This is a previous issue that has been re-worked with Nvu
Founded
December 17,1912 Ceased Publication
Thursday February 1, 1951
Book
1 Volume
37
Our
Butternut
The masthead appearing above is not an accident nor is it meant to be a
gimmick. My dad, George R. Elliston was the editor, founder, owner and
publisher of the Palmerton Press. I am trying in my own way to keep
that banner visible to the world.
Below is the actual lead slug
that was the masthead of the Palmerton Press in it’s days of operation.
It
now
resides with son George R. Elliston 2nd.
At this time I want to acknowledge the
deep debt of gratitude to all those who have supported me in this
endeavor. My wife, Queen is my inspiration and greatly augments my
efforts. I realize that I sometimes must drive her nuts with my ravings
and antics. However, her support has been a lifesaver.
My son George, grandsons; Andy, and
Jason, have been instrumental in making these things appear at all.
They supplied the technical expertise to put it on line.
Thank God, my mentors all suffer an old fool well, my thanks to them
all. I also deeply appreciate the responses from my readers who seem to
enjoy our view of life, dull as it may be, as well as the pictures of
our town and home.. I regret that some still have problems opening the
pictures. At least these pages don’t have to stand on their literary
merit alone. Ha!! Thank God!
Saturday,
July 31, 2004, 7:18 AM 75 deg at LVIA and 73.5 in the bus stop.
It is another Saturday morning. It looks
as though it may have rained last night. I shall have to check it out
with Butternut when the 8 O’clock coffee is ready.
This morning my blood glucose was 130
and the weight 198. I am glad this it is so far so good in that
department.
In the Bobby eat crow department here
is my latest gaffe. The young lady below is our superb dental
technician, DOREEN Johnson, not Darlene!! Gee
Whiz
Then also I got this e-mail from Bob
Green who filled me in on the details of the picture that the
Historical society is raffling.
“Bob,
I'm wondering if you realize a little background of that 1914 painting
of the Palmerton Park.The
original was a post card... I might have sent you a scan of it...
(here it is again.) She really did a great job on the watercolor
rendition. I've
got a raffle ticket for it and hoping for a win! Bob Green”
The original
scene and the framed picture
his Vet
A
close up of the
finished picture.
We are busy this morning cleaning up the
place. We got an e-mail from George and Kathy that we can expect them
for a week visit this week here in paradise. That is good. Besides I
have a lot of questions to ask him. Ha!!
After I ran the vacuum this morning
Tommy and I went to PMPA for our Saturday morning swims. As usual it
was wonderful. The lanes were well filled today. Marci Rehrig arrived
as we were about to leave. The folks who really love the
water always come out on Saturday mornings.
Meanwhile at the former Duris lot
things have reached the point where I expect a very big crane and a
house to appear on the site one of these days soon.
I
see that the
foundation is poured and ready to go
This evening Grandson David Elliston
[Jack’s son], and his friend Sara, visited us on their way to their
vacation to South Carolina. It was good to see them again. We hadn’t
seen them since last year.
Sunday,
August 01, 2004, 7:18 AM 73 deg at LVIA and 71.2 in the bus
stop
It is raining hard now. I want
to go up to the bus stop when it isn’t raining too hard.
<Later> It really was nice sitting up there with the gentle rain tapping on the
roof of the tent. There is something soothing about the sound. Now I
wouldn’t want to sit there all day but it was a very soothing
comforting experience. However it is much more comfortable sitting
here in front of the computer. This morning the blood glucose was 122
and the weight 197.
It was nice to see
the kids last evening. We are both sorry they missed our dinner, but
with our other guests there was no way we could have prolonged supper
without an insurrection. Ha!!
David
showed us photographs of his pet project, the restoration on a vintage
Ford Mustang. It is obvious from the photos that he has put a lot of
loving work into the job. Not only replacing the engine with a larger
new Ford V8 but also converting the shift system from automatic to a
three speed stick shift. The pictures are very impressive. His father
would be very proud of him. If they send me some of the photos I will
put them in here!!
When they left here
they were on their way to get on I-95. I had David speak with George
for directions on the phone to see the best way to get there from
here. They decided to get a bite to eat in Allentown. We are sorry
about that.
This
afternoon I want to see if I can’t get a swim. The weather may be
tricky but I will keep my eye on the radar.
I was able
to get my swim, get home and I am helping Queen with supper. The water
was wonderful. Keith Billig was swimming next to me. We had a good
conversation at my 10-lap rest period.
This
evening George and Kathy were here for supper along with Mr. T. Pierce
Davies. Queen had a slice of ham nuked in the microwave, fresh green
beans, and something new to us. It was garlic and herb instant mashed
potatoes that we got at George’s instigation at Aldi’s. It was very
good and a whole lot easier than mashing potatoes. Queen was afraid we
had made too many of them. Tommy said not to worry. They all
disappeared. Tommy supplied dessert in the form of Rita’s Water Ice. It was
an excellent meal.
Now at 10:25 PM it is lightning outdoors. I suspect we will be having
a storm soon.
Monday, August 02, 2004 7:09 AM 72 deg at LVIA and 69.3 in the bus stop.
The blood glucose this morning is 129 and the weight is
198. It looks like it will be a a clear morning.
There was no storm last night.
By the time I took Butternut out at bedtime it had stopped flashing.
Queen and I will be going to
“Jittery Joints” this morning.
We both went to the pool this
morning. The water was marvelous while Queen and the rest “Jittered” I
swam my laps. The laps were great.
This
is from Russ Howell in Texas
Ramblings
of a Retired Mind -
I
was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones
that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one.
So, I'm wearing my garage door opener.
You
know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people
didn't like me anyway.
I
was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on
beer cans!
I
was thinking about old age and decided that it is 'when you still
have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it'.
I
thought about making a fitness movie, for folks my age, and call it
"Pumping Rust."
I
have gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That's when
your chest is falling into your drawers!
I
know, when people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh, have
you got a cat?" Just once I want to say, "No, it's for
company!"
Employment
application blanks always ask 'who is to be notified in case
of an emergency.' I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!"
Why
do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post
Office? What are we supposed to do -- write to
these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the
postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they deliver
the mail? Now there's a better idea/
I
was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more
as they get older. Then, it dawned on me, they were cramming
for their finals. As for me, I'm just hoping God grades on
the curve.
This afternoon Queen and I went
downtown. She had to stop at the Post Office and I also stopped at the
bank. It is an interesting thing about my new debit card. They actually
want you to put money in there to continue to use it! Imagine
that!
After that it was
on to Rite Aide, IGA and the Telephone Company. Needless to say at the
beginning of the month bills arrived today!! After I got back I went
back to the pool for a quick dip and a chance to cool off. George
Ashman was there
also.
I got an e mail from
Barbara Shepherd today and she writes of her earlier experiences in
town and speaking with Betty Nartatil, who later became Betty
Steigerwalt. I quote:
“When Betty spoke of the early hours at the nursing home, I was
reminded of my days at Moravian, at then the Woman's college. Our
housemother lowered a wide iron bar each night at curfew. We
had to be in bed as freshmen at 10 p.m. Our dean came around
with a flashlight and shone it on every freshman's pillow. My
roommate that year went right to sleep, but when I judged that the dean
had left, I jumped out of bed and went out to the central hall to join
the other girls who were beyond their freshman year.
What was ironic was that for
weekend dances at Lehigh we were allowed
2:30 a.m. permission slips. I was never allowed to stay out
that late at home, but the Lehigh dances were from 10 to 2.
And we did not have a mother who provided good stuff to eat in the
evenings when we were hungry. We were allowed to go to the
nurse who would give us milk and crackers. I was there almost
every night.
A few issues
back you showed a picture
of Dr. Marjorie Batchelor in her open yellow car, which she used to
exercise her dogs. Did you know that Dr. Roger sold that once
and she went right out and bought it back? She was an amazing
woman. She talked to all of the girls in high school in the
auditorium while another doctor spoke to the boys in the gym.
That was the famous lecture for lack of any other title, on the birds
and the bees. I do remember that Dr. Marjorie stressed that
all girls should wear girdles, and when she visited and spoke at
Moravian, I was embarrassed when she smacked my bottom and asked, in
front of the entire dining room, "are you wearing your pantie
girdle?" Years later I remember Dr. Jane Goplerud saying,
"don't wear a girdle unless you really have to; it is better for muscle
tone to go without." I was already on Dr. Jane's side on that
one, but I do remember Dr. Marjorie fondly, and she told us what was
thought to be protection for a young woman's morals at the
time. There are so many stories about her, all
wonderful. She is a town legend.
Anyway,
I want to thank you
for the connection through you, to the delightful sight of Betty after
all these years. She is a class act! Mr. Gordos and
I went the same route at Lehigh, getting our Master's degrees in
Education. Of course, he did it first. It would
have been fun to see him in class, for I was in my 40's when I went
back. I think I told you that my son, Shep, had him as a counselor for
all of seven weeks before we went back overseas. He told Shep
that he remembered me, and I winced, for I was a chatty girl he sent
out to the hall for talking in class. He never told my son
about that. He was a class act too!”
I wrote back to her, “Dr Marjorie was
indeed quite a gal. Long before I married Queen,she was my
brother Dick’s wife. While my bother Dick and I were in business,we had
our shop in their basement at 232 Columbia Ave. Queen was out on
the front roof taking the snow off the flat front porch roof when she
went by. She stopped her car and went over to Queen where she was on
the roof and said "Does your family know you are out here? You get
off that roof and inside the house." Queen said "the snow or ice could
fall off here and hurt someone." She said “put up a no trespassing sign
up and get inside. I don't want to see you up here at the hospital!”
Yes I too remember the birds and bees assembly, except for me it was
Dr. Prutzman. I think he was admonishing us to stay away from "bad
girls
and loose woman" Ha!! I am glad I followed his advice.
<Grin>
Yes indeed Eddie Gordos was a favorite
of mine too. I think he was in my sister Dot's High School class. He
was indeed a good man. I sent him all of my letters while he was in the
retirement home until his death. He was appreciative.
Tuesday,
August 03, 2004 7:10 AM 72 /deg at LVIA and 69.9 in the bus stop
The glucose level is 133 and the weight
197. It looks like a steamy hot day on hand this morning. I shall be
going out with Butternut and my coffee and also attempt to cut the
grass before it gets too hot.
I got out about 7:30 and started with
cutting the grass. I was done just about 8:20 AM with rests and coffee.
Then we had breakfast.
Now I am getting ready to go to PMPA for a morning swim. Queen says it
is too muggy for her to attempt it. She had a great time yesterday but
today is looking worse in the heat and humidity department. When one
has congestive heat failure breathing becomes very difficult in this
weather. She greatly enjoys the folks and the exercise but it just
isn’t worth it.
Yesterday I took pictures. However I also took about 1 minute of
video with that camera. The high point was the circle they form with
the grand, “Hurrah”. Unfortunately I don’t have any easy way to
display
it on line.
On my swim today a photographer from the Allentown Morning Call was
there taking pictures of the group in action.
The
group along with Howard Witham and Harry Brown
The
Morning Call
photographer. I do not know him at all.
I spoke with Helen Wisocky a
bit when I arrived and she asked about Queen. She understands Queen’s
problems very well.
This afternoon I went back to get wet
and cool off. George was there and we sat and talked most of the time.
Queen had steak sandwiches, corn on the
cob and a fresh tomato out of our garden. The homegrown ones certainly
do taste good. I have to get my daily quota of zinc, lead and other
good stuff!
This evening Kathy and George stopped by
for a quick visit. He has been installing new windows down on their
Lafayette Avenue home. He too got Carbon County’s “Black
Hole Tax” as well as school tax from Wilmington, Delaware. These are
higher here.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:16 AM 70 deg at LVIA and 67.8 in the bus
stop
The blood glucose is 121 and the weight
196. It feels as though it is going to be a hot one today with high
humidity. Since this is Wednesda, there is no “Jittery Joints” class
today. Thus no morning swim! <Sigh>
Shortly after I came downstairs I was
greeted by a lot of flashing lights. That is a problem living here in a
high crime area! Ha!! The police had stopped a lady for some reason. I
haven’t a clue as to the reason.
This morning we were out picking dead blossoms from plants and also
picking tomatoes. Things have done very well this summer. The small
grape tomatoes have been excellent this year.
The
phlox has never been better than this year.
This
is a general view of the yard and some of the large tomatoes still on
the vines.
After lunch Queen and I sat up in the
"tent" [park bench] for a time. There was a bit of a breeze sitting
there but it is hot outside. Fortunately we went for our abbreviated
walk this morning early. Later I want to head for the pool.
Those laps have aided me tremendously in general health and
well being. Ah if only it was possible all year long!
I went up
for my swim about 3:15PM and it wasn’t at all refreshing at an
82-degree water temperature. It was like sitting in the bathtub plus
the traffic was bad. The best part of the swim was the shower afterward
with 52-degree water. Now that was refreshing. Oh well I can’t do it
here in January. Tonight for supper Queen had
Mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, kielbasa, and cantaloupe with a dollop
of ice cream. We were sitting there enjoying the view of the job the
Burnhauser clan did cutting both the churchyard as well as the
cemetery grass, when we heard a loud crash and the telephone and cable
wires down to our house shook like mad. We ran out into the cemetery to
see this mess. Someone hit the power pole for the streetlight over at
Tommy’s house. It also fed power to Timmy DeSousa’s house.
Apparently
no one was
injured but they hit it hard enough to snap the pole as well as deploy
the airbags.
I
don’t know, this
neighborhood is rapidly becoming a high crime area
I got this from neighbor Mike. It has a lot of truth to it.
Life of a Senior
Citizen
I'm the life of
the party...even when it lasts till 8 p.m.
I'm very good
at opening child-proof caps with a hammer.
I'm usually
interested in going home before I get to where I'm going.
I'm good on a
trip for at least an hour without my aspirin, beano,
&
antacid.
I'm awake many
hours before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all
the time because I can't hear a word you are saying.
I'm aware that
other people's grandchildren are not as bright as mine.
I'm so cared
for: Long term care, Eye care, Private care, Dental care...
I'm not
grouchy, I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, children,
politicians.
I'm sure
everything I can't find is in a secure place.
I'm wrinkled,
saggy and bumpy and that's just my left leg.
I'm realizing
that aging is not for sissies.
I'm
anti-everything now: Anti-fat, Anti-smoke, Anti-noise,
Anti-inflammatory
I'm going to
reveal what goes on behind closed doors... Absolutely
nothing!
I'm sure they
are making adults much younger these days.
I'm in the
initial stage of my golden years: SS, CD's, IRA's, AARP. . .
I'm
wondering... If you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive
at 150?
I'm supporting
all movements now... by eating bran, prunes and raisins.
I'm a walking
storeroom of facts... I've just lost the
storeroom.
Thursday,
August
05, 2004 7:21 AM 66 deg at LVIA and 64.7 in the bus stop
It is cloudy this morning but it is not
raining so far. I see they have canceled the flood watch for this area.
Although it is cloudy I wonder if there
will be a “Jittery Joints” program. The weight this morning is 197 and
the glucose level is 121.
This morning about 1:30 AM on a “trip to
visit Aunt Louise” I saw a lot of light outside my east bedroom
window. PPL was there replacing the pole from yesterday’s accident. I
suspect Timmy DeSousa was without power. But now all is well. Well I
had to try for a picture but conditions were poor to say the least.
What you see below is 80% imagination.
.
This
is supposed to
show the large boom on the PPl truck!!
Queen isn’t going to class this morning but I will try for a swim.
Afterwards we shall do our shopping.
Ha! That was called
off and we did our shopping instead. It was not too crowded this
morning and the stock was ample. We were home before
noon.
At noon I had to go to pay the “Black Hole
Tax”[school tax] at the Neighborhood House. I also went to Dr.
Nicholson’s office and got a new prescription for the diabetic test
strips which I had to take to Rite-Aid and have filled. So all my
little trips have been done.
Tuesday the Morning Call had pictures in it of Howard Witham and
Harry Brown, Gretchen Laviolette, and Jody Arner. Here they are
as shown from the paper.
It
is an excellent photograph.
This afternoon I went to the pool for my
swim. Boy what a difference a day makes. It was practically deserted.
Howard Witham and George Ashman and a few kids were about the crowd.
The air was chilly but the water was warm as toast.
Tonight for supper Queen had
the rest of the Landis steaks made into steak sandwiches and
an ear of corn each. We were too full for anything except
coffee.
George and Kathy ate out tonight and stopped by
for a moment. They went to the Terrace Restaurant for dinner.
Friday,
August 06, 2004 7:13 AM 51deg at LVIA and 53.6 in the bus stop
It is quite cool
sitting up on the park bench this morning. I saw Marlene and Lee
Bollinger walking on their constitutional and we exchanged
pleasantries. This morning my blood glucose was 117
and the weight 195.
Queen is
forgoing the class this morning. I guess I will go for my swim because
we are invited out for dinner this evening and I don’t want to rush
things too much later today.
I
went for my swim. As I entered I saw two maintenance young
men in bathing suits cleaning the scum gutters and edges of the pool
hard at work. I asked if the posted water temperature was accurate and
they responded that the water was fine. I was the second one there.
Jerry
Freeby was
walking laps around the perimeter of the pool.
After the rest
arrived Gretchen took the temperature of the water and it was indeed
76 degrees. However she did cut short the class due to the cold
prevailing wind. When you were wet it was mighty cold.
However you dried out fast. The laps went just
fine.
I love this one:
"Did
you check
for blood pressure?"
Witness: "No."
Lawyer: "Did you check for breathing?"
Witness: "No."
Lawyer: "So, then it is
possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?"
Witness: "No."
Lawyer: "How can you be so
sure, Doctor?"
Witness:
"Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar."
Lawyer: "But could the
patient have still been alive nevertheless?"
Witness: "Yes,
it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law
somewhere."
It is about time to bring this to an
end. I am sending it to my proofreader and censor, Queen.
Please, Love one another, Mom and Bob [Queen and Bobby]
Love is blind -- marriage is the
eye-opener.
-- Pauline Thomason
When the going gets weird, the
weird turn pro.
-- Hunter S. Thompson
Men have become the tools of
their tools.
-- Henry David Thoreau
Have you ever noticed? Anybody
going slower than you is an idiot, and
anyone going faster than you is a maniac.
-- George Carlin
A cement mixer collided with a
prison van on the Kingston Pass.
Motorists are asked to be on the lookout for 16 hardened criminals.
-- Ronnie Corbett
They think they can make fuel
from horse manure.... Now, I don't know
if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it's sure
gonna put a stop to siphoning.
-- Billie Holliday
