Book 2 Volume 3
Our Butternut
First and foremost
these pages make absolutely no
attempt to be a real newspaper. For that one must read the Times News
at
http://www.tnonline.com/news/ .
I
write this for my own enjoyment. I hope others will enjoy it also.
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. She is my proofreader and censor and the one that
attempts to keep me on the straight and narrow! Ha! Her love
support, and help, have been indispensable. She surely has a way of
cheering me up when I get discouraged.
Actually, now this is the only "url" you will need with the advent of the new Palmerton Press
site. http://www.thepalmertonpress.com/
All E-mail sent pertaining to the newest addition will be the above address. Please bookmark it and save it in your computer favorites. Opening the index will take you to this weeks web page or a listing of past issues.
My web master will post the newest additions as they become available. I prepare them here and send them to him and he does what is necessary to bring them up to proper form for posting. He checks my work and make necessary adjustments and then posts them for me.
The time frame may be different now. There is a Hell of a lot more work involved in this new operation and the old schedule of Friday may at times not be possible. However I will still try to send individual e-mails to those on my list. For one thing my list lets me know who is getting them. This is valuable information to me!!
I am particularly interested in reaching not only current Palmertonians but also former Palmerton residents who may still find the old town a source of comfort and the remembrances of happy days. Comments are welcome.
My son George, grandsons Andy, and Jason, have been instrumental in making these things appear at all. They supply the technical expertise to put and keep it on line. I can type the words and insert the pictures, but they keep the press running! In addition, we are trying to put older web pages on line as seen in our archive page.
Don’t expect much in the way of earth shattering events to appear here. This is how Queen and I live. To many it is dull and dry as dust but hey for a pair of geezers at 87 and 78 years what do you expect?
Oh an occasional “Bobby’s” rant will appear. This is run as an autocracy not a democracy. There is always the delete key.
At least with the addition of pictures these pages don’t have to stand on their literary merits alone. Thank God!!
I also thank all of my mentors. They all suffer a now 78-year-old fool well. I wish to express my thanks to everyone.
I deeply appreciate the responses from my readers who seem to enjoy our view of life as well as the pictures of our town and home. Grandson Andy says this is basically a letter with pictures. Actually it is more of a diary with pictures.
There is one thing I very much want to stress. It is the excellent input from you readers that permit me to put this thing out and on line every week. I very much appreciate the articles and pictures my readers send me. Keep it up.
With the gracious cooperation of Prolog we now have an up and running web page. This will eventually permit a lot more to be accomplished. My profound thanks to everyone.
Son George is my web master. He and I can be contacted through the main page.
You may note that this is the third volume of the second year of these epistles therefore, at my web master's behest, we are renaming them, Book 2, Volume 3.
Saturday, December 04, 2004 6:50 AM 20.6 at Slatington E.S. and 23.2 in the bus stop
Actually, now this is the only "url" you will need with the advent of the new Palmerton Press
site. http://www.thepalmertonpress.com/
All E-mail sent pertaining to the newest addition will be the above address. Please bookmark it and save it in your computer favorites. Opening the index will take you to this weeks web page or a listing of past issues.
My web master will post the newest additions as they become available. I prepare them here and send them to him and he does what is necessary to bring them up to proper form for posting. He checks my work and make necessary adjustments and then posts them for me.
The time frame may be different now. There is a Hell of a lot more work involved in this new operation and the old schedule of Friday may at times not be possible. However I will still try to send individual e-mails to those on my list. For one thing my list lets me know who is getting them. This is valuable information to me!!
I am particularly interested in reaching not only current Palmertonians but also former Palmerton residents who may still find the old town a source of comfort and the remembrances of happy days. Comments are welcome.
My son George, grandsons Andy, and Jason, have been instrumental in making these things appear at all. They supply the technical expertise to put and keep it on line. I can type the words and insert the pictures, but they keep the press running! In addition, we are trying to put older web pages on line as seen in our archive page.
Don’t expect much in the way of earth shattering events to appear here. This is how Queen and I live. To many it is dull and dry as dust but hey for a pair of geezers at 87 and 78 years what do you expect?
Oh an occasional “Bobby’s” rant will appear. This is run as an autocracy not a democracy. There is always the delete key.
At least with the addition of pictures these pages don’t have to stand on their literary merits alone. Thank God!!
I also thank all of my mentors. They all suffer a now 78-year-old fool well. I wish to express my thanks to everyone.
I deeply appreciate the responses from my readers who seem to enjoy our view of life as well as the pictures of our town and home. Grandson Andy says this is basically a letter with pictures. Actually it is more of a diary with pictures.
There is one thing I very much want to stress. It is the excellent input from you readers that permit me to put this thing out and on line every week. I very much appreciate the articles and pictures my readers send me. Keep it up.
With the gracious cooperation of Prolog we now have an up and running web page. This will eventually permit a lot more to be accomplished. My profound thanks to everyone.
Son George is my web master. He and I can be contacted through the main page.
You may note that this is the third volume of the second year of these epistles therefore, at my web master's behest, we are renaming them, Book 2, Volume 3.
Saturday, December 04, 2004 6:50 AM 20.6 at Slatington E.S. and 23.2 in the bus stop
It looks like
a clear but cold morning today,We will be heading for a walk soon. I
presume Tommy is out tramping in the woods with his muzzle loader deer
hunting. Apparently he had no luck so far.
I asked him last week in an e-mail and this was his reply.
"Hi Bob.
I was hoping you wouldn't ask. Only saw one deer the first day and they only shot one deer at the club all day. Big Tim DeSousa got a nice 8 pointer. It was the worst first day in the history of the club I believe. However the second day they did get 5 deer. Won't get out again till Saturday.
Tommy."
One thing the editor must do is print retractions and clarifications. Here is one of Bobby's boo boos.
" Bob:
Clarence Heydts wife is my wifes sister, not mine. My wife is the daughter of Victor Haydt, formerly of 450 Lafayette Ave. Her father worked at NJZ and part time at Helmuth furniture. He installed TV antennas in the 50s for Helmuth.
Norm Eckhart"
The editor regrets the error!!
We went for our walk this morning but due to the cold cut it slightly short at 4th Street. Now at 9:42 it has warmed up a bit and it is sunny and pleasant.
Mary and Jim are coming today to go Christmas tree shopping. We shall go with them for ours as well. I have been busy getting out the Christmas decorations and preparing the front porch for the new tree!! I had to put some of the excess folding front porch chairs in the bus stop. Queen is busy in the kitchen making a cherry dessert for supper to go with the ham and bean soup!!
Below on the right is the home of Sue and Bill Beers
Jim and I got our tree in the stand and watered so it is ready for trimming. We had to cut off some of the lower limbs in order to get it to fit in the tree stand, but all is well now.
For anyone who likes to read the "funnies" on line, here is a site for you.
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Misc Utilities/Comic_Reader_Download.html
I just got this from Lee Bollinger:
Hi Bob,
As usual I enjoyed your latest column. Especially the picture of Pattie and Queen..I copied it, and hung it on my WALL OF FAME in the radio shack... Thank you for all the lovely pictures on your site..
73/88,
Anne/KO3M
Yes Anne they both are very special people. Pattie and Queen have done much to encourage me in this venture. It is very much appreciated. I am indeed a lucky man and I know it!!
Also from Dave Engler in an e-mail:
DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors' special" was
two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99. "Sounds good," my wife
said. "But I don't want the eggs."
"Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because
you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.
"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" My wife asked
incredulously. "I'll take the special."
"How do you want your eggs?"
"Raw and in the shell," my wife replied. She took the two eggs home.
It is now 8:24 PM and as I sit here typing and working on this thing I have a very warm feeling to be able to sit here at the computer and glance into the front room and see the fruits of our labor out on the front porch looking in at me in all its beauty.
Every year I tell Queen this one is the best tree we ever had. Oh there have been physically better shaped trees and perhaps better decorated but this one is us and it is our work. We did it and It is the best effort we can currently accomplish, so it is, the best tree ever!!!
Ever since I turned 65 I have quietly said to myself how many more of these trees do we have left? We both have new physical problems we didn't have that long ago. However I do not know,nor do I want to know how long!!
Nostalgia is fine up to a point but we must all live right here and now in the present. So it is the best tree ever!!! Life is short!! I am trying to live each day as it comes. Geez there I go again getting mushy. Sorry about that!!
Monday, December 06, 2004 7:21 AM 30.9 at Slatington E.S. and 31.3 in the bus stop
It looks like a clear day this morning. Inclement stuff is predicted for later this today but so far so good. My blood glucose this morning is 113 and the weight 196.
Queen has a wash day this morning but we plan on a walk first. Queen's back was hurting and we were going to cut the walk short but the farther we walked the better her back became,so we went the full mile. That was good for both of us
We saw Judge Webb on his way to work this morning. The Clarance Heydts were also walking. They are far faster than us old geezers. I stopped by the hospital to tell the young ladies in the "Blood Drawing department " where to find their pictures in last week's web page.
After getting my e-mail I was reading the on-line Wall St. Journal about the frustrations of some of the responsible people in Iraq. It concerned the abandonment of America in Iraq's affairs by virtually most of Europe, France and Germany in particular.
To me it is clear why the old League of Nations failed. As will every other "world confederation". Then, as now, every nation pursues it's own selfish interests.Can one imagine the difference history would show had the rest of the world stood up to Hitler while he was just starting. Thus be it always!!!
Oh,we look out for our interests also but our track record is so much better in helping the rest of the world. We sure as Hell didn't storm the beaches at Normandy for oil!! It is very interesting to read the old newspapers of that time. There were many here who thought it was all wrong. Newspaper archives can all be found on line. It is interesting to see how little has changed, in spite of all the politicians platitudes!!
On Saturday when we got our trees we also noted the petting Zoo that Country Junction maintains for the kids. I must say the place was packed.
The peacock below was beautiful. He would not fan out his plume for me but he still was something to see. Pheasants, Grouse, Guinea hens, Llamas, all kinds of animals. It was interesting.
I asked him last week in an e-mail and this was his reply.
"Hi Bob.
I was hoping you wouldn't ask. Only saw one deer the first day and they only shot one deer at the club all day. Big Tim DeSousa got a nice 8 pointer. It was the worst first day in the history of the club I believe. However the second day they did get 5 deer. Won't get out again till Saturday.
Tommy."
One thing the editor must do is print retractions and clarifications. Here is one of Bobby's boo boos.
" Bob:
Clarence Heydts wife is my wifes sister, not mine. My wife is the daughter of Victor Haydt, formerly of 450 Lafayette Ave. Her father worked at NJZ and part time at Helmuth furniture. He installed TV antennas in the 50s for Helmuth.
Norm Eckhart"
The editor regrets the error!!
We went for our walk this morning but due to the cold cut it slightly short at 4th Street. Now at 9:42 it has warmed up a bit and it is sunny and pleasant.
Mary and Jim are coming today to go Christmas tree shopping. We shall go with them for ours as well. I have been busy getting out the Christmas decorations and preparing the front porch for the new tree!! I had to put some of the excess folding front porch chairs in the bus stop. Queen is busy in the kitchen making a cherry dessert for supper to go with the ham and bean soup!!
The
stuff I put up so far is subject to change.Ha!!
Below on the right is the home of Sue and Bill Beers
This morning my blood glucose was 133 and the weight was 195. We went
for our walk but cut it short at 4th Street due to the
cold weather. By the time we got back home, the sun was just coming
over
the mountain here.
This
afternoon we went up to Service Team and got our Christmas trees
It
didn't take Queen long to find our tree. I lugged it around the lot but
this is the one we liked best
Jim is getting their tree bailed. I must say that the selection was good.
Jim is getting their tree bailed. I must say that the selection was good.
Jim
is holding their tree and Mary is holding ours
Jim and I got our tree in the stand and watered so it is ready for trimming. We had to cut off some of the lower limbs in order to get it to fit in the tree stand, but all is well now.
For anyone who likes to read the "funnies" on line, here is a site for you.
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Misc Utilities/Comic_Reader_Download.html
I just got this from Lee Bollinger:
A
group
of kindergartners were trying very hard to become accustomed to the
first grade.
The biggest hurdle they faced was that the teacher insisted on NO baby talk!
"You need to use 'Big People' words," she was always reminding them.
She asked Chris what he had done over the weekend?
" I went to visit my Nana."
"No, you went to visit your GRANDMOTHER. Use 'Big People' words!
She then asked Mitchell what he had done.
"I took a ride on a choo-choo."
She said "No, you took a ride on a TRAIN. You must remember to use 'Big People' words."
She then asked little Alec what he had done?
"I read a book," he replied.
"That's WONDERFUL!" the teacher said. "What book did you read?"
Alec thought real hard about it, then puffed out his chest with great pride, and said, "Winnie the SHIT."
Sunday, December 05, 2004, 41.2 at Slatington E.S. and 31.7 in the bus stop
It looks like a clear day this morning. I took my coffee and sat on the upper park bench watching the world pass. Clarence Heydt and his wife walked down Columbia Avenue but they could not see me behind the tarp covered glider. It was a good time and place to just sit and get my head on straight.
I was considering how as I age things change with us both physically and I suppose mentally as well. New aches and pains concern us and we must learn to cope with them. I hate to witness my mortality sliding by.
This is a reply from George Ashman regarding the question Steve Jensen asked last week.
Bob - Regarding the George Shinsec building (413 Delaware), I don't recall who was there earlier. The 1923 anniversary book has no listing for that address (there may have been an ad without the street address, though; a lot of businesses at that time just said "Delaware" or "opposite the park" or something similar, rather than listing a number. Mr. Diehl's ad didn't even have that; just "Baker"; apparently he figured everybody knew where he was. The later (1937) anniversary book doesn't have ads, and paging through the 1962 book, I couldn't spot anything at that address (I don't have the '62 book indexed, as I did on the 1923). If Dennis Smith doesn't know, I don't know who would. How about asking George Shinsec?
Regarding Forest Inn Park, yes, I remember it, too, although I can't recall that we ever stopped there. Most of the time we went to Lake Mineola. It's a shame that "young folks" like Steve Jensen don't know about such things. George
I think we will be putting up the tree today.
We went for a short walk and them started on the tree. It is a lot of fun doing it with my sweetheart.
I went out on the east back porch and found a box on which to put the tree. I bet there are not many of these boxes left in the entire world. It is a sturdy wooden box with the name "The Lanston Monotype Machine Company" printed on it. In it was shipped the paper rolls which were run through the Monotype keyboard and punched. They were used to program the Monotype caster. Maybe I should contact the Smithsonian. Ha!!
It just would not be Christmas without my two old favorite ornaments.
Mary crocheted the stocking for me long ago.The other one is "Mammy". I have
two Mammys. They
have come down
through the family from my Mom and Dad and us kids when we
were
small. Ah,
memories!!
The snow shoveler!!
These ornaments are beautiful. I like the lighted stove!!
These
ornaments change color from
clear, to blue, to pink.
The biggest hurdle they faced was that the teacher insisted on NO baby talk!
"You need to use 'Big People' words," she was always reminding them.
She asked Chris what he had done over the weekend?
" I went to visit my Nana."
"No, you went to visit your GRANDMOTHER. Use 'Big People' words!
She then asked Mitchell what he had done.
"I took a ride on a choo-choo."
She said "No, you took a ride on a TRAIN. You must remember to use 'Big People' words."
She then asked little Alec what he had done?
"I read a book," he replied.
"That's WONDERFUL!" the teacher said. "What book did you read?"
Alec thought real hard about it, then puffed out his chest with great pride, and said, "Winnie the SHIT."
Sunday, December 05, 2004, 41.2 at Slatington E.S. and 31.7 in the bus stop
It looks like a clear day this morning. I took my coffee and sat on the upper park bench watching the world pass. Clarence Heydt and his wife walked down Columbia Avenue but they could not see me behind the tarp covered glider. It was a good time and place to just sit and get my head on straight.
I was considering how as I age things change with us both physically and I suppose mentally as well. New aches and pains concern us and we must learn to cope with them. I hate to witness my mortality sliding by.
This is a reply from George Ashman regarding the question Steve Jensen asked last week.
Bob - Regarding the George Shinsec building (413 Delaware), I don't recall who was there earlier. The 1923 anniversary book has no listing for that address (there may have been an ad without the street address, though; a lot of businesses at that time just said "Delaware" or "opposite the park" or something similar, rather than listing a number. Mr. Diehl's ad didn't even have that; just "Baker"; apparently he figured everybody knew where he was. The later (1937) anniversary book doesn't have ads, and paging through the 1962 book, I couldn't spot anything at that address (I don't have the '62 book indexed, as I did on the 1923). If Dennis Smith doesn't know, I don't know who would. How about asking George Shinsec?
Regarding Forest Inn Park, yes, I remember it, too, although I can't recall that we ever stopped there. Most of the time we went to Lake Mineola. It's a shame that "young folks" like Steve Jensen don't know about such things. George
I think we will be putting up the tree today.
We went for a short walk and them started on the tree. It is a lot of fun doing it with my sweetheart.
Queen covered the box with a red covering and we put the tree on it.
I went out on the east back porch and found a box on which to put the tree. I bet there are not many of these boxes left in the entire world. It is a sturdy wooden box with the name "The Lanston Monotype Machine Company" printed on it. In it was shipped the paper rolls which were run through the Monotype keyboard and punched. They were used to program the Monotype caster. Maybe I should contact the Smithsonian. Ha!!
Queen
got a container of paper ornamental balls at Aldi. They are quite
unique.
Then we put up a
bunch of
ornaments that allow one to insert one of the miniature tree bulbs into
a slot and it illuminates the ornament. They are very
attractive.
The snow shoveler!!
These ornaments are beautiful. I like the lighted stove!!
Of
course, Butternut was laying in the sun watching us through the back of
his eyelids, supervising
the
entire operation from
the comfort of the front porch
glider.
It is a tough job, but someone has to do it!!
I got this e-mail from Anne Keiser :Hi Bob,
As usual I enjoyed your latest column. Especially the picture of Pattie and Queen..I copied it, and hung it on my WALL OF FAME in the radio shack... Thank you for all the lovely pictures on your site..
73/88,
Anne/KO3M
Yes Anne they both are very special people. Pattie and Queen have done much to encourage me in this venture. It is very much appreciated. I am indeed a lucky man and I know it!!
Also from Dave Engler in an e-mail:
DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors' special" was
two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99. "Sounds good," my wife
said. "But I don't want the eggs."
"Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because
you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.
"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" My wife asked
incredulously. "I'll take the special."
"How do you want your eggs?"
"Raw and in the shell," my wife replied. She took the two eggs home.
It is now 8:24 PM and as I sit here typing and working on this thing I have a very warm feeling to be able to sit here at the computer and glance into the front room and see the fruits of our labor out on the front porch looking in at me in all its beauty.
Every year I tell Queen this one is the best tree we ever had. Oh there have been physically better shaped trees and perhaps better decorated but this one is us and it is our work. We did it and It is the best effort we can currently accomplish, so it is, the best tree ever!!!
Ever since I turned 65 I have quietly said to myself how many more of these trees do we have left? We both have new physical problems we didn't have that long ago. However I do not know,nor do I want to know how long!!
Nostalgia is fine up to a point but we must all live right here and now in the present. So it is the best tree ever!!! Life is short!! I am trying to live each day as it comes. Geez there I go again getting mushy. Sorry about that!!
Monday, December 06, 2004 7:21 AM 30.9 at Slatington E.S. and 31.3 in the bus stop
It looks like a clear day this morning. Inclement stuff is predicted for later this today but so far so good. My blood glucose this morning is 113 and the weight 196.
Queen has a wash day this morning but we plan on a walk first. Queen's back was hurting and we were going to cut the walk short but the farther we walked the better her back became,so we went the full mile. That was good for both of us
We saw Judge Webb on his way to work this morning. The Clarance Heydts were also walking. They are far faster than us old geezers. I stopped by the hospital to tell the young ladies in the "Blood Drawing department " where to find their pictures in last week's web page.
After getting my e-mail I was reading the on-line Wall St. Journal about the frustrations of some of the responsible people in Iraq. It concerned the abandonment of America in Iraq's affairs by virtually most of Europe, France and Germany in particular.
To me it is clear why the old League of Nations failed. As will every other "world confederation". Then, as now, every nation pursues it's own selfish interests.Can one imagine the difference history would show had the rest of the world stood up to Hitler while he was just starting. Thus be it always!!!
Oh,we look out for our interests also but our track record is so much better in helping the rest of the world. We sure as Hell didn't storm the beaches at Normandy for oil!! It is very interesting to read the old newspapers of that time. There were many here who thought it was all wrong. Newspaper archives can all be found on line. It is interesting to see how little has changed, in spite of all the politicians platitudes!!
On Saturday when we got our trees we also noted the petting Zoo that Country Junction maintains for the kids. I must say the place was packed.
The peacock below was beautiful. He would not fan out his plume for me but he still was something to see. Pheasants, Grouse, Guinea hens, Llamas, all kinds of animals. It was interesting.
They
had Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, and all manner of foul of that
nature.
Inside
they had
rabbits, dogs, cats, birds of all kinds, and all sorts of fish.
The indoor isles were
dark and crowded. The place was packed. They have more junk in there
than any place around here.The parking lot was full also. Buses were
seen unloading shoppers. It is a real tourist trap.
I went downtown this morning in what appeared to be the beginning of some SNOW to deliver the "paper" to Dr. Nicholson's office. Then on to IGA for bananas. I stopped in at the Times News in the morning snow fulling expecting to be greeted by Sharon's "abominable snow man". He was no where to be seen. She said that she searched the house for him to no avail!!
Golly, what a shame!!
I just got an e-mail from Betsy Burnhauser who replied to the article about Forrest Inn Park.
Bob - I think people by the name of Stein owned it when I was a little kid.We always called it "Steinies Park". It was a real treat on a hot summer evening when my father would take some of us kids up there for ice cream cones and a chance to play on the swings, see-saws, merry-go-round and sliding boards. The see-saws were wooden and had splinters where you sat.
I just got this from son in law Fritz Williams. He too is an old softie !!
Subject: Fw: The Folded Napkin
The Folded Napkin ... A Truckers Story
(If this doesn't light your fire ... your wood is wet!!!)
I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn't sure I wanted one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. I wasn't worried about most of my trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade. The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first few weeks.
I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table.
Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his rag. If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to love how hard he tried to please each and every person he met.
Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work.
He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months.
A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in the aisle when she heard the good news. Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his table. Frannie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look. He grinned. "OK, Frannie, what was that all about?" he asked. "We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay." "I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?" Frannie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables.
Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing their own tables that day until we decided what to do. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face.
"What's up?" I asked. "I didn't get that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup." She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something For Stevie. Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two $50 bills were tucked within its folds. Frannie looked at me with wet, shiny eyes, shook her head and said simply "truckers."
That was three months ago. Today is Thanksgiving, the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy. I arranged to have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. Stevie was thinner and paler, but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing cart were waiting.
"Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me!"
I led them toward a large corner booth at the rear of the room. I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups, saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded paper napkins.
"First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said. I tried to sound stern. Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table.
Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to his mother. "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. "Happy Thanksgiving!"
Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and shouting, and there were a few tears, as well. But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table. Best worker I ever hired.
Plant a seed and watch it grow. At this point, you can bury this inspirational message or forward it fulfilling the need!
If you shed a tear, hug yourself, because you are a compassionate person.
Well.. Don't just sit there! Send this story on!
Keep it going, this is a good one!
Well it had to come sometime. Here is the first. Sheez !!!
CARBON PA-MONROE PA-SUSSEX NJ-
354 PM EST MON DEC 6 2004
....WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE TONIGHT. THE AIR MASS REMAINS
MOIST NEAR THE SURFACE. WARM AIR A FEW THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE
GROUND HAS RAISED TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. BUT, AT GROUND LEVEL
A CHILLY NORTHEAST WIND HAS KEPT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. WITH
THE SUN SETTING, THE REGION IS MORE VULNERABLE TO ICING. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE ON BRIDGES, OVERPASSES, WALKWAYS AND LESS TRAVELED
ROADS.
MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED WITH
CAUTION...ESPECIALLY ON UNTREATED ROADS AND WALKS. IT IS DIFFICULT
AT NIGHT TO DETECT BLACK ICE. LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN
YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLES AROUND YOU.
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY RISE OVERNIGHT AND THIS SHOULD
SLOWLY DIMINISH THE THREAT FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE BY SUNRISE ON
TUESDAY.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
In my latest communication from Mr. T. Davies as to the status of his deer hunting I received the following:
Hi Bob.
Sorry to say it's the deer 2, Tommy nothing. I only saw 1 deer all day. However almost everyone else saw deer and 2 were missed. This is depressing but there is still a lot of muzzle loader season left and of course there is next Saturday. Hope you and the queen are doing well,
Tommy.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004 7:28 AM 33.2 at Slatington E.S. and 32.9 in the bus stop
It is a murky wet cold morning today with school delays particularly in the Pocono region. We went for our walk in spite of the lousy day. This time we walked down to 5th Street across and up to 1st Street. There I took some pictures of the gray day.
I went downtown this morning in what appeared to be the beginning of some SNOW to deliver the "paper" to Dr. Nicholson's office. Then on to IGA for bananas. I stopped in at the Times News in the morning snow fulling expecting to be greeted by Sharon's "abominable snow man". He was no where to be seen. She said that she searched the house for him to no avail!!
Golly, what a shame!!
Sharon can't find
him anywhere. Foul play is suspected. heh
heh heh!!!!
I just got an e-mail from Betsy Burnhauser who replied to the article about Forrest Inn Park.
Bob - I think people by the name of Stein owned it when I was a little kid.We always called it "Steinies Park". It was a real treat on a hot summer evening when my father would take some of us kids up there for ice cream cones and a chance to play on the swings, see-saws, merry-go-round and sliding boards. The see-saws were wooden and had splinters where you sat.
I just got this from son in law Fritz Williams. He too is an old softie !!
Subject: Fw: The Folded Napkin
The Folded Napkin ... A Truckers Story
(If this doesn't light your fire ... your wood is wet!!!)
I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn't sure I wanted one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. I wasn't worried about most of my trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade. The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first few weeks.
I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table.
Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his rag. If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to love how hard he tried to please each and every person he met.
Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work.
He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months.
A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in the aisle when she heard the good news. Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his table. Frannie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look. He grinned. "OK, Frannie, what was that all about?" he asked. "We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay." "I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?" Frannie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables.
Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing their own tables that day until we decided what to do. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face.
"What's up?" I asked. "I didn't get that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup." She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something For Stevie. Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two $50 bills were tucked within its folds. Frannie looked at me with wet, shiny eyes, shook her head and said simply "truckers."
That was three months ago. Today is Thanksgiving, the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy. I arranged to have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. Stevie was thinner and paler, but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing cart were waiting.
"Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me!"
I led them toward a large corner booth at the rear of the room. I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups, saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded paper napkins.
"First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said. I tried to sound stern. Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table.
Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to his mother. "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. "Happy Thanksgiving!"
Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and shouting, and there were a few tears, as well. But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table. Best worker I ever hired.
Plant a seed and watch it grow. At this point, you can bury this inspirational message or forward it fulfilling the need!
If you shed a tear, hug yourself, because you are a compassionate person.
Well.. Don't just sit there! Send this story on!
Keep it going, this is a good one!
Well it had to come sometime. Here is the first. Sheez !!!
CARBON PA-MONROE PA-SUSSEX NJ-
354 PM EST MON DEC 6 2004
....WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE TONIGHT. THE AIR MASS REMAINS
MOIST NEAR THE SURFACE. WARM AIR A FEW THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE
GROUND HAS RAISED TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. BUT, AT GROUND LEVEL
A CHILLY NORTHEAST WIND HAS KEPT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. WITH
THE SUN SETTING, THE REGION IS MORE VULNERABLE TO ICING. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE ON BRIDGES, OVERPASSES, WALKWAYS AND LESS TRAVELED
ROADS.
MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED WITH
CAUTION...ESPECIALLY ON UNTREATED ROADS AND WALKS. IT IS DIFFICULT
AT NIGHT TO DETECT BLACK ICE. LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN
YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLES AROUND YOU.
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY RISE OVERNIGHT AND THIS SHOULD
SLOWLY DIMINISH THE THREAT FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE BY SUNRISE ON
TUESDAY.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
In my latest communication from Mr. T. Davies as to the status of his deer hunting I received the following:
Hi Bob.
Sorry to say it's the deer 2, Tommy nothing. I only saw 1 deer all day. However almost everyone else saw deer and 2 were missed. This is depressing but there is still a lot of muzzle loader season left and of course there is next Saturday. Hope you and the queen are doing well,
Tommy.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004 7:28 AM 33.2 at Slatington E.S. and 32.9 in the bus stop
It is a murky wet cold morning today with school delays particularly in the Pocono region. We went for our walk in spite of the lousy day. This time we walked down to 5th Street across and up to 1st Street. There I took some pictures of the gray day.
There was a chilly east wind, but
coming back it was
fine. Everybody was going about their business as we walked past the
Hospital
complex.
It
is nothing inspiring, but at least I can prove we were out.
This morning my blood glucose was 123 and my weight 194. This afternoon I must go down to Dr. Walter's office for their optical technician, Jake Miller, to install my new lenses. There will be bifocals without the lines. We shall see how they go.
I got this from both Lee Bollinger and Henry Schwartz:
Hospital Window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.
Do not keep this letter.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish good luck.
You will see that something good will happen to you....
This comes from Henry Schwartz:
Monday, December 06, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: Reindeers
REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.
We should've known...
ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.
We just got back from my visit with my oculist. Jake Miller fitted my glasses and had me read the charts. I think I am really going to like them. The damn lines on the old bifocals were a real pain. Now as I type this I am using them as my computer glasses and they work just fine. Jake said the rule of thumb with the line-less bifocals is to point your nose at what you want to read. That seems to work very well.
Jake is quite a philosopher. We talked a bit about our lives and how marriage has been the best thing in the world for us both. He too tells his wife that he probably would have been dead by now had he not married her. Ah yes I also fit that pattern!! We spoke of how we both have matured over the years. Things that bothered him a lot don't phase him now.
It sort of reminded me of the other day when I had to go to Radio Shack for something I needed. The manager went to the computer to check with the archives. After he was done I asked him if I could try to bring up this web page. Sure go ahead. As I was getting it up and on line he said to me,"You know your way around a computer pretty well, don't you?" I had to admit I had learned a few shortcuts and tricks that he noticed. So the secret is keep at it and keep going!!
It is still a crummy day. It isn't much above freezing and the light mist is a nuisance. We walked from Dr. Walter's office to Rite-Aid and then stopped at Country Harvest. We got oysters and I am going make oyster stew for supper.
The oyster stew was excellent. We also had some crackers, cheese, a cup of coffee and a small piece of store made pumpkin pie. The pie we got at Aldi's, while no where near Queen efforts, wasn't too bad.
Here is a picture that was sent me by someone whose name I am no longer sure. It is a photograph of one of my readers taken a few years ago!!
This morning my blood glucose was 123 and my weight 194. This afternoon I must go down to Dr. Walter's office for their optical technician, Jake Miller, to install my new lenses. There will be bifocals without the lines. We shall see how they go.
I got this from both Lee Bollinger and Henry Schwartz:
Hospital Window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.
Do not keep this letter.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish good luck.
You will see that something good will happen to you....
This comes from Henry Schwartz:
Monday, December 06, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: Reindeers
REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.
We should've known...
ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.
We just got back from my visit with my oculist. Jake Miller fitted my glasses and had me read the charts. I think I am really going to like them. The damn lines on the old bifocals were a real pain. Now as I type this I am using them as my computer glasses and they work just fine. Jake said the rule of thumb with the line-less bifocals is to point your nose at what you want to read. That seems to work very well.
Jake is quite a philosopher. We talked a bit about our lives and how marriage has been the best thing in the world for us both. He too tells his wife that he probably would have been dead by now had he not married her. Ah yes I also fit that pattern!! We spoke of how we both have matured over the years. Things that bothered him a lot don't phase him now.
It sort of reminded me of the other day when I had to go to Radio Shack for something I needed. The manager went to the computer to check with the archives. After he was done I asked him if I could try to bring up this web page. Sure go ahead. As I was getting it up and on line he said to me,"You know your way around a computer pretty well, don't you?" I had to admit I had learned a few shortcuts and tricks that he noticed. So the secret is keep at it and keep going!!
It is still a crummy day. It isn't much above freezing and the light mist is a nuisance. We walked from Dr. Walter's office to Rite-Aid and then stopped at Country Harvest. We got oysters and I am going make oyster stew for supper.
The oyster stew was excellent. We also had some crackers, cheese, a cup of coffee and a small piece of store made pumpkin pie. The pie we got at Aldi's, while no where near Queen efforts, wasn't too bad.
Here is a picture that was sent me by someone whose name I am no longer sure. It is a photograph of one of my readers taken a few years ago!!
George
Gilbert!!
He
graduated at the time I graduated from High School!! His
wife,
Maybelle Blose, was in my PHS class of 1944
I just got this from Bob Green. By
all
means take a
look at it. It
is beautiful.
http://www.thetimemovie.com/
Wednesday,
December
08, 2004 7:34 AM 49.3 at Slatington E.S. and 42.9 in the bus stop
It finally looks as though it should clear today. We went for our walk this morning and while it looked wintry it was quite warm with temperatures in the low 50's.
During our walk I got these pictures.
This morning Queen is mixing up cookie dough. That means she will be tired tonight. She likes to prepare the doughs first and then bake them the next day. The first one is a Bobby special request for a very soft oatmeal raisin cookie.
I noticed the other day that one of my favorite classical music stations, WQXR, was back on streaming audio. However, I found a great big hook in it.
Q: Why is listening to Radio@Netscape now limited?
A: In order to play music online, Radio@Netscape needs to pay fees to the recording industry and ultimately the artists who make the music you enjoy. By putting a daily limit on listening, we can continue to provide you with the best FREE online music experience, with limited commercial interruptions, while still keeping our costs in check. Unlimited listening is available to AOL members through our popular Radio@AOL service which offers the same great audio programming in addition to more exclusive content and convenient access to all of the other great features of AOL. AOL for Broadband members get the added benefit of commercial free, CD-quality listening experience on Radio@AOL for Broadband. Click here to learn more about AOL for Broadband.
AOL FOR BROADBAND REQUIRES PURCHASE OF A SEPARATE HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION FROM YOUR LOCAL CABLE OR TELEPHONE COMPANY. HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN AREAS ONLY. FREE TRIAL MUST BE USED WITHIN 45 DAYS OF REGISTRATION FOR AOL. TO AVOID BEING CHARGED FUTURE AOL FOR BROADBAND FEES, SIMPLY CANCEL BEFORE 45 DAY FREE TRIAL ENDS. Premium services carry surcharges and communication surcharges may apply in certain areas including Alaska, even during trial time. Members using dial-up access may incur telephone charges on their phone bill depending on their calling plan and location, even during trial time. For new AOL members age 18 or older who are U.S. residents; major billing method required. AOL may be optimizing some of your computer settings to enhance your experience on AOL. America Online, AOL, and the triangle design are registered trademarks of America Online, Inc. AOL for Broadband name and logo are trademarks of America Online, Inc. All other names are trademarks or service marks of their respective holders. ©2004 America Online, Inc. All rights reserved. Offer expires 01/22/2005.
They will let me listen free for 2 hours per day then I must join AOL's broadband network to get it regularly at $24.95 per month. There is no way on God's green earth I will pay those crooked bast**d* for their poor service. Plus the fact that I still have to pay ProLog for my excellent cable modem. That I don't begrudge. AOL is renowned for hyping the Hell out of everything and then supplying shoddy poor very limited service on their proprietary rotten @%$*@!!^$ service systems .
Oh I know they are all under pressure to comply with the new compensation rules but to have to pay for their entire broadband package is out right CROOKED. A small fee I could handle but your damn well right I am MAD. So long WQXR.
This says it all:
If AOL Made A Car
The AOL car would have a TOP speed of 40 MPH yet have a 200 MPH speedometer.
The AOL car would come equipped with a NEW and fantastic 8-Track tape player.
The car would often refuse to start and owners would just expect this and try again later.
The windshield would have an extra dark tint to protect the driver from seeing better cars.
AOL would sell the same model car year after year and claim it's the NEW model.
Every now and then the brakes on the AOL car would just "lock-up" for no apparent reason.
The AOL car would have a very plain body style but would have lots'a pretty colors and lights.
The AOL car would have only one door but it would have 5 extra seats for family members.
Anyone dissatisfied could return the car but must continue to make payments for 6 months.
If an AOL car owner received 3 parking tickets AOL would take the car off of them.
The AOL car would have an AOL Cell phone that can only place calls to other AOL car cell phones.
AOL would pass a new car law forbidding AOL car owners from driving near other car dealerships.
AOL car mechanics would have no experience in car repair.
Younger AOL car drivers would be able to make other peoples AOL cars stall just for fun.
It would not be possible to upgrade your AOL car stereo.
AOL cars would be forced to use AOL gas that cost 20% more and gave worse mileage.
Anytime an AOL car owner saw another AOL car owner he would wonder, M/F/age?
It would be common for AOL car owners to divorce just to marry another AOL car owner.
AOL car owners would always claim to be older or younger than they really are.
AOL cars would come with a steering wheel and AOL would claim no other cars have them.
Every time you close the door on the AOL car it would say, "Good-Bye."
Well on to happier things. Queen is baking those raisin cookies and they are first class. They pass the "quality controls" very stringent standards with flying colors.
Thursday, December 09, 2004 7:18 AM 29.4 at Slatington E.S. and 31.1 in the bus stop
It is a cloudy sort of mixed looking day today. It is not immediately threatening but it does not bode well for later today. My blood glucose was 140 and the weight was 195.
I went up and sat on the park bench to contemplate things for a bit before coming in for more coffee and reading my e-mail. While I was up there I went over to Bernice Kleintop's back steps and took a picture of Dr. Cyr's completed job. It really looks like a first class job.
We went for our walk this morning. It was cold but with no wind. It was not bad. Today we plan to do our food shopping.
We got back home about 12:45 PM. It wasn't too crowded and the stock was good. Among the stuff we got at Giant was some parchment paper. Queen was telling another "cookie maker" up at the store the advantages of using the paper when she bakes cookies. The pans stay clean. Also they don't stick and can be used over again. Both woman liked the idea.
More and more I am beginning to like my new line-less bifocals very much. They also work well as a pair of computer glasses. As Jake Miller said point your nose at what you want to read. That concept works very well.
At 5 PM it is raining now.
Friday, December 10, 2004 7:21 AM 41.3 at Slatington E.S. and 41.1 in the bus stop
This morning it is raining and nasty outside but it is still warm. I understand this next week the hammer will fall on the temperature readings. Mr. Tuthill can't be too happy with this warm weather. The Blue Mountain Ski Area and none of the others around here can even make snow at night. This means it will be a late beginning of the season for them. I recall many a year they were skiing at Thanksgiving. Oh my oil tanks enjoy the respite!
This morning my blood glucose is 128 and the weight 195. That is a lot better than yesterday. Why I haven't a clue.
In spite of the drizzle Queen and I walked out to 5th Street and back. It was warm enough and not uncomfortable walking. I took the camera and got these pictures.
The former Danneberg residence
Finally our home.
The weather was
not at all conducive to taking excellent pictures. However I took them
anyway. Young Bill Danneberg will enjoy them I hope!!
Here is an aside to the story about the Shincec reality building from George Ashman.
Bob - Todd Young hailed me in Spillane's this morning to say that the west side of the building that had Paul Pupak's tailor shop (you mentioned in your Blog), now George Shinsec's real estate office, was Arner's Bakery. He also said that one of the employees was a Mrs. Kuhn (spelling?). You may want to contact him for any more details.
That is funny because the name Arner's is familiar to me. I don't recall it at as a bakery at all. It looks as though Steve Jensen was correct.
Yesterday I had a telephone conversation with Bill Gersbach ,K3BTU, who wanted some information. Apparently his sister, Minerva, has been forced to live in the Mahoning Nursing center. She had a severe health problem and was told she could no longer live in an unassisted manner in her apartment. Bill and Bertha both have health problems of their own. Nonetheless Willie and Bertha had to clean out the place quickly. He is now wondering what to do with a lot of her stuff. He ask about the value of much of her stuff and what to do with it. As an example she has a complete copy of the complete history of Carbon County by Thomas Eckhart, She even had some duplicate volumes. Apparently they are also heavy.
In the course of our conversation Willie told me of an old photograph that he scanned and sent to me. It is a photograph of Pete Hotchburg ? [spelling] the local Chief of Police along with Charlie Klein. This was taken a long time ago.
It finally looks as though it should clear today. We went for our walk this morning and while it looked wintry it was quite warm with temperatures in the low 50's.
During our walk I got these pictures.
This morning I
had a
special request to fill the bird feeders. So the Mutt and Jeff bird
feed gurus went out to do the job. Queen held the ladder as I crawled
up
take the feeder down. It is a brass mesh folding thing. So I hung it
on the wash line with a S hook and we filled it. Then it was back up
the ladder, creaking ladder and joints, while my trusty helper
held the ladder instilling all kinds of false
confidence in me. Ha!!. Then I got down and I filled the
other
feeders. Mutt and Jeff got it done though.
This morning Queen is mixing up cookie dough. That means she will be tired tonight. She likes to prepare the doughs first and then bake them the next day. The first one is a Bobby special request for a very soft oatmeal raisin cookie.
I noticed the other day that one of my favorite classical music stations, WQXR, was back on streaming audio. However, I found a great big hook in it.
Q: Why is listening to Radio@Netscape now limited?
A: In order to play music online, Radio@Netscape needs to pay fees to the recording industry and ultimately the artists who make the music you enjoy. By putting a daily limit on listening, we can continue to provide you with the best FREE online music experience, with limited commercial interruptions, while still keeping our costs in check. Unlimited listening is available to AOL members through our popular Radio@AOL service which offers the same great audio programming in addition to more exclusive content and convenient access to all of the other great features of AOL. AOL for Broadband members get the added benefit of commercial free, CD-quality listening experience on Radio@AOL for Broadband. Click here to learn more about AOL for Broadband.
AOL FOR BROADBAND REQUIRES PURCHASE OF A SEPARATE HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION FROM YOUR LOCAL CABLE OR TELEPHONE COMPANY. HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN AREAS ONLY. FREE TRIAL MUST BE USED WITHIN 45 DAYS OF REGISTRATION FOR AOL. TO AVOID BEING CHARGED FUTURE AOL FOR BROADBAND FEES, SIMPLY CANCEL BEFORE 45 DAY FREE TRIAL ENDS. Premium services carry surcharges and communication surcharges may apply in certain areas including Alaska, even during trial time. Members using dial-up access may incur telephone charges on their phone bill depending on their calling plan and location, even during trial time. For new AOL members age 18 or older who are U.S. residents; major billing method required. AOL may be optimizing some of your computer settings to enhance your experience on AOL. America Online, AOL, and the triangle design are registered trademarks of America Online, Inc. AOL for Broadband name and logo are trademarks of America Online, Inc. All other names are trademarks or service marks of their respective holders. ©2004 America Online, Inc. All rights reserved. Offer expires 01/22/2005.
They will let me listen free for 2 hours per day then I must join AOL's broadband network to get it regularly at $24.95 per month. There is no way on God's green earth I will pay those crooked bast**d* for their poor service. Plus the fact that I still have to pay ProLog for my excellent cable modem. That I don't begrudge. AOL is renowned for hyping the Hell out of everything and then supplying shoddy poor very limited service on their proprietary rotten @%$*@!!^$ service systems .
Oh I know they are all under pressure to comply with the new compensation rules but to have to pay for their entire broadband package is out right CROOKED. A small fee I could handle but your damn well right I am MAD. So long WQXR.
This says it all:
If AOL Made A Car
The AOL car would have a TOP speed of 40 MPH yet have a 200 MPH speedometer.
The AOL car would come equipped with a NEW and fantastic 8-Track tape player.
The car would often refuse to start and owners would just expect this and try again later.
The windshield would have an extra dark tint to protect the driver from seeing better cars.
AOL would sell the same model car year after year and claim it's the NEW model.
Every now and then the brakes on the AOL car would just "lock-up" for no apparent reason.
The AOL car would have a very plain body style but would have lots'a pretty colors and lights.
The AOL car would have only one door but it would have 5 extra seats for family members.
Anyone dissatisfied could return the car but must continue to make payments for 6 months.
If an AOL car owner received 3 parking tickets AOL would take the car off of them.
The AOL car would have an AOL Cell phone that can only place calls to other AOL car cell phones.
AOL would pass a new car law forbidding AOL car owners from driving near other car dealerships.
AOL car mechanics would have no experience in car repair.
Younger AOL car drivers would be able to make other peoples AOL cars stall just for fun.
It would not be possible to upgrade your AOL car stereo.
AOL cars would be forced to use AOL gas that cost 20% more and gave worse mileage.
Anytime an AOL car owner saw another AOL car owner he would wonder, M/F/age?
It would be common for AOL car owners to divorce just to marry another AOL car owner.
AOL car owners would always claim to be older or younger than they really are.
AOL cars would come with a steering wheel and AOL would claim no other cars have them.
Every time you close the door on the AOL car it would say, "Good-Bye."
Well on to happier things. Queen is baking those raisin cookies and they are first class. They pass the "quality controls" very stringent standards with flying colors.
Thursday, December 09, 2004 7:18 AM 29.4 at Slatington E.S. and 31.1 in the bus stop
It is a cloudy sort of mixed looking day today. It is not immediately threatening but it does not bode well for later today. My blood glucose was 140 and the weight was 195.
I went up and sat on the park bench to contemplate things for a bit before coming in for more coffee and reading my e-mail. While I was up there I went over to Bernice Kleintop's back steps and took a picture of Dr. Cyr's completed job. It really looks like a first class job.
This
is the finished job. It is excellent work!!
We went for our walk this morning. It was cold but with no wind. It was not bad. Today we plan to do our food shopping.
We got back home about 12:45 PM. It wasn't too crowded and the stock was good. Among the stuff we got at Giant was some parchment paper. Queen was telling another "cookie maker" up at the store the advantages of using the paper when she bakes cookies. The pans stay clean. Also they don't stick and can be used over again. Both woman liked the idea.
More and more I am beginning to like my new line-less bifocals very much. They also work well as a pair of computer glasses. As Jake Miller said point your nose at what you want to read. That concept works very well.
At 5 PM it is raining now.
Friday, December 10, 2004 7:21 AM 41.3 at Slatington E.S. and 41.1 in the bus stop
This morning it is raining and nasty outside but it is still warm. I understand this next week the hammer will fall on the temperature readings. Mr. Tuthill can't be too happy with this warm weather. The Blue Mountain Ski Area and none of the others around here can even make snow at night. This means it will be a late beginning of the season for them. I recall many a year they were skiing at Thanksgiving. Oh my oil tanks enjoy the respite!
This morning my blood glucose is 128 and the weight 195. That is a lot better than yesterday. Why I haven't a clue.
In spite of the drizzle Queen and I walked out to 5th Street and back. It was warm enough and not uncomfortable walking. I took the camera and got these pictures.
The
Donald Behler residence
The former Danneberg residence
Finally our home.
Here is an aside to the story about the Shincec reality building from George Ashman.
Bob - Todd Young hailed me in Spillane's this morning to say that the west side of the building that had Paul Pupak's tailor shop (you mentioned in your Blog), now George Shinsec's real estate office, was Arner's Bakery. He also said that one of the employees was a Mrs. Kuhn (spelling?). You may want to contact him for any more details.
That is funny because the name Arner's is familiar to me. I don't recall it at as a bakery at all. It looks as though Steve Jensen was correct.
Yesterday I had a telephone conversation with Bill Gersbach ,K3BTU, who wanted some information. Apparently his sister, Minerva, has been forced to live in the Mahoning Nursing center. She had a severe health problem and was told she could no longer live in an unassisted manner in her apartment. Bill and Bertha both have health problems of their own. Nonetheless Willie and Bertha had to clean out the place quickly. He is now wondering what to do with a lot of her stuff. He ask about the value of much of her stuff and what to do with it. As an example she has a complete copy of the complete history of Carbon County by Thomas Eckhart, She even had some duplicate volumes. Apparently they are also heavy.
In the course of our conversation Willie told me of an old photograph that he scanned and sent to me. It is a photograph of Pete Hotchburg ? [spelling] the local Chief of Police along with Charlie Klein. This was taken a long time ago.
This morning we decided to go to K-Mart as well as to IGA. Naturally we
had to stop in for a quick visit to our friends at the Times News.
My worst fears were confirmed. Sharon found the "abominable snow shovel". <Sigh> It was unanimously suggested that the blame for any bad weather this winter is on Sharon's shoulders!!
My worst fears were confirmed. Sharon found the "abominable snow shovel". <Sigh> It was unanimously suggested that the blame for any bad weather this winter is on Sharon's shoulders!!
Pattie and Linda
Well
it is time to
bring this to an end for this week.
Please love one another, Mom and Bob <Queen and Bobby>
Please love one another, Mom and Bob <Queen and Bobby>