(11:26 AM UTC-5)
(+55*F....beautiful sunny day)
( Choral music for Lent)
  Seems that the prediction was off, but the bad weather is still predicted for late Thursday, into Friday.....I have come to the conclusion that "an accurate weather forecast" may be the ultimate oxymoron...
   Two sure signs that spring may be upon us....one of the maintenance guys told me he had observed a grey squirrel spring mating ritual....and went I walked today observed a sure sign of spring.the "flying rats" (aka: seagulls) are back.....
  After my walk today my back was yelling at me, now this happens from time to time and I've always put it off to, too much heavy stuff in my sling bag, or the fact that because of the weather I may be a little out of walking shape...but really did have a heavy load today......went to Ollie's which I rarely do, they have a good price on spices, and a bag of snack size Heath bars.....a can of mixed nuts at Dollar General.....so weight in the bag shouldn't have been a factor......length of walk was maybe a tad longer...but got to thinking because I walk with a cane, and have balance issues, I tend to walk a little hunched down so I can see where my next few steps are......had the same problem with the back years ago went I played golf......which was fixed by going from a standard to a mid-length putter so I stood more upright at address.......not sure I can apply that to walking......but I can apply some topical analgesic gel to the back and did
  First meal today hit the 4 basic food groups....a boiled egg, a yogurt, a banana, and a snack size Heath bar....well my definition of the 4 basic food groups anyways  

(2:56 PM UTC-5)
(+49*F..sunny...but windy)
(Steven Green mix)
  I awoke this AM feeling physically about as good as I've felt in quite a while......housekeeping came into clean....a Tuesday thing.....had planned to walk but later on my right hip, which only bothers me once in a "coon's age" has been singing a mournful tune......to the point that a walk is not a good idea...and when I checked the forecast precipitation is predicted for the next 3 days...rain in the afternoon on Wednesday and also in the afternoon on Thursday, but Thursday evening changing to snow through Friday....about 6" predicted.......so it looks like March may come in like the proverbial lion.....lats hope that it follows the old wives tale and goes out like a lamb....but with the way the weather has  been this year I ain't holding my breath......so I'll probably try to walk in the morning either tomorrow or Thursday......really don't need anything.....well other that the walk for walk's sake......
  

(7:16 PM UTC-5)
(+34*F...w/wind chill +27*F)
(Best of the Moody Blues)
  Have had a quiet day....On FB I belong to 2 groups......neither should be a big surprise..."Pun Intended" and "The Farthest Side".....been keeping tracked on a post to The Farthest side, and commenting on a very funny cartoon.....
  I often complain about the lack of anything good to watch on the boob tube......but today was worse.....several things that would interest me.....all in over lapping time slots.....oy vey
  Went over my budget this afternoon, and realized that I was a tad short on pocket money.....I had been shopping 4 straight days....so took a short walk just next door to one of my best friends.....the local ATM just outside a branch to my bank.debit card in hand.......my SSI is direct deposit....I also wanted to check my balance....just got the monthly statement, but virtually every time the posted date of the statement is a couple of days before the deposit...everything is okay....but I am a tad paranoid....especial were my money is concerned..... 

(11:43 AM UTC-5)
(+39*F)
(  Acappella Hymns)
  I can't believe that spell check doesn't recognize "Acappella"...I had thought I had added it to the dictionary awhile back.......oy vey
  When I posted yesterday it was damp, dreary and I was stiff as a board...but it was a beautiful day just before dusk, so I walked
  Discovered something I didn't know.....I was annoyed with my local market..they had been carrying a brand of sambal sauce, (another add to the dictionary) where I had always found it, was in the ethnic food section...and I looked there....no joy......so last night I was in the condiment section looking for peperoncini (dang..another add to the dictionary some times spelled with a double P but spell check didn't know that form either)....and I heard a wee voice with an Asian accent calling to me and there was the stock of sambal......on the bottom shelf....oy vey
  I love a good salami but normally it costs an arm and a leg, or you must mortgage your first born......she's  40 now and I don't think she'd like that much......but have  found a really nice one at Aldi, for a song......no they didn't make me sing, my voice went south years ago, didn't take me with it, and hasn't come back.....

(3:13 PM UTC-5)
(+48*F.......partially cloudy)
(Best of Smetana)
  Rained most of the early morning until just before noon but has turned into a pretty nice day, I got up around 7AM and saw no evidence of the predicted freezing rain, but the girl on day cover at the front desk said it was quite slippery on her drive in this morning....but then she lives in the "boondocks".....and at a higher elevation then here, so not surprised....
  Been another quiet day, spent some time posting to "Random Thoughts" on the current rash of violence in schools.......
  No walk today.....with the damp weather and having take walks the last few days I find myself pretty stiff and sore.....a big change from my early twenties when I thought nothing of going on a 15 mile run, or logging between 75 and 100 miles a week of training runs....sometimes it feels that that was a life time ago, but then I remind myself that that was 45+ years ago....maybe 2 lifetimes ago

(2:54 AM UTC-5)
(+40*F)
( a classical mix)
  This winter has just been a barrel of laughs....we are under another winter weather advisory between AM and 10AM tomorrow for  freezing rain....accumulation of up to 2/10"......lovely......( the mad one turns off his sarcasm)
  One of my nieces got married today...she works in Slovakia and the wedding was there, was unable to attend but my best wishes to Abby and Stephen......
  Took a short walk to Aldi......and realized when I got home that the cupboard and fridge are now full......a good thing..with the weather being so screwy this winter, and I can't predict from one day to the next which of my joints will be cooperative.....I figure I've got the better part of a month of food  on hand, and if not although I haven't used them in quite a while I still have menus from several delivery places.....
  

(3:57 PM UTC-5)
(+39*F...light rain)
(Choral Music for Lent)
  I don't practice "Lent"..but this music is my "cup of tea" mostly early music....composers Tallis and Byrd among others....quite enjoyable....
  There was a brake in the weather and I took a quick walk.....thought that I may be able to use  the   "short cut".....wasn't really open but decided rather then go all the way around to "bushwhack" through maybe 30 fleet of a thicket.....not a wise choice in retrospect....but did survive undamaged...but not a choice I'd make again anytime soon.....or ever again for that matter......
  On my way between stops past by one of the ponds that I spend time watching during the spring and early summer.....usually an assortment of waterfowl.....nothing and was thinking well you thought it might be too early..and then from overhead  heard a familiar sound...looked up and there was a flight of 4 geese going somewhere in a hurry....and honking all the way.....some people think that the robin is the harbinger of spring.but up here I do believe that it's is the first spotting of Canada Geese.....by the by the American Robin is not actually a robin, but a variety of thrush......when the settlers came to america...they saw a bird with a red/orange breast which resembled the European Robin.....therefore the American Robin..but if you check the "plumbing"......the two species are but distant relatives..... 

(10:55 AM UTC-5)
(+30*F..w/wind chill +22*F...cloudy)
(Electric Light Orchestra)
  Mercy......it was in the low 60s  yesterday morning and right now it's 30*F.....enough already.....pretty please Mother Nature.....make up your dang mind....
  The building maintenance guy wanted to clean my heater this morning, I had planned to walk either today or tomorrow..so decided to get out of his way and walked over to Aldi....truth be told "as the crow flies" it's just across the street from where I live but with the morning traffic on Arsenal Street......j-walking is out of the question.....but just a short walk to the closest walk light and then the jog back to the store......got out of there for under $12...same list at the local name grocery would have cost me closer to $15....if Aldi has what I want, price is better..but you can't beat the specials at Price Chopper when items are marked down on the value card.....
  I've gone down the proverbial rabbit hole again into the past.....an album by ELO popped up on my recommended list on YT......always liked that group...... 

(11:05 AM UTC-5)
(+55*F)
( a classical mix)
  When I awoke about 7 AM this morning it was sunny and in the mid 60*sF, and it's just started to rain....and by the radar will continue for a while
  As I checked my email this morning I saw a news alert that the Dr. Billy Graham had past......I sat down with great emotion to make my routine post to this blog.....and in the emotion of the news what flowed out didn't belong here.....so I cut/paste and moved it to "Random Thoughts"...it belongs there......
  There was a brake in the weather around 7 PM last night so took a brief walk, needed to pickup a few things.....now the street I walked along was quite busy and although it was not raining the traffic kicked up the moist off the roadway so there was a mist in the air temperature was in mid-50s so the walk was quite pleasant
  I went to the market and thought I'd hit the lottery...of the 8 items I bought all but one were on sale with the use of my "Advantage Card".....my over 16$ charge with the card was a few pennies under 12$......
  Now as the above will testify I am by nature a tad frugal...but I come by it honestly.....my dad could pinch a penny so hard he could get Lincoln to scream.....but there a few high end items that I really enjoy and will pick up if it's on the "card".....caviar being one of those items......so as I was surveying the can meats selection there sitting on a top shelf I heard a jar of caviar gently calling my name.....it always does but at the normal price $9.99 for 2 oz.......i can ignore it but when the sticker reads $6.99 w/card......it'd now rest in my  cupboard....awaiting the demise of the near empty jar in my fridge      

(9:31 AM UTC-5)
(+53*F...rain)
(Brahms: a German Requiem)
  Been raining on an off the last 2 days and rain is in the forecast for tomorrow and Thursday as well....this has been the goofiest winter I can remember.....I've spent the last 70+ winters in the Northeastern USA, and can't remember one like this.....very cold December...that's usually January..a rather mild January..that's usually February....and now March weather is February......I'm completely farmisht ( sorry; befuddled)
  I've been spending a lot of time down the proverbial rabbit hole that is the memories of my past......old friends....things I've done......memories can be intoxicating.....and there are at least for me 2 main keys that open the doors to my journeys  through the past......my aches and pains from playing sports too aggressively, and music......lately the key to most of my flights into memories of the past have been through music.....
  It's hard even for me to express how important music has been to me, both as a listener and as a performer .....it has been for me a great source of joy....but also a place I ran to in times of trouble or sorrow.....and a place..to express my inner feelings, to relax, to contemplate, to recharge, and yes even to hide from the world around me... 

(10:02 UTC-5)
(+41*F)
(Brahms: "a German Requiem")
  Rain is predicted not only by the weather channel but by my right knee with its'  "singing" of the chant it always sings when it's going to rain........not quite sure why....but my hypothesis is that it is my old injury(s) reacting to a drop in barometric pressure...
  Not exactly sure why but was in a nostalgic mood yesterday and went looking on Youtube for the music of "The Righteous Brothers".....found their greatest hits.......and one thing lead to another and I went down the proverbial rabbit hole of days past and landed on a piece of music I had played not only in my high school band, but had also played in in Area Band......which I auditioned for my senior.year..and another trip to Youtube to see if I could find a video......and sure enough there it was..
  The piece is "The Universal Judgement"......but I kind of think of it as two pieces....it is much like what used to be called in the Baroque period a "concerto grosso" were each group of instrument had a solo part.....the reason I think of it the way I do is in area band I played the 4th horn part, and in school band the 1st horn part.....sometimes the 1st is playing but not the 4th and vise versa, but a great piece of music regardless of what part you play.......plus the fact that in area there was a full symphonic band, 100+ players.....our school band maybe 50 players..and the music takes on a different feel depending on the numbers per part....just in case your interested...The Universal Judgement.....there are pieces I prefer played or sung by a small group and others where I like the same piece played by a huge ensemble and sometimes I like both equally......but for different reasons..in the small groups you hear every part....it's light even ethereal........with the large group you get the power of the piece....and sometimes it's just the mood I'm in at the time....

(10:43 AM UTC-5)
(+32*F.......+25*F w/wind chill..sunny)
(Alison Balsom: Trumpet Concertos)
  Got a dusting of snow, but a nice sunny day never the less, prediction is for rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s for the next 3 days.....now I will occasionally walk in light snow if necessary but walking in rain is not in the cards for me......years ago if I had a training run scheduled I would run, unless thunder and lightening were predicted......but then I was a lot younger then....and far more reckless......an I have the "aches and pains" to prove it...
  In my 50+ years living in this area this is the weirdest weather I've ever seen.....basically we're experiencing typical April weather in February........as well as wild temperature swings all winter.....used to be you could predict the basic weather to expect on a 7 year cycle.....with the worst weather coming on the mid year of the cycle..but not only does this winter not fit in the cycle.....but it's the strangest one I can remember
  I'll probably watch the Daytona race today....don't have a particular dog in the hunt but I usually watch  the coverage of the "big" stock cars and Indy car races.....I enjoy auto racing even when as now I don't have a particular favorite driver.......
  

(3:13 PM)
(+31*F...w/wind chill +24*F...sunny)
(Best of Wagner Overtures)
  Was pleasantly surprised..half expected to awake this AM after the slip I took on a patch of ice yesterday, for one of the usual suspects (AKA.....one of my joints) to be singing a not so merry tune..but everything was pretty normal......despite there was a bit of chill in the air decided to walk anyways....did stop at a dollar store and picked up a few things....which I will need eventually...but not today....today the stop was just an excuse for the walk......not that I actually need an excuse to walk......but the ex-runner in me likes a start..a midpoint and a finish line......
  Lost my wifi again early evening yesterday....watched a few reruns on the boob tube, and it's back to normal today......if I had any say in the matter I'd be looking for another provider, but since the wifi is part of the package where I live, guess I just need to grin and bare it......

(10:38 AM UTC-5)
(+34*F.....w/wind chill +27*F)
(Best of Wagner)
  According to the weather radar and current conditions I've been using it's snowing outside right now, and it ain't!......been confused with the predictions lately but truth be told the current radar should be right, on top of that quite often the wind direction and storm track were not in sync.....I put that to being of the end of Lake Ontario...but enough is enough.....I've deleted the service I've been using and bookmarked a new one.....but then an old friend years ago always said that weathermen were the only people he knew of that got paid for being right 25% of the time, and I've come to the conclusion that he was overly optimistic.....
  Walked early this morning first to the Mobil convenience store, then to Aldi, and realized I had mis-timed my walk, I thought they opened @8AM so was about 20 minutes too early.went down to Burger King..got a breakfast sandwich & coffee.then back to Aldi.....got everything I'd intended....which was a semi-miracle because as usual I left my detailed shopping list in my rooms.....except I was going to get chips and decided to get pork rinds instead...
  Now I from time to time like a slice of New York style cheesecake......been getting them at my local market.....4 pieces for $5.99......and Aldi had them for 2 for $1.99...so into the cart they went.....
  In the course of my walk managed to slip on a icey spot which I had missed, didn't fall....chalk one up for the cane.....but may have tweaked something.......film @ 11:00

(7:52 PM UTC-5)
(+44*F...light snow probable for tomorrow)
("Hec Ramsey"..pilot)
  Has been an interesting day finished my thoughts on gun violence and posted it to Random Thoughts
check it out if you're interested...
  We have light snow in the forecast for the next 2 days with temperatures in the low to mid 30s....I'd like to walk one day or the other, so needed to pick my spot........Other then that just a quiet day.....nothing much going on......

(10:12 AM UTC-5)
(+46*F)
(Smetana: "Ma Vlast" (IIRC "My Country")
  Sleep well last night, all joints functioning at the "new normal"......but walked yesterday to a local dollar store to get a few things, the pantry and fridge are full, my "snack drawer" wasn't....usually get my snacks there because they sell the snack size bags of chips 2 for a buck......also got a six pack of the single serve size V8 juice......I could save a bit of $ buying it by the bottle but takes up too much space in my small fridge......besides a single serve size is perfect for me....
  Several of my friends on FB have posted/replied to posts concerning the recent rash of school shootings here in the USA.......and by extension gun control....and I am working on a  piece dealing with the problem(s) as I see them....but not ready to post that yet...and won't post it here or on FB....will post it to "Random Thoughts" (link on bottom of page) when I'm ready...and a link to it on FB.....

(10:45 AM UTC-5).
(+37*F.....+28*F w/wind chill)
(Best of Wagner)
  Now i don't trust the long range weather predictions further that I could pickup the predictor and throw him/her....which at 70 years and to bad shoulders is not far......dang if he/she wasn't quite small I couldn't pick either up in the first place....but you get the drift....
  The long range forecast for the next 15 days, save 1 is for daily high temperatures in the mid 30's to mid 40s......just the 1 in the mid 20s......now was I alluded to above.......I don't trust long range weather forecasts.....especially in late winter in Watertown......at best it's what we who did inventory used to call the S.W.A.G. Method ........if you saw SWAG following an item on an inventory entry you knew it was a rough estimate....(sorry: SWAG....scientific wild ass guess)
  I spent most of my early and teen years growing up in a rural area outside Buffalo NY.....and if you asked how far it was from where you were to a distant point you'd probably get a distance "as the crow flies"......So I was thinking as I was posting maybe someone has an app for that and sure enough..."as the crow flies" distance calculator  (link)........one hint if you ask for distance from where you are to a body of water the result will be to the center of said body of water......pick the nearest point on land from you that is on the shore of the body of water you have in mind......a fun tool.....that I've just bookmarked....I tend to be a packrat when it comes to bookmarks.....

(1:46 PM UTC-5)
(+21*F......+13*F w/wind chill....sunny)
("Hornblower episode")
  I looked at the predicted weather for the day, and the predicted temperature was to be in the low to mid 20s and cloudy....so I got up this morning and because this is he day that housekeeping comes in to clean my room usually between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM......I thought I'd walk......the ATM and then Aldi....check the weather about 8:15 AM.......temperature was -2*F.....and sunny.....so postponed the walk.....and walked around noon, when the temperature was +21*F.......got almost everything I needed....plus things I didn't realize I needed...nice walk, except for a few icey places on the sidewalk, or rather a few dicey places.....
  Today is Shrove Tuesday (day before Ash Wednesday) which we always celebrate with my mom's fasnachts.....a special raised doughnut, deep fried, and then shaken in a paper bag with sugar......I miss those fasnachts...but not as much as I miss my mom...... 

(10:15 AM UTC-5)
(+27*F......w/wc +19*F)
(Best of Wagner Overtures)
  I did something today that I promised myself that I would never do......post what could be considered a political point of view on Facebook.....my position in opposition to the proposed "wall"..the 25B$ wall between the US and Mexico.......but did it anyways
  Then decided to copy/paste it to "Random Thoughts" (link on the right)......if you've never tried to copy/paste from FB to blogger my advice is don't....obviously two different systems...and it just doesn't look right...maybe there's a work around but I just rewrote an edited and expanded post....but that inspired a poem, "Use the muse, Luke"....and that can be found at "Troll's Poetry Corner"....(link on right).....which lead me to posting it to G+......(cut/paste works but then Google owns both G+ and Blogger...so it should work.....) so with write, post, failed copy/paste, rewrite, post, compose, post, copy/paste....and now posting here it's been a busy, interesting, and a enjoyable morning.....plus my ET is bothering me a little this morning which makes typing interesting (ET-Essential Tremors) Bless the person(s) who invented spell check....

(8:22 PM UTC-5)
(+39*F.....w/wind chill +29*F.....light rain)
(Brahms "A German Requiem")
  The dire predictions of the dread "winter mix" failed to occur at least locally, was all around us, but not here......we are getting some rain, with maybe some snow behind that...but it's been in the 40s F most of the day and it was just to warm mid 40s most of the day for the winter mix to occur
  The problem with my feet i feared after my evening walk yesterday didn't materialize....but I think I lived with cats too long, and I've acquired some of their habits......no not the litter box.....but rather than a good night's sleep lately I've been taking the proverbial "cat naps"......what with the arthritis, and the fact that one of my meds is diuretic....sleeping more than a couple of hours at a time......is difficult...check that impossible....perhaps I do need a litter box......
  A quiet day....nothing worth watching on the boob tube, have spent most of the day online....just cruising and a couple of games...

(12:21 AM UTC -5)
(+23*F...+12*F...w/wind chill.....)
(Beethoven Symphonie #3)
  It's reasonably calm weatherwise at present, but looking at the radar projection for later today just passed noon, there is a band of the dreaded "winter mix" in our future.....rain/snow/freezing rain....oy vey.....good thing I walk last evening.....
  Yes I'm still up.....took a couple of naps yesterday....and TCM showed the 1953 adaptation of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" late yesterday that just ended.....among all I've posted here of late...I have neglected to mention my love of the Shakespeare plays in general...and the tragedies in particular   ......I used one of my few electives in college to take a course in "The Works of Shakespeare"......which I enjoyed very much..but one of my papers kind of got me in "dutch" with the class and the instructor.....
  There were 9 of us in the class 7 were women...plus the instructor was also a woman.....and the other guy...well he didn't make waves.....we assigned to write a paper on who was the villain and who was the hero in "Macbeth".......when the papers were read, except for me all including the instruction came to the conclusion that Macbeth was the villain and various what I thought were minor characters as the hero.....Macduff was the one  most mentioned as the hero.....but as I read the play several times, Macbeth was the hero.....a tragic hero for sure.....but hero nonetheless....I played with the idea that the villain(s) were the witches..too minor of characters....then with the idea that Macbeth was both hero and villain....but that really didn't fit the usual Shakespeare formula in my mind.....so my conclusion was that Macbeth was the perfect tragic hero and Lady Macbeth was the villain if there was a classic villain in the play.....boy did that go over like a lead balloon with my classmates and the instructor.....and got marked down for my insolence.....oy vey.... not that I wasn't used to it.....happened quite often at that college when you diverted from the expect norm...but that being said I acquired the "tools" I wanted...and just chalked up the rest as necessary hassles....I've always taken the path less traveled 

(7:05 PM UTC-5)
((+23*F and +12*F w/wind chill.....light to moderate snow..wind out of the ENE at 12 mph)
("Hellfighters")
  Just got back from the "Early Evening Walk of the gimpy,grumpy, old man.....maybe not the greatest night for a walk..but several factors were in play...first of these is I've spent all of my 70+ winters in the north eastern USA, and the vast majority of that in areas where "lake effect" snow is an issue, plus I know how to dress for it.....second the pantry was getting pretty bare, and lastly because of my feet really hadn't been out of my rooms for almost two weeks.....and I was getting a rather bad case of cabin fever.......so off I went
  First stop was a convenience store that carries the "chew" I use....been a user of said product for 40 years, a hold over from my factory and hunting period....I'm in the process of "kicking" one bad habit...am going on 4 months sober.....
  Then to the food market...among food stuffs I needed a jar of the topical gel I use for my arthritis,,,,It's on a bottom shelf, usually get in when the pharmacy is open and one of the pharmacists who knows  me will get it for me....fortunately 2 nice 30 something ladies were in that aisle and one of them kindly got it for me....and no I didn't stand behind her when she bend over to get it......I'm a gimpy, grumpy, old man, not a dirty old man.....
  Had wanted to stop at Aldi, but 2 of the nice young girls on checkout and I barely got all of my purchases in my sling bag...so Aldi will have to wait for another day.....but all I needed there is for "stock"......
  On the way back I was maybe 150 yds. from home an a nice middle aged lady offered me a ride.....but I was so close and feeling good so I declined.......
  Probably will pay for the walk tomorrow physically but tonight I'm feeling good, both physically and mentally......

(10:20 AM UTC-5)
(+28*F.....+23*F..w/wind chill...sporadic snow.......)
( Corelli "12 Concerti Grossi, op#6)
  Really strange day weather wise......It's been snowing on and off most of the morning very small flakes......that when they hit even a slightly warm surface, the window in my rooms for example immediately melts.....the wind over the last several hours (and I slept for 7 of those hours ) has been out of the WSW, SW, SSW, SSE, NNE, N and NNW.....that I've seen and it probably shifted through the easterly directions as I slept........but new accumulation of snow in the last 24 hrs.....at least outside where I live maybe 2".....and a winter mix is predicted for tomorrow.....snow changing to freezing rain changing to rain......and maybe back again......this winter so far has been extremely unsettled.......

(9:36 AM UTC-5)
(+17*F......+7*F...w/wind chill.......w/light snow)
(Best of Wagner Overtures)
  Light  snow which is part of another weather alert, lake effect between here and Sandy Creek.....but the bulk of the snow is to fall over the I-81 corridor....but that's being pushed out by a storm coming out of the SSE......could be heavy at times......but not lake effect heavy.....winds out of the wrong direction
  The frig was pretty empty yesterday, and with the feet yelling at me and the snow, to walk to my local food market was contraindicated by my common sense...as an aside that's the thing about common sense..it's not that common.......where was I....what was I doing....and WHY!.....So delivery was in order but I was caught on the horns of a dilemma......I felt like chicken wings....but did not feel like the sides from the places that do a good Buffalo style wing.......I actually felt like some chinese food....the usual suspects, but I wanted wings....now they have fried chicken wings on their menu...... the price for four wings seemed a little pricey but then it's only money....I had been reluctant to try them in the past but decided to give them a go...... so the order came and I discovered that when they said wing, that's exactly what the meant, a whole wing, not divided into its' individual parts, deep fried, and a nice crunch to the coating......no sauce, but with my collection of hot sauces, and assorted other condiments...that's not a problem...must add those crunchy delights to the list of usual suspects......also got some soup ( usually get Egg Drop or Hot & Sour, but got Chicken Noodle an interesting take on the classic), shrimp toast, Pork Egg Foo Young......and some french fries which they make a decent one......

(3:07 PM EST)
(+20*F...+11*F w/wing chill...light snow)
(Mozart "Complete Church Sonatas")
  I knew that Mozart had written a group of pieces 17 in number sometimes called the Epistle Sonatas to be played between the readings of the Gospels during a mass.......but had never heard them...popped up on my recommended on Youtube.......all have organ and strings but some include winds......quite enjoyable in their own right......but then what am I saying..it's Mozart......
  I checked the radar I use just before 2PM  and the temperature had come up and so had the wind......out of the WSW...and figured maybe an hour.......glanced out the window just before 3PM and sure enough light snow......but the wind had shifted to SSW.....now that is not a big deal except when we're talking the narrow bands of lake effect snow.....WSW usually means where I live could be "in for it"......but SSW we will probably only catch the edge and just light to moderate snow fall....however the wind is fickle and just a slight shift can really affect the accumulations in your area....
  I remember several years ago a low front came in, wind died, and the storm got "caught" on the hills to thee east of Watertown......you travel anywhere outside the city a few miles they got maybe 6".....in 4 to 5 hours we got 4' of snow that fell straight down.....there were stacks of snow on top of telephone poles....what a mess........

(11:09 AM UTC-5)
(+17*F.....s/wind chill.....sunny)
( Best of Wagner)
  We are under yet another "lake effect snow" alert from 10AM today through 4PM tomorrow, at present it's as you can see above +17*F and no wind.......so it doesn't look like at least we will get snow right away......
  Now I wasn't brought up Catholic.....and although we have discovered as of late that some of our genetic roots are semite aka jewish.......I wasn't brought up that way either......just old fashion rural Bible Church..........so this lent deal, passover, and why Easter jumped around so much....confused me as a kid...
  this year Ash Wednesday falls on St. Valentine's Day (2/14) and Easter Sunday on (4/1).....April Fools Day......oy vey
  After a little research I have the answer, always suspected what was going on but never took the time, to actually research it
  Passover always runs from Nissan 15-22...Nissan is the first month of the jewish calendar.....which is a lunar/solar calendar......12 months each with 29 or 30 days and each month starting at a new moon.....7 times in every 19 years a "Leap month" is added to bring it back in line with the solar cycle
  Now as to Lent.....lent is a 43 day period which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the thursday before the first day of Passover......(always thought that Lent ended with Easter...but then I wasn't raised Catholic)
  Therefore the gregorian calendar is a solar calendar that we adjust every 4 years with a leap day to get back in line with the solar cycle.....and since Lent is timed off a lunar/solar calendar with adjusts by leap months, the 2 different calendars rarely if every are in perfect harmony  ....and that's why the date for Easter Sunday is different year to year......
(this could be a personal best currently 6 windows and 8 additional tabs)
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(1:50 PM UTC -5)
(+22*F......+13*F w/wing chill.....very light snow falling)
( another Youtube mix)
  I've been listening to this Youtube mix for most of the afternoon.......mostly light classical......but a piece popped up and the memories started flowing back....when I was in high school I auditioned for all-county both band & chorus.....made all-county twice, band once and chorus once, and area/all state in band.....didn't make all-state but did make area band.......but the piece that was in the mix was the 1st movement of Mozart's 3rd horn concerto.....which was my audition piece for the band auditions......and that was 52 years + ago.....all fond memories.....
  Took a silly quiz made up of what seemed like random choices......the premise of the quiz was there are in reality only 2 types of people in the world......the majority and the unique minority......my results came as no surprise to me, not should it come as a surprise to anyone who knows me or even anyone who has read any of my blogs more then once......I'm part of the unique minority......I don't consciously try to be unique, or different, I just am.....

(9:57 AM UTC-5)
(+20*F.....+11*F w/wind chill......moderate snow)
( An episode of "Hornblower")
  Usually on my excursions in the world we call the internet, I have 5 windows and sometimes multiple tabs open......but for the last two days I've had a 6th window open....that being my primary email account........I've been receiving a bunch of weather updates I beginning to think that the national weather service has a crush on me....(hehe)......not that I need them to tell me it's snowing......I have eyes and a window not 6' from where I sit .....but so they can tell me ......how much........and for how long.......and exact areas of the most intense snow.....for most of this winter that has been below us to the south on "Tug Hill Plateau".......
  Another quiet day in all likelihood......finished the last of the chinese delivery food last night and been considering what direction we might take on our tour of Watertown delivery food.........with the exception of chinese.....the choices are rather limited to pizza, wings, subs, and some italian specialties.....there is a greek option but the restaurant is less then a mile away and their delivery charge is insane....
  Lost the wifi connection briefly..but it has been a little twitchy og late.....      

(10:38 AM UTC-5)
(+21*F...s/wind chill....light snow)
(a YouTube mix...light classical)
  When I opened my emails there on the top (wasn't there when I went to bed about 11PM) informing me from the national weather service that we we in a lake effect snow band......actually I already knew that, I had looked out the window.....through 9:45 AM....try 10:15 AM......it has drifted south of us and now only light snow......look reasonably clear.....that is until midday tomorrow and radar shows a massive storm coming.......but it is February and it is Watertown.......
  The mix I'm listening to this AM contains the works of the family Strauss among others...grandfather,father,and son......of Vienna....during the mid to late 1800s......and one of their contemporaries Franz Von Suppe.....now he didn't know this at the time but Von Suppe was one of the greatest composers of cartoon music.....because all of his music was in the public domain it was used extensively by the cartoons......Bugs Bunny et al.........anyone who grew up in the 50s or 60s watching the cartoons on the boob tube on Saturday morning knew the music of Von Suppe and other composers of the romantic period.....we just didn't know.......well most of us didn't ...I did but I had played some of the pieces for piano lessons.......
  When I checked my Youtube page early.....in the recommended section was one that was American Marching Band Music...and my thoughts went to my dad who loved marching band music.....the last car he had had a cassette tape player...he had 2 that's right 2 and only 2 cassettes, one was a tape of old hymns and the other the marches of John Philip Sousa......but then while in high school I played in a marching band for 5 years.....so posted it to FB and tagged to of my old band mates.......both responded..

(8:54 PM EST)
(+19*F....+6*F w/wind chill)
( Maurice Andre...Baroque Trumpet)
  When I was a young musician, Maurice Andre was the man when it came to the trumpet music of the Baroque period.......It was a good find on YouTube.....found it in my recommended......
  Snow has abated, didn't get a whole lot but one of my FB who lives south of here on Tug Hill got hit pretty hard.....and there is another winter weather advisory for Wednesday evening through Thursday evening.....
  Normally by this time of night I'd either be in bed or on my way to bed......however HBO is showing Westworld (S1:E1) at 9:30 PM EST...really enjoyed that show so thought I'd watch it tonight....new season starts mid April....so am looking forward to seen what direction they take with the plot...
  It's been a really quiet day.......nothing on FB or G+ that ticked me off so no post on "Random Thoughts"......haven't posted to my poetry blog in a coon's age......but that's nothing new.......if the muse strikes then I write but if not......on the other hand sometimes I just forget yes I can write poetry.....actually I did come up with a Limerick the other day.....but I didn't post....it was the type that when I was a teen I would have scribbled it on a bathroom stall...... 

(10:22 AM UTC-5)
(+10*F....-7*F w/wind chill)
(Trumpet music of Purcell and Handel played by Alison Balsom on period correct instruments)
  We are under another Winter Weather Advisory, we been lucky snow wise  the bulk has been south of us here, but this advisory is for this evening until Tuesday evening.......and the wind depending on your point of view is from the right or wrong direction...it's going to be out of the WSW......in '77 the wind during this time of year was out of the WSW for 8 days and we got over 150" of snow in those 8 days......
  Just finished first meal of the day......reheated Pork Egg Foo Young & Egg Drop soup....ended up getting delivery for my not going to watch the Superbowl "tailgate"...also some boneless ribs and french fries........I know, french fries from a Chinese restaurant......but the truth is because they use a pre-blanched crinkle-cut fry the result is not bad and a heck of alot better then most in town.....summer of '67 (between 1st and 2nd years in college).....I worked at a Carrols burger joint.......and one of my jobs every morning was to drag a 100 lb bag of potatoes up from the basement and turn them into french fries, the right way.......I figured I get chinese delivery because who eats chinese food while watching American Football.....normally takes about 35 minutes from order to my door...but last night over an hour.......was it the snow...was it that my above assumption was wrong.....perish the thought.....or that there were a bunch of people having "we ain't watching the game munchies" like me
  Truth be told I did bounce by the game...saw a couple of plays right before halftime.....and then once more saw a few plays in the 3rrd quarter.....but was in bed by 9PM......
  But both feet were singing some tragic duet about 2AM and got up for maybe 30 minutes +/- until they were mostly done.......logged on and saw the Pats had lost.....a fine result.....I really could have cared less if the Eagles had won.....I just wanted the Pats to lose.....yup I know but it makes sense to me...

(5:02 PM EST)
(+33*F.......+25*F w/wind chill.....light snow)
(Schubert "Octet in F-Major")
  Still making my preparations for not watching the Superbowl..have searched the listing on the boob tube and if it was the "Vast Waste Land" as it described in a 1961 speech, today it at least for me it is "vaster and waster " ......I mean the best 2 choices are Minions" or "The Walking Dead"......quite frankly I'd have to be one of the walking dead before I'd even consider watch the minions......oy gavalt..
  Was considering getting delivery, but with the limited options for in this town...actually it qualifies as a small city (population of +25K) and all of it would qualify as "tailgate food".....the delay in getting hold of them and waiting for the food.....bad choice....maybe chinese....
  But to pass my time I do have access on Youtube to the movie "Ben Hur".....

(1:20 PM EST)
(+34*F.....+24*F w/wind chill...moderate snow)
(Chamber Music, a mix of string quartets and woodwind quintets)
  One aside, I've seen several articles online that "wind chill" doesn't exist......it's just a scare tactic......maybe because it how you perceive heat and cold......that being said living in the area that I do and having to walk around outside in the winter...I perceive that wind chill is real....
  Ah Super Bowl Sunday.......I'm an adult male and therefore my eyes should be glued to the boob tube for pre-pre-game show right through the post-post-game show.......not a chance......first of all as my elders back on the farm would have said "I don't have no dog in the hunt".....and even if I did I'd skip all the pres and posts......and diffinantly the halftime show.......and probably just bounce by to see the score and maybe a few plays..even if I did have a dog in the hunt.......I'd probably watch it just for the commercials......
  I decided to post the URL to my new blog on the G+ community "blogspot"....

(6:28 PM EST)
(+23*F....+13*F w/wind chill)
(Hec Ramsey pilot)
  Although I'm not listening to it now found a good recording of Schubert's Octet.....interesting choice of instruments..great piece.....I've been think of adding some small group music to my bookmarks.maybe a woodwind quintet or a brass quintet...
  Not much snow overnight..but we've picked up maybe 4 to 6 inches during the day....there are spots to the south of us where they're getting 3 to 4 inches an hour....I 81 between here and Syracuse has to be a mess.....
  Been a quiet day and for the first time in a few days my left foot is just humming quietly now.....but a good sign it's getting better....it's itchy.....
  Have decided to take my new blog "Random Thoughts" public......if you want to take a look the link is wandering around over there on the right.....It's a little different layout then I've tried before..no side columns.....saw one like that the other day and liked the look of it for the new blog.....

(11:26 AM UTC-5)
(+7*F......w/wind chill -8*F)
(Baroque Music for War)
  The music I'm listening to this AM, most of the pieces are new to me,  and most are with period correct instruments.....but music with an association to war is not that uncommon......from the classical period we have "The 1812 Overture" and "Wellington's Victory"........in the USA we have "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and there are many more of this type.....and how can I leave out "Over There".....and many countries have their own marshall music Holst wrote two suites for military band......( there was an imperceptible pause to you as I ran off and added Holst's "Suites for Military Band" Op.28 1&2..to my bookmarks.......played both when I was in high school band and some 30 years +/- later so did my daughter)
  Have spent some time writing posts to my new blog, it's not quite ready for the "public" yet......

(3:51 AM EST)
(+34*F...w/wind chill +27*F.......PM snow)
(Best of Holst)
  I was going to post later but my left foot was yelling at me again, but I layed down at 8PM yesterday and got up a little after 3:30AM......and probably will take a nap later.......
  This post is really about resetting the layout......I post 61 times last month and as soon as I post this month those 61 lines of monthly archives will be reduced to 1 line "January (61)......(# of posts in the month)...anyone knows that has wandered through this slag heap before I'm absolutely bonkers and the length of the shown posts and the length of the information in the column is close to the same length...check that.very close to the same length........
(12:49 PM EST)
  still fiddling with the layout and maybe with the theme as well...truth be told..hadn't made any major changes in awhile..and the month/archive thing just gives me an excuse.....