. The bus and the Red Sox tickets to the game are free of charge.
Before I did get to watch any sports, we did have that Political gathering at the ITAM for one of the Mayoral Candidates (Peter Marchetti) who took out nomination papers on the first allowable day which was Monday May 1, 2011. It was a who's who of current and former city councilors, the outgoing mayor, a former mayor from a neighboring community, and pretty much anyone who has political clout. Linda, an Irish Sister City Friend, and me manned a table with political buttons, pens, pencils, stickers, signup sheets for volunteer activities, etc. We manned the table from 4 PM until a little after 7 PM.
Today Linda has her normal Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend's home. The VNA nurse is coming to change her bandage before she heads off to today's session. I have enough projects both inside and outside the house to keep myself busy all day long.
We never did get the forecasted rain on Monday. I am starting to lose faith with the weather forecasting people, and their computer models.
They are claiming that we are getting showers this morning, and thunderstorms this afternoon.
Politics -- I see where the conservatives are praising President Obama's move to take out bin Laden, but also they were saying that we can't lower our guard which all of us Americans are very well aware of. I just watched a report that a Pakistani leader is not happy with we Americans invading a sovereign nation without permission. I am convinced that the Pakistani's knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding especially since their version of a military academy was a mile from the bin Laden compound.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine. I also have to review a spread sheet of potential candidates for UNICO scholarships. I have to make my selections before our Wednesday evening Scholarship meeting.
Have a great Tuesday!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, May 2, 2011
Hello on Monday
Dear Friends,
Max and I were the first ones up on Sunday. I was up before Max started making noise. I did have a chance to compose my morning blog before I heard him stirring.
I played with him from 6 AM until 8:30 AM until Linda woke up. It was so good to have another set of hands to help out with childcare as I was in the middle of making Max breakfast.
I thought that Kevin, Kyla, and Max were going to spend a longer portion of the day with us, but that didn't happen. All of a sudden, they packed their bags, loaded up their car, and they were gone. They stopped at a friend's home in Pittsfield on the way back to Tewksbury, and had breakfast, and visited with the friend's daughter who is about 5 months younger than Max.
It took Linda and I a couple of hours to return the house to that of a retired couple. You would not have known that a toddler and his parents, and their two dogs spent the weekend with us.
I needed a nap after the clean up.
I did give the lawn a trim after I woke up.
Sports -- My Red Sox won their game, but the Celtics weren't so fortunate.
I finally used my new grill, and we had some burgers for supper. We couldn't sit on our deck or in the screened in room on the deck because all the furniture is sitting in one bays of our garage in preparation of the staining of our deck. This means no parties on our deck until the deck is stained. Oh Darn!
We have an very full week coming up. Just to give you an example, I will use Wednesday evening; Linda has a Girl's cookout at a friend's home, BONCO, Knitting at Panera Bread, and we got invited for supper at an Irish friend's home. Since they all start at the same time, there might be a problem!
Social Calendar -- I have some outdoor projects while trying to dodge the rain drops.
Tonight we are off to a political fundraiser at the ITAMI. I believe that we are collecting donations at the door for the Mayoral Candidate Marchetti who we are supporting.
Weather -- The local weather guy who I am watching right now said that we are in for several cool and showery days for Monday through at least Wednesday. I don't mind the cool weather when doing outside projects, but working in the rain is not fun.
Politics -- I was listening to a sports talk program as I was trying to fall asleep last night, but the President took preference over sports. Our President was announcing that Osama bin Laden has been shot and killed. It was announced just now that Osama was buried at sea, and it was done in accordance with the burial laws of the Muslim faith.
The President said that he had secretly ordered the best and the brightest minds and military to track him down. They caught him in Pakistan.
I now wonder what crazy, but deadly person, will take over the rains of the terrorist organization.
Kidney transplant person Jerry Brodeur continues to improve. I would bet that he will be so happy to return to all the activities which he was able to do before his kidneys started to fail. It might take him a while to do so, but that is a pretty good goal to look forward to.
Linda and I are trying to find a couple days during May that we can go and visit with him. Jerry actually has a birthday this week, and it should be a pleasant one to celebrate. Both Jerry and Ginny have been longing for some positive news, and I think that they have finally have gotten it!
Well, I have to finish my morning routine.
I am going to be so quiet, and I hope that Linda sleeps as long as she wants too.
I hope that none of her friends call her until at least 10 AM.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Max and I were the first ones up on Sunday. I was up before Max started making noise. I did have a chance to compose my morning blog before I heard him stirring.
I played with him from 6 AM until 8:30 AM until Linda woke up. It was so good to have another set of hands to help out with childcare as I was in the middle of making Max breakfast.
I thought that Kevin, Kyla, and Max were going to spend a longer portion of the day with us, but that didn't happen. All of a sudden, they packed their bags, loaded up their car, and they were gone. They stopped at a friend's home in Pittsfield on the way back to Tewksbury, and had breakfast, and visited with the friend's daughter who is about 5 months younger than Max.
It took Linda and I a couple of hours to return the house to that of a retired couple. You would not have known that a toddler and his parents, and their two dogs spent the weekend with us.
I needed a nap after the clean up.
I did give the lawn a trim after I woke up.
Sports -- My Red Sox won their game, but the Celtics weren't so fortunate.
I finally used my new grill, and we had some burgers for supper. We couldn't sit on our deck or in the screened in room on the deck because all the furniture is sitting in one bays of our garage in preparation of the staining of our deck. This means no parties on our deck until the deck is stained. Oh Darn!
We have an very full week coming up. Just to give you an example, I will use Wednesday evening; Linda has a Girl's cookout at a friend's home, BONCO, Knitting at Panera Bread, and we got invited for supper at an Irish friend's home. Since they all start at the same time, there might be a problem!
Social Calendar -- I have some outdoor projects while trying to dodge the rain drops.
Tonight we are off to a political fundraiser at the ITAMI. I believe that we are collecting donations at the door for the Mayoral Candidate Marchetti who we are supporting.
Weather -- The local weather guy who I am watching right now said that we are in for several cool and showery days for Monday through at least Wednesday. I don't mind the cool weather when doing outside projects, but working in the rain is not fun.
Politics -- I was listening to a sports talk program as I was trying to fall asleep last night, but the President took preference over sports. Our President was announcing that Osama bin Laden has been shot and killed. It was announced just now that Osama was buried at sea, and it was done in accordance with the burial laws of the Muslim faith.
The President said that he had secretly ordered the best and the brightest minds and military to track him down. They caught him in Pakistan.
I now wonder what crazy, but deadly person, will take over the rains of the terrorist organization.
Kidney transplant person Jerry Brodeur continues to improve. I would bet that he will be so happy to return to all the activities which he was able to do before his kidneys started to fail. It might take him a while to do so, but that is a pretty good goal to look forward to.
Linda and I are trying to find a couple days during May that we can go and visit with him. Jerry actually has a birthday this week, and it should be a pleasant one to celebrate. Both Jerry and Ginny have been longing for some positive news, and I think that they have finally have gotten it!
Well, I have to finish my morning routine.
I am going to be so quiet, and I hope that Linda sleeps as long as she wants too.
I hope that none of her friends call her until at least 10 AM.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Hello on Sunday
Dear Friends,
Saturday went okay until we decided to go for Pizza at the East Side last evening. Max got so cranky that our pizza turned into a take out one. When we got the pizza's home, Max lost his crankiness, and ate three slices of pizza.
The day was mostly a pleasant one. Max liked being outdoors, so I took him up to visit the DiSimoni Lad's almost three year old granddaughter. They bonded quite nicely too. I also had Billy and Frankie Beans with me, and they bonded nicely with the DiSimoni dog. When we went inside to see the Matriarch of the family, Max spotted a container of Jelly Beans left over from Easter. After sampling a couple, I had to hide the container.
When we arrived back home, Kevin was washing and taking care of his car. Kyla said that Kevin has become obsessive compulsive about keeping his car in pristine condition.
Max and I took a nap at the same time. After 30 minutes the telephone rang, and it was Ginny Brodeur. She knew when I answered the telephone that I was in a deep fog. She was calling to give us and up date on how her husband was doing with respect to the kidney transplant.
Jerry was discharged from the hospital, and was back in his own home by 4:30 PM on Saturday. He does have to go back to the hospital next week to be tested to make sure that his new kidney (donated by one of his
sisters) continues to do what it is supposed to do.
Speaking of kidney transplants, who do Linda and I see at the Wine Tasting on Friday night? My former colleague who has two kidney transplants was there helping out with the D.J. He told us that his first kidney lasted 18 years. They normally last about 10 years. He has had his latest kidney for 3 years. My former department head could tell Jerry a few stories about the trials and tribulations of kidney transplants. My friend is a volunteer at the dialysis unit at our local hospital where he spent many days like the Broduer lad did at Lowell unit.
After supper last evening, Kevin and Kyla left to visit a friend who built a house in the wood in a neighboring town. There were supposed to sit by a bond fire and socialize until the wee hours of the morning. We had to provide them with some cold weather gear because the temperatures dropped into the 30's last evening. I just turned the heat back on to take the chill out of the first floor of the house.
We are supposed to have abundant sunshine with a high of 68 degrees today. From Monday through Saturday of next week, cooler temperatures highs in the 50's are predicted. There is a chance of rain for each one of those days too.
Today, Kevin and Kyla are going off to brunch with a bunch of their friends. I am not sure of when they are heading back to Tewksbury. When they do leave Pittsfield, my lawn will be getting a trim before a rainy next week arrives.
During Saturday afternoon, we coordinated a visit with my mother and father at the nursing home. Max was a bit active, but at least he got to see his great grandparents.
My Boston Bruins won the first game of the next round of the playoffs. They beat the Philadelphia Flyer on their home turf. My Red Sox lost another home game. They are in a funk right now, and they are losing to teams that they should beat.
Have to go Max needs a playmate. I hear thumping in the bedroom in which he has been sleeping. He has bionic ears, and he probably heard me when I went down stairs. We will be playing with Matchbox cars until he gets hungry for breakfast.
Have a great Sunday.
You know what Linda and I will be doing today.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday went okay until we decided to go for Pizza at the East Side last evening. Max got so cranky that our pizza turned into a take out one. When we got the pizza's home, Max lost his crankiness, and ate three slices of pizza.
The day was mostly a pleasant one. Max liked being outdoors, so I took him up to visit the DiSimoni Lad's almost three year old granddaughter. They bonded quite nicely too. I also had Billy and Frankie Beans with me, and they bonded nicely with the DiSimoni dog. When we went inside to see the Matriarch of the family, Max spotted a container of Jelly Beans left over from Easter. After sampling a couple, I had to hide the container.
When we arrived back home, Kevin was washing and taking care of his car. Kyla said that Kevin has become obsessive compulsive about keeping his car in pristine condition.
Max and I took a nap at the same time. After 30 minutes the telephone rang, and it was Ginny Brodeur. She knew when I answered the telephone that I was in a deep fog. She was calling to give us and up date on how her husband was doing with respect to the kidney transplant.
Jerry was discharged from the hospital, and was back in his own home by 4:30 PM on Saturday. He does have to go back to the hospital next week to be tested to make sure that his new kidney (donated by one of his
sisters) continues to do what it is supposed to do.
Speaking of kidney transplants, who do Linda and I see at the Wine Tasting on Friday night? My former colleague who has two kidney transplants was there helping out with the D.J. He told us that his first kidney lasted 18 years. They normally last about 10 years. He has had his latest kidney for 3 years. My former department head could tell Jerry a few stories about the trials and tribulations of kidney transplants. My friend is a volunteer at the dialysis unit at our local hospital where he spent many days like the Broduer lad did at Lowell unit.
After supper last evening, Kevin and Kyla left to visit a friend who built a house in the wood in a neighboring town. There were supposed to sit by a bond fire and socialize until the wee hours of the morning. We had to provide them with some cold weather gear because the temperatures dropped into the 30's last evening. I just turned the heat back on to take the chill out of the first floor of the house.
We are supposed to have abundant sunshine with a high of 68 degrees today. From Monday through Saturday of next week, cooler temperatures highs in the 50's are predicted. There is a chance of rain for each one of those days too.
Today, Kevin and Kyla are going off to brunch with a bunch of their friends. I am not sure of when they are heading back to Tewksbury. When they do leave Pittsfield, my lawn will be getting a trim before a rainy next week arrives.
During Saturday afternoon, we coordinated a visit with my mother and father at the nursing home. Max was a bit active, but at least he got to see his great grandparents.
My Boston Bruins won the first game of the next round of the playoffs. They beat the Philadelphia Flyer on their home turf. My Red Sox lost another home game. They are in a funk right now, and they are losing to teams that they should beat.
Have to go Max needs a playmate. I hear thumping in the bedroom in which he has been sleeping. He has bionic ears, and he probably heard me when I went down stairs. We will be playing with Matchbox cars until he gets hungry for breakfast.
Have a great Sunday.
You know what Linda and I will be doing today.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
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