Watertown, NY, USA . "Public Square" (vintage, date unknown) but the monument is honoring veterans of the American Civil War so the date of the image is late 1800s

Thursday, September 30, 2004

got up at 5AM this morning, planning to be at work from 6 to 6 to set up for inventory but went alot better the i had hoped and was put by 4:30PM.....need to be back at 6AM tomorrow morning to do the counts, and hopefully will be done by early evening...had thought that we we're going to do the adjustments on monday but looks like i may have to work saturday as well.....nothing much else shaking for the next couple of days....basically work,eat sleep.......need to get to bed early tonight......am tired , as i didn't sleep well last night......

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

wow, it seems like tuesdays have become the nutty day of the week, last one was a nightmare and today wasn't much better....back was some better today but is still quite tender.....but i really sleep well last night so other then the back felt pretty good today......a shame to waste it on a day where nothing went right...
went grocery shopping after work....made dinner but unlike last week remembered about the rehearsal which went great........
have a rough few days coming up the end of the week and next as we go through the year end inventory and all that that entails....but a plan to take a couple of weeks off in october and unwind.......

Monday, September 27, 2004

i didn't sleep very well last night but awoke this morning feeling pretty good.......got up got going feed the cats and went down to get in the car and when i sat down my back tightened up....lovely....not surprising as i had sat way too much yesterday in CSOs at choral rehearsal.....i think i have made reference to CSOs before.....that stands for chair shaped object....it looks like a chair but once you sit down you realize that it has been poorly designed for that purpose.....but in the chair's defense i have to admit from habit when i sing i never rest my back on the back of the chair....i tend to sit only on the front half of the seat...still....the folding chairs they have and 1st Pres. should be.that is folded up and throw in a dumpster.....
work went ok but i was moving a little gingerly as the back never really felt right until well into the afternoon.....must take a hot bath tonight....that should do the trick....
have spent the night watching a little tv (american chopper reruns) and there is a new one on at ten, and also cooking the weekly pot of stew, but to be accurate this one is more of a soup then a stew....thick soup but soup none the less....have been getting to creative i think and just putting too many things in recently so went a bit minimalistic tonight.....beef(about1-1/2 pounds of center cut shank),salt pork(1/4 of a pound), cabbage(1 small head), onions(2 medium cut in 8ths),garlic (about 8 cloves), a few slices of ginger root, a few slices of horseradish root and salt and pepper...a nice slow boil for 2-1/2 hours....meat comes out and is cut into chucks then back into the pot with some egg noodles added...another half hour and heaven.....

Sunday, September 26, 2004

well i slept to the alarm this morning, i sometimes don't set it on a sunday....eventhough i need to be out of the house by 9 because normally i am awake long before 8 o'clock....but this morning the alarm got me.......sending cats flying through the house, the alarm drives them nuts (me too if truth be told) but they hear it only on rare occasions......and i was still dreaming......true to form i forgot what i had dreamed almost immediately......
choral rehearsal this afternoon was a lot of fun and really went well....i think i got the hang of the one piece that i got lost in last week......we have about 160 voices this year in the main choir.....but only about 12 or 13 tenors.......most of which are woman who have the range of a tenor.......and i like the bunch of them but they just don't sound like tenors......not their fault of course but right now with the exception of 2 new kids that are singing with us (who i can never here) i'm the lone male tenor 1........so i basically have to sing my brains out......the fullness is fine but if i sang right out the quality is ok too......hopefully it's early and a couple more of the old hands will be back and we'll be fine......

Saturday, September 25, 2004

yup....i'm going to bed early.....right......still up and although body is tired mind is still racing.......i usually roll around for an hour once i get to bed before i fall asleep.......i must dream..everybody does i'm told but i almost never remember the dreams.....even if i awoke right after a dream cycle and know what i dreamed at the time...by morning it is usually gone......i do have re-occurring dreams......not as many now as when i was younger......and certainly plots that re-occur with different window dressings.......very few nightmares.....most of my "bad" dreams aren't scary .........merely frustrating........
the one re-occuring plot line is that i always have plenty of time to accomplish someting or be somewhere on time....but silly things always happen and things never get done or i'm late to whatever it was i was going to........
it's still relatively early but i'm all in.....and think i'll do the nightly shower thing and call it a night......sleep in this morning until after nine which is really rare for me and although i was only out briefly today was busy most of the day around the house, some cleaning....laundry.......etc......and am just beat tonight.....
have been having trouble with the vacuum and finally took it apart today to see what was wrong......discovered that the tube that runs from the brushes up toward the bag was plugged......and no i have no intention of telling you what i sucked up in the vacuum.....it's just to dang ridiculous to be believed......

Friday, September 24, 2004

i actually remembered to post the letters/checks that i wrote last night....but i really don't deserve any credit...i had clipped them to my pager so i won't forget.....work was busy but not bad...got everything done.....
went out to dinner tonight....chinese again.....i've decided to do that most end of the week nights....kind of a period on the end of the work week......ran into a couple of people, one at the restaurant and one when i stopped to pick up some groceries........it's interesting that both had a "piece to a puzzle(s)" that have been bugging me.......one is just mundane....but the other is of some import.......it helps explain a lot about somethings that have happened......not a full explanation to be sure but it does explain at least one major aspect to the whole thing, yes i know i'm being vague again......live with it

Thursday, September 23, 2004

i've really crashed out tonight,work today was fairly easy, but i dressed a little to warm, and couple that with really not sleeping well this week i am out on my feet.....i usually run errands on Thursday....payday....but except for the bank and gas......nada.....i came home ...wrote a few checks and then just said to heck with it i'm in for the night.......will post the checks tomorrow morning......besides unless i drove to the post office all the local boxes are picked up by 5 and o was too late to post them tonight....not a problem,,,,nothing needed to be done tonight so i just didn't...........
blogshares has been down this evening which could be a problem but with my new tactic in place i shouldn't have too much off a problem
watch survivor tonight and so far just haven't really connected to it the way i normally do......just need to see ho things shake out...but one observation is that both teams aren't......rather then concentrating on developing a team and getting maximum numbers to the merge...they are already playing the who's the biggest threat game......bad choice.........you ride your horse and then jump off later......if you don't get to the merge with numbers your gone any ways.......

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

as wild and crazy as yesterday was, today was calm and sedate......was busy but in a very controllable way...got a lot down with virtually no hassle, everything just seemed to fall into place......
but i am worn out and tired, and have just relaxed tonight.....
i am still mulling over what to do about the november election, i have made up my mind pretty much on state and local elections but still haven't a clue how to vote in the national race......i wonder if they'll let me take a coin in to the voting booth..........

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

man what a frustrating day i've had at work, just one of those days when everything i swear was out to get me.......nothing and i mean nothing went the way it should......so i stopped and got groceries after work, i seem to always do my main shopping on tuesday evening and for no apparent reason other then it's what i always do.....got home .....cooked dinner and relaxed....looked up at the clock and it was 7:45.....i had completely forgot that i had a rehearsal tonight.....so raced out and caught the last half of it.....nothing has been easy today...i fought the day and the day won

Monday, September 20, 2004

a busy day at work, not a hectic one but just busy all day...
made a call at the funeral home tonight, my daughter's husband's grand mother die, not unexpected but still a very emotional situation.....
i am experiencing a real dilemma....who do i vote for in the presidential elections.....i've always considered myself a conservative, and haven't really changed that much but i think the definition of conservative in the US has changed because i find myself generally classified as a centralist.....to the right side to be sure but in the middle none the less, and neither major party candidate appeals to me......i remember some 40 years ago being part of a discussion with my two uncles (one a lawyer, the other a local public official) and they came to the conclusion that by enlarge presidential elections were negative votes, that is you didn't vote for a candidate, you voted against one......i thought that a bit cynical but over the years i find that they were pretty close to being on the money......at least in my experience.......

Sunday, September 19, 2004

i am dead tired tonight, very busy day, worship team had a absolute train wreak in the morning service, first one we've had in a long time, but any group i've ever played/sung with has had at least one....just the nature of the beast......
first rehearsal for north country choral......was good to see some old friends in the group that i've not seen since last christmas....the music lacks a truly classical piece which i find disappointing but other then that most of it is good......

Saturday, September 18, 2004

been an interesting day, blogshares was down for awhile this morning and by the time it was back up and i realized it i had lost about 200b, not a big deal, and it proves that the new system works the way it was intended.....have recouped much of the loss and spent sometime re-tuning my tactics to make it easier for me to respond to the new features of the game.....
made a fresh pot of stew this morning.....tried a few different things.....only meat was beef so i decided to add a little jazz to it......doubled the cloves of garlic to 8, and added several thin slices of ginger root, and fresh horseradish as well as a little bacon.......came out really tasty........
dang, i had intented to go to bed early tonight, sat down about 10 to play a little blogshares and logged on the blogshares irc channel, got involved and when i looked up at the time it was 12:15......oy vey.......am trying a new tactic that seems to be working at least so far........

Friday, September 17, 2004

easy day at work but a silly one, first i just about tore the house apart looking for my lunch pail (you guessed it, sitting on the shelf at work never brought it home last night.......lost a button of my pants......yes of course the one that holds them together.......
went out to dinner tonight, chinese again, i used to go out every friday night for dinner, used it as a dividing line between the work week and the weekend.......haven't done it for almost two years, at least on a regular basis....but think i may start again........

Thursday, September 16, 2004

actually a busy day at work but got caught up and everything done with the least amount of hassle and stress......
did my banking and some errands, stopped and saw the daughter for a while.......she's been back to work for about 2 weeks (she's a teacher) and is already cussing her superintendent.......that's par for the course........a former shop teacher (the super) and my daughter the band teacher.........
trollie is happy, survivor is back on........one of the gals is a law student at SU which is just down the road a piece and where my daughter went.........

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

lord what a day, the computer was down twice during the day, and then was running but not stable so i ran a bunch of paperwork i'll need the next few days for truck loads rather then risk it, the foundation brought over a shipment, and as usual it had to go today because they always wait until the last minute possible to do anything, so after several aborted tries at 2:30 i was ready to start filling orders, had a half hour to close of day but was confident i could get a bunch done, and i get a call, an inbound i was expecting tomorrow showed up today......well an hour and a half later.......dang........what a crazy day.......oh and i forgot i messed around trying to sort out an inventory problem for an hour+ when the computer was down that i could have solved in a snap if it was running, but couldn't wait........i truly hate computers.......after about the 5th or 6th problem today with the computer i was ready to wring the neck of the IT guy........not really his fault....it's an older server but i got no one else to blame.........

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

i am a bad trollie, i ran out of milk, now i rarely drink milk but i try to always have some onhand because i have one cat who expects her splash of milk twice a day, morning and night, well when i gave her some last night it was the last of the milk, and it was too late and i was in no condition to go out and get more, but the scene that was enacted this morning by said cat when there was no milk was worthy of an oscar.......or a golden tuna....or silver mouse......whatever award cats get for acting....but i brought milk home tonight so they or rather she let me in the house......
i was out on break today talking to A while i saw a turkey vulture playing on a thermal, i mean this guy(or gal at the range i was out who could tell) was huge........he/she caught a big thermal apparently and in the few minutes i watched just kept going up until he was a mere speck against just a beautiful sky.......they certainly aren't much on looks, but boy can they soar........

Monday, September 13, 2004

was a very weird, very quiet day at work, i really hate going in when production is down, except for the maintaince guys, the floor is so empty and quiet, it's really funny what sounds you can here when the machines aren't running, that are there every day but never heard......got a bunch of things done, but didn't get a chance to do anything at the warehouse......
been another change to the game at blogshares, there have redone how the system handles idea pricing, and although i reserve finally judgment, the early results have me concerned, the ideas which are the main source of my play and fun seem to be stagnant, i hope it's just a settling in thing...
have spent a quiet evening.......about to log off and watch monster garage and american chopper.......

Sunday, September 12, 2004

has been a typically busy sunday, i sang a solo in the morning service, really do not do that very often....i prefer singing in a group but the arranger of those things was having trouble finding some one for this week and so i said yes, went fine, did a piece by handel, not the typical thing that is done usually, but went over fine.......
starting next week sundays will really be hectic as northcountry choral rehearsals start, there is another 2 hours out of the day....
just relaxed this afternoon, but couldn't decide what to do for dinner so ended up with scrambled eggs on an english muffin, it's what i eat when i can't decide what to eat............

Saturday, September 11, 2004

was an interesting day, went to the model train show in clayton, knew i would probably see my daughter's father-in-law but ran into some other guys that i've know forever but didn't realize they were train nuts, rode by a few golf courses on the way there and back.....but everything looked way too wet for me to play........when the ground is soaked it's just too hard on my legs and back, i wear out before i'm thru even 9 holes and i don't ride.......just never got the hang of it......i lose focus to easy and play bad........
have spent the rest of the day either playing blogshares or stronghold crusader.....
busy day tomorrow.......need to shower and shave and hit the sheets.........

Friday, September 10, 2004

was a nice day for a change, a little on the cool side but sunny and nice.......was able to get a half day off, which is the last chance i'll have for a few weeks and needed to get some work done on the car, routine stuff, oil change etc , but was actually a little over due by time but well in the slot by mileage.......got an appointment that fit nice, dropped the car off and walked to a new by spot for lunch, where i get my work done is on the same end of town as work, bank,and drug store which makes it easy to handy a lot of tasks at once.......
have tomorrow off and think i'll head to the river tomorrow, there is a model railroad show in clayton, and even though i haven't done any of that for years i still enjoy see the displays.....and there are a few decent golf courses up that way and may decide to play golf as well

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

well it was annouced today the production will be down for at least next week, and i'm working alone again.......hopefully it will not be too busy because i have just a little over 3 weeks to get ready for year end inventory and have a few things that still need my attention.....not that it's that vital but the more arranged things are the better the count goes.......
have a pot of stew on the stove which should be ready in another hour or so........
felt poorly this afternoon but much better now......
off to play some blogshares.......

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

today ambushed me, i had expected a relatively easy day and had planned to start working on the re-arrange of the finished goods end of the warehouse, well between the 1 load i knew about and the 4 i didn't expect i spent most of the day on the forklift and two of those were very difficult......would still not be done if i hadn't had some help from my clerk.....
good rehearsal tonight, but physically i was hurting, i'd been on my butt all day on the lift and really didn't feel comfortable sitting down, but as my knee was bothering me didn't feel comfortable standing either......growing old can be a really pain.....(double meaning intended)

Monday, September 6, 2004

i have spent a very quiet day, with the exception of running a few errands and eating lunch at my daughter's place i've just taken it easy.....i'm just worn down.......physically more then mentally i think.....spent most of my time watching the american chopper marathon on discovery.....work tomorrow but only a four day week......and have about four weeks to get ready for year end inventory but right now am ahead of schedule on that.....

Sunday, September 5, 2004

so the last few days my mouse has been acting up, it was the one that came with the computer which is like 3 and one half years old, so i decided to get a new mouse, an optic one which would be much easier, so i got one that was supposed to be plug and play....and that's when all hell broke loose, well i tried a bunch of things and nothing seemed to work, after about 45 minutes i realized that i had plugged it into the wrong ps2 port.......i am so not a geek.......sheeeshhhh!!!!!...well everything is working fine now but i need to adjust to the new scroll wheel which is much smoother but slower then the old one.......
it has been a strange day, my commitment today was truncated, and have nothing since noon that i had to do, very strange for a sunday......but i feel a bit a drift....have had no center.....and have been able to concentrate on nothing....bounceing from one thing to another, nothing has been holding my interest for long......have tomorrow off anf lunch with my daughter....but her husbandss folks will also been there and well lets just say that it's not the company i would chose, there is nothing wrong with thrm i guess, we just don't mess very well.....

Saturday, September 4, 2004

i'm sitting here listening to a cd, pomp & pipes ( a reference recording RR58CD)......music either written for or arranged for winds and a pipe organ.....the whole record (oops....cd....trollie shows his age) is great, and it contains weinberger's polka and fugue which in my mind is the greatest deliberate trainwreak every composed, there are some many musical jokes in it i can't help but laugh at it........will cure even the baddest of moods of the old trollie......not that i'm in one tonight...but somebody in the neighborhood has been playing "jungle" music all afternoon, i can't hear the music but the beat, the driving bass is jarring my old bones......hence pomp and pipes......and the modern music thinks that they have a lock on "heavy metal"........forget about it....a fully engaged cassical brass section will blow their doors in with out aid of an amp.......take that.......
man if feel like somebody went and poured cement in my joints this morning, and feel like there is an unusually heavy fog bank between my ears this AM, went out to do a few errands and with things the way they were was not able to really accomplish anything other then get breakfast......this is one of those days that i probably should just cancel....did get the grass mowed but will probably have to run over it again, way to long and was damp underneath

Friday, September 3, 2004

so going out to dinner won out, i went to a chinese all you can eat buffet, used to go to it all the time but have not been there is months.....was very good, so trollie is happy and full.....

i'm sitting here debating with myself what to do for dinner, would be a much easier choice if i could decided what i felt like eating, but really can't make up my mind as i feel like i've been beaten down so bad today i can't see over my socks.......
had an inbound first thing this morning which usually takes less then 45 minutes to unload.....well the pallets weren't banded correctly and after using every trick i could think of finally got the load done in 2 and one half hours.......oy vey.......so by the time i got that done i was basically stressed to the max.......
then the outbound was late....and i caught a driver with very little english, this makes for an interesting time trying to communicate, particularly if there is anything out of the usual with the load....which of course there was......so by the end of the day...which is now....i'm all in.....but am getting hungry so will have to decide one way or the other about dinner soon........

Thursday, September 2, 2004

so i'm chatting on the blogshares irc channel and happen to look done to the shelf under the drawer on my computer desk and there is this little pair of eyes staring up at me.........somehow one of my cats managed to get herself on the shelf with out my notice...good grief....i'm getting old
work went well today except.......for the most part just minor little problems that were easily solved, but had an out bound that turned into a freak show.....first i had two loads of scrap that i owed to this company...two totally different loads...and the driver didn't have the pickup number....so had to call the broker who wasn't in so that delayed me about 45 minutes.....then i had to load the load from an off dock with a portable plate....which slows things down....so the entire load i got the driver looking over my shoulder (which i truly hate) until 3 pallets to go.....i put 3rd to the last on and removed the plate........can't put the last two on with that plate on the trailer, so i go to get the last two and sure enough he'd pulled away from the dock and closed up the trailer........he spent the entire load ka-bitzing and asking dumb questions, basically questioning my ability to do the job, and then doesn't ask whether i'm done or not.....i just about when ballistic......didn't but boy i wanted to......anyhow
have spent a quiet night....did my banking and ran a few errands....then supper and cleaned up a little....grass can wait until tomorrow........actually it can wait until hell freezes over......nah......
i feeling tons better, cold is almost gone.....just a little tired tonight.......

Wednesday, September 1, 2004

i went to work today, despite the fact that i still feel pretty rocky from the cold, i get tired very quickly, fortunately i was able to get through the day and actually got a lot done......was a nice day today.....but really didn't enjoy it because of the way i felt.....
i really need to cut the grass, but didn't have the energy to do it tonight.....i hope i catch some good weather and do it this weekend, should be over the cold by then.....
really am looking forward to the 3 day weekend....have nothing planned....and probably will just hang loose......