Troll54 where are you

2010-08-17T21:27:00.001-04:00

I hate the fact that I need to buy a new computer. My present machine still runs but because it’s about 9 or 10 years old, is running the ME ops software and older browsers I’m being locked out of many online pages. I live by the adage that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, however in this case it ain’t broke but unfortunately technology has pasted it by.

2010-07-12T17:33:00.002-04:00

It’s been hot and humid for about a week now. Now that statement is relative. I’m sure that some would scoff at high 80*F to low 90*F and over 85% humidity as being hot and humid, but in an area were –40*F wind chills in winter are not uncommon, you do the math. (Note: I remember one day many years ago when it was –54*F with over 50 mph winds and a wind chill one side or another of –100*F). The body tends to accommodate itself to the greater extreme. And in this region we are capable of see snow from October to late May.
Am in the process of getting over a reoccurring problem with my left foot. Not as bad as some of the time, but still swelling and some pain. All the cause of youth, When I was younger I played sport like one who thought I was indestructible. And with out going into any detail, did loads of damage to my left foot, among other areas of the body not mentioned here. As I said before, was a youth I saw myself as indestructible, at 62 I realize I was gravely mistaken.
But have had a good day. First day where my foot allowed me to take the long walk to the local Big Lots, Great prices on preserved Kalamata Olives, Artichokes, and Capers. Which gives rise to the possibility of a recipe or two in the near future? My latest desire is to make Capers and Anchovies common ingredients in the cooking in the good old USA.

2010-06-22T17:37:00.000-04:00

I’ve been having a problem the last few days with a reoccurring problem in my left foot, which I have damages several times in my 62+ years, but was feeling not right but at least acceptable this AM. Awoke about 6AM as per usual, need to sit on the porcelain chair, dropped two ibuprofens and back to bed, normally I get up at 8AM +/-, but awoke, wandered to the a said porcelain chair, as I walked pasted a clock it was 10:40 AM. Got dressed and took a walk. To the local grocery store, need a few items, and on the way back realized it was Tuesday. As I was approaching Public Square, remembered that the Crystal’s special on Tuesday was corned beef and cabbage. Now probably only eat out once a week. And only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but never twice in the same week. The specials at Sandy’s in the arcade, and Fridays either the Crystal or Sandy’s. The Crystal has creamed salt cod on Friday, and Sandy’s does a great fish or scrimp fry, with a to die for mac and cheese. But there again, Cam’s right on American corner, makes a sausage roll to die for. Will be tuned with great interest to the USA vs. Algeria world cup game tomorrow. I will not dwell on the fact that the USA should have 4 points right now rather then the 2 they have but, win and get into the knock out round.

2010-04-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

I watched the 2^nd round coverage of the current PGA tour event on the Golf Channel, and Tiger implode. And listened to all the commentary, was I watching a total different turn of events, was I the only one who saw what I saw, or were others reluctant to say what they thought.

Sure Tiger’s game showed a bit of “rust”, sure he sprayed the ball around the course, but he always has. The key to Tiger’s game has always been his will, his ability to focus, and his ego that is he in his mind always knew he was the best.

I have no idea exactly what rehab he has gone through but I assume that part of it was to see his own faults. And I’m, guessing that’s something, which never crossed his mind. As I watched the last few holes of his round I saw him “give up”. Seeing over many years that was shocking. What made Tiger what he was that supreme confidence, that supreme ego, and also one of the best athletic bodies on this earth.

Is he a little rusty, yes, is he not in the best shape of his life, probably, but I believe the real problem is he’s lost his mental edge.

2010-04-27T22:15:00.001-04:00

I woke up a little after 8am this morning and looked out the window, I needed to take a walk, a few things I needed to pick up, and it was snowing. Okay, it wasn’t sticking to the ground, it’s been too warm, too long, and it wasn’t snowing hard enough to stick, but it’s almost May. Welcome to the northcountry. Again!

2010-04-20T20:43:00.000-04:00

I’m sorry, there was only one James Bond, and that was SC, and everyone else was just a bad copy.

2010-04-11T19:40:00.003-04:00

There is a local church that is looking for intermediate and advanced teachers in their adult bible study program. Something that I have done for years, except for the last 2years. But I am very conflicted, I attended a service at the church this morning (for the first time), and I’m not sure it’s a good “fit”. It maybe a little too emotion based for my conservative up bringing, I’m not ready to व्रिते it off quite yet, but…

2010-04-11T19:27:00.001-04:00

My congrats to PM for winning his 3^rd green jacket, but as most who probably watched, both diehard golf fans, and simply the curious, the real interest was the return of TW. I’m not sure how many stayed around for his interview at the end of the tournament, I did, and frankly saw what I knew I would see but hoped I won’t. That’s the same egotistical, self entitled child he’s always been, and probably always will be. Don’t get me wrong; I think he is probably the best player to ever play the game. I will not however give him the title of the greatest player ever, until he approaches or passes the records of Jack or Sammy. But if you think he won’t get caught again, then I have a 25% ownership in the Brooklyn Bridge I’ll give you a great deal on, (trollie hangs his head sadly).

2010-04-08T13:26:00.001-04:00

I did something today I rarely ever do. I have always lived by the old adage “screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me”. But today I gave someone a second chance. I hope it works itself out.

2010-04-03T16:06:00.000-04:00

Beware the following is a rant.

(Rant alarms have been activated)

The word is that the college basketball championship may be expanded to 96 teams from the current 65 teams. This is a straight money based decision. Since going to 64/65 teams a 16^th seed has never won a game. Why extend the tournament to another week when there is only a minuscule chance of any of the 31 lower rated teams to win a game. Money is the only reason when competitive games should be the only reason. If we must sit by and watch the NCAA force this upon us, then at least give the top 32 a bye in the first round and let the last 64 play what is essentially a play in game to the tournament. Frankly I think 32 teams are more then enough to establish a nation champion.

(/rant)

2010-03-27T18:13:00.003-04:00

Temperature was only 40*F today, but for this time of year that really isn’t that bad, with very little wind. Now I rarely eat a salad that is a lettuce based salad in the winter. But once it starts turning warm I have a hankering for them. Now I realize that 40*F may not be your definition of turning warm but with the subzero temperatures we can get here in the old northcountry in winter, it feels warm.

I had picked up a small piece of flat iron steak yesterday, and decided to get some salad fixings for lunch today. Now for me lunch is usually the main meal of the day, retired as I am.

I usually buy one of the pre-packaged lettuce mixes, and really don’t care what the mix is, the one I got today was a European mix, what ever the heck that means, but I always buy the one with the longest freshness date.

An English cucumber, a plum tomato, this time of year obviously hothouse but… oh well, and a sliced hardboiled egg. Got some sliced button mushrooms, a slow sauté, with a couple of cloves of garlic, and once fully cooked a dash of sea salt and a couple of grinds of pepper. Also salt and peppered the veg. Then grilled the flat iron steak to a medium. Salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, okay so I had to walk to the kitchen and get the bottle so I spelled it right, sue me.

When done, several very thin slices, on the salad with the mushrooms, some crumbed feta cheese, and a store bought balsamic vinaigrette.

Some iced tea and a couple of pieces of crusty bread, lovely.

Actually I debated whether to use feta or blue cheese, but since I still have a bit left of the steak, maybe blue will get in the mix tomorrow.

2010-03-18T12:10:00.002-04:00

Life is weird; there is a theory that we are connected to everyone else by six degrees of separation. But some times the connection is much less then six degrees.

Talked to my sis today, she and her husband are in the market for a new home. They currently live in a huge 3 story Victorian place, and as their have an empty nest are looking for a small place.

One of the houses they’ve looked at is just outside the city limits. In their talk with the owner they discovered that he grew up in the Alden area outside of Buffalo New York. Which is where we grew up. But moved away to the Northcountry of New York after my senior year.

My sis asked what family and he said, “My dad is KL”.

Dang, while not my best friend KL and I as in the same class at school for 13 years, and was a good friend. Dang it is a small, small world.

2010-03-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

This has been the winter that wasn’t here in the old North Country. No severe cold, no monster snow storms, basically a ho hum winter.

I’m not much of one for drama shows, normally I only watch reality, or educational series, but I must admit being hooked on two drama series on cable.

I like “Burn Notice” on USA, and “Leverage” on TNT. Or is it that I am in love or at least in lust with the roles of Fiona (Burn notice) and Parker (Leverage), I will admit that strong, athletic, insane woman have always been my lady of choice.

2009-12-21T22:49:00.000-05:00

Have had maybe the two best days in a row I’ve had in a long time. Yesterday spent the afternoon, with my kin. Best night sleep I’ve had in awhile. Took a couple of walks today, and got some things the pantry was short of. But I will go back time to tell.

As sis and her husband dropped me off last night I found a basket of fruit from a church, that while I’m still a member, I have not attended for a while.

Among other things were 3 lovely red pears. Well one of my missions today was find some nice blue cheese. The second walk netted me a nice Danish style blue. If you’ve never married a slice of raw pear, and abit of good blue cheese, well you should. As an alternative, a few slices of pear, a potion of good blue on top, oven or microwave, your choice. While that’s happening, reduce a bit of balsamic vinegar over a flame (in a pan of course), marry them together.

2009-12-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, I understand, it’s been along time since I’ve posted. Well things are what they are. And I won’t explain the neglect.

In the process of selling my house, and have moved in to a 3 room postal stamp. But it suits me. I can both mop my kitchen and bathroom floor in less then a minute.

I made today the best pasta dish I’ve ever made

A small shallot, 2 small cloves of garlic, a bit of celery, a bit of red pepper, dry basil, dry oregano, and some dill seed, and of course some pepper and some sea salt. And of course some nice evoo, and did I forget a can of diced clams. Heated some pasta, used linguini.

But pick your fav pasta. Didn’t have a good Italian or French bread in the house but a garlic bread would add a touch. Sorry I forgot one ingredient…a splash of a very nice zinfandel wine.

If you ever expect me to give amount, forget about it. I just throw, taste and adjust.

2009-02-26T20:52:00.002-05:00

I was walking home from downtown after lunch and pasted by as I often do one of several “variety stores” that seem to have cropped up in town over the last few years. Basically the buyer and seller of used items. Well this one happens to have a large selection of used videotapes. Well if I didn’t find a copy of “La Femme Nikita”. Saw it a few years ago on one of the cable movie channels and really like it. The version I remember as subtitled and this one is dubbed…actually I prefer the subtitled…I’m a bit hard of hearing and miss some dialogue as a general rule. And it was only a buck.

2009-02-25T22:27:00.001-05:00

When I pulled the quote below something went a little haywire. It’s from A Midsummer’s-night Dream…found here

2009-02-25T22:17:00.002-05:00

Did I mention I also like google. Well on one hand I guess I really have to…well that’s two hands…on one there is the fact that blogger is google and the let me write this slag heap for nodda…and on the second one my nephew works for google…but I digress…

I oft times will remember quotes but can remember the source…if you read below or will read below I mentioned the old quote “What fools these mortals be”, but couldn’t remember where it was from.

Puck. Captain of our fairy band, 116 Helena is here at hand, And the youth, mistook by me, Pleading for a lover’s fee. Shall we their fond pageant see? 120 Lord, what fools these mortals be!

2009-02-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

Ah the joys of sharing your abode with a furball (AKA: cat). I mentioned the other night about Aggie and sitting on my lap while I was on the computer. Well tonight I had just starting playing a poker sim and it’s one of those things that I let her sit on my lap…so she wanted up so I picked her up and she settled right down. Well 45 minutes later…and one of those curious cat moves later…the get up…big yawn…do a 360 turn and lay back down right where she was before later…she got bored…and preceded to do another of the cat moves…she started gnawing on my thumb…not hard…gentle but with enough force to say “YOU HAVE IGNORED THE CAT LONG ENOUGH…PET ME OR YOUR LUNCH”. Very subtle these cats be.

(WARNING: the rant light just came on).

Don’t get me wrong. I love MSWORD…I really do…and particularly spell check. I must have been throwing spitballs in grade school at the time the teacher was explaining a crucial point about spelling. But sometimes when I feel like waxing poetic…or going archaic…spell check just doesn’t get it:

Spell check: “the correct form is ‘Very subtle these cats are’”.

The Trollie: “ yeah I know but I was thinking of the old line ‘what fools these mortals be’”

Thank GD that spell check can’t make me sit in the corner.

(/rant)

2009-02-25T20:53:00.001-05:00

Actually a very nice day, sunny, no wind to speak of, so it was only about 30 some odd degrees on the old F scale but for this time of year a very nice day…

2009-02-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

My cat Aggie just doesn’t understand. But then from her point of view her understanding is not an issue. When she desires my attention, well demands really, she expects me to drop everything and fulfill her desires, or her water/food dish…even when not empty.

But her most insistent complain is why she can’t sit on my lap when she wants to. If I’m watching TV then that’s not a problem…except where noted below…but there are times when I’m on the computer when I won’t let her up because she gets in the way…like right now…(a brief pause while cat is placed gently on the floor).

But back to the TV deal…it seems latterly that she will jump up on my lap and make herself comfy 2 minutes before the end of the VCR tape…

2009-02-08T22:05:00.001-05:00

Now there is a first…I checked my sitemeter…I got a hit on this slag heap from Vietnam…dang I wish I had been a fly on the wall for that reaction…

2009-02-08T21:58:00.001-05:00

There is a well-used phrase in old Watertown…if you don’t like the weather…wait 15 minutes and it will probably change…for the worst.

Thursday morning it was –27*F…by Saturday morning and today it’s been in the mid 40’s on the plus side of the thermometer…about a 70*F temperature swing in about 48 hours…it’s a wonder I don’t crack…okay but I was born with that one…oops two…I forgot the one in my head…

2009-01-19T18:20:00.001-05:00

There was a song from the 60’s…War what is it good for…absolutely nothing…say it again…to paraphrase…Cats what are they good for…absolutely nothing…save that I am addicted to the little furballs…

You never own a cat…no one has ever owned a cat…they permit you to occupy the same space that they do…provided that you have an opposable thumb and are able to open cans and bags of food and keep water in their bowl…when you would like their attention forget about it…but when they require yours you might just as well give up what your doing and attend to them because they won’t really give you a choice…

Cats…an addiction

2009-01-18T17:16:00.000-05:00

Okay so the official count for snow was 21”…but that is at the weather station which is at the airport and 10 miles away…and in a lake effect storm that could be several inches difference…if all we got was 21 inches then I’m well under 5 foot tall…and I ain’t…

2009-01-17T18:59:00.001-05:00

The first forecast I heard for overnight for today was 5-9” of new snow…then it was updated to 12-18”…well we got somewhere between 30 and 36” of new snow in about 7 hours…what a mess…

2009-01-14T18:04:00.002-05:00

I think I’ve finally become that which as a teen/young adult always drove me nuts. I would be in the presence of older adults and the way they talked about the “good old days”…drove me nuts…(a pause in this as cat Aggie demands my attention)…

But the older I get…the less I understand the world as it is…(follows is a list in no particular order)

1-Piercing of the body other then in ears…(and I even question that)

२-Body art…tattoos…and in general the names of people you probably won’t be with for more then 3 weeks…and in particular what is common referred to as a “tramp stamp”.

3-People who don’t fully understand that the “right on red” law in NYS does not mean I’m fair game in a crosswalk if I get the walk icon…

4-People who are in a restaurant…okay fast food place…. (Note except for one I avoid them…prefer and enjoyed the local owned eateries better)…but think they have the right to:

A-talk at the top of their lungs

B-use whatever foul language they chose

C-comment on everyone else in the place…negatively of course…

(The rant light is off)

2009-01-14T15:22:00.000-05:00

Oh happy days…I can finally write an entry without using a hammer on my keyboard. Had several keys that were either dead or dying…but picked up a new keyboard…and things are good again…

Very cold here…-20 something F…but not really a bad day…very little wind and sunny…

2009-01-13T18:37:00.001-05:00

It’s been a very old fashion winter…lots of snow…lots of cold…lots of wind…reminds me of winters as a lad…global warming…at this point I don’t think so…

2009-01-12T20:40:00.001-05:00

Been a strange 24…,got told a something I would never believe…except that peep told me…I trust…

2008-12-09T14:29:00.000-05:00

It’s been more then a month since I posted last…and winter is definitely upon us here in the old North Country. Had nice thanksgiving weekend…good meal at my D’s on the day and some pleasant chat with the rest of the family the Saturday after. Nephew Nate and his intended Karen were there…eight of the ten smartest peeps I’ve ever met…maybe two very odd puzzle pieces that have fortunately found the one piece they go best with…D served me a dish I have never had…from an Amish cookbook…scalloped celery. Actually it would be more a gratin because there is cheese in the dish but…(sigh)…at thanksgiving I try to make sure normally (if anything about me can be called normal) the dressing and grave are in front of me…but I did make room for that celery dish…

2008-11-04T19:47:00.001-05:00

Without realizing it until I looked tonight…I missed the 6^th anniversary of this slag heap I call my blog…is there a belated card for that? (hehe)

2008-11-03T18:47:00.001-05:00

I’ve been watching “Jon and Kate + 8” on TLC channel…I could never have done what they are doing…I don’t care if one intercourse had produced 97 identical twins or one great kid…I never would have exposed them or her to a TV documentary…I understand, and at times forgive what my one, very unique D when thru…but would never have agreed to anyone one…(other then me)…exposing her to a filmed documentary of her first years…

I understand the dollars…and I understand with that many kids to feed why they made the choice…I would have found a second, or third job to support the multiplies …

But then that’s me

2008-10-27T18:07:00.001-04:00

I have a niece…actually I have 5 but only one is currently at the fore front of my thoughts…like me a life time member of the Conservative Party of old NYS…well maybe not quite life time but since both could vote…had a chat with her a few ago…also a chat with my best friend…this my be the ultimate “What the Hey”…I am very conservative and my best friend is a gay male…I don’t understand it either…it takes no stretch of the imagination to guess that he is solidly behind Obama…the weird thing is my niece and I are leaning that way as well…

2008-10-27T17:58:00.000-04:00

I’m an idiot…been called that, many times…I love Chinese cooking…the best place in town for lunch is just a brisk 1 mile walk away…and I’ve ignored it for years…

Basically just a “hole-in-the –wall” spot. Just off Public Square…if they didn’t do Chinese food…I’d call it a diner…or the highest compliment I can pay…”A greasy spoon”…maybe a very old and archaic term…for a place that does good food right…at a fair price…not actually an insult…actually a compliment…

2008-10-16T19:31:00.001-04:00

The presiding post gave me fits…probably my fault…I pre-write all my posts in MS Word…and then copy and paste to Blogger…but I don’t use IE I use Mozilla and an ancient copy of it…sometime things get…well messed up…(frankly I was trying to use the Yiddish word… for messed up but can’t remember the spelling…actually have never seen it spelled and spell check apparently doesn’t include a Yiddish dictionary}

2008-10-16T19:20:00.003-04:00

Don’t know what has attracted me to the reality show “Project Runway”…my idea of fashion is black turtle neck, a black bulky sweater, black pants and an ancient pair of worn out black leather moccasins…(socks are optional)…

Maybe I’m intrigued by the skill and vision…on the other hand it was not uncommon when I was a child to have a “boy doll”…and I actually tried from time to time to make clothes for it…total disaster…no skill…two left thumbs…the respect for those who can do what I tried to do and failed…catastrophically…maybe one reason…on the other hand I’ve been told by pro photographers that I have an amazing “eye” for perspective and composition…or maybe it just might be that I love games of skill…

This past season I was immediately attracted not only to the obvious skill set but to the “What the hey is the geek girl Leanne doing on the show?” Okay…I admit I’ve always been attracted to “geek गर्ल". If I saw her walking down the street I would assume she was a librarian, kindergarten teacher, or rocket scientist…the last think I would guess was fashion design…no that’s not true that would be the second to the last thing I would guess…stripper would be the last thing…okay third to the last thing…defiantly not a “trophy wife”.

Of all five seasons I thought the 3 final collections where in total the best finals ever…anyone one of the three could have won…and in a sense they all did…the real prize of “Project Runway” is not the car or the money or the title…the real prize is showing at fashion week…

But to be honest I’m a reality show junkie….

Congrats Leanne

2008-10-10T23:40:00.001-04:00

I have finally realized after almost 6 years of blogging and over 2300 postings an inherent flaw in this concept…if I was writing a book you would start reading this at page one chapter one…and hopefully what followed would make sense…

And I could arrange it that way but then you would have to get past 100’s of pages to get to the current entry…

But I realize that sometimes the current entry only makes sense if you’ve read the last post…or 3 posts ago…or …

2008-10-10T23:30:00.002-04:00

Was checking mysitemeter and saw a hit(s) from Louth Ireland…check this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Louth

2008-10-10T23:12:00.001-04:00

I’m not a huge baseball fan…but I have watched bits and pieces of the current playoffs…and I can’t help but reflect on the fact that baseball has not yet resolved it’s differences with modern accepted verbiage…they still use terms like errors, pass balls, wild pitches…and balks…some one seriously needs to inform baseball that we live in a more positive, supportive time…oh and the worst of the lot is the strike out…please…we need some word smith to soften these terms and make them more acceptable to the current usage of the English language…(The Mad one removes his tongue from his cheek)

2008-10-10T19:27:00.002-04:00

I’ve discovered an interesting thing…given thought not a big surprise but interesting none the less…from time to time I get a “need” for pickled herring…been a few years since I’ve either thought about it …or spotted it in my local grocery store…the last time I had it cat Aggie was the Omega cat in three…rarely was allowed access to me by the other two…both of which turned up their noses at said snack…this time although still in many ways an Omega cat…Aggie is now also the Alpha cat…one of one…I think she may have eaten more of the jar of herring then I did…not to mention her love of sardines in mustard sauce…

2008-09-05T19:47:00.001-04:00

The world I grew up in is not the world that now is…(pardon a baby boomer’s complaint)…it was the world of supersonic flight…of the Korean War…of Ike and JFK and the Cuban missile crisis…and 2K$ new cars…forgive if I struggle to understand the world as it is now…

2008-09-05T17:14:00.001-04:00

I must be honest at this point…because when all is revealed I might be considered a “little league parent”…you would be wrong but I will give the facts and it is what it is…

I exposed my D to every sport that there was…and also to the world of miniature war gaming and all of the above…mind you she was excellent and feared in the local group at 7 or 8…

But there was only one consuming passion in her life…and that was music…what a surprise… her mom was a piano/organist and her dad…(that’s me) was a classical choral high tenor…amateur but not bad…from 9 or 10 her only goal was to be a musician…I frankly would have preferred for her to explore her gift in military tactics or polysci…but I wasn’t a “little league parent” it was her life not mine…and I did everything I could to help her achieve her goals not mine…a couple of high profile summer camps and she got a DI academic full ride…and now teaches instrumental music …not what I wanted but what she wanted…have I made my point…

2008-09-05T16:38:00.005-04:00

With reference and apologies to the Watertown crew…and some very good and old friends from that group…they where more my brothers home boys then mine…I was 18 when my family made the move from Alden to Watertown (my brother was only 8)…I spent the next 40 out of 72 months away at 2 different colleges…but then 40 out of 510 months in Watertown…of the 729 months of my life well you do the math…

As much as I am apart of where I am now…I am still more apart of where I grew up….

When I was about 4 my family left a suburban Buffalo and moved about 15 miles to the east to the Town of Alden…a weird genetic mix of German/Polish farm kids and Eastern European Factory kids…. (Mostly but not totally Polish)…

I was watching I’m not smarter then a 5^th Grader a week or so ago and one of the class was shocked because a contestant mentioned having a pocket knife in school…different era, different time…in my school…entered K in September of ’53…and left as a senior in June of ’66…if you had checked the pocket/purse/book bag (sorry backpacks were unknown)…90% probably had a pocket knife in them…and that included the girls…it was a tool…we never even imagined your Tom Mix as a weapon…

The drag races on our 100+ foot drive way…with several classes…the off-road races on course mowed thru the fields…the field car races…the building of “forts” out of spare lumber…the building of the jump for sleds et al down by the local creek…soccer, football, baseball, wiffle ball in any of a number of front, side or back yards…

To return to the above mention pocket knife theme…in the closet or some where in the room of most of the kids I knew…girls and boys was a .22 caliber rifle…not for shooting our classmates but for shooting targets…groundhogs and other vermin…a friend held the local record for shooting crows out of his dad’s corn fields…where I grew up knifes and guns were tools…not weapons…and half of the best high school rifle team in Eire county were girls…different time…different वलुएस...

I remember the Z girls of a family…a farm family 3 girls one guy…but it was the girls who accepted the farm life…all three were great kids…but the farm life was what they knew and they accepted that…

I remember one pickup tackle football game …4 on 4 where I was the captain and my 3 picks where the Z girls…the result while incomprehensible to others was a forgone conclusion to me…

2008-09-05T15:22:00.001-04:00

(the below was Email response to some old friends that I played street games with 100 years ago…well maybe it was only 40 +/- years ago but I’m old and get confused from time to time)

Even 10 or so years ago if you drove by a vacant lot or play ground in Watertown you'd see kids playing a recognizable game or one they had invented…। like our games of rubber ball or remember wall ball…or the one time I taught you guys speedball…(if all don't remember it was a cross between rugby and ultimate Frisbee…) and none of you remember the drag races with bikes and the road course for kid powered wheeled things we had but that is part of the Alden Mythology...

Don't see that now…

I see two main reasons…

Video games and "little league parents"

Will not comment on the first only the last…

The value in dollars of a DI scholarship or a pro contract and too many parents salivate…

It's only "organized sport and high bucks summer camps"…playground and street sports…"Damn it why did you do that…you could have hurt yourself"…not really thinking about the kid's health or happiness but at the potential bucks…

When I was a kid…sports/games…you played for the fun…for the "high" you got…some of you probably thought that the miles I ran per week was nuts…I have one word for you…endorphins…

2008-09-02T23:58:00.001-04:00

I guess it was dumb luck…or maybe fate but I turned on my TV just as CNN was covering the Lieberman speech at the Republican Convention…(my cable defaults to CNN…not my first choice)

A good speech (IMHO)…and significant from the stand point of the fact that this was the Dems 2000 VP candidate…who was endorsing the Repub’s 2008 ticket…the first comment was from a member of the 2000 election staff on the Dems side…who trashed the speech…(MT is totally shocked…(hehe))…dang…news reporting is at least in theory supposed to be independent without opinion…to report the news without bias and let the listener decide…yah right…(okay so lets face it I’m a troll trying to live in a human world, and quite frankly I’d rather live with my cat then with most of the people I know)if you ask me what is the single most pressing problem in the US of A today…I’d say that it’s news programs who have stopped reporting the facts and are more concerned with convincing us of their opinions of the facts…

2008-07-28T16:53:00.001-04:00

I watched the FNC “Next Food Network Star” last night with well not that much excitement, realizing that the winner, who ever it was, was a one and out…in 4 previous years, all but one winner has been a one show and out…and when I saw the first show of this cycle my thought was…here we go again…

Watched the flick on cable…”Dances with Wolves” today…again…KK was his usually almost acceptable self in the title role, just don’t get why he’s a “star”….but several of the other actors where top notch…

2008-07-23T23:52:00.000-04:00

I guess it’s a generational thing, but I just don’t get the “humor” (for lack of a better term) of Mike Myers…just too obvious…just too over the top…I mean I get the reference…but just don’t find it even abit funny…

2008-07-13T20:21:00.001-04:00

I was confused by Obama’s comment that our children should learn Spanish. Actually the way the world is going Arabic or Farsi might be a better choice, or Japanese. But that’s just me…frankly I’ve always considered English to be a foreign language, at least the grammar and spelling of said tongue. Thank you very much…BG et al for spell check.

I was further confused that only 30 of the 50 states have passed legislation making English the official language. I would have thought that after 200+ years the point was moot and we didn’t need laws to confirm what was obvious.

2008-07-12T23:58:00.005-04:00

Check my sitemeter and I’ve finally hit 10000 hits, after almost 6 years that’s pathetic I know…not really a milestone…more a “Burma Shave” sign. And if you’re old enough to remember what I’m talking अबाउट condolences

2008-07-12T23:51:00.000-04:00

I realize that this is an old bitch, vent, compliant on my part, but why do literally most web sites assume that I run IE and therefore have access to flash player or java script…do I have a computer that runs MS op system…yes…do I have IE…yes…do I use IE…no…I love tabs…IE ain’t got ‘um

2008-06-30T23:22:00.001-04:00

I’m way past tired tonight…if someone out there can given me a definition or a word that describes “way past tired”…other them the obvious…then my claps and high fives are upon you…

The fact that sleep should be upon me is obvious…on the other hand my min d…or what’s left of it at 60+ years has not as yet shut down …nor is it likely to do such any time soon…there are times that I really hate my intellect…

2008-06-30T20:46:00.002-04:00

Been watching the “Next Food Network Star” on FNC…frankly…they (that is FNC) shot a blank this time…none of what’s left…or none that started…no star…on the other hand…new show on Sunday morning with Ann B…”Secrets of a Restaurant Chef”…what a rush…she was an assistant to MB on many shows of “Iron Chef America”…very animated…and I learned a trick I didn’t know…and a technique as well…+

2008-06-24T21:58:00.001-04:00

On one hand it really doesn’t matter who I vote for in the upcoming presidential elections…because of the electoral college my state casts all it’s votes for the majority…and because the majority here is Dem…and most of them would vote for their candidate if Slappy The Duck was running it makes no sense…but to be fair the Repub states are just as bad…it’s time we got rid of the college and went to popular vote…Al Gore I think would agree…

2008-06-24T21:49:00.001-04:00

Been awhile since I’ve posted…many things have conspired against me…so what’s new…life is what life is and anyone who thinks it’s easy and smooth is an idiot…idiot was my dad’s favorite word to deal with anyone one who didn’t come up to his standard…heard it so often that it lost it’s effect…but another story that will not be told here…at least not this time…

2008-06-09T22:53:00.001-04:00

The presidential campaign is what it is. As usual 2 bad choices. Neither candidate is whom I would choose to put in that role. So am I surprised…think again. I have voted for president 9 times this will be the 10^th…never have I made a positive vote…I have never voted for a candidate…have always voted against the other guy…sad but true…but this one time …holds promise…not that I agree with Obama…but maybe he can shake things up…but if he choice for VP is the obvious…Ms. C forget about it…

2008-06-09T22:06:00.001-04:00

The reports of my demise are false. Just an introspective period. Or rather maybe a question mark.

2008-05-02T00:41:00.001-04:00

It’s been a tough several days, I’ve got things I must do but not the resolve or physical ability to do them…can’t decide which of the elements is letting me down…

2008-04-14T18:50:00.000-04:00

I’m doing something I haven’t done in a long time…I’m actually doing a little web-surfing tonight…and the one thing I really hate is there are tons of sights that ignore the fact that I may not choose to run IE and therefore do not have flashplayer…

2008-04-14T18:43:00.001-04:00

With apologies to Danica…if you really want to see pics of the best looking lady in American racing …google Ashley Force who runs funny cars in NHRA…(the dirty old man that is trollie runs away giggling)

2008-04-10T03:19:00.001-04:00

I find myself at a seminal point, a crossroads if you will…and I’m so conflicted…trying to decide between what I think I need to do and wondering if I still have the …”heart” for it…whether the effort and the results are worth the grief…I find myself at a seminal point, a crossroads if you will…and I’m so conflicted…trying to decide between what I think I need to do and wondering if I still have the …”heart” for it…whether the effort and the results are worth the grief…

2008-04-08T22:38:00.001-04:00

I am at one of those seminal points in my life, I known that I must say and do what I must do…I know that it will not be accepted…I know that once said I must leave a place that I have gotten accustomed to…a generally happy place with peeps I love…except one…I struggle with the obvious…do I man up and do what must be done…or do I put up with a situation that is becoming more then I can stand…the problem is, and this is the real point is where do I go from here…where do I find a place where my “talents” will be respected and used…I realize that the above may seem a tad arrogant…I accept that…I do have certain talents…years of study…GD given abilities that seem to be in question…do I endure or do I speak…I am at one of those seminal points in my life, I known that I must say and do what I must do…I know that it will not be accepted…I know that once said I must leave a place that I have gotten accustomed to…a generally happy place with peeps I love…except one…I struggle with the obvious…do I man up and do what must be done…or do I put up with a situation that is becoming more then I can stand…the problem is, and this is the real point is where do I go from here…where do I find a place where my “talents” will be respected and used…I realize that the above may seem a tad arrogant…I accept that…I do have certain talents…years of study…GD given abilities that seem to be in question…do I endure or do I speak…

2008-04-06T22:49:00.001-04:00

It seems that I am or rather has passed the time where I am relevant…I look at the current presidential candidates with an attitude of where did they come from…the thing that annoys me is I’ve never cast a positive vote in presidential elections…never in 9 going on 10…and this one will not change the deal…

The real question is am I totally weird and totally unplugged from any relevant understanding of what America needs …or are the candidates…

Remember I’m arrogant as one can be (hehe)

2008-04-06T22:26:00.001-04:00

The worship team at my church has a standing deal, if a former member is back in the area for what ever reason and wants so sing with us on a Sunday…they sing…JW was on TD to Fort Drum for a few days and was in service with us and it was like he never left…okay not the best voice I’ve ever heard…but the dude knows to sing praise songs and how to worship…and 2 out 3 is all I need…

2008-04-04T01:13:00.001-04:00

I’m a sucker for reality TV shows (pathetic but oh well), at least the competitive ones…except for the ones that America votes…because in generally those votes really have nothing to do with who’s best at the skill but rather who you’d like to…well…be with…

Despite the above I’ve been watching the Bravo-TV show “Make me a supermodel”…and was completely annoyed that Shannon didn’t make it to the finals…what was America thinking…Holly, Ronnie, Ben and Jerry (oops) Perry not Jerry…

The way the vote has been going I thought Holly had no chance…even though it should have been obvious she had everything it took to be very good…(well except for her voice but that’s why there are voice coaches)

Holly actually won…but frankly I still have no respect for “America votes show”…I think it was 3 against one and the boys votes were so split that the right person won…

As an aside to Bravo TV…not everyone in the world runs IE…you really need to retool your website so those of us who don’t…don’t have to run that accursed browser just to access everything on your site…

2008-04-03T00:17:00.001-04:00

2008-03-28T23:47:00.001-04:00

I love open-wheel racing…the battle between Cart and Indy Racing League…well shouldn’t have happened…two sides that fought …and basically screwed open-wheel for maybe ever…0h well…

2008-03-22T20:56:00.003-04:00

Easter is on one hand “THE” holiday of the Christian Church…but on the partical side…we generally have 480 attendees for Sunday worship in an area that seats 225…works because the kids are else whereas in the building. But we are accepting 600 for Easter Sunday…do the math…we are doing 3 not the usual 2 services…but as worship team is in all three…that means a long day and stress on an old voice I’ll not sure it will stand…

2008-03-19T19:16:00.000-04:00

Weather wise it was it was one of those very strange March or April days here in the old NorthCountry…not really winter (at least by local standards) but not Spring by a long toke. Had lunch with an old friend…past observation is based on A) I’ve known him for 42 years this summer…and B) his age…

I worked for him for many years…check that although he was the boss I worked with him for several years…a good friend of many years and a nice oriental lunch, and he paid…doesn’t get better then that…

2008-03-14T01:35:00.000-04:00

I’m confused…not a strange situation for me…actually normal deal…but I digress…

The governor of my state took a powder…got caught spending time with a call girl…are we appalled…no…are we offended…no…are we even mildly disturbed…no…the unwashed masses tend to elect alpha males…so why should we be disturbed when they act as alpha males…

2008-03-14T01:08:00.000-04:00

What going on…I seem to be thinking about this slag heap…and being well…desidi8ng to post again…maybe not…(hehe)What going on…

2008-03-12T03:42:00.000-04:00

Twas’ a nice day, a gentile late winter day, lunch at my fav oriental buffet…my cat aggie is a weird one…I sometimes wonder if she may be a dog in cat disguise…her fav snack is beef jerky

2008-03-05T02:12:00.000-05:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted…been an easy winter here based on historical norms…would be a 100 year winter in many areas but actually a gentile one for the old NorthCountry…

2008-02-03T22:43:00.001-05:00

Not been the best days of my life. Screwed up the transmission on my car, can’t get the lever out of park. And then the Giants win the super bowl, will probably here that from friend Rich for at least the next year…

2008-01-31T22:28:00.000-05:00

Okay so I freely admit that I made a mistake, I broke the law, I forgot to check the date on my car inspection, and was over due. I got pulled over by a state cop, within the confines of the Town of Watertown (Town of Watertown has no police force). So I go to my court date, spend 3 minutes with the judge and his clerk. Got fined the minimum fine which was 25$…(note: fine goes to the state). But also got charged 55$ in court fees…?????????????????????????????????????

2008-01-18T22:07:00.001-05:00

Don’t get me wrong…personally I am not a raciest…but I do understand that even today that racial “barriers” exist…I love reality TV I rarely pick the winner…my fav has won like 2 out of … but I contend that given the industry that the winner is put into “America’s Next Top Model” is bias/raciest…(the mad one prepares for the hate mail)…6 of 9 winners have been either…black/mixed black/or latino…

Look at who is walking major runways or major mags

…Look I understand what Tyra …etal…is trying to do…but then at least be honest and call it “America’s Next Great Ethnic Model”…

don’t misunderstand…I accept the fact the fashion industry is bias…but to call it one thing when it isn’t…isn’t right…

2008-01-10T22:26:00.000-05:00

Hate me if you will…disagree if you must…but after watching ever cycle of “American’s next top model” more then once my opinion is that the show is racist…6 of the 9 winners where black/mixed race/ethnic…look at the ladies on runways or in mags…I understand what the show is trying to do…but rename it as “America’s next ethnic model” Tyra I know what changes you are trying to make…but be honest and don’t select a white bread girl you will send home and not let win…

2008-01-09T15:21:00.001-05:00

In the wake of the passing of cat Smokey, I’m seeing a new side of the last cat “standing”. Aggie was always the “odd” cat out. And I’m now seeing that maybe she was always at her best as an only cat. I talked to my daughter last night and informed her of Smokey’s passing, her comment was when are you going to get Aggie a new “sister”. At this point I don’t think I will.

2008-01-09T02:28:00.001-05:00

The last few days have been very difficult…emotionally…despite my best efforts one of my cats…Smokey…an indoor cat for most of her almost 19 years…slipped outside…and I missed it…I found her today (well technically yesterday)…under a yaw tree…R.I.P. you old girl…I will miss you…

2008-01-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

'twas a wierd day...i lost a friend...???

2008-01-01T01:16:00.001-05:00

The relativity of time has always confused me. Technically it is already Tuesday January IST 2008…but since I’m still up from yesterday I don’t feel the arbitrary change of day and year that I’m expected to perceiveThe relativity of time has always confused me. Technically it is already Tuesday January IST 2008…but since I’m still up from yesterday I don’t feel the arbitrary change of day and year that I’m expected to perceiveThe relativity of time has always confused me. Technically it is already Tuesday January IST 2008…but since I’m still up from yesterday I don’t feel the arbitrary change of day and year that I’m expected to perceive

2007-12-22T23:27:00.000-05:00

So the Christmas thing seems to be set…depending on how I feel and what the weather is…my Sis’s on the 24^th for brunch with all of the family that can get there…about 8 blocks away can walk if I must…lunch at my daughter’s on the 25^th…(3 blocks if I must walk)…and then maybe dinner at my brother’s…they are serving lamb…but if the weather is bad a very nasty run over Champion Hill…hope the weather is nice…

2007-12-22T23:14:00.000-05:00

I have discovered that cat Smokey and I have a common vice…we both love sardines in mustard sauce. One difference is I like mine on crackers and she likes them straight out of the can. Is there a chemical in sardines that A: causes a cat to lick their bodies for 5 minutes straight…and then causes them to go to sleep on your lap and snore for the better part of an hour. At least that’s what I assume from my observations.

Got a call and talked for over an hour last night from my Uncle Roy…except for one Uncle through marriage the last of the remaining family from the last generation…he was a CO during WWII…but served on a hospital ship…one thing I never knew …all of the hospital ships in WWII (and maybe now…just don’t know)…were named after military nurses who died in service…

2007-11-30T17:32:00.000-05:00

Been an odd day weather wise here, light snow, followed by bright skies…followed by overcast, followed by light snow and heavy winds…so just after dark I looked out to see near whiteout conditions…very little snow but major wind…as I’m looking out my front window I realize that my lawn furniture is still in the front yard. (NOTE TO SELF: since it’s highly unlike that you will be using said lawn furniture any time soon…’tis probably a good idea to store it in the garage for winter).

2007-11-29T19:18:00.001-05:00

My fav game is Stronghold Crusader but tonight the AI allies are irritating me beyond belief…ask for supplies but if you if you don’t have the room to accept…why ask…I create to supply my AI allies but if I do that I have the right to assume…check that…maybe I don’t…I’m am troll…you are something that a computer geek has created…why do I assume that the geek was as good of a war gamer as me…MT hits him self with a whip…the game creator duds…or dudettes…understand code better then I do…but tactics in war games…I think not…

2007-11-27T23:07:00.001-05:00

Okay so I know technically it ain’t winter yet…about 3+ weeks away…but if you live in the what the locals call the North Country of upstate NY…winter comes when winter comes…we got one of the weird storms today that I’ve never seen anyway but here…we had a thunder and lightning snow storm…just of dusting of snow but thunder and lightning to accompany it…

2007-11-25T22:23:00.000-05:00

Today was a day that was a good day, one that went quite well with some interesting twists…my commitment to church went find…and went to my fav Sunday lunch spot…a Chinese buffet…about halfway through my meal my bro, his wife and 2/3 of their kids came in so I finish the last part of my meal with them…they were going to Albany today to return middle child to college and son to train to NYC…just hung out the rest of the day and watched some tube…reruns of “I want to be a high school cheerleader again”…pathetic I know but finally my fav won, watch some of the local coverage of the NYS high school football championships and two section III teams won ….(local area)…and watched the Iron chef America holiday contest and although closer then I’d thought it was Paula/Cat…won…but to see Cat’s helper Cori Lynn…dressed as an Elf…at 9’ tall and 700 lbs I admit was a little weird…( okay she’s not quite that big).

2007-11-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

A strange day…most of which went better then it should have…but near the end reality set in and I was reminded that even on special days…sh*t happens…

2007-11-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

So the Thanksgiving thing is now set…Daughter’s for a 1PM thing…wander off for dessert at my Sis’s…to visit nephew and his lady and assorted other relatives…wander off for a turkey sandwich with my friends when ever…(the mad one looks at his bod in a mirror and wonders what he will look like 20 lbs. heavier)

2007-11-19T20:18:00.001-05:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the US of A…read harvest festival…and I have 3 invites for meals that I can’t refuse…Thanksgiving is all about family and friends…the days surrounding it are the highest volume travel days in the US of A…everyone tries to get “home”…I’ve been invited to my daughter’s at 1 PM…to my sis’s …well she hasn’t decided yet but since my nephew and his lady will be home I need to get there even if it’s just for dessert…and then got a call from my best bud in the hood…he and his lady are making a feast…and need to stop there late even if it’s a bit of turkey and some dressing between two slices of bread…and a beer…

The days are turning cold here…pre-winter is upon us…

I have a love hate relationship with my hometown…I love March though early November, and hate late November thought February…Winter in upstate NYS sucks…

2007-11-12T21:37:00.000-05:00

Fall is definitely upon us here in the Northcountry…actually late fall…colors are long gone and all we have left is a few leaves on the trees…been less then warm the last week…but I love this time of year…fall has always been my fav season…

2007-11-02T01:15:00.001-04:00

I’m getting old…and forgetful…4 ago marked the 5^th year of this blog…and I didn’t even buy it a card…

2007-11-02T01:11:00.001-04:00

Today was not a half bad day…got some disturbing mail but have time and the resources to respond…a couple of nice walks…chat with friends both real and “virtual”…and my fav supper…a little sausage…a little cheese…and a little fruit…fruit being a nice Asian pear…and cat Smokey enjoyed the fine Fontinella cheese as much if not more then I did…and pound for pound she ate more then I did….

It turned a tad cold today…but then it is the first of November…and this is the northcountry…and October has been rather unseasonably warm…

I avoid All Hallow’s Eve …if you were me won’t you…(no explanation given…but speculate)

2007-10-21T22:34:00.001-04:00

MTV showed a marathon of so you can think you can dance cycle 2 this weekend…a guy won…what a surprise…if you looked at the live audience they were 80% teeny bobber females…the female dancers were the best…but then I am the mad one…I am the trollie…I am the dirty old man…not to cast stones but if they got to know most male dancers…I’m not going to go there…

Benji the guy who “: won”… a definite one note…damn it…why do I watch “reality” TV…. the peep that should win almost never does…accepts for Carrdee…

2007-10-20T23:09:00.000-04:00

I love reality TV…okay I admit a huge personally fault…but there it is…but I find of all of the show America’s Next Top Model is racist…if you watch all of the cycles when two equals find themselves in the final two the white bread loses most of the time…get all the shows on DvD and tell me I’m wrong…

2007-10-19T20:17:00.001-04:00

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve lived in Watertown for 41+ years at this point…and 99.9% of the time I love Watertown…but for about 2 minutes tonight I hate Watertown.

I was in my front yard…a nice GyV cigar…I nice VSOP cognac…out of the corner of my I thought I saw one of the neighbor hood cats wander up my front sidewalk.

Oops…black and white…big fluffy tail…skunk…

Whether it was the scent of the cognac or the scent of the cigar…the skunk wandered off without leaving any of its scent.

2007-10-17T23:05:00.001-04:00

I’m quickly approaching my 5^th year of blogging…it has both been a great benefit and a huge lose…but by in large…

2007-10-17T22:55:00.000-04:00

The day is what it is, I have friends in crisis…still haven’t got both sides…I hate it when I’m caught between two friends…

2007-10-15T19:24:00.000-04:00

Not a good day…two of my best friends split up…only have heard one side of the story…???…A daughter of a couple I respect openly smoked a reefer in front of me…GD…what do I do…

2007-10-06T22:15:00.001-04:00

Today, not sure how I need to process all the information…talked to a bunch of old friends…with one exception…all positive…but one piece of information…was frankly more then I wanted to hear…made me very sad…and just can’t process it…one of those deals where I want to react in a positive way…and don’t know how…