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

Saturday, April 30, 2005

woke up this AM needing to go to work to do inventory.....got out of there in 3 hours....which is just about what it should take from a cold start if i don't hit a problem.....was dank and dreary when i went in and i figured if it cleared off i'd play golf, if it stayed that way i'd do yard work.....now the building i work in has less windows then a fallout shelter so had no idea what the weather was doing......when i got off at 11 it was raining and continued to do that all the rest of the day......
so scratch golf and yard work........
spent the day watching a little tube, playing a poker sim and playing blogshares........also have spent some time on #blogshares......had a nice chat with DJswa on the beginnings of the game.....all of two years ago but on the net that's a life time.........not many active players left from the beginnings......
although i still play the game fairly hard....the most fun i have now is interacting with the n00bs...the community aspect of the game...one i really didn't have anytime for in the beginning is really what keeps me in the game now.......

Friday, April 29, 2005

a very nice day weatherwise and a very busy day workwise. got everything done that needed to be done today, but never got even close to starting inventory.....soooooo....must spend tome time in the shop tomorrow......would rather sleep in but.......

Thursday, April 28, 2005

i just don't believe the utter stupidity of this seasons survivor class........tonights tribal they had the chance to vote off the dominate physical player....the one player who could conceivably run the table on immunity challenges and what do they do .....They vote off steph the last of the other tribe......Ok of the woman she was the most physical.....And ok I admit that if I was 30 years younger I would chase a girl like that until she let me catch her....But hello.....If you want to win you have to take out the most dangerous players when the op presents itself......Tom is the most dangerous physical threat......And you (that is the survivors) wasted an op to get him out........Shame on you
well i got a decent nights sleep last night.........day was mixed weather, nasty this am but cleared off a little towards evening.....
got the car inspected and the wiper fixed this morning but took a bit longer then what i had hoped, as there were a couple of recall items they needed to attend to......so lost about an hour and a half of work......
another crazy day........got some help or i won't have gotten as close to done as i did.......however tomorrow promises to be a wild one......and as it's month end and i'm guessing i won't get any inventory done at all will probably have to work a bunch saturday......
i'm really exhausted tonight....will probably watch survivor and the go to bed early.....need my beauty sleep.......

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

was kind od nasty weather today, but cleared off towards evening.........it's spring.....and i need to catch a couple of days with dry weather so i can cut the grass before i lose the house......work went ....well not bad even if i did have to work a bit over.....
got an appointment to get the state inspection and the warranty work done on the car....but will have to go into work late as i ran out of options and had to take an 8 AN+M appointment.....no after 5 services hours and saturday was booked so ..........

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

i awoke this more really feeling baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad........i had bounced the forklift loading the scrap load yesterday and expected to have a stiff back this AM but not to the extent i had.......plus a very busy day.......not fun.......
with taking day out for dinner last night didn't get a chance to grocery shop so did it tonight.....didn't need much but saw a couple of small round eyes......on manager special.....and had some lamb chops thawed but went for some steak sandwiches on some european square rolls....and a few pickled beats......nice supper.....
it was one of those nights.....Althought i actually loosened up and felt pretty good most of the day was really tired and the back was bothering me by evening.....a sane man would have just stayed home and skipped worship team practice tonight......but duty called.....i didn't go because i wanted to but went because of the commitment.......i do what i say i will......and had a great time.....
i think i've probably said this before but to define the old trollie and leave music out of the definition would be a mistake......i live for music.....i live for making music.........i feel the most "live" i can feel when i am in the middle of music being made.....this children's day will make 52 years that i have been part of music being made.......although i do or have in the past been part of instrumental music my real talent if you will is vocal.......i have been blessed with a very flexible voice.....a rather large range and very good pitch....plus the gift to harmonize with almost any melody........i am truly the most happy....the most alive when making music.........i never considered seriously using music as a vocation because i was afraid that making a living by it would some how lessen the joy that it gives me.........
came home and watched the final for the big break III on the golf channel.......the winner daniella is an experience golfer and played very well and got 3 exemptions to the lpga tour......but (and i might be wrong) i doubt very much whether she will every be more then a "journeymen pro" even if she manages to stick......the loser pam however has only played the game for 3 years....has a back ground of division 1 lacrosse and field hockey and is a 6 footer with just tremendous physical ability......with the right instruction she could be very, very good.....
watched with cat smokey on my lap.....of the 3 cats smokey is my only milk drinker, and the only one of my cats who likes cheese....so for her my cheese snack of the night was fontina....a mild italian cheese which while i like it a lot is not my favorite.....however it is smokey's favorite.....also a bit of can fruit........my snacks and desserts for that matter tend to be fruit and cheese...not really sweet tooth.......
must remember to try to get a chance to call and set an appointment to get my car inspected......and get a bit of warranty work done on the car....i've got a wiper on the passenger side that is non-functional........

Monday, April 25, 2005

nasty weather this PM........but nice this morning and the work day followed suit.......had arranged to take dad out for dinner, and then had to reschedule for a bit later when the outbound showed up very late.....a bale load which always proves a challenge......because there are no pallets involved and you must handle them underneath......you have to force your way under and the out from under, and the banging around can get to you......back is very sore tonight......

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Today was a virtual carbon copy of yesterday weather wise.........it sucked.........It's been nice all week while i was working and the weekend sucked.......ah well........typical of weather here in spring........
i sit here munching on a very good stilton cheese, a bit of 10 year old single barrel bourbon and faure's requiem on the cd player.....been a busy day but i feel fine......slept well last night if not really enough.......stayed up way too late.........but feel good
must really think about supper....have actually only eaten one real meal today about 1 PM but food just doesn't interest me right now........except for the stilton cheese............
had thawed a couple of really nice lamb chops for lunch but ended up making eggs and bacon on english muffins........just wasn't in the mood to "fuss"........
if this post seems a little....well disjoined....i'm popping from here to blogshares and then #blogshares.... so my train of though is a bit dis-railed tonight.......
i feel really well mentally and emotionally tonight.....but the physical is not to good....damp weather tends to effect my arthritis in a negative way......ah well if i had my choice i would clearly except some physical discomfort rather then emotional........besides at 57 i have to expect a few down days physically
this post seems to be dragging on as to time in process......usually i just sit down and write it.....but i seems to be bouncing back and forth tonight between it and a bunch of other things.......

Saturday, April 23, 2005

the cd player is roaring out the sounds of winds and pipe organ.....a little english breakfast tea.....some good danish blue cheese.....i've been playing a little blogshares and hangin' out at #blogshares........all is right in the trollie universe tonight..........physically i'm below par but than maybe not......as i get lower i have lowered my standards for physical well being.........but i'm even below that tonight............
This has been a very good day probably a type of day I needed if not the one I had planned,
there was just a chance of rain this AM and then was to clear off and be nice in the PM.......
but having lived in the old north country for 39 years I should have known better...heck it can rain up here when there is absolutely no chance of rain.......so it rained how be it lightly all morning.......which was okay since I awoke very still and sore......Weird nights sleep I slept great for about 5 hours and then very fitfully for the reat of the night.....just couldn't stay comfortable.......so went out this AM for the sole purpose of buying some stilton cheese and getting a couple of soft pretzels for breakfast.........but saw a really nice rib steak, super thin cut and got that for dinner.......
well not only did it rain in the AM but the PM while it didn't rain was overcast dreary and damp.......and as I still really hadn't loosened up at all the golf and or ride I had planned didn't seem to fit the bill......had a late lunch of knockwurst......and then a supper of broiled rib steak coated with pepper, and hammered even thinner then it started........took a whole minute a side to broil........came out tender ( no duh) and very good, with a side of steak fries and tomato and oil cured olives with 1000 island dressing............it is required by local law that we have 1000 island dressing at least once a week, seeing as how the 1000 islands are about 30 miles away (hehe).....and some canned strawberries for dessert........and I intend to have a snack of cheese a bit later.........I tend to eat canned fruit......not because it's any better then fresh....and probably not quite as tasty......but living alone fresh well some of it invariably spoils before I finish it.....so canned just makes more sense, at least more practical sense.......and I can get all I want and quite a selection from the local big lots at a fair price..........I don't choose to live alone..........well that's not entirely true........I didn't choose to live alone initially but I choose to continue to live alone......I do not have the emotional reserves left to even think about committing to another relationship.........I think I have reached a age where I can live without them..........besides I have my cats..........
physically I don't feel up to speed tonight but I feel as emotional sound as I have in a while
sis dropped the key off today and I must remember to check on day tomorrow.........

Friday, April 22, 2005

oy vey am i glad that this week is over, monday was a fairly easy day, but tuesday-thrusday were absolutely wild and today, friday.........was just very complicated.......it was one of those days when i was busy all day but when i looked at what i got done i said why was i busy.........i really didn't get that much done but everything was like pulling teeth, nothing went right all day....and though i put in alot of effort , and i did get everything that needed to be done, done...i really didn't accomplish a whole lot.....but days like today happen.....you just need to accept and move on
i was in bed before 10 last night which is unusual, and slept well but awoke really feeling rested but very stiff and sore......just a result of the 3 wild days in the middle of the week.....and i think that that was one of the factors that may today what it was......
i am a reasonable cook, and i enjoy "creating" in the kitchen....but i rarely cook on friday....i either eat out or get take out.......i use the thing as a period on the end of the week......i rarely eat out or get take out except if i'm really busy or on friday.....i use the "no cook" friday as a separation between the work week and the weekend......
went out for chinese tonight......there is a good all you can eat chinese buffet in town and i enjoy the chinese style of cooking....this place has a mongolian barbecue......you can select your own raw ingredients and watch them prepared as you wait....very cool.....
i intend to take tomorrow off........if the weather permits i intend to play golf...if not i will find something else to do...........i need to get away..........put some miles or at least some time between me and the day to day grind....i'm not only physical spent but i'm emotionally spent as well and i need a time out
my sister called today and their are going to be gone sunday night, so i need to stop by and check on day sunday......he's 89 and lives with my sister's family......he's in decent health for a man his age but he is 89 after all.......

Thursday, April 21, 2005

man i have had 3 ultra-busy days in a row and i am exhausted, i can only hope that tomorrow calms down a little, i got some help today or i won't have gotten done half og what i did......
was still a nice sunny day but a bit cooler, car was totally frosted over this morning so must have been mid-20's F over night....and there is a possibility of some snow this weekend......on one had that will play hob with my plans to play golf....but on the other hand will give me an excuse to just veg out.......and as exhausting as this week has been it probably is the best option.....
just got done watching survivor and although by an odd occurrence steph survived i thing it may be the break she needed, the girl has definitely earned the right to stay, but that usually indicates a quick exit in that game.....Win or lose that lady is a survivor........Not to mention a fine looking woman........
surprisingly although very tired a feel pretty good tonight.........but plan on making it an early night

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

i was busy all day, and am pretty well all in tonight but i did manage to get almost al caught up, provided tomorrow isn't crazy will be caught up by the end of the day...
no choir tonight, so took sometime with dinner, had a veal chop, broiled of course with some yellow beans and some stuffed grape leaves and black olives, and also made a pop of stew,......except for the first bowl full i rarely eat the stew at home, i make it basically to take to work for lunch, we have a microwave and i really hate cold lunches......

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

man am i behind the 8 ball, i spent the entire morning working on 2 inbounds and a return load, and then better then half the afternoon working on material scheduling so that i had a whole 45 minutes to work on small package orders, and now i have a whole fist full of catching up to do, hopefully i can get caught up tomorrow but i won't count on it......we're really still abit to busy for one man to handle it on a day to day basis.....week to week yeah it's possible but there will be days that everything just doesn't get done.......and 4 straight hours on a forklift when the off loads are tricky......just ain't no fun.......but on lesson i've learned is if you have a difficult load, one that requires special handling or that you really have to concentrate every minute you just have to forgot how long it's taking and just tell yourself that it takes the time it takes, because trying to "cut corners" and speed the process up in the long run causes errors and lost time......
had planned to fuss with supper tonight, had a veal chop thawed but by the time i got home was just too tired to care so just relaxed and made some pizza......
rehearsal went great tonight...i look forward to rehearsals.....i enjoy music....i enjoy being part of music being made.....there is no better "seat in the house" in my mind then in the middle of the music being made......

Monday, April 18, 2005

factory has cut back on production and gone on the off season schedule, a bit early this year but then we went on full production earlier as well, well when that happens i get a man cut from my department, which won't be bad but i only have one guy working for me and that means of course that i'm now alone, and it can get a little hairy from time to time, today wasn't that bad but i have 2 inbounds tomorrow and at least one and maybe both have turn around loads so that will take up the greater bulk of the day, hope nothing else happens...........
so i stopped off on the way home to do some grocery shopping, actually only needed a couple of things.........i hate two for one sales.......i always buy and stock up when they have sales.....well ended up spending over 30 dollars and didn't even get one thing i wanted, but living alone it makes no sense to buy a dozen eggs, and they had no half dozens.....crap.......

Sunday, April 17, 2005

today was a fairly typical sunday very busy, but i felt good most of the day, but have crashed out this evening.....partial i think due to the fact that i'm in one of my frequent cycles were nothing appeals to me food wise, and i eat mechanically, out of habit and probably don't eat as balanced as i should, must make an effort to be creative in the kitchen but when cooking for yourself alone, from time to time that becomes tedious......i know better........but still i do from time to time fall in to that trap........

Saturday, April 16, 2005

have had a great day so far, slept in, actually have had two very good nights sleep in a row and am feeling quite rested........went out to dick's sporting goods to pick up some tees and a dozen golf balls, hit mickey d's for lunch and then played some golf.....first outing of the year......
have just relaxed since, had some onion soup for supper and now off to play blogshares...

Friday, April 15, 2005

just a beautiful spring day today, warm breeze for a change, and had thought about either taking the afternoon off or sneaking put right after work and playing so golf.....however.......got a call about 1:30 that we had a 8 pallet load that was scheduled for tuesday that all of a sudden had to go today.......and there was an address change which they were waiting on, and the driver would get here about 3:30......well the driver didn't get in until 5:00 ( what a surprise) but it was a good thing in a way because i didn't get the address change until after 4:00.......was 5:30 before i got out of work so there went the evening.......
got Chinese tonight, went to a place that has a buffet, actually was a second choice as my first choice a ponderosa was packed.....and by the time i got out for dinner it was almost 6:30 and was way to hungry to wait in line.......
will probably either play golf tomorrow or find a range that's open.....weather is supposed to be great this weekend, and should also start picking at the yard work that needs to be done.....way to early to do any planting....althought in was mid 60'sF today was in the high 20's F overnight.....which is pretty typical for this time of year here in the northcountry..........

Thursday, April 14, 2005

today wasn't really that bust but it was a frustrating day, first i got some bad news from a vendor, i had been promised a load this week and now they're telling me late next week. it really doesn't effect anything directly but i have a return load which i need asap, so the first one is holding the second up......you may ask why i didn't ship #2 first.....wasn't ready......so i figured to get a jump and got burned.......placed 3 calls to another vendor and all i got was voice mail......now because of a lot of factors i my be the champ of the world at playing phone tag.......but this day just got to me........
payday........gas prices were actually 3 cents lower a gallon then last week but i have a hard time seeing $2.36.9 as a bargain.......
feel really good tonight, had some pasta for supper after some errands and had a snack of cheese while watching survivor.......finished up couple of nubs of different cheeses that i had......
taxes being done has taken a load off my mind.......weather has been nice the last few days but today was a bit weird, was sunny all day but had a moderate wind which was quite chilly......

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

i forgot, or maybe i repressed the image, but i had wanted to mention
there i was eating dinner, watching a little tube and aggie the mooch cat gets up on the snack tray looking for scraps, one of her favorite pastimes, i really wasn't paying much attention, that is until the cat, the tray and my supper went crashing to the living room floor......What a mess....and to top it off the cat is looking at me with one of the looks as if to say " see what you've done"
i felt pretty good this morning but as the day worn on was starting to feel poorly and as i really needed to get my taxes done i took the afternoon off, figuring that i could get them done in jigtime....oops.....had picked up the wrong federal form.......soooooooooo....back to the post office to get the right form.....and then they were a snap......i got nicked a little....but had expected that...need to adjust my withholding......mailed the forms and got lunch out......
went to the mall and got a texas hold 'um program for the pc....and have kicked around with that a bit........
choir rehearsal went fine but am tired and will turn in early.....heavy day tomorrow

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

i came home from rehearsal, which by the by went very well tonight, we have a new vocalist who i think will fit in very well, and i'm watching big break III on the golf channel and i hear this noise, and i look up and here is my crazy mooch cat aggie with her head in my bag of cheetos crunchy, well i took a few out for her and she preceded to eat several......so later i get some stilton cheese out for a snack and smokey is nibbling on my cheese.....crazy cats......
i felt much better today but just ran out of "steam" mid afternoon.....but feel fine tonight and hopefully am over what ever bug has had a hold of me for the last few days.......
i came home from rehearsal, which by the by went very well tonight, we have a new vocalist who i think will fit in very well, and i'm watching big break III on the golf channel and i hear this noise, and i look up and here is my crazy mooch cat aggie with her head in my bag of cheetos crunchy, well i took a few out for her and she preceded to eat several......so later i get some stilton cheese out for a snack and smokey is nibbling on my cheese.....crazy cats......
i felt much better today but just ran out of "steam" mid afternoon.....but feel fine tonight and hopefully am over what ever bug has had a hold of me for the last few days.......

Monday, April 11, 2005

i awoke this morning bone cold and stiff and sore, apparently i kicked off my quilt last night, but was tired enough that i didn't wake up til morning, really felt lousy.......went to work figuring as the day progressed i'd feel better, but just felt worse, took the afternoon off and really crashed out, although i feel tons better now.....
i had some things planned for tonight that just didn't happen......still have time to complete but just didn't have the mental concentration to tackle them today.....hopefully will fell better tomorrow........

Sunday, April 10, 2005

a typical busy Sunday, spent the afternoon watching the final round of the masters golf, tiger made a chip shot i still don't believe, basically won the event for him, i still can' t believe he actually made the shot, you could hit a 1000 shots from the spot he was in and not make one, skill true but that one had a lot of luck on it too.......
bought some cheese yesterday, a very excellent swiss, and some danish blue, not a brand i've had before, it really isn't a bad cheese but really imho not a very good danish blue, i really am a bit disappointed with it, probably will use it for cooking rather then eating it by itself....one of my favorite twists on garlic pizza is blue cheese and bacon, i usually use an italian blue but will probably use up the disappointing danish the next time, should be fine for that......
have felt really good this weekend, am a bit tired tonight but feel fine.......nite all

Saturday, April 9, 2005

to day was again a nice day for early spring, did a little yard work, did some shopping, took a short ride, although with gas at $2.40 a gallon i think i'm nuts but a ride has always cleared my head so to speak......watched some of the masters and then the ultimate fighter on spike.....it's late, a busy day tomorrow but i feel really good tonight, as good as i've felt in a long time and though tired am still in very good spirits and really don't want to waste it on sleep.....although sleep i must

Friday, April 8, 2005

it's really kind of weird, this was probably the easiest work week i've had since mid december, and yet i'm dead tired tonight......on the other had i've had 3 rehearsals this week with 3 different groups....that could have something to do with it......tomorrow work is optional and i'll probably wait until tomorrow to decide
had thought about eating out tonight but decided on pasta at home, and made a pot of pea soup for the week end and next weeks lunches.......usual recipe except i used a smoked pork shoulder for the meat......just had a cup and it's really good......maybe the best i've made in awhile.........

Thursday, April 7, 2005

was nice this morning but turned rain mid-day and is damp tonight
work went well......payday......but cut the errands short as i had a rehearsal tonight for a combined choir that is singing at some special meetings in june......the music really isn't my "cup of tea ".....but will continue with it i believe......much of the more modern sacred music has gotten to much like pop music for my liking.......it seems like it is without strong melody and it's all about the beat.......just not my perfered style

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

really nice pre-spring day.......temperature in the high 50'sF.......nice day.....went really well.....had the annual hearing test at work today......
so i get home and start to make pizza and discover i am out of cheese.....well not out of cheese....i love cheese and always have several kinds in the house but no pizza cheese......so ran out and got some....fortunately i have a grocery about 3 block away.......one of my least favorite in town but for a couple of things in a pinch.....

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

so i sat down to post last night, and just didn't .........strange day yesterday.......work went ok.....everything went okay but just well didn't
heavy frost this morning but by days end was a really nice warm pre-spring day.....
rehearsal went great tonight but was a bit sad.....a fellow who has sung with the worship team for the last two years....was his last rehearsal and sunday will be his last week with the group......is in the army and has been transferred to another post...........not just a good vocalist but a real great guy and i will miss his presence........being close to a base a large part of the congregation is military and we have become almost used to the comings and the goings but once in awhile one will really hit you pretty hard......he has been so much a part of the process, or maybe the development of the group and the sound that he will be hard to replace.....and will be missed.......

Sunday, April 3, 2005

typical bust sunday morning, but everything went well.........i actually remembered to set my clocks ahead an hour for daylight savings time.........weather was a bit raw to day.......rained most of the day and that should continue through wednesday but then it is supposed to warm up.......spring is round the bend......
i find the older i get the less i tolerate the winter.......and as winters go this one just wasn't that severe.........but i've lived practically my entire life in lake effect snow areas.......and some how it's lost it's charm......

Saturday, April 2, 2005

i haven't been listening to my cd player much lately........no reason i suppose other then i just forget to turn it on.....ah the "benefits" of getting older....(hehe)....i'm listening to holst's first suite for military band........and i'm having my daily cheese fix.........a bit of swiss gruyere........okay if truth be told a bit more then a bit........i usually take cheese with me in my lunch for work.......but as i didn't have lunch at work today........i'm having my bite of cheese tonight....i love good cheese.......mind you not the sliced american single type...i don't know what that really is but it ain't cheese.........one of the guys at the plant the other day asked if i lived on cheese......well no......but i sure would hate living without........
why is it the certain people feel that simple laws and rules do not apply to them, on my way from work i'm driving toward an intersection about to make a left turn with a solid green light......when all of a sudden from my right this guy with a red decides to make a left on red right in front of me.....well we missed but what was that all about.......now under special conditions....one if it's marked and two it's onto a one way street, left on red is legal in nys.......but none of the above applied here.........i just don't understand what some people use for brains........
man, i awoke feeling nasty this morning.......arthritis is playing hob with me.......i need to spend a few hours at work this morning but i can go in basically when ever i want and i am in no hurry to do that.........
cats lilly and smokey are curled in a ball on the end of my bed and smokey is trying to snore the siding off the house again......aggie is doing her morning laps around the house.....i can hear the tags on her collar jingling from all over........
actually made breakfast and have been playing some blogshares.......must to work.........rats

Friday, April 1, 2005

today actually went very smooth considering that it is month end......need to spend a few hours in tomorrow to put the final month numbers in and finish the inventory......
didn't sleep well last night and despite that really did feel that bad today but was tired by days end and although i had lamb thawed for dinner, opted to get take out seafood, will have the lamb tomorrow or sunday but did put a corned beef on the stove tonight.....
just kicking back tonight, got somethings i must do tomorrow but tonight is to and for relaxing.....