Hello on Tuesday Morning

Dear Friends,

Our Monday went as planned.
After several hours of yard work, I took a nap, started a new book, and headed off to Scholarship night at the ITAM Lodge.
Linda had a peaceful morning while I was doing my thing. She did have to deal with my clothes in the washing machine. I am notorious for starting the washing machine, and then walking away. I must admit that when Linda does my clothes, they pretty much come out wrinkle free. Of course, I often cause her to do some extra washing because I often dribble food and beverages over many parts of my clothing.
As an example, I put on a new shirt just before we attended the afternoon cookout on Sunday. I did quite well making it through appetizers, and the main meal without spilling any food or beverages on my shirt or slacks. When it came to dessert, I wasn't so lucky. I spilled a spoonful of ice cream on my brand new shirt. Linda is the Queen of stain removal, and she returned my shirt so that it looked like it was brand new.

Linda did play golf with her girlfriends on Monday as scheduled while I was helping with the scholarship awards night. I was home by 8:30 PM.

I didn't go to bed a happy man because my Red Sox lost their game. Luckily , the Yankees lost their game too.

Social Calendar -- Linda has her usual Tuesday Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4 PM. I might head off to the driving range at my golf course, and try and straighten out some of my ball striking problems.
Since the weather forecast has some scattered thundershowers predicted for most of the day and evening, I decided to prepare a crock pot meal for supper. I just got through preparing a pot roast with all the fixings. It will be fork tender by supper time.

Politics -- Sarah Pallin resigning has angered some of her Republican Colleagues.
A Bronx congressman has made some harsh comments about Michael Jackson being a pervert, and the fact that the media is spending too much time and energy on Michael Jackson.
President Obama is trying to keep the lines of dialogue going with the Russian leaders.
Governor Sanford's is still trying to run the affairs of his state even though there is quite a bit of sentiment for him to resign.
Doesn't it sound like business as usual?

Observation -- With all the rain which we have had in the Northeast, the mosquitoes have emerged with a vengeance. They even follow you when you go from the yard into the house. Yesterday, I tried to trim some branches of a tree which scrapes against the house when the wind blows. I think I gave up a pint of blood to the mosquitoes.
I also don't like putting on bug spray on my exposed body parts or on articles of clothing.
Good thing that we have a screened in room on the deck so that we can enjoy the evenings without being attacked by those flying blood suckers.

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

Hello on Monday Morning

Dear Friends,

It is 46 degrees as I start this e-mail. If we were camping out, there would be a lot of snuggling taking place.

Our Sunday went as planned. Linda woke up as I finished skimming the local newspaper, and the Boston Globe. I decided to let her read the newspaper so I went off to see dear old mom in the nursing home.
I wheeled Mom outside, and we both got a chance to enjoy the sunshine. I remembered that I never took the cooler out of my car from the party on the previous day. Mom and I shared a couple of bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade, and this was at 10:30 AM.
Around 11 AM, I went the the family home in Lee to check on Dad, and to give the postage size lawn a trim.

I came home and gave my lawn a trim too. I then settled down to watch the Red Sox win, and also to watch Tiger Woods win another golf tournament.
Linda went off to do errands while I was enjoying the Red Sox game.

At 4:30 PM we walked about 50 paces to my neighbor's deck to begin another cycle of fun and merriment. After munching on a healthy vegetable dip, and chicken wrapped bacon appetizers, our male host grilled steak on skewers. Along with the red meat, our host prepared a potato and vegetable combination, and a green salad. The matriarch of the household made a wonderful sugar laden dessert topped off with ice cream. There goes all my plans of eating healthy foods, and losing weight.

Social Calendar -- Linda has her 3:30 PM golf today. I have a 7 PM UNICO Scholarship Reception at the ITAM. Both the ITAM and UNICO will be awarding scholarship at the event. UNICO is preparing the cheese and crackers, and finger sandwiches. Some of us scholarship committee members will be serving the food, and involved with cleanup.
Hopefully, the awards night won't last too long so I will get a chance to watch the last half of the Red Sox game which starts at 7:10 PM.

I didn't apply for a chance to secure a ticket to the Staple Center for the Michael Jackson Memorial event in California. Everyone I know said that they were tired hearing about all the Michael Jackson stuff.

Observation -- I have been reading and listening to all the details of the latest big name person who was shot and killed at only 36 years of age. Steve McNair, a former NFL footbal player, was riddled with gun shot wounds, and the woman he was with had one gun shot wound to the head. It sounds like a murder suicide. The person who found the bodies just happened to be the ex-boyfriend of the deceased woman. Of course, McNair was married at the time of the shooting. Money and power bring more than fame and fortune!

Well, have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Sunday Morning

Dear Friends,

Hope that your Fourth of July went as well as the Curley's did.
After marching in the Pittsfield Parade,which ended around noon, I headed home to cut up vegetables for a vegetable dip.
Linda had a calm and relaxing morning since I left the house at 7:30 AM.

We loaded up the car with the vegetable dip, the lemon lust dessert, and a cooler of beverages. The lemon lust dessert was a big hit. It was gone in a minute and one half.
The usual meat items of hot dogs, hamburgs, and boneless breast of chicken were grilled to perfection. I resisted eating the hot dogs and hamburgs, and consumed only chicken. We had several types of salads, but I once again resisted eating a wonderful looking potato salad, and a macaroni salad. I consumed a green salad that had healthy items in it.
My beverage of choice for the day was red wine. I had felt nauseous since I had that one cup of coffee at the Italian American Club before we headed out to the parade. The red wine made that ill feeling go away.
Our hosts have an in ground swimming pool, but only three adults, and two children ventured into the water. The swimming pool water was what I classified as refreshing. Every time the two children exited the pool, they looked like they were suffering from hypothermia.

We stayed for supper, and the fireworks. The fireworks were spectacular. Even though they are illegal in Massachusetts, they were going off everywhere in the neighborhood which we were in. I am talking about the type of fireworks which you would see a professionally orchestrated show.

The weather for the day was kind of strange. During the day , we spent most of the time putting on and taking off our sweatshirts. At night it was a different story. It got so cold that I had to go to my car and get a wool blanket. Linda and I sat side by side in our respective chairs and fought over keeping ourselves covered with the wool blanket. Yes I did have all kinds of jackets to put on, but I needed something to cover my legs since it was so cold. Our guests even started a bond fire to keep away the mosquitoes, and to keep us warm. The Curley departed at 9:30 PM. The party was still going on as we left the fun and merriment.

We are booked in for another cookout today. Our next door neighbor invited us for this gathering. I just got through watching the weather channel, it looks like we might have our first day of no rain in the forecast with a high in the low 70's. The upcoming week looks like we have a chance of a thunderstorm every single day.

While at the cookout, I watched and listened to the Red Sox game. The Sox lost another one while the Yankees won their game in extra innings. I believe the Sox have a one game lead in their division. I am starting to get bad vibes about the status of my Red Sox.

Observation -- Like I said yesterday, fireworks should be made legal in Massachusetts. They were going off in every neighborhood in Pittsfield, and in Massachusetts in generaql. Yes, we will read about several accidents which occurred over the holidays, but it is the same situation every single year. What is the Fourth of July without fireworks?

Politics -- I see that my Sarah Pallin comments struck a few chords in some of my readers. I heard yesterday, from one of my very conservative UNICO brothers while at the parade, that Sarah resigned to go after a senate seat in Alaska. She would partake of the inside political scene for several years, and then make a run for President in 2016, and not 2012.
Oh Joy, once again!

Have a great Sunday.
I have to get to the Sunday newspapers before the Queen wakes up. Is this considered a quiet activity?
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on the Fourth of July

Dear Friends,

Our Friday went as planned.

My golf was awful. Too many mishits. I contributed only once out of 18 holes. My lack of play is a cause of most of my problems.

In a couple of hours, I will be off to the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade. Of course you have to arrive early, and wait to be lined up for our particular slot in the parade. The Parade kicks off at 10 AM. I will be marching with my UNICO Brothers and Sisters.

After the parade, I am going to cut up vegetables for a vegetable dip. Linda made dessert last night as I watched the Red Sox lose. The Yankees won their afternoon game, and now they are only two games behind the Red Sox.

The Fourth of July Party, which we were invited to, starts around 1:30 PM today.

I received an e-mail from our friends who are on a couple week trip to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Bay of Fundy,etc. They were having a great time in the Canadian Provinces.

I haven't visited Mom since Wednesday. Guilt is mounting!

Politics -- Sarah Pallin is resigning as Governor of Alaska. Most speculation is that she is gearing up for a 2012 run for President. She has enough to do as a Mom even if she chooses not to run for President.

Have to grab some breakfast, and select my marching clothes --> Tan shorts, light blue UNICO shirts, and sneakers.
They do have coffee, juice and doughnuts for us marchers at the Italian American Club at 7:30 AM, but I think a doughnut will cause some serious indigestion in the Curley Lad.

Observation -- Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts, but you can see them and hear them every night in our neighborhood. They might as well make possession of fireworks legal even if people lose various parts of their body every year. It is a tradition!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Friday Morning

Dear Friends,

Our Thursday went as planned.
While I was getting the Neon inspected, Linda was off to her Pittsfield Retiree once a month breakfast. The Neon passed inspection quite easily. The mechanic had to make some adjustments to make the auto emissions part render a "Pass" result.

Lind and I bonded from about 10 AM until our evening adventure. I did finish savoring another book, and squeezed in a nap.

My new cell phone arrived, and I hate it. I called up the 800 number and ordered one more comparable to the one that I "lost". The phone was small, and it had less features than my last cell phone. I talked to a customer representative, and they are sending me a new cell phone better than the previous one.
You might be wondering how I could not like a brand new phone. Linda went on line and read me some ratings for the cell phone. The one that stuck in my mind was that the cell phone was "adequate if you were a fifth grader.". I may some times act like a fifth grader, but this phone is awful. The customer representative said that I can use this cell phone until the new one arrives. Oh Joy!

The Shakespearean cocktail party went very well. There was much food, wine, and merriment. Around 8 PM , they started flicking the lights for everyone to go in the theater and see a production of "Othello." My male friend and I went to my car, and went to his house in West Stockbridge. We watched the "Dirty Dozen" for the hundredth time. I kept on watching the clock, and waiting for the arrival of our wives. They never arrived back until after 11:30 PM (the play started at 8 PM). The play was so long and tiresome that our wives said that it was good that we chose to skip the play. Many of the patrons left the play at "Half Time", I mean intermission. The wives said that we would have been bobbing and weaving since the play was so long. Unless we get free tickets, you won't see me at another Shakespearean play.

I am just about ready to load up my car with my golf clubs and gear. It is Friday golf with my senior buddies. The last time I played with them was over three weeks ago. I think that today is that pizza party which keeps on getting postponed.

The Red Sox had a travel day, but the Yankees lost their game. Their $180 million dollar pitcher couldn't get the job done.

Politics -- Nothing exciting happening on the national or the State level.
At the local level, one of our city councilors got arrested for domestic assault. He assaulted his live in girlfriend who likes to do a little cocaine. It appears that he was not liking her cocaine habit. She hit him, and then he grabbed her. Another relationship made in heaven.

Observation -- As I was getting the 1996 Neon inspected, I started thinking about cars. During our almost 38 years of marriage, we have owned only two new cars. We had purchased a Chevy Chevette, and the Neon. Every other car we purchased has been used. Even my father has purchased more new cars than we have. We very seldom get a chance to enjoy that new car smell unless we ride with somebody who purchases a new car.
Now that we are retired that Chevette and Neon might end up being the only new cars that we have ever purchased. We did sell the Chevette to a guy, but he died of cancer a few years after he bought it from us. I don't think that the car was jinxed.

Social Calendar -- Linda is going to make a grocery run while I am playing golf. We are bringing a vegetable dip and a dessert to an afternoon party on the Fourth of July. I will be slicing up the vegetables after golf today. It might be after I take a nap.

I checked the Parade Booklet, and our UNICO Balloon is the second one in the Parade. I think that I will be able to march in the Parade, and get home to watch the rest of it on public access television.

My Red Sox are in action at home tonight. I hope that the weather allows them to get the game in.

Have to get some healthy breakfast, and head off to the links.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Thursday Morning

Dear Friends,

A couple claps of thunder, and some falling rain was all it took to wake me up this morning. It is another day where I don't have to be concerned about watering the flowers in the front, and in the back of the house.

Mom's ride went off at the scheduled time on Wednesday morning except we went in my Subara Legacy Wagon. We left my father at home so it was my Mom, my sister, and me. My mother didn't really enjoy the ride as much as my sister thought that she would.
We didn't drive by the family home because we thought that it might upset her. Somehow, we have to get mom to accept that she only has one leg, but life still goes on. Yes, it will not be easy for a 92 year old person with one leg, but a person has to make the best of a not so good situation.

Last night, Linda and I went in different directions. She was a substitute for a Mah Jongg session at a friend's house. She is not a regular member of this group.
I went off to my UNICO Board Meeting, and did some socializing after the meeting since I haven't seen most of my friends in several weeks.

My Red Sox redeemed themselves with a come from behind win. Things looked grim as the Sox got up to bat in the top of the ninth inning behind by a score of 5 to 1. To tie up the game, and eventually win the game in extra innings was truly amazing. The Yankees kept pace by winning their game.

I am taking Linda's 1996 Neon for a yearly inspection today at 8:30 AM. Linda doesn't know this yet.

Yes, we are socially engaged this evening. Shakespeare & Company has their gala opening this evening. Since our friend is a donor, she is allowed to bring four people to a cocktail party, and then to a Shakespearean Play. My injured golfing buddy hasn't decided whether he wants to attend or not. I might attend the party, and leave after the cocktail party, and visit with my friend if he chooses not to go.
I am not sure if I could make it through a Shakespearean Play.

Observation -- Linda came home with a bunch of the Cape Cod Brochures, which she picked up on her recent girls' weekend. She knows that I love to read the brochures. One of the brochures was called "Pridepages". As read this Cape Cod brochure, I soon realized that it was designed for "Gays". All the places who advertised in this brochure are "Gay friendly." For any of my readers who might not know, Provincetown on Cape Cod is a haven for the gay community. As you walk the streets of Provincetown, the gays and lesbians openly flaunt the fact that they are gay. The stores and restaurants cater to the gays. There are some shops and taverns which do cater to us straight people. Provincetown is a great place to visit if you are doing the whole Cape Cod experience.
I did ask Linda if she was trying to send me a message since this brochure was among the rest of the usual Cape Cod brochures. She said "No", and that she picked up the brochure because it was labeled "Cape Cod". Yeah Right!

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and get dressed for the start of today's adventures.
I am really going to try and be extremely quiet because it does appear that this dark and gloomy start to this day is great for sleeping. Of course, I will have to open the garage door which can wake anyone from a deep sleep.

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

Hello on Wednesday Morning

Dear Friends,

I didn't go to bed a happy man on Tuesday because my Red Sox squandered a nine run lead, and lost the rain delayed game by a score of 11 to 10. The Yankees inched closer to the division leading Sox by winning their game. It was ugly to see the Sox lose.
The Sox play at 1:30 PM today. This does interfere with my afternoon nap.

Linda and I didn't do much bonding on Tuesday. I forgot that she had her usual Tuesday Mah Jongg session as well as the evening BONCO session with her girlfriends.

I am the busy one today. I am going to go to Lee for moral support for Mom's first drive (as a passenger) in their family car since December 25, 2008 which is when dad first took her to the hospital. My sister will be driving the car.
I will be attending a UNICO board meeting at 6 PM, but I will not be running it since I am now officially the "Past President."

Observation -- Am I the only one who is tired of the news being dominated by Michael Jackson?
How about the four soldiers who were killed on Monday just before the Americans turned over control (Tuesday) to the Iraqi's hoping that they can run their own country?
How come Billy Mays can have an autopsy, and have funeral arrangements made within a few days of his death?
Reverend Al Sharpton say that Michael Jackson "wasn't a freak, but he was really a genius?" I am not convinced by his words of wisdom.
If they spend many more days delving into Michael Jackson's life, children, and family in general, Al Sharpton might be changing his choice of words.

Politics -- How about the disgraced Governor saying that he had affairs with several women, and not just the one from Argentina? Maybe politicians like him should have a harem!
Finally, the courts in Minnesota have declared Al Francken the winner of the political race. The political wrangling has been going on for 8 months. Maybe a comedian will be a good thing for the people of Minnesota. The late night comedians have an unending source of material for their shows from the extracurricular activities which our politicians have been engaged in.

There was another accident yesterday in Massachusetts involving two elderly drivers. A new law aimed at senior citizens is on the horizon.

After I gave the lawn a trim yesterday, I was all set to load up the car with the grass clippings, and take them to our resource recovery plant when a neighbor said that he would take the clippings. He uses the clippings in his vegetable garden to keep down the weeds, and keep his plants warm.

Well, I have to do some quiet chores before heading off to the nursing home.

Yesterday, people must of known that Linda was home. The telephone started ringing the minute that she woke up.

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