Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Hello on Tuesday

Dear Friends,

Our Monday went pretty well, but I was out of the house most of the day dealing with dad issues. I will be at it again today as I open the family home in Lee at 1:30 PM so that two motorized chairs can be disassembled and brought to my sister's home in Pittsfield. Technicians from where dad purchased the chairs will be doing this work.

The home inspection at my sister's home went well on Monday. The two therapists, my sister and I, and dad arrived at my sister's home at 11 AM. Getting dad from the car to the upper level of my sister's home went pretty well. The therapist told Marie exactly what needs to be done in her home to make it safe for dad since he is a fall risk. After we took dad back to the nursing home, I did have time to weave in an afternoon nap before going back to the nursing home. At 3:30 PM, the therapist showed my sister and me what to do when helping dad climbing stairs. Since my sister spent 23 years of her life working in the hospital, she already knew what to do.
Dad's discharge date from the nursing home is March 1, 2012 at 1:30 PM.

While I was doing my thing, Linda was writing out bills. It was good that I wasn't around to bug her.

She had to prepare an appetizer for her meeting. Her meeting was a fun one where the ladies at the gathering were discussing details of their annual Cape Cod trip which takes place toward the end of June.

My UNICO golf committee meeting lasted about an hour, but it wasn't exactly what I would call fun.

Of course, we are in a winter storm watch / warning for the next few days. I am watching the local news right now, and the weathermen are all excited because they have something to talk about. I might even get a chance to use my snow blower. I really want to use the snow blower because I had to have it serviced a month ago. The weather guy whom I am watching is saying 5 inches for us in Pittsfield. Whatever snow does fall, will melt on Saturday because we will be back into the 50's. The weird winter continues!

Ohio School Shooting -- I want to know all the details of the family life of shooter who is an alternative school student. From the bits and pieces of various reports, grandparents have been taking care of the shooter. I want to know more about the 17 year old boy's parents. I always claim that as the family unit has deteriorated over the years, then so does society! Many of the troubled youths in our schools and in society in general happen to come from screwed up families. If you don't believe it, try teaching high school for more than 30 years like than Curley's have done.

Luckily we didn't have any shootings, but we did have a homemade bomb of metal parts and nials set off in a trash can in my school. This incident was toward the end of my teaching career. I think that the target of the bomb was the Principal of our school because the trash can was in the back of the school where the Principal would stand as the students got off of the school buses or out of the cars which they drove to school.

My radio talk show host, who is on my daily blog, can tell you even more stories about troubled youths (and adults) since he met many of them in the penal systems which he worked at throughout the United States as well as in foreign countries.

This Ohio tradgety wasn't the only incident in our schools yesterday. A seventh grader whipped out a loaded hand gun while in a lunch line because another student made a disparaging comment about another female student.

People keep on asking Linda and me if we miss teaching. What do you think?

Sports -- I didn't have any Boston teams engaged in any contests last evening so I decided to read a book while watching the Daytona 500. I couldn't last until 1 AM when the winner crossed the finish line. I stopped watching the race when a car crashed into the Jet Engine drying vehicle, and it caught fire. The fuel from the track drying vehicle coated the track, and it caught fire too. It was like watching a movie as they fire was put out and the track was repaired. No one was killed which was the only positive.

Speaking of sports, the weather channel has a video which they have been showing of a car which fell through the ice where a bunch of ice-fisherman had their cars and truck parked side by side. Instead of catching fish, a wrecker had to catch a car which had fallen through the ice. When a vehicle gets submerged in water, can you imagine what the water does to the electronic systems which all the vehicles have in them nowadays?

I met a relative, who is a couple years older than me, in the nursing home who was visiting his mother-in-law. I must say that I am never at a loss for words, but this relative could talk your ear off in no time at all. My grandmother Mary Curley (my Dad's mother), and my cousin's mother were sisters both of whom were born in Northern Italy.
At one point, we were chatting in the lobby of the nursing home, and my cousin knew every person who entered and left the nursing home. He struck up a conversation with all of them. I said to myself that my cousin is just like my 88 year old father. They can tell you who lived in what house in the Pittsfield neighborhood that they grew up in. My dad and my cousin could tell you almost every classmate that they had going back to Saint Charles Catholic elementary school. I wonder if I have the "gift"?

On the local scene, the female robber who has been holding up Convenient Stores while armed and masked, has finally been caught on video. Someone who watches this video has to recognize the voice of this woman. All of Pittsfield is waiting for this woman to be caught. The court system better show her no mercy when the Police catch this woman!

Social Calendar -- Linda has her normal Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend's home in Lenox. I have the dad stuff to deal with.

I have a crock pot brewing with comfort food. It is a beef pot roast with all the fixings. It should be wonderful by supper time.

Have a great day at work or school!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Monday, February 27, 2012

Hello on Monday

Dear Friends,

Hope that you all had a pleasant Sunday.

My legs did get a much needed rest, and I spent most of the day in my Man Cave savoring a book written by the author whose books are based on the television program "Bones". The main characters in these books are always trying to catch some sick minded killer(s).

I usually have the television turned on low while reading the book. I wanted to watch the Daytona 500, but I won't be able to view the postponed race until noontime today.

Before I did settle down to my book reading, I did visit dad in the nursing home. I did purchase some bird seed on the way home from the Mt. Greylock nursing home. I should stop feeding the birds because the bears will be coming out of their dens if they haven't done so already.

Speaking of animals, there is an annual rabbit hunt sponsored by a local Sportsmen's Club. They hunters claimed that the rabbit count is down. The naturalists and the hunters contend that the Bobcat and Coyote populations are keeping the rabbit population lower this year. People have spotted Bobcats in their backyard. One family said that a bobcat was sunning himself on the railing of their deck. The homeowner rushed into the house to get a camera, but the Bobcat departed for she could take a picture. Oh Darn! I was wondering if this home owner had bird feeders in their yard. When I fed the birds yesterday, I saw some tracks in the little bit of snow we have, and they weren't bird tracks, rabbit tracks, or squirrel tracks. Could the bobcats be in our yard?

Social Calendar -- I will be helping with dad going to my sister's home, along with a therapist from the nursing home, for a home inspection. The nursing home won't officially discharge dad unless they deem the home is safe for dad who is a fall risk. Dad was in good spirits, and the staff at the nursing home knows that he will be leaving soon if all goes well today.
This evening, Linda and I will be leaving the house but going in opposite directions.

The national news was kind calm this morning. There was a video showing a billboard in UTAH which somebody paid for which said "Bomb Iran!"
The burning of the Kouran's at a United States military base in Afghanistan is still causing problems for the remaining American troops who are there. I had heard somewhere that the bad guys who were in our prisons were communicating with one another in those bibles. If this was true, the Americans should have said so before they burned those bibles.

It was another evening of the actors and actresses patting themselves on their backs. The awards don't seem to all go to the favorites. It is like trying to pick the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby. Some long shot usually wins the derby.

Weather -- We have some kind of snow event heading this way on Wednesday. The weather prognosticators keep on mentioning the track of the storm. I have to see the white stuff on the ground before I believe their forecasts.
The snow budget in Boston has used $2 million of the their $17 million snow budget. What will Boston and the other communities in Massachusetts do with the budgeted funds if they don't get used up? How about lowering our property taxes?

On the local scene, we have had a rash of burglaries of Convenient Stores here in Pittsfield. The bandit hit another one on Saturday night. She comes in with a mask while brandishing a hand gun. She demands the money from the cash register of these stores. If I owned or worked at one of the stores, I would have some pepper spray or my own handgun. The Pittsfield Police are working feverishly to stop this bandit. When the person is caught, they better give her the maximum jail time, and not use any excuses for doing so like: she is a drug abuser and was robbing stores to buy drugs, or she had a terrible family life. How about the victims who go to work each day on the night shift not knowing that the bandit will hit their store soon. I am betting that the workers at the stores who have been robbed aren't sleeping well.

Well, it is back to school today for teachers and students who had this past week off. I remember those Mondays after a school vacation very well.

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

P.S. Don't forget that if you want to be dropped from my daily blog, just let me know.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Hello on Saturday

Dear Friends,

Hope that you all had a very pleasant day on Friday like Linda and I did. Breakfast with the Pittsfield High School Female Retirees went very well.
I am invited back on March 23, 2012. I did do more listening than talking for a change.
Speaking of breakfast -- Two eggs, two slices of toast, home fries, and bottomless cup of coffee for $3.99 is quite a deal for we Berkshireites. Why bother even cooking breakfast at home?

I did go off and visit dad just as the therapist whisked him away to a therapy session. I went with dad to see what he does at therapy. All of a sudden the room filled up with patients and therapists and there was no room for me at all. Dad was in good spirits knowing that his days were numbered in the nursing home. I hope that everything goes well leading up to his Wednesday discharge date.

We did go off to the Shamrock last evening with an Irish / Polish friend. The three of us arrived at 4:45 PM, and there were no seats at the bar. People were coming out of the woodwork as the expression goes. The place was packed at the bar and dinning area through the 7 PM hour as we left the Pub.
The fish last night was spectacular. Two of us had Fish & Chips, and our health conscious friend had baked fish.
All of us played Keno while we sat at the bar before we decided to sit down in the dinning room area to eat. Usually, we are not so lucky playing Keno. We turn in our slips after playing 10 games at a cost of $1 dollar per game. I didn't even know it, but the bartender doles out 5 $20 bills. Winning $100 was a nice surprise for me. I have to credit Linda for my winnings because I usually don't bet four numbers. I am kind of wimpy, and bet mostly two or three numbers. One time I even bet 1 number per game. The less numbers you play, the smaller the payoff is. Last night I decided to play 4 numbers and I was lucky enough to win the $100.

We came so early that I had time to watch the whole Boston Bruins Hockey game. The Bruins lost the game in a shootout, but it was an exciting game.

I will be leaving the house today before Linda even wakes up. I will be at Berkshire Hills Country Club with the kitchen crew of my UNICO Brothers and Sisters a little after 8 AM chopping and dicing, cutting up the multiple pounds of three cheeses which will go into the Polenta just before we serve it. A bunch of guys will be deveining the venison before cutting it up into stew size pieces, etc. A great deal of preparation goes into preparing to serve over 350 people at the Women's Imaging Center Fundraiser.

Like I said in previous emails, the day for me won't end after we get through serving the large crowd of guests. Linda and I are heading off to the Polish Falcon Hall to dance and listen to a Country Western / Rock Band called Whiskey City. I am figuring that my head won't hit the pillow until after midnight
Linda has a totally free day, and is planning on hooking up with some friends for supper before we meet up and go to the polish Falcon Hall.

When I skimmed the online CNN news, nothing really jumped out at me. The world is still in a state of turmoil. The Republicans continue to beat each other up with the latest gaffs made by Mitt Romney. If you talk long enough, anyone can get themselves in trouble which often happens to me.

Speaking of gaffs, one of the retired teachers at breakfast relayed a story to me about our son who owns the restaurant "Dough East Boston." Kevin was a student in this teacher's Honors History Class. The teacher asked the class where they should bury the remains of the Father of the American Navy -- John Paul Jones. He was originally buried in England. The students began shouting out West Point (Army), Colorado Springs (Air Force), etc. Another student yelled out Norfolk, Virgina. The teacher said that they were getting closer to the correct area that a naval officer should be buried. After several other responses, the frustrated teacher asked if there were any "Seamen" in her class. All the boys started looking at their crotches as they started giggling. Our son Kevin, who was seated in the front row of the class, whispered to the teacher that she should have used the word "Sailors" instead of "Seaman".

I was watching part of the Doctor Oz show just before we departed for the Shamrock. He was telling the audience and we viewers about ways to prevent or decrease the onset of Alzheimer's. I remember two of the three remedies. One was a liquid sage that you take so many eyedroppers of. The other one Linda and I always have in our house which was celery. The hearts of celery release a chemical which helps ward off Alzheimer's Disease. As a matter of fact, the red sauce that we Unicans are preparing today will have finely chopped up celery as one of the ingredients.

The wind is howling in the Berkshires. We are expecting 20 to 40 mile per hour winds for most of the day as the temperature drop. The few inches of snow that we were supposed to get never materialized. Our mild winter continues.

Well, I have to gather up some of my kitchen gadgets, apron, hot mitts, and liquid refreshments, etc.
Have a great weekend.
If you live in the Berkshires, hold on to your hats.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Friday, February 24, 2012

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was a spring like day in the Berkshires. The neighborhood children were riding their bicycles, and playing basketball in their driveways. Everyone seemed to be outside enjoying the weather.
Today we are in a winter storm watch until 6 PM, but any snow that we do pick up will be minimal according to the weather people.

The nice weather did cause a problem for two ice-fishermen on Lake Saratoga located in Saratoga, New York. As the two guys were fishing, the thin ice on the shoreline turned into water. They called 911, and a rescue team came with an air boat, and got the men safely off of the ice. After my ice-fishing adventure on Monday on Pontoosuc Lake, I soon realized that it was time to put away the ice-fishing gear for this season. Some people must be slow learners.

Another State gave the okay for same sex marriages. Maryland is now part of a handful of States which allow same sex marriages. Same sex marriage began in Massachusetts.

News -- I see where the Taliban are killing their own people in Iraq by way of bombing incidents.

The Arab nations are arming the rebels in Syria. Are we Americans heading into another conflict in the Middle East.

An Alabama judge threw out the case of the honeymoon couple where the husband was accused of killing his wife during a scuba dive.

The cost cutting measure of U.S. Postal Service has employees shaking in their boots. 35,000 people could be losing their job.

The daily increase in gasoline prices is being seriously looked at. There appears to be a connection between Wall Street speculators, and Big Banks. This is another example of the rich getting richer at the expense of the little guy.

The military helicopters crashing into one another during a training exercise in Yuma, Arizona, where 7 people got killed, is another example of
the danger that our men and women in the military go through on daily basis.

Update on Dad - After our family meeting at the nursing home yesterday, my sister and I decided to get dad out of the nursing home. My sister has agreed to have dad stay at her house. The time frame which was established was an 11 AM Monday morning home visitation with dad, the nursing home therapist for a home evaluation. The therapist will tell my sister what her house needs to take care of dad. On Wednesday, dad will be discharged from the nursing home at 1:30 PM. Yes, my sister and I are aware how difficult it is to take care of loved one with so many issues, but my sister thinks that she can make it happen and make a difference in dad's life. Dad's mental health is not in question. A friend visited dad during the late afternoon on Thursday. My friend's exact words was the "your father is entertaining the troops!" Of Course, my father was upbeat because he knows that he won't be in the nursing home for too much longer.

Social Calendar -- Linda and I had a pleasant day on Thursday. I weaved in an afternoon nap after my nursing home visit. Linda went off to a Thursday Knitting group gathering at Dottie's Coffee Shop from 3 PM until 5 PM.
We had a coordinated supper since Linda and I had no evening commitments. We had a pork loin, cheese mashed potatoes, and an artichoke. The early season artichoke was not that good. Linda went into domestic goddess mode earlier in the day and whipped up a bread pudding which was super. A dollop of whipped cream on a micro wave heated piece of bread pudding made for a great dessert.

This morning Linda has her Pittsfield High School retiree breakfast at 8:30 AM. This is normally a female event, but I joined the ladies last month, and I am seriously thinking of doing so today. Another male, who was the head custodian at the school which I taught at might join us too. I am really going to try to not flail my arms and dominate the conversation. I will try and be a good listener. Yeah Right!

We are heading to the Shamrock for supper and Keno this evening. We are meeting a friend around 5 PM at the bar. It won't be a long night for me because it will be a long day for me on Saturday. I will be in the kitchen a little after 8 AM to help prepare for the Women's Imaging Center Polenta and Venison dinner. It takes a lot of effort to serve over 350 guests.
My day will not end after we serve the people. I will go home and take a quick shower, and Linda and I will head off to the Polish Falcon Hall. The band Whiskey City will be playing from 9 PM until midnight.

Sports -- Linsanity didn't happen last night. Jeremy Lin and his New York Knicks played one of the top teams in the NBA. Jeremy got a dose of what it is like to play with the big boys!

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and get ready for the Retirees' Breakfast.
Have a great day!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Hello on Tuesday

Dear Friends,

I hope that all my readers had a wonderful Presidents’ Day. I know that many of you had to go to work. This is school vacation week for the Public Schools in the Berkshires so working Mom’s and Dad’s had to try and figure out what they are going to do with their children. With Linda and I being teachers during our working years, we did things with our children. When our two boys were small, I would have taken them ice-fishing.

Speaking of ice-fishing, everything started off very well for me on Monday. I made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and took some fruit for lunch; loaded up my car with ice-fishing gear, and headed off to the bait shop while Linda was fast asleep. After picking up my bait, I drove directly to the parking lot at the end of Narragansett Avenue which is located across the lake and parallel to Route 7. Everything was going well, until I hauled my sled, loaded with gear, to Pontoosuc Lake. The shoreline was watery with thin ice. I tried to figure out how the fisherman who were already on the ice got from the not so safe ice to the ice where they were fishing. Luckily, a guy saw me struggling mentally and told me how to get on the ice without falling through it. I had to drag my sled over dirt, which was not an easy task, about 150 feet to some docks which were owned by a people who live in some condos. The ice at the docks was hard and thick enough for my not so light body to make it out to the ice. I took out my auger, and drilled 5 holes into the ice. The thickness of the ice was in the 6 to 7 inch range. This thickness is safe enough for people to be on the ice. I was more concerned about the thin ice on the shoreline. I spent four or five hours on the ice communing with nature. The sun was shinning brightly so I did get a sun tan, and a little wind burn. I did get three flags, but no fish before I decided to call it a day. My plan of listening to my radio talk show host didn’t workout because I forgot that he doesn’t do his radio show on Holidays.
When I decided to pack up and leave the ice, another problem arose. The thin ice on the shoreline turned to water. The dirt that I pulled my sled over had turned into mud as the temperatures of the day rose to about 35 degrees. After struggling to get back to land, I decided that I would walk on land and haul my sled like a boat on the ice that turned into water. When I got to the access road, I had to pull my sled over the dirt / muddy road. I felt like I was getting a work out at Retro Fitness. I made a decision that I am giving up ice-fishing for this season unless we have some kind of cold snap that refreezes the ice. There were a good number of people on the ice on Monday, but maybe their access to where they were fishing didn’t have a watery shoreline. There is an Ice-Fishing derby right out of the same parking lot this coming weekend for a deceased Irish American Club friend. If the conditions are like what I saw yesterday, you won’t see me at the event.

Linda has a chicken and vegetable soup brewing in the crock pot for her Mah Jongg ladies. It looks and smells wonderful. She likes a soup that contains more broth, but I like a soup that is full of ingredients, and is a meal in itself. Linda is hosting her Tuesday Mah Jongg session. I was supposed to dine with the ladies, but I won’t be able to do so.

I have two errands to do before I make it to the family meeting at the Mt. Greylock nursing home this morning at 10:30 AM. After the meeting, I am heading to the ITAM to help prepare for a Boys and Girls Club Pasta Dinner where they expect over 200 people. I have to leave the kitchen around 12:45 PM to attend a REAM (Retired Educator Association of Massachusetts) board meeting. Since I am President of the local chapter, I must attend this meeting. After this meeting is over (in about an hour), I will return to the ITAM and finish working in the kitchen and setting up the buffet line for the Pasta Dinner.
Linda and I had planned to attend a Fat Tuesday Dinner at St. Agnes Parish Hall in Dalton this evening, but that is not going to happen. Linda said that it was alright that those plans have changed.

If any of the people on my blog are local, this fundraiser is for a good cause. The cost is at nominal price, and begins at the usual 5 PM hour. Dessert and Coffee are also included.

This event was not on my social calendar. Every time that we have a board meeting or a membership meeting, there always seems to be another UNICO event which we pick up. It is kind of unusual to have such an event the day after a meeting.

Our UNICO dinner meeting went well last evening. We had a salad, pasta, Italian Bread, a baked stuffed pork chop with all the fixings along with cake and coffee.

The President of our local UNICO Chapter became a grandfather for the first time on Friday. His first grandchild is an 8 pound plus baby girl. I keep on telling people that being a grandparent is a new phase in a person’s life. My friend said that he is starting to realize that.

Oops! I forgot to mention that Linda spent several hours of her day cleaning up the house which she contends that I make the most mess for her to clean up. She did have some relaxing hours when I wasn’t around to bug her. Actually that is not true. When called her and I told her about the thin ice that I had deal with all she could do is do is visualize me swimming with the fish instead of trying to catch them. Oh Darn!

Speaking of grandchildren, our son Kevin took his 2.5 year old son to work at his dad’s restaurant “Dough” on Monday. I wish that all of you could see the video of Max making pizza. In the video, Max is rolling out the dough for a pizza. This child knows how to use a rolling pin already. In the second video, Max is putting the cheese on the pizza. I am guessing that Max will be working in the restaurant very soon with a step stool. I hope that the child labor laws allow him to do so.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent in the Catholic Church. Maybe I could use Lent as a way to lose a few pounds. I have to decide on what foods and beverages that I could give up for Lent.
Well, if I have no willpower to give up certain foods and beverages, I could at least use portion control. On the other hand, how can a person who volunteers for so many events that involve food deal with portion control? Besides tonight’s pasta event, my UNICO Brothers and Sisters will be preparing over 350 Polenta and Venison Dinners for Saturday night’s Womens’ Imaging Fundraiser at the Berkshire Hills Country Club. A person has to sample what they are preparing to make sure if it tastes okay. We also have to sample some of the homemade wine that some of the workers bring into the kitchen. It is a never ending cycle of food, fun, and merriment, and I feel that I have to be part of it. Oh Darn!

News – The local boy who became the top Sheriff in Arizona is running into some flack that now has gone viral. A disgruntled boyfriend of the sheriff has accused the sheriff of harassment when their relationship fell apart. This also meant that the Sheriff had to go on National television to declare that he is gay. The Sheriff is trying to run for a higher political office. Arizona is not one of those States which looks favorably on gay people. Oh Darn!

Well, I have to quietly gather up all of my food preparation gear for tonight’s pasta dinner after I read the local newspaper. Once I leave the house at 9 AM, Linda won’t see me until after we clean up the kitchen at the ITAM. Hopefully I will be home around 8:30 AM. I will be one tired buckaroo when I walk in the door. I will need all of Wednesday to recover from today.

Have a great Tuesday!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Monday, February 20, 2012

Hello on Monday

Dear Friends,

Happy President's Day!

Our Sunday went as planned. I did wake Linda up at 7 AM in Tewksbury even though she was in a deep sleep. We snuck out of Kevin and Kyla’s home on Sunday around 7:30 AM while the rest of the house was fast asleep. I am guessing that when Max woke up he started looking for his Nana and Papa. Oh Darn!
We had enough time to unpack and to take a shower before we headed off to the Jack & Jill Baby Shower. I kept on saying that the Baby shower started at noon, but we were an hour late. The guests were still in the serving line when we arrived at noon. We found a couple empty seats at a table of strangers, but it didn’t take long for the Curley’s to blend right in. I had some of the 7 children in my Math classes at Taconic who belong to this very nice couple who were at our table. The other couple was just as nice, and the husband was a Vietnam veteran. The nice thing about these couples was that they were Democrats which meant you were talking with like minded people.

The buffet style food was wonderful. There was much food, fun, and merriment which took place in this packed Polish Falcon Hall. There were so many gifts that the “Mother to Be” didn’t open the presents at the shower. If she did open them, all of us men would have proceeded to go downstairs into the Members’ Bar. On the other hand, Linda would have loved to have watched her open the 40+ gifts. Linda loves being invited to all kinds of showers. After people left the hall, we both went into the members’ bar for about 30 minutes for more socialization while family friends filled cars and trucks, and brought the gifts to the home of the Mother to Be. I was trying to figure out where they were going to put all the gifts when they arrived home.

I should be at Retro Fitness right now, but I decided to get my exercise and fresh air on Pontoosuc Lake today. I am going to do a little ice-fishing and commune with nature. It is supposed to be a day of total sunshine which means I could get a nice suntan. I will bring a portable radio and listen to my talk show host friend from 10 AM until 1 PM while waiting for the fish to bite. Since I am fishing on Pontoosuc Lake, I will use steel leader line and hooks because if I catch a Northern Pike, they can cut monofilament line very easily with their sharp teeth. Even if I don’t catch a single fish, I should get a great tan. My plan right now is to leave the house at 6:45 AM because the bait shop doesn’t open until 7 AM.

Linda will love the fact that I won’t be around for several hours especially since she has nothing on her social calendar for today. I am the only one socially engaged today. I have a UNICO Membership Meeting and Dinner at Jimmy’s Restaurant today at 6 PM.

Sports – LinSanity continued with respect to the New York Knicks. The newly discovered super hero who has been sitting on the Knick’s bench for most of the season was an integral part of yesterday’s win. Jeremy Lin is starting to realize that fame has some negatives. People are starting to bug his parents!

The Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins both lost their games.

Instead of watching the Boston sporting contests, I bonded with Linda for several hours watching many police related recorded programs. When Linda decided that she had enough of the cop programs, she turned on Survivor, and I went to bed. Both of us were exhausted, but Linda has this ability to survive without taking a nap. My body just shuts down. As I think about it, I did forget to mention that we went from the Baby Shower to the grocery store. I tried to talk Linda into dropping me off so I could take a nap while she did the grocery shopping. She said absolutely not! She said that when she shops when I am napping, there is no fun getting the groceries, loading up the car, and unloading the groceries from the car, and putting them away while I am sleeping my life away. I told her that I like shopping at 7 AM because the stores are empty, and the check out lines have no one in them. Of course, 7 AM is Linda’s prime time for sleeping. Are we on different schedules or what?

I am watching the news on television as I type this email. A former Berkshire County resident is a big time Sheriff in Arizona who has been fighting the war against the people crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. He is making National news because he is running for a political office, and he had to announce that he is gay. Some issue has surfaced from a disgruntled boyfriend. I hope that the fact that this true American is gay person doesn’t affect the way for him to do his job or to get elected if he chooses to run for a political office.
During the baby shower while we were socializing with our new found friends, I brought up the fact that Governor Christie vetoed the gay marriage bill in his State. Everyone at our table agreed gay marriage and that a person being gay should have no affect on how we treat one another. “Live and Let Live” has been my philosophy of life.

Well, I have to pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and some fruit, and water for my ice-fishing adventure.

Have a great day at work or play!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Hello on Thursday

Dear Friends,

Our Thursday went as planned evening though I did not go ice fishing on Thursday. I decided to make an appointment with our tax preparation guy, and I brought him all of the Curley tax information.

After my afternoon visit with our tax guy, I went to visit dear old dad at the nursing home since the office of the tax preparation guy is ¼ of a mile from the nursing home. My sister arrived for a visit about 10 minutes after I arrived. The visit went semi-well. Dad was a little grumpy, but it could be from the pain medication which hasn’t worn off from what he was given during his emergency room visit from a couple days earlier.
After the visit ended, we talked to a physical therapist who gave us an update on dad’s condition. The prognosis was not good. Dad is an extreme fall risk, and they nursing home will not sign off on a discharge for dad because he needs 24 hour care. Oh Darn!

Linda’s day went much better than mine. She did do lunch with a girlfriend; squeezed in an hour of her 6 PM Panera Bread Knitting group gathering before she headed off to BONCO.

While Linda was doing her activities, I balled up a couple hanks of yarn for Linda, and watched the Boston Celtics lose to another terrible opponent. Oh Darn!
Jeremy Lin and the “LinSanity” that he has been creating as a point guard for the New York Knicks continued again in their game last evening. Watching the New York Knicks play basketball is more exciting than watching the Boston Celtics.

Our Thursday looks kind of free for the moment during the day. Some messy weather is heading our way for the 5 PM hour. Another rain snow mix is forecasted.
We also have to pack for a couple day visit in Tewksbury. Our plan as of yesterday was to leave on Friday morning, and head back to Pittsfield on Sunday morning since we have a noontime function to attend. The ice fishing derby is still a go for Saturday in nearby New Hampshire, and the weather is going to be kind of mild for that day. I won’t have to dress up like “Nanook from the North.”

Rakish Paddy is playing at Patrick’s Pub. We might be having supper at the Pub this evening.

I am up early because I will be heading off to Retro Fitness to be with the 4:30 AM gym rats!
I could see an early afternoon nap in my future today.

Did you read about the guy who actually had a heart attack while he was eating at the Heart Attack Grill? The Heart Attack Grill serves those giant stacked burgers that have over 2000 calories per burger. The owner of the Heart Attack Grill (located in Las Vegas) said that this was not a stunt. The video of the incident has already gone viral.

I also heard that Kolby Bryant and his wife were seen together at the Los Angeles Laker game last evening. There was some talk about some reconciliation possibly taking place even though divorce papers have been filed, but don’t take affect until June. I am guessing that Kolbe reassessed the situation, and might be realizing what a divorce would cost him financially. His wife Vanessa will have to assess the situation from her viewpoint because Kolby was the one who was the unfaithful person in their marriage. This is another example of a powerful wealthy person who feels that they are above the rules of a marital contract. It is probably good that we people of modest means can’t afford to do what some of these well off people think that they can do.

Politics etc. – It is not looking good for any Republican Candidate right now. If a Presidential election took place today, the Republicans would not have a chance of ousting President Obama. Yes, I realize that there are many people out of work, and many people who are losing their jobs on a daily basis. The gas prices at the pump are affecting every aspect of our lives. The cost of food just keeps on going up.
In the Pittsfield economy, a family owned grocery store will be closing one of its two stores on March 15, 2012. The local newspaper said that a downtown restaurant called Brules is also closing its doors. You would think “gloom and doom” for the local economy. Just stop by Patrick’s Pub this evening. The place will be packed on a Thursday night with a line of people at the door waiting to be seated. Some restaurants just keep on packing the people in. When we drove from Pittsfield to Lee last Saturday night to dine at the Salmon Run Restaurant, every restaurant we drove by had parking lots that were full. This includes the Chain restaurants like Applebees, “99”, and Arizona Pizza as well as Halpins Pub, Panda Restaurant, etc.

Well, I have to get ready to head out the door to Retro Fitness.
Have a great Thursday!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Hello on Wednesday

Dear Friends,

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentines’ Day. Linda and I didn’t see each other until after my ServSafe test. I arrived home close to 10:30 PM. We chatted about how each of our days went for 15 minutes before I headed off to bed.

The ServSafe review and test at the ITAM last night was tiring. I normally don’t do well on multiple guess tests because all the answers look good to me. Our instructor even helped us out when we weren’t sure about a particular question. When I turned in the test, I asked her about two questions, and she said that my answers were incorrect, and she told me the correct answer. This didn’t make me feel good about the other questions on the 90 question test. We won’t get the test results for a couple of weeks because they are sent off to a national testing center.

Her Valentine gave Linda a little bauble, and a Valentine card with some lottery tickets. Linda knitted me a beautiful grey tweed like toque to wear for any occasion, but I will most likely use it for ice-fishing! Linda must have read my daily blog about Whitman’s Sampler Chocolates because she picked me up a box in her travels on Tuesday.

Linda is the only one socially engaged today. She will be doing lunch with her friend who is flying back to Atlanta, and then dropping her off at her daughter’s place of employment. Her daughter will be driving her Mom to the airport, and flying with her Mom to Atlanta.
Linda has BONCO at a friend’s house this evening. I am thinking of having another Chicken Novena while she is with this group of friends.

I did have thoughts of doing a little ice-fishing today which I haven’t done this year yet. There is some nuisance weather going on right now so if I do go, I won’t be set up on the ice at the crack of dawn.

In my travels yesterday, I did visit Dad in the nursing home. He seemed to be in good spirits. He was not completely pain free, but he was less grumpy than the day before when he spent almost 24 hours in the emergency room of Berkshire Medical Center.

I didn’t get an invite to attend the funeral service for Whitney Houston in New Jersey. I am so hurt! Yeah right!

I also see where the CEO of the Apple Company is going to try and reduce the sweatshop like conditions in China where the Apple Products are assembled. When the financial bottom line of the profits which Apple is earning for it shareholders decreases at all, I would guess it will be business as usual in those sweatshops.

Speaking of technology, did you see the video of a father who shot his teenage daughter’s computer. Is this the new way to solve parent and daughter problems? He taped the event, put it on the internet, and it went viral.

Did you also read about the guy who was at a Church service the other day? He was showing off his 9 MM hand gun after the service. The owner of the gun didn’t realize that there was a bullet in the chamber of the gun. The gun went off. The bullet went through a wall, and hit a female Church goer in the head. Could you tell me why you need to take a hand gun at a Church Service?
The Bible and guns seem to go hand in hand. Oh Darn!

Did any of my readers see that one of the States was given permission to build a Nuclear Plant? No new plants have been made for almost 30 years in the United States. I am a little leery of constructing any Nuclear Plants. If they are so great, why did Germany start dismantling all of their Nuclear Plants after the disaster in Japan? Also, Nuclear Plants would be a prime target for the terrorists through out the world.
There is an article in today’s news of a Nuclear Plant in Michigan that has had some safety violations. Can you imagine living next to that Nuclear Plant?

Did you read where they caught a 10 year old Suicide Bomber?

On a happier note, the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated willing hit the stands any day now. Most of us read the articles in the magazine and don’t focus on the pictures. Yeah Right!
I like the Sports Illustrated magazine after the Swimsuit Issue goes public. You have to read the letters to the editor, and read how upset the readers are. Some people write that they are canceling their subscriptions. The readers start questioning what the Swimsuit Issue has to do with sports? The Swimsuit issue is one of the best read (and looked at), and the most profitable issues for this weekly magazine. Sex sells and don’t you forget!

Sports – My Boston Bruins lost their game yesterday. Good thing that I wasn’t home to watch the game.

Sports continued – The off the bench player for the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, made a three point shot with a millisecond left on the clock to win the game last night. This former Harvard graduate and player came off the bench several games ago, and has caused “Lin-Sanity”. A few of the stars for the Knicks have been out with injuries, and it will be hard to sit Lin when the high paid super stars come back. The way that Jeremy has been playing makes it almost impossible to get a ticket for the Knicks’ game whether they are playing home or away games. Even if you don’t care for sports, you ought to see the positive press that this guy is getting. This is like one of those American Dream stories!

Susan B. Anthony was born on this day here in Berkshire County before she traveled and lived in other parts of the country. Every female should count their lucky stars because she was the one who was successful in getting women in the United States the right to vote. She wasn’t successful on the Prohibition issue, but she did try!

On the Albany news, a father was charged for beating his 15 month old son to a brain dead state. This is another case where “Stupid people, shouldn’t breed!”

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and do some quiet activities!

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

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Hello on Valentines Day

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentines’ Day to everyone! If you don’t have a significant other, you can still treat yourself to some things that you really like. I have been reading the all the advertisements for the dinners, jewelry, spa days, boxes of candy, strawberry dipped in chocolate, etc. that we men are supposed to consider giving our sweethearts. Many of us struggle to get exactly what our significant others really desire. In our situation, Linda would like a day just to do things at her own pace, catch a movie, and have a romantic dinner at an upscale place. Well, she is not getting any of those things today!
Linda has her Tuesday Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4 PM or so. We have an Irish Sister City Committee meeting at 6 PM that I can’t attend because tonight is my review and test for the ServSafe Recertification test which is also 6 PM. I chatted with a friend at my UNICO board meeting, but he might miss the test because his daughter could be having her first child any moment now. She was due on February 9, 2012.

Observation – While I was checking out the Sunday fliers, I kept on seeing Whitman’s Sampler’s on sale. That box of candy was almost a staple in our family when I grew up. I still wouldn’t mind getting a box of them every Valentines Day. I love the fact that there is a description of every piece of candy for every slot in the box. I started off our relationship thinking that I could carry on the Whitman’ Sampler tradition with Linda, and that didn’t last too long. I know that she likes the nutty kind of Russell Stover Chocolates, and not the box of those generic creamed filled ones. Of course, if she does receive the candies which she prefers, she has to hide them from me. She knows how to savor candy, and I have not mastered that technique since I have been on this earth.
I also contend that the warm and fuzzy feelings that we get on Valentines Day should last all year long, and not just for one day of the year.

Yesterday, Linda and her girlfriend had a nice day at the Casino. Linda came home with a few more dollars than she had budgeted. There weren’t enough winnings to take some exotic trip, but she will be getting some post cards in the mail from the Casino asking her to return soon! Her girlfriend started off the day with some sniffles. By the time they had to get back on the bus, her friend had what appeared to be a full fledged cold. Linda and I have too many things on our social calendar for the rest of February, and March to even consider spending time fighting an illness.

My day did not go as planned. My sister was with my dad in the emergency room on Monday night from 10 PM until 4:30 AM. I was with dad in the same room from 9 AM until almost 3 PM which is when dad got discharged and returned to the nursing home. After all those hours at the hospital, and two CAT scans including one with dye, it was determined that my dad’s internal plumbing was causing the pain. My sister said that from her experience in Ultra Sound, seniors not only get constipated more often, but sometimes it what they call impacted. If you think about people in nursing homes like my dad, they don’t drink enough fluids, and they don’t move around enough during the day to get their internal plumbing working properly. My dad can’t stand up and walk at all right now. He spends most of the day in a wheel chair, or in bed.
From what I saw yesterday, my sister and I agreed that having dad do a transitional stay at my sister’s home before going back to his own home has now been put on the back burner. Dad needs 24 hour care that neither my sister nor I are able to provide. Oh Darn!

I had an hour to relax before I went off to my UNICO board meeting which lasted almost 1.5 hours. As I guessed, we picked up more events to work, and other events got confirmed. One event which we did pick up was a City of Pittsfield Family Fun day based out of the Controy Pavilion on Onota Lake that I was at this past Sunday. This Saturday event takes place on March 3, 2012. UNICO was asked to prepare and sell, at modest cost, hamburgers and hot dogs from 11 AM until 3 PM. Any profits realized would go to our UNICO charities.
I do remember that there is also another event in the evening at the Polish Falcon Hall. The Curley’s will be attending a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner.

Also, it was confirmed that UNICO is having their Celebrity Bartending Night on March 15, 2012 at the Heritage Tavern in Lenox. This was a fun event last year, and I know there was a table of our Irish Friends who attended the event. I believe us UNICO volunteers are behind the bar (including me) starting around the 6 PM hour. I will give you more details at a later date.

Social Calendar for me – I have a 9 AM medical appointment. I will then go directly to the nursing home and visit dad. Retro Fitness should be my next stop before I come home and start studying for tonight’s test. I haven’t touched the manual since last Friday, and there is so much that we are responsible for knowing. I will be so glad when this day is over.

Local News – The alleged “hit and run” accident which took place on Winesap in early December made the front page of the Berkshire Eagle once again this morning. A different clerk magistrate said that there is enough circumstantial evidence to charge the driver of the car with two misdemeanors. The driver has a court date at the end of February.

It was sad to hear that Whitney Houston drowned her bathtub in the suite in the hotel that she was at. Legal medication and booze might have caused her to pass out before she drowned in the bathtub.
There were two body guards right outside the bathroom door while the drowning took place! Oh Darn!

Politics -- The President's 2013 budget proposal is not a big hit with the Republicans. Taxing the rich is a real stumbling block for Republicans to agree to.

Well, I have to finish reading the local newspaper, and get dressed. Linda doesn’t have to leave the house until a little after 11 AM.

Have a great Tuesday at work or play!
Talk to you soon! The Curley Lad

Monday, February 13, 2012

Hello on Monday

Dear Friends,

Another day in Curley World went as planned.

I did a good deal of socialization at our local Jimmy Fund Derby Ice-fishing Derby on Sunday. The conditions were brutal on the ice, and I am so glad that I made a decision to leave my gear home. The wind was howling, but there were some fishermen and fisherwoman out on the ice. I met one guy who said that he was out on the ice with his family at 4:30 AM hoping to catch the big one. His family caught the big chill! It was very good that I was there for several hours participating in the food, fun, and merriment. I met a lot of people who I haven’t seen for a while. I also ran into my radio talk show host friend who did make a donation and an appearance a little before 1 PM. He agreed that I made a good move by staying in the warm Pavilion instead of venturing out onto the ice.

When I did come home, I took my afternoon nap, but I woke up in time to watch the Boston Celtics beat one of the number one teams in the NBA. I didn’t do any studying like I had planned to do so today I am going to do some seriously studying of the ServSafe Manual for tomorrow night’s test.
While I was napping, Linda did a little recreational shopping before picking up some groceries. The semi plan of hooking up with two other girlfriends didn’t materialize. The birthday girl (she is 59 years old today) from West Stockbridge had a supper prepared by her husband. Her other girlfriend was tied up with family members for most of the day.

Social Calendar – Linda is being picked up at 7:15 AM this morning. She and a girlfriend are going on a Casino trip based out of St. Joe’s Catholic Church here in Pittsfield. I had thoughts of going ice-fishing with a couple of guys which I met while socializing at the derby, but my plans changed. I was in bed when the telephone rang last night. My sister called to inform us that Dad went back into the hospital’s emergency room because they staff at the nursing home suspected that he might be having a Gallbladder attack. I have started this blog at the time that I normally would be at Retro Fitness, but I decided to see Dad as my first stop of the day. I think that I will head to the hospital to check on Dad when Linda leaves the house. I will try and work in Retro Fitness after checking on dad.
I do have a UNICO board meeting at 6 PM at the Italian American Club. I will most likely be adding UNICO events to our social calendar when this meeting has concluded.

CNN News – I see where Syria would like a peace keeping NATO force to monitor the turmoil in that has been taking place in Syria. As usual, we Americans will be involved in some manner of the peace keeping. I wonder what other country will need our help in the near future?

CNN asked a question to its readers of how we will view the death of Whitney Houston. I pretty much expressed my feelings in yesterday’s blog. When some people are put up on a godlike pedestal, they just can’t handle the pressure of living up to that status. Fame and fortune takes a toll on some of these famous people’s lives that they just can’t handle.

We had a B’J. Warehouse Rotisserie Chicken last night for supper along with all the fixings, and it was wonderful. While Linda was at B.J. Warehouse, she picked up some ham and turkey at the Deli Counter. She said the line was long because these people like Linda have discovered B.J.’s Deli Meats are the cheapest as well as best tasting meats in town. Not many people can afford the Boars Head Deli Meat that other stores keep on touting. Our son used to use the Boars Head Brand when he started his restaurant, but the high costs were cutting into his profit margin.
We do have a bunch of friends who are so health conscious that they never purchase or eat deli meats. If they ever had one of the deli meat sandwiches that Linda makes, they might change their minds. We really don’t eat that much deli meat. Linda likes to take a sandwich with her when she goes to her Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend’s home.

The Grammy’s took place last night. I hope that your favorite artist won the top prize. Like I said yesterday, these people in the entertainment business always seem to have events that keep patting themselves on their backs. I really tried bonding with Linda and watch the Grammy Awards, but I gave up and went to bed.

Well, I have to cut this blog short and read the local newspaper and get dressed. I don’t have to be too quiet since Linda has to get up soon for her Casino trip.

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

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Hello on Sunday

Dear Friends,

We had a pleasant day on Saturday, and there were no bumps along the road of life.

I did go to Retro around 10 AM on Saturday which I will never do again unless I am desperate. When I walked in the door of Retro Fitness, every machine was being used. The muscle bound guys were grunting because of the large free weights that they were lifting. They don’t even use the machines that I use because the weights don’t go much over 200 pounds. The scenery of the landscape on Saturday morning is quite a change compared to the 4:30 AM crowd. Around 11 AM more machines started to free up so I could do my routine.

I took an early nap so that Linda and I could go to the movies at the Beacon Cinema. This is another place where seeing a matinee during the week is the best and least crowded time to go. Linda did make the comment that maybe if I skipped some naps that we would go to the mid week matinees more often! We saw the Denzel Washington movie called “Safe House”. There was a lot of action, which I like. I would bet that it was based on a real story about the workings of the CIA. Even if the story was fictional, I would bet that this is exactly how the CIA works as well as many other government agencies. Oh Darn!

After the movie, we cruised “Marshalls” to waste some time before our 7 PM reservations at the Salmon Run located in my home town of Lee. While at Marshalls, I tried some sneakers on, but one that caught my eye Linda wasn’t crazy about. She called them “Dorky!” Good thing that I have a significant other who could help me will clothes and footwear selections. We did purchase one functional item. Linda now has a charger for her cell phone that she can plug into the cigarette lighter of the car.

It was so good that we had reservation for Salmon run. There were about 10 people in line thinking that they could just walk in with out reservations. It was semi embarrassing walking by these people who were waiting long before we arrived. One couple that I said “Hello” to was from the Kelly Funeral Home clan! He finally got seated as we were almost done with our meal.

It is a balmy 6 degrees out right now. The Jimmy Fund Derby started at 6 AM. I am not rushing out the door because I decided to leave my ice-fishing gear home, and to just socialize with friends at the event. When the tournament ends at 2 PM. It will be 18 degrees. We never did get any of the predicted snow. This lack of snow also convinced me not to venture out on the ice. I explained to Linda that the distance from the Controy Paviliion to where I have to venture out on the ice is a several hundred yards before I can drill a hole without the weeds popping up through the hole. If I had a quad or I was brave enough to drive out onto the ice, I wouldn’t be wimping out!
My plan right now is to read the Sunday newspapers, and head off to the Derby.

Linda is going to hook up with some girlfriends at some point today. For one of her girlfriends, I think today or tomorrow happens to be her birthday!
When I return home from the Derby, I will be studying for ServSafe Recertification test which will be administered on Tuesday night at the ITAM.

We received our ITAM newsletter in the mail yesterday. The ITAM has their winter time Polenta Dinner scheduled for March 22, 2012 (Thursday night). If any of my local readers would like to attend the function with the Curley’s just let me know, and I will reserve a table or two. Details –Polenta, Sausage, Chicken, Salad, Bread, Dessert, and coffee. Cost is $15. Time is 6:30 PM. Tickets will be sold at the door. My friend Mario DeMartino is the contact person who I will reserve table(s) with.

Since I mentioned the ITAM, They also have on March 10, 2012 Italian Serenaders from Boston’s North Shore. This musical group has toured the United States and Italy. The dinner and the show starts at 5 PM. The cost is $25 per person. My UNICO brothers and Sisters are cooking a Ravioli Dinner. The tickets must be purchased in advance. The contact number is 499-1486.

Of course, this event is in conflict with the Sacred Heart Irish night at their Parish Hall which is also on March 10, 2012. This Irish event is $10 which includes a corned beef sandwich, with pickles and chips. They have a D.J. instead of live music, but they will have Irish Step Dancers.

At the ITAM a few years ago, they had an Italian Serenade Night that was absolutely awful. We had guests from our Irish Sister City, and I convinced them to leave early, and we ended up in my Man Cave.
That Seranade group was based out of Albany, and not out of the Italian North End of Boston. I am torn between the Italian and the Irish event. I might try and do both events. I will be wearing my Italian and Irish hats on March 10, 2012 for sure!

Social Calendar – We have one busy week coming up starting on Monday and going right through the weekend. Thursday appears to be the only free day that we have on our social calendar on which we can have a home cooked meal. Oh Darn!

Well, I have to do my morning routine, and head off for some socialization at the Jimmy Fund Ice-Fishing Derby.

Have a great Sunday!
As you see the Curley’s will be busy as usuaual.
Talk to you soon. The Curely Lad

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hello on Saturday

Dear Friends,

I hope that you all had a pleasant start to the weekend on Friday. Our day almost went as planned.

I left the house first, and went off to my 8:45 AM medical appointment, but I never arrived home until noon. The medical appointment was done in about 15 minutes, but I had a lot of errands to do including my last stop at Retro Fitness. The beautiful people, who I was expecting to see, weren’t there. It was the weightlifters, and people my age or older. It was like being at the geriatric Olympics. I did see one of these senior friends who wanted to talk, but he saw that I had ear buds in and he figured that I wanted to be left alone.
I guess I convinced myself that the 4:30 AM time is the best time for me to go to Retro Fitness. Most of the people are half a sleep and they don’t like to get into long winded conversations. This is the way I feel when I go to Retro Fitness. I have my own little routine, and I like to do that routine without any interruptions.
Now if I was single, and I was looking for a female to hook up with, my attitude and approach would change.

When I arrived home, Linda was no where to be found. I guess I missed that she had another mid morning body maintenance procedure. After her procedure, she hooked up with here girlfriend; did lunch, and spent the afternoon shopping. I took an afternoon nap; did a load of clothes when I woke up, and finished reading another book on my IPad. Linda never arrived home until 5 PM. When she walked in the door, I had a feeling that she would be exhausted. She was so tired and she wanted to sit on her butt; do some knitting, and watch some of her previously recorded programs. I was psyched for going out somewhere, but it didn’t happen last night.

I grabbed some vegetables and some dip, and went down into my Man Cave and watched the Celtics loose to one of the worst teams in the league.

After last night’s kind of boring Friday night, from my perspective, I have decided that me repeating that situation will not happen again.

Retro Fitness doesn’t open until 6 AM on the weekends. When Linda wakes up, I will head off to the gym.

Politics – Our United States intelligence community is trying to determine whether the successor to the position of the leader North Korean people is dead or alive. If you remember, the son took over the leadership role when his 69 year old father died several months ago. I think that the son had a little more compassion for his people, and the tight fisted military of North Korea had no patience for a loving Despot!
There is still a lot of blood shed going on in Syria, but NATO voted not to intervene. The citizens who are being shot at and killed in Syria are asking for help from NATO and the United States.
Iran is touting their Nuclear capabilities too while all this unrest is taking place.
While this is taking place, the United States is trying to make military cuts. Not Good!
Mexico is still making drugs for the addicted citizens of the United States which is also troubling. The Mexican Police and military did interrupt a token Meth Lab the other day. When they arrived at the lab, not one bad guys was there. Oh Darn!

I see where President Obama changed the health care policy to appease the Catholics and the Catholic Church.

The Republican candidates are still “duking” it out as they go from State to State. I wonder who my fence sitter, semi conservative and Independent friends, will be voting for in the next Presidential election.

I was also thinking of all the awards nights that the people in the entertainment business have. Do these multi millionaires’ ever stop patting themselves on their backs? The cost of all those galas and the cost of the outfits that the women wear, etc., could do a lot help out to the not so fortunate citizens in our country. A few bucks to every food pantry in the United State would be a good starting place.

On the local scene, the accident which occurred at the end of our street in early December is on the front page of our local newspaper this morning. I feel bad for the driver, and the victim. The driver must be having trouble trying living with herself since she and her family are really nice people. The victim on the other hand is still suffering from his injuries. I saw in yesterday’s paper that they were doing a fundraiser for the guy at a nearby restaurant. The case is still in the court system as I type this email. A civil suit might be the next step according to the victim’s lawyers’.

There is a little light snow falling right now. A dusting to a couple of inches is forecasted. It will be cold on Sunday, but I decided that I will be attending the local Jimmy Fund Ice-Fishing Derby. A good deal of people who are on the Pittsfield Jimmy Fund Committee, and who I know will be working the event, will be there. I might not bring my ice- fishing gear, but I do the socialization part of the derby quite well. The cost is $15 dollars, and there is usually a bunch of raffle items. The fee covers the food at the event, hot dogs, hamburgers, and clam chowder which I can’t eat because of my allergy to clams! The tournament goes from 6 AM until 2 PM so that I will still have time to do a little studying for my SafeServ exam on Tuesday night.

Social Calendar – Nothing is booked in for the moment, but that might change. I would be happy to put something in the Crock Pot, and just stay home today!

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

Friday, February 10, 2012

Hello on Friday

Dear Friends,

Hope that you all had a pleasant Thursday like the Curley’s did. For a change, there were no bumps along the road of life for us yesterday.

I did show up at my appointment a bit early. I didn’t read the handwritten time, which I put on our calendar, for this appointment. The appointment was for 10:30 AM and not 10AM. I also show up early for every appointment which meant I had a lot of time to contemplate as I waited for the therapist to come and get me at exactly 10:30 AM. Yesterday was my last appointment! Yeah!

I do have an appointment today which is scheduled for 9 AM, but I received a call yesterday from the pulmonary receptionist saying that I should show up at 8:45 AM to fill out some paperwork. I am not sick. I am not experiencing any breathing problems. Since I switched healthcare plans to Medicare, they won’t pay for any replacement parts for my Sleep Apnea Device since I haven’t been to this doctor since January of 2010. Oh Darn!

Linda was a busy lady yesterday! She had a body maintenance procedure at 10:30 AM. She went back to the Dottie’s Coffee Shop knitting group for a second time from 3 PM to 5 PM. She returned home in time to freshen up before she was picked up by a friend so that they could attend their Book Club Dinner meeting. Linda is hosting the March meeting.
She never came home from her busy day until 10:15 PM. The “Separation is Good” principle seemed to work very well for us on Thursday.

It is a little after little 6 AM, and I did not go to Retro Fitness with the 4:30 AM crowd. I decided that after my appointment this morning, I will go directly to Retro Fitness, and do my thing with the beautiful people. The scenery does change quite a bit compared to what I see at the gym at 4:30 AM.

I skimmed CNN news, and the best article which I read was from James Carville, former advisor / strategist to several Democratic Presidents, most notably Bill Clinton. He assessed the Republican candidates just like he was reading my mind. He went through every candidate explaining how each one keeps on shooting themselves in the foot as the expression goes. If Mitt does get the Republican nod, the Democrats have enough ammunition to take him down especially when Mitt made that gaff of the poor people, and the safety net that the government has provided for them. Rick Santorum also thinks that women should be “barefoot and pregnant”, and stay home and take care of the offspring. Newt Gingrich, and his vision of family values, open marriages, etc., will be his downfall too. It is looking very good for the Democrats in the next Presidential election.

After I composed yesterday’s email, I read an article in a local newspaper of a couple who got arrested for stealing cans of Red Bull, and selling them to purchase heroin to feed their addiction. I guess the drug dealers need to stay awake during the wee hours of the morning to sell those illegal substances.

At various times during my travels yesterday, I listened to my talk show host friend on the radio. He and his main guest for the day said that our newly elected, Mayor Bianchi, should request a forensic audit for the City of Pittsfield to see exactly where all the budgetary funds are going. This got me thinking of our daughter-in-law Kyla (Certified CPA) who does this for a living. Her firm, located in downtown Boston, is called “StoneTurn” does this kind of work every day of the year. Their motto at StoneTurn is to “leave no stone unturned”. If there is any way that a person or a department in the City of Pittsfield is not using funds properly, her firm will discover the problem in a heartbeat. Maybe the City of Pittsfield should hire an independent firm like StoneTurn to do a forensic accounting.

Social Calendar – We have a free evening, but the Shamrock is closed this week because the owners are in Aruba using their 2 week timeshare. We are going to use one of those Radio Auction restaurant coupons which Linda purchased on Wednesday. We haven’t decided on which place to go to as of this moment.

Our week old grandchild, Piper Lee, is doing well in Tewksbury. We will be visiting Piper and her family next Friday. Even though Kyla is home on maternity leave, she is doing work from home, when Max is off to daycare, and Piper is sleeping.

I didn’t have a Chicken Novena last night. A friend gave us a piece of one of his smoked Salmon which he prepares himself. It was wonderful! My body is so happy that I gave it some healthy food for a change. We used to call fish “Brain Food”. Do think that it might help me, and my Liberal view of the political landscape?

Weather – They weather forecasters keep on lowering the high temperature for the day on Sunday, which is when the local Jimmy Fund Ice- Fishing Derby will be taking place. As of this moment, 16 degrees F, will be the high for the day.
I will be home on Sunday studying for my SafeServ Recertification test which will be administered on Valentines Day in the evening.

Our friend from Atlanta can’t wait to leave the Berkshires and get back to her house. Linda and I told her that she brought the cold weather. We have some mild weather for weeks until she arrived in the Berkshires on Wednesday.

Both of our cars need a good external washing. I am afraid to do so with the chilly forecast for Saturday and Sunday. I have done dumb things like that before, and then I couldn’t get into the cars.

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and select clothes for my appointment, and clothes for the gym. I think sweatpants over a pair of gym shorts might be the best way to go.

I did watch some sports last evening while reading a book on the IPad. The Celtics lost an entertaining game because none of their aging stars could make a basket at the buzzer!

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

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Hello on Thursday

Dear Friends,

Another day in Curley World went as planned. There were only a couple bumps along the road as we made it through the day! Of course, I caused the bumps, but that is not new!

Linda spent several hours listening and purchasing some items in the WBRK Radio Auction while I was off visiting dad, and while I was doing multiple errands.

Dad was amazingly normal. They way he was, you would think that he could be back in his own home. He appeared to be the way he was before all the falls took place. The nursing home is still working on his leg strengthening. My sister is still working hard to get her house set up for an inspection with respect to grab bars, etc., to hopefully transition dad from the nursing home, to her house, and eventually to Dad’s home in Lee. My father really wants to get out of the nursing home. 100 plus days is enough!

There were two bumps along the road, but I will only relay one story. I purchased a 10 pound bag of my favorite Chicken Leg quarters. I took out a couple for my Chicken Novena, and the rest I used my Food Saver Seal a Meal device, and I froze the rest. I used the Food Saver device on the kitchen counter. Everything was going smoothly as I was dealing with the chicken during the mid afternoon. Just before Linda left for her 6 pm Panera Bread Knitting group gathering, she lights a Yankee Candle on the stove to hopefully mask the smell of cooked chicken. So far so good, and everything was going as planned. She comes home from knitting and she doesn’t smell chicken grease which was another good sign. She notices that the plug in air freshener has successfully masked the chicken smell. She evened used the word “fragrant” as she entered the house. Well, this sense that everything was perfect disintegrated in a heartbeat. The outlet that I used to seal up the extra chicken had the plug in air freshener in it, and it cover up both sockets. I had to unplug the air freshener, so that I could use the Food Saver Seal a Meal device. When I finished sealing the chicken, I put the air freshener in the outlet, but unknowingly I put it in upside down. The liquid in the air freshener dripped for several hours on the counter. Neither of us saw the mess until Linda came home from Knitting. She discovered it because she went to get her favorite mug which had a cover and have a cup of tea. She sees the puddle of the air freshener, and the sticky mess that the liquid caused. She noticed that the air freshener was in upside down. To add insult to injury, some of the air freshener got on the cover of her favorite coffee mug. I decided that it was best fro me to leave the kitchen, and watch my sporting contest in another room of the house. I left the kitchen as she was cleaning up the mess as well as ranting and raving about my stupidity. Oh Darn!

I just returned from Retro Fitness. The same 4:30 AM people are there almost every day. More people come in at 5 AM, but I exit the place at 5:30 AM. I have a couple sets of friends who bought year memberships when they were on sale for $89, but they haven’t started going to the facility. I must admit that I don’t kill myself using the various machines, but I do keep some body parts moving. I usually watch the Food Channel from 4:30 AM until 5 AM when I am on a treadmill. This program reminds me of what I am missing by being at Retro Fitness!

While at Retro Fitness on Wednesday, I met the organizer of the Women’s Imaging Polenta / Venison Dinner which UNICO will be preparing on February 25, 2012. The organizer said that he put tickets on sale right after New Year’s, and they tickets were gone in a couple of days. People will be sitting in the Bar area too because the Ballroom is all sold out. Some people do purchase tickets, and don’t attend the function. As of this moment, we will be serving over 350 people. Some people who have not made reservations will show up at the door, and they will not be turned away. Our Irish Sister City Committee President will be volunteering as the D.J. for the event. I am the Vice-President of the Sister City Committee, but I will be Italian that day.

Social Calendar – I have my last Physical Therapy Session at 10 AM today. Linda doesn’t have to move her body until her Book Club Dinner Meeting at friend’s home this evening. She will be going to one of those McMansion types of houses. This sometimes is a bad idea because the women can then go back home and find deficiencies in their own homes.
Linda also has her shopping buddy back for a few days. She flew in from Atlanta to see her elderly Mom who lives in Pittsfield. She will be in town for a few days before she heads back to Atlanta. She will be here fore the really cold days on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday we might not reach 20 degrees for the high of the day. The weather rebounds next week.

The Jimmy Fund Ice-Fishing Derby looks iffy for me participating in it. I usually don’t go ice fishing unless the temperatures are 25 degrees or above with little or no wind. Like I said before, I am not going out on the ice without a coating of snow on it. I don’t need to fall on the bare ice and hurt my body. I am going to therapy for an issue with one leg, and some neck problems. Linda said that she is done taking care of me. She worked her butt off as my caregiver when I had quadriceps tendon surgery in January of 2006. She would ship me off to a nursing home before taking on the role of a Home Health Care provider.

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and relax a little before going off to therapy. I think that Linda wants me to be invisible today once again, but you know that that won’t happen.

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

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Hello on Wednesday

Dear Friends,



Hope that your Tuesday went well. Ours went as planned although Linda wasn’t a winner at her Mah Jongg session, but she did have fun.



I am up early on purpose. I felt that it was time for me and retro Fitness to meet up once again. I am going to try and be more faithful to working out at Retro Fitness.

Today I will be at the gym with the 4:30 AM crowd.



The Beef Stroganoff dinner that Linda prepared with the help of the Crock Pot to cook the beef was spectacular. When I use the word spectacular, this means that we could serve this meal to any of our friends, and they would love it. Linda whipped up some of those Pillsbury Biscuits that take about 15 minutes to bake in the oven, and the meal was complete.



Social Calendar – Linda has knitting on her social calendar. I have nothing, but more studying for my ServSafe recertification which takes place on Valentines Day of next week. I am guessing that our female instructor must not celebrate Valentines Day since she scheduld the review and test on that night starting at 6 PM. Oh Darn!

Since Linda dines at Panera Bread before her Knitters begin to socialize, I think I might have myself a Chicken Novena. I am thinking of preparing a bunch of Chicken Leg Quarters. I will have supper just before the Boston Bruins Hockey game.



I see where a Caribbean Cruise was halted because of the Norovirus. Norovirus is one of the terms which I have to know for my Recertification test. Our West Stockbridge friends are going on a Caribbean Cruise during one of the upcoming school vacations. I am pretty sure that the captain of the ship won’t drive the boat into a reef because of the incident in Italy, but I would definitely be a little nervous about the Norovirus. This virus crippled two cruise ships after the Italy incident. Our friends better Google Norovirus before they even step foot on their Cruise Ship. Oh Darn!



In the political world, I see where Mitt Romney’s little role was halted in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado. The voters like the politics of Rick Santorum more than they liked Mitt. Newt has really started to fade. I will have to communicate with my Republican friends who want Mitt and Governor Cristie to go against President Obama. I wonder if my conservative friend will have to do some switching of the candidates before the election takes place.



I also see where Syria continues to kill it own people. The United States is weighing their options as I type this e-mail. I think that the United State will be getting involved in another conflict in the Middle East. I am starting to not like the proposed military cuts in the defense budget.



I only drove Linda crazy one time yesterday even though she was out of the house for almost 5 hours. I decided to wash some clothes as I left the house to do some errands. Before she went off to Mah Jongg, she decided to help out so that I wouldn’t have wrinkled clothes which I talked about in yesterday’s blog. Well, I didn’t realize that clothes put on the drying rack take at least two days to dry. She took her wet clothes off the drying rack to accommodate mine. She put her wet clothes on top of the bed hoping that would dry while was at Mah Jongg, but they didn’t dry that well. This little incident means that we have a two day rule for washing clothes. Could it have been simpler to live the life of a Cave Man and Cave Woman?



I also read where the ban on Same Sex marriages in California might come to an end. I thought that California was just a liberal as Massachusetts.

Isn’t it great that our small Liberal State of Massachusetts have same sex marriage and Universal Health Care before it ever became an issue in other States. We Liberals must be progressive thinkers.



It looks like this weekend’s local Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby is a go. I might skip the ice-fishing part, and go there to socialize with all the people who organize the event and who enter the Derby. The organizer said that there was plenty of ice on Onota Lake where the Derby is being held. The temperatures on Sunday won’t even hit the 30 degree mark. I still need snow cover on the ice before venture out on to it.



Well, I have to put on some gym clothes and head off to Retro Fitness. I will also bring dad his newspaper at a more reasonable hour.



Have a great day at work or play!



Talk to you soon! The Curley Lad



P.S. 1. When I open the garage door, it will wake Linda up for sure. Luckily she has no trouble getting back to sleep.



P.S. 2. My words of wisdom might portray Linda as some kind of ill natured woman, but she has put up with me for over 40 years. Like I always say, I get some of my best material for my blog from her almost every day of the week. She is still my Valentine!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Hello on Tuesday

Dear Friends,

We pretty much had the Monday which Linda wanted the day after Super Bowl Sunday. I only drove her crazy a couple of times during the day.

The first time was when I left the house in pursuit of my missing drivers’ license. I remember taking the license out of my wallet at local grocery to show an I.D. to purchase alcoholic beverages for our Super Bowl Party. I remember stuffing the card in a pocket of my cargo pants, and not in my wallet. When were out on the multiple days partying until midnight, I also remember stuffing bills in and out of my pockets after receiving change from a beverage purchases. I checked all over the house and car as well as in coats and jackets and sweatshirts that I was wearing. I checked my laundry basket too, but I never found the license. I went off to check to see if anyone turned in the license at the various places that I went to since the first grocery store, but I came up empty. I finally ended up at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and purchased a duplicate license. This little mistake was a $25 dollar one. Linda chastised me for not having patience when I purchase items at any store to take the time to return such items like a debit card, license, etc., back into my wallet before walking away! Oh Darn!

The second item was when I hauled a box of empty bottles and cans left over from our party from my Man Cave to the garage. I left a trail of sticky spots of liquids from the furnace room in my man cave, across the floor in the Man Cave which I had just washed with the wet swiffer, up the carpeted stairs, and across the first floor to the garage. Linda thinks that I do these things just to drive her crazy, but I guess that it comes down to me doing things without thinking. This is not a new revelation!

Observation – I notice that there is quite a difference when Linda washes her clothes (which she did on Monday), and when I wash mine, Her clothes come out so good, it looks like she ironed them. Her delicates she hangs on a clothes rack. When I wash my clothes, they come out wrinkled just as much as when I took them from the laundry basket. I try putting my non dryer clothes on the drying rack, but they still come out wrinkled. Once again, I don’t have the patience to calmly play with the clothes before I put them on the drying rack. I wonder if there was some way that I could talk Linda into washing my clothes too. Maybe I will try and be a little more patient when I wash a couple of loads of my clothes today.

I will not be watching the New York Giant Super Bowl Parade down the streets of Manhattan today.

As a matter of fact, I watched no Blah, Blah, Blah, sports’ programs at all on Monday.
One of the Boston teams are playing this evening so I won’t have to hear replays of the Patriots’ failure of winning the Super Bowl for a second time against the New York Giants.

Our next door neighbor middle school girl rang our doorbell after she got out of school on Monday to pick up the cash from the Curley Super Bowl football pool. The $34 dollars which she won made her one happy girl!

Linda is off to her normal Tuesday session of Mah Jongg today. I have to return a whole bunch of empty bottles and cans at the grocery store where my license fiasco first happened.
Linda also left me instructions of setting up the ingredients of beef stroganoff supper. The beef with all the necessary spices will be cooked in the crock pot, and the noodles will be prepared just before we are ready to eat.

World News and Politics – It was kind of clam on the news front today when I skimmed CNN on line.
On the local scene, a bunch of young adults are finally getting their day in court. They knocked over 200 grave stones (many from the 1800’s), and pulled up American flags in the Pittsfield cemetery last Spring. They will be getting jail time, and then have to get jobs to pay back costs associated with repairing the stones.

I did see where a small town in Pennsylvania is claiming that the process of Fracking to get at natural gas supplies has caused pollution in their water supply system. Besides putting up Wind Mills in Berkshire County which I am against, I don’t believe that Fracking is an environmentally safe way of getting natural gas from the ground. The companies who do the Fracking claim that the process is a safe one. Yeah Right!

Super Bowl Commercials – There was only a couple that Linda and I really liked. I don’t understand how and why companies can pay advertising firms to create these elaborate television commercials, and we as the consumers can’t figure out what product that they are selling. I like it when the average person(s) create the advertisement, and their commercials become a winner. Maybe these companies should have contests where all the commercials are created by average people. We have such a large number of creative people out there who could do a much better job at coming up with Super Bowl Commercials. These companies would save a great deal of money if they used the great ideas of these creative individuals.

Well, I have to do some quiet activities, and some chopping and dicing before I head out the door to return the bottles and cans. I also have to get back to studying my ServSafe Manual. I spent and hour or so yesterday, but I will need to spend a lot more hours studying before the test next Tuesday.

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

Monday, February 6, 2012

Hello on Monday

Dear Friends,

I want to congratulate the New York Giants, and all of the fans of the New York Giants.

I have no desire to read any newspapers today because we all know that the front page will have a picture of the Super Bowl Champs right on the front cover. Oh Darn!

We Patriot Fans will have to suffer through another period of mourning for a few months, but we will all get over it.

All New England Patriot gear will be heavily discounted. I have already put away a Super Bowl flag that I had hanging from the outside of our house.

There will be no Patriot Parade on the streets of downtown Boston!

I couldn’t bear to watch the post game show so I switched channels when the game ended.

On a positive note, our house party went well. There were less people who attended our event this year, but a good time was had by all. Clean up went quickly after the game was over. Any left over food products were put in containers, and then into the refrigerator by 10:30 PM. I headed off to bed, and Linda stayed up to watch the non football programs after the Super Bowl.

I have three things to do in the basement today; Wet Swiffer the laminated wood floor and vacuum the carpet portion of the room, and put away some beverages from coolers back into the garage.

Also, on another positive note, being a grandparent for the fourth time, which happened this week, is better than any Super Bowl Game.

A middle school neighbor, Jillian Cote, won the Curley football pool. I see an envelope sitting on our kitchen table with her name on it.

Social Calendar -- Linda told me to not to talk to her, or ask her any questions. She pretty much wants me to be invisible. This will be a difficult task for me.

I did visit Dad at the nursing home on Sunday. He wants to check himself out of the nursing home, but the physical therapist doesn’t think that dad is ready to go back home. We might have a family meeting during the mid morning today to see what we can do. Oh Darn!

I did see a former colleague from the guidance department at the high school which I taught at while I was visiting dad at the nursing home. The conversation was so stimulating that the guy fell asleep in his wheel chair as I was talking to him.

CNN News --I saw where over 500 people on two cruise ships got sickened by the Norovirus which is one of the food borne illnesses that we have to know when we take the ServSafe recertification test next week.

Politics – The state caucuses continue for the Republican candidates. I think that my Republican friend, who I chatted with a couple of weeks ago, might be correct when he said that it will be Romney and the New Jersey Governor Cristie as his running mate when the Presidential election takes place.

Ice-Fishing – I do want to go fishing at some point this week, but I am nervous about the ice. They already changed some Ice Fishing Derbies from the first part of the month to the end of the month hoping that the ice would be thicker than it is right now. We have a local Jimmy Fund Derby this weekend, and I think that the organizers are a little nervous about the ice. One of the party goers is a member of the Jimmy Fund board. She said that there is a meeting tonight, and that some decisions have to be made.
The temperatures today are supposed to reach the mid forties today, What ever freezing took place over night, will turn into some melting during the day. Also, there is no snow cover on the ponds around here, and I have no desire to slip, slide, and possibly fall on the ice.
I am supposed to be participating in a derby in New Hampshire on February 18, 2012. I might want to skip the derby and go on the Polish Falcon Casino trip instead.

Well, I am going to grab another cup of coffee, and read the local newspaper, but skip the Sports’ section. My sister is going to call me on my cell a little after 9 AM to see if the family meeting at the nursing home is a go.

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

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Hello on Super Bowl Sunday

Dear Friends,

We (mostly Linda) did a lot of prep work on Saturday for today’s Super Bowl Party. We should be all set for the guests to arrive at our house this afternoon. We asked the guests to arrive starting at 4 PM.
This will be another day of food, fun, and merriment just like it was on Friday and Saturday night.

Linda was still working when I went off for an afternoon nap on Saturday. She had just about enough time to get dressed before we headed out to have dinner with another couple at Applebees. Both couples participated in the 2 for $20 offer. There was a slight problem, but not pertaining to the quality of the food which we ordered. The other couple got their dinner before ours. We waited, and waited, and the other couple ate and ate their dinner. Of course, we called over our server, talked to the manager, before we got the food delivered. The waiter, and the manager complained about computer problems when they chatted with us. They said that our order got lost in Cyber Space. Yeah Right! They offered no discount for this error.
We also had the problem of the restaurant bringing out the main meal before the appetizers were consumed. At almost every restaurant that we go to, except the ones where the meals cost a fortune, we have to remind them to let us finish the appetizers, or salads before they bring out the main meal. Good thing that we met for dinner early just in case you encounter a problem like we did.

After Applebees, we headed off to the Liam Geddes Concert at the Barrington Stage which was spectacular. The crowd wasn’t as large as they had hoped for, but the various musicians did award winning singing including the headliner, Liam Geddes. Liam is heading back to Ballina, Ireland on Monday because he is a participant in an Irish event just like the one that we have here in the United States called the “Voice.” Liam is another one of our friends and / or relatives who have great futures in whatever direction that they are heading in.

Tidbit- The couple that we went to Applebees with also sat next to us at the concert. The female won the 50/50 raffle. She bought her raffle tickets right before I purchased ours.

We left the concert, and headed off to another party at which there was more food, fun, and merriment. We once again arrived home near midnight, but the party was still going on as we exited our friend’s Man Cave.

We have another day of food, fun, and merriment scheduled for today. Linda and I are looking forwards to our day of rest on Monday. We found out that the Catholic Schools in Pittsfield and I think all of them in the County have closed their schools on the Monday after the Super Bowl. Could this be the start of a National trend to make Super Bowl Sunday, and Monday especially, a National Holiday?

The Nation and Global affairs – I think that we are getting ready for another Middle East conflict. Which country is your guess? Syria is looking kind of messy, and Iran is always a threat. Israel and the Palestinians aren’t the best of friends. Iran is ready to start something. We have some Navy ships in that part of the world just in case one of these countries needs our help. I sensed this when we visited our military son and his family in Southern Georgia in late October. There seemed to be a sense of urgency in what he and his fellow pilots were doing at their base. In my mind, they were sharpening their skills in preparation for another conflict somewhere on this earth. Oh Darn!
We definitely don’t need more of our men and women in the military wounded or killed to oust some tyrannical leader.

On a happier note, today is Super Bowl Sunday. Millions of people across the nation will be partying just like the Curley’s will be. Both of our sons are hosting parties. Our military son is hosting a party of around 30 people, but the weather in Valdosta will be 81 degrees. His party might be a pool party, and he / they might be doing more grilling than us in the Berkshires. One thing that Danielle and Michael do well is make the dough for pizza, and cook the thin crusted pizza on their gas grill. As the host, you let your guests put what ingredients they prefer on the Pizza, and my son will cook it for you. Like I said in previous emails, Linda and I taught our two boys well with respect to being able to cook and host a party of any size. All of the Curley parties today have at least 25 people coming to each party.
The parties that our sons are having will have more children at them.
We lost some of the usual suspects who normally attend our party, but we picked up a few more while partying over the past few days.

It is nice to have a party where the guests don’t have to slide down our driveway like they did last year. We had the fear that some of guests last year would fall on our icy down hill driveway (which I did salt to no avail). I was most worried about our disabled Vietnam Vet friend who walks with a cane.
I wish that more people would park in our driveway which could fit almost 8 cars. Our neighbors, the Cotes, also said that it was okay to park in their driveway because they will be attending our party too. They live in the house just before the Curley hacienda as you head south on Winesap.

The players and all the people in the nation can’t wait for the kick off and the game in general, and to see all of the Super Bowl commercials. We are all tired of all the hype which has taken place over the past two weeks.
Liam Geddes came out with a Wes Welker football shirt after intermission. He was booed by a couple of Giant fans, one of who will be at our party today. This friend and I have been going at one another at every event which we seem to both be at. I told my friend that if he is thinking that this Super Bowl will repeat of the Giants vs Patriots match up of 2007 that he is dreaming. The betters across the nation are putting their money on the Giants, but we Patriots fans keep telling them not to waste their money. Go Patriots!

Well, I am going to skim the Sunday newspapers, go off and visit dad and bring him his favorite newspaper, make a stop at a grocery store for a couple of items, and relax until our guests arrive. I might even weave in an early afternoon nap.

Linda and I hope that all of you have a great Super Bowl Sunday whether you have a quite or rowdy party.
A few years ago, I decided to skip having a party, and watch the Super Bowl alone. That decision was one of the worst decisions of my life. Super Bowl Sunday is a party day where you should surround yourself with a house full of people.

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