The Palmerton Press

This is a previous issue that has been re-worked with Nvu

Book 1 Volume 3

Friday, December 05, 2003 7:10 AM 30 Deg at LVIA and 27.9 in the bus stop

Dear Folks,
       It is another week beginning here. It is a very threatening day on hand. So far no snow, but we are expected to be dumped on by two storms.This morning my weight was 205 but the blood sugar was 146. <Sigh>
    We did get out for our walk before anything began. After breakfast, Queen decided she wanted stamps for the Christmas cards. Therefore, I got the car out and got them. After returning, I remembered that I forgot to bring in the garden hose. Well that was big mistake. The hose was frozen like a rock. When I attempted to shut off the outside water valve the whole handle broke off. That was not too smart. I put the still connected hose in the flowerbed because I didn’t want the snow blower to ingest it. I decided that my best bet then was simply shut off the water in the basement and cut my losses. <Sheez Dummy>
            After that, debacle Queen and I put the new lights on the tree and finished trimming it. It really looks nice. It has a unique appearance. We mostly have hanging ornaments on it, which have a place to insert one of the miniature lamps that glow inside them. Plus these new ones as seen below. Once again, her help was indispensable.

Some of the new ornaments

Our Tree The Bandstand Queen decorating the tree

At least we were warned Butternut Fred in his winter suits

Now at 1:07 PM, it is snowing lightly.
Later this afternoon I went out and cleaned off the walks. I started with a broom but decided a shovel to be more appropriate. Now at 6:27 PM, it has resumed snowing. Carl Kern the TV13 weatherman says we could get 14” of the white stuff. Cripes!!
I have been struggling all day trying to get last week’s letter on my web page with basally no luck. I am in consultation with my Experts in Delaware.

Saturday, December 06, 2003 7:17 AM 25 deg at LVIA and 25.4 in the bus stop 8” snow on the ground
            It is still snowing and a real mess outdoors. I have not ventured out, but Butternut attended to business quickly and wanted back inside the warm house. Smart dog. This morning my blood glucose was 135 and my weight 204.
            After breakfast, I went out to clean off the walks. I shoveled off the steps first, and then I got out the snow blower. As I was starting, Tommy came over and “policed” the area that the snow blower did not properly clear.
              After cleaning the area from the garage area to the house as I was approaching the sidewalk, another good neighbor Gary Kovacs was going down the sidewalk with his blower. He did them all on this side. Once again, we are blessed with wonderful neighbors.
            Later Queen reminded me that I forgot to clean out a “duty place” for Butternut; so, I got it out again and did that job. I made an interesting observation; it is amazing how far that machine will throw doggie doo, Ha!!
    Then I opened two places at sidewalk level so we can gain access to our car once people start parking again. The Borough plow was through and it looks darn good.
            I saw neighbor Mike and I cleaned off a bit of his east side sidewalk along his house with the snow blower. He was almost done. I also opened a spot at both the wooden park bench as well as the glider, but did not sit down due to not enough time now.
    Mike had opened a place in front of our garage door. He said his man with the plow would be here to open things up properly. He wanted a place for us so we could get the car in an emergency.
            Thank the Lord. Last, weeks issue just went on line this afternoon. Thanks to the efforts of my experts in Delaware. Since they maintain my computer and are my repair folks, they know all about my set up here and have all the passwords needed, Thank God!! Without their aid and encouragement, I would still be doing jigsaw puzzles for recreation. Sheez!! My chief lament is my own inadequacy. If only my knowledge and expertise was one quarter as good as my love for this medium. I am told I will get better at it. If I can live long enough. The problem is do have enough years left.
            We saw in today’s Times News, than an old friend and acquaintance of ours David Fritzinger, a retired insurance agent for Chubb Insurance Co died at the Palmerton Hospital. Golly, he and his wife Jean were often with us at the Memorial Park swimming pool. Dave was a good swimmer who loved to dive and then float on his back in the pool. He to will be missed.

Sunday, December 07, 2003 7:26 AM 21 Deg at LVIA and 21.1 in the bus stop
Golly but it is cold out doors this morning. I will be venturing out after the coffee is ready. This morning my weight was 206 and the blood sugar 134.
This morning I was getting cabin fever and went for a short walk. It is too cold and icy for Queen, so I went down to the park and looked for some winter Christmas scenes. It is unfortunate that it was such a gray dull day; sunshine would have helped the colors a lot. This is a part of the result. The camera batteries went flat and I could not take more. Latter the sun was out. Gee, whiz!!

Tree in Bandstand Sunny picture play area

While I was doing all that stuff, Queen was busy in the kitchen running the cookie factory. She was making the twisted rolled multi-colored candy cane cookies. That is a long and tedious job. She makes them mainly because they are Dr. Jane Goplerud’s favorites. She thinks this will be the last year for them they are just too hard to prepare.

These are older pictures of my Queen at work!!

We both took naps this afternoon after which I sweet-talked her into cutting my hair. That meant a shower was necessary. Then for supper, she had a pair of boneless chicken thighs, a baked red potato each, spinach, green beans, cottage cheese, and ice cream bars with coffee. It was a first class meal.

Monday, December 08, 2003 7:18 AM 23 Deg at LVIA and 22.1 at the bus stop
            Golly, it is Monday already and the “dreaded sheet day” is upon us. I changed my bed yesterday and I am ready. I suspect the cookie factory will get short shrift today due to the wash.
            My blood sugar this morning was 140 and weight 206. The early morning listed weight is always my BAN weight [bare as* naked] weight.
            As soon as the coffee is ready, I will be heading for the park bench. <Later> It was cold out there but there is no wind. I took my coffee, tush cushion, and was very comfortable.
            We took the car and went downtown for a few items at IGA. Of course, we stopped at our friends at the Times News for a bit.

There was the culprit caught red handed.

The infernal machine that was responsible for all this @#!%&^<!! Weather. Sharon’s “electric shovel.”

A Merry Bah Humbug to all!!

Ah, Now this is more like it.

Sharon can have her snow shovel but I will take this any day. This is an old picture of Tommy Davies and I on Squam Lake, NH many moons ago. He in his Scorpion sailboat and I in my Sunfish. Golly I loved that Sunfish sailboat.

I am glad to hear that Sharon liked my new format of words and pictures. With the digital camera, it is very easy to find plenty of pictures. After we left their office, we walked down to the borough park where I retook some of the shots of yesterday. Apparently, everyone at the Times News uses Mac’s. I understand for their work they are the preferred computer. Sharon said that they have a PC at home because there just weren’t enough programs and software available for her family and the kids with a Mac.
This afternoon when retrieving the recycle container I discovered that it was darn icy up there along the garage so I had to be careful. It has warmed quite a bit. Meanwhile Queen finally finished her big load of wash this afternoon.

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 7:23 AM 21 Deg at LVIA and 25.6 in the bus stop
The blood sugar this morning was 137 and the weight 208. 8:03 AM, I just came in from the park bench. It is a cloudy looking day, but I was very comfortable with tush cushion and coffee. It is almost still and quiet except for a small bit of traffic mostly consisting of folks heading off for work. Soon the school kids we be scurrying down the street. I didn’t see a soul walking though. Queen thinks I am nuts for sitting out on a couple of cold boards in the snow, but I love being able to savor that small chunk of our little world in piece and solitude. As I said, it is a good place to sit and think. Life is short; one had best make the most of it. As far as I know, you’re dead a long time.

            This morning in the post we got a wonderful Christmas card from a man and his wife whom Queen and I much like and admire. They are new recipients of these epistles.
            Queen is out in the kitchen baking cookies from dough she had previously prepared and kept in the fridge. I told her to do as much as she wishes, but pace herself.
     Doc Nicholson told her make as many as you want, but then give them away. Actually, that is what happens. She loves to do it. We usually deliver plates of them to friends and neighbors at Christmas time.
    However, she wants to have an assortment on hand when we have our annual New Years Eve get together.
I have no objection to this as long as she doesn’t over tire herself. Since I have my own dietary problems. I am not into the Quality control business as I had in the past. Bobby is trying to get a handle on Bobby piggy. So far, piggy is pretty well greased and has eluded capture. One would never guess that I love to eat. Ha!!
    One thing that I do know is that I am not getting the exercise that I need. I desperately miss the swimming pool. In addition, I really do miss the old Iron Works at the Good Shepherd center at the hospital annex on Franklin Avenue. I could operate at my own pace. I have been hesitant to go to the new fitness center. I am afraid that I don’t have the endurance to do what they will urge me to do. Queen thinks they would set up a program that I can handle. I guess I will have to do something. Sitting in front of this thing too long is a formula for disaster and I know it. I had better make this a New Years resolution!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 7:26 AM 28 Deg at LVIA and 31 Deg in the bus stop
            It looks like a nice day here as of now; bur rain is predicted later in the afternoon and into tomorrow. We plan to do our shopping this morning.
            This morning my blood glucose is 132 and my weight 208. <Sheez> Last night Queen was tied and we had the last of the retreaded turkey soup that we kept in the bus stop. The soup was almost frozen.
            I was up on the old park bench this morning with my cushion and 8 O’clock coffee and it was very comfortable. There was practically no wind. From there, I went and got the car in preparation for our shopping trip.
            <Later> We have finished that chore. The stores were not too crowded except Aldi only had one cashier operating for a time. Once that changed, things moved along very well. Next, we went to Wal-Mart, Giant, and then to Country Harvest, and finally home. Queen found another illuminated ornament that we didn’t have up at Aldi’s and I installed it on the tree. It is necessary to remove one of the small bulbs and connect the short cord on the ornament. They have a pair of LED’s inside that alternate on and off they are very attractive. They are several shown at the top of this letter.
            After lunch, at Queen’s suggestion, we decided we had better get in our walk. Tomorrow doesn’t look good, besides we need it and we were not too tired from our jaunt to the stores. However, she is definitely a good influence on this old geezer. I am very fortunate to have a wife 10 years older than myself. Women are built for the long haul. We geezers peter out much sooner.
     I still think friend Tommy is correct in his assessment of the age situation. Since he works for Hager Furniture Co, his own unscientific, but I think very accurate poll concludes that since they deliver a lot to retirement homes and adult care centers, of the “guests” there, the women far outnumber the men, at least 10-15 to 1.
     Here, I am dealing with a wife whose Dad died on his 99th birthday. I at 77 have already out lived all of my immediate male Ellistons. Geez!! However, my Mom’s father was in his 90’s when he died. Who knows?
            Tonight for supper we had a boneless chicken thigh each, rice, green beans, tomatoes, and cottage cheese. With coffee and a navel orange each. It was excellent as usual.

Thursday, December 11, 2003 7:26 AM 54 Deg at LVIA and 51.3 in the bus stop
            Golly, it is raining hard. It is very wet outside, but the snow has disappeared from the yard, thank goodness.
            This morning my blood glucose was 129 and my weight 208.
I remember this came to me and I had it in last year. It is too go not to repeat.
I think I originally got this from neighbor Mike

“December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
    December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years, felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the side walks. This afternoon the snowplow came along, covered up the sidewalks, and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.   December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry; we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
    December 14: Snow, lovely snow!8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes every thing sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
     December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and two extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants woodstove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
    December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for five hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
    December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower, and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
      December 22:Bob was right about a white Christmas; because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt 'til August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed to go out to shovel, and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel! Tried to hire Bob, who has a plow on his truck, for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.
    December 23: Only 2" of snow today, and it warmed up to "0". The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What, is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did, but I think she's lying.
     December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son-of-a-bitch who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throw snow all over everywhere I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the Goddamn snowplow.
     December 25: Merry F!=3D@x@!x!x1 Christmas. 20 more inches of the! =3D@x@!x!x1 slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by skiing for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
     December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
     December 27: Temperature dropped to -30,and the pipes froze. Plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him; he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
     December 28: Warmed to above -50. Still snowed in. The BITCH is driving me crazy!!!!! December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
     December 30: Roof caved in. I beat up the snowplow driver. He is now suing me for a million dollars; not for only the beating, I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.
     December 31: I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8: Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?”
            Queen is in the kitchen making raisin cookies. This one will really give me problems. It is one of my very favorites. The temptation will be damn strong. <Sigh>
            It is still raining. I would like to go for a walk, but I shall have to check. Later this afternoon about 3 PM, we did walk down to 5th Street and back.
     In the meantime, I have been in communication with not only my Delaware experts, but also a man from Prolog who has been very helpful. I am still in the learning process but for me this is tough. I almost have it. However, close doesn’t count in computers. Screw up even a comma for a period and it just won’t work.
<Later>
Ta Da, HOORAY I DID IT, After consultation with Grandson Andy I worked on my web page and I got it on line. He pointed out the last step on which I had screwed up, and I was able to open it. I immediately removed it because it has not been proofread nor finished. Geez, that is a major victory for the old geezer.

Friday, December 12, 20037:24 AM 36 Deg at LVIA and 34.5 in the bus stop
            The dog and I will be heading outdoors as soon as my 8 o’clock coffee is ready. It doesn’t look too cold this morning.
    This morning my weight was 206 and the blood glucose 116. That more like what I like to see
It must have been windy last evening. Two outdoor chairs were overturned up at the park bench. 7:50 AM and the sun has not arrived in that area yet. It was good once again to sit there and think a bit.
          I went up there coffee in hand, all wrapped in a warm glow of pride in my accomplishment as seen above. However, to the rest of the world out there it is very small potatoes and not really worth much in the well being of the rest of world. However, for me it must have been a bit like my Mom and Dad’s happily feeling when I took my first baby steps. For anyone familiar with HTML and other computer parameters, it is laughable, but it means a lot to me to have mastered a small part of the difficult technical part of the difficult hobby I love so much. I have had excellent help all the way but until I got it into my noggin is was useless. I am not ungrateful
            We went for our walk and it was grand to get out once again. We met the Henry's walking their Brittany spaniel dog. We haven ‘t met them for quite a while. We were sorry to hear that David Horn’s sister was involved in an automobile accident requiring hospitalization.
Please love one another, Mom and Bob [Queen and Bobby]

Life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved.
Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), Les Miserables, 1862
Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age.
Christopher Morley (1890 - 1957)
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965) character or achievement.”