Cortland and Groton

There is nothing more "wintry" than sitting in front of a roaring fire, coffee in hand and enjoying the peace of a Saturday morning.  Sadly, here is ski country, there is NO SNOW.  It snowed almost all the way here but stopped about 20 miles from Cortland.  Who would have thought?

Book Discussion for November

Welcome to the childhood of Catherine McClure Gildiner. It is the mid-1950s in Lewiston, New York, a sleepy town near Niagara Falls. Divorce is unheard of, mothers wear high heels to the beauty salon, and television has only just arrived.
At the tender age of four, Cathy accompanies Roy, the deliveryman at her father's pharmacy, on his routes. She shares some of their memorable deliveries-sleeping pills to Marilyn Monroe (in town filming Niagara), sedatives to Mad Bear, a violent Tuscarora chief, and fungus cream to Warty, the gentle operator of the town dump. As she reaches her teenage years, Cathy's irrepressible spirit spurs her from dangerous sled rides that take her "too close to the Falls" to tipsy dances with the town priest. http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780142000403,00.html

This is a fun book. I can't wait to hear what the others think.

York Day 2

"From a spectator point of view, horseshoes is like watching paint dry", so said a pitcher from Columbia, PA. 
There were three of us sitting at a table at the Horseshoe Pitchers' Pro Tour.  One lady, knitting a complicated looking scarf http://www.michaels.com/Knit-Ruffle-Scarf/32001,default,pd.html?start=14&cgid=projects-yarnandneedlecrafts-allknit while her husband pitched in his round.  The young man from Columbia who was waiting for his round to come up and myself.
Getting spectators, other than those closely affiliated with the sport, seems to be a daunting task.  Several other events were underway at the Expo center today.  A home show; a doll show; a Christmas tree sale (?) and the pro tour.  While the pro tour event seemed to have a lot of people, the truth is that everyone there was associated with the sport.  Drawing folks from outside that close knit circle is a job that our committee will have to undertake for the 2014 Worlds. 
One of the nice things about traveling is trying new restaurants.  The Reliance Cafe was the find of the day.  Not only was breakfast enjoyed there, but there was a return trip there for dinner.  http://www.reliancecafe.com/about-us.html

York, Day 1

York, Day 1
Found out that the event venue is at Memorial Hall at the site of the Pennsylvania State Fair.  http://www.yorkexpo.com/mem_hall.html  It is just a few blocks from the hotel.  History galore on the way there, if only a few blocks.  The colonial complex is easy to spot.  http://www.yorkheritage.org/page.asp?id=5
Lunch at The Cove http://www.thecoveyork.com/home.aspa relatively new bar/restaurant well worth the stop.  I had crab legs...perfect.
Then explored Lancaster Co., and because of a slip in directions, even part of Chester Co. (almost to where I lived and worked).  Back on track, through Lancaster Co, and a great dinner at the Family Cupboard Restaurant and Buffet.  Since I've already been to Plain and Fancy; Good and Plenty and Miller's, this sounded like a new experience.  It wasn't a disappointment.  Judging from the way the restaurant filled throughout the evening, others seem to agree.
Starting in the early 60s, our family visited this area many times.  Each time we enjoyed the hospitality of the Stolfus family at their Travelers' Rest Motel.  I was thrilled to see that it is still there, now owned by two Smucker Brothers.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g52882-d611070-Reviews-Travelers_Rest_Motel-Intercourse_Lancaster_County_Pennsylvania.html
I did receive a few phone calls from friends telling me about the snow swirling around.  Hopefully that will be all gone before I leave on Sunday.

Colder Weather is Coming

I'm sitting at Coffee Culture and noticed that their fireplace is lit.  The weatherman says it will dip below freezing either tonight or tomorrow night.  I guess it is 'tis the season'.
A group of us watched the PBS News Hour last night to catch a glimpse of Kathy Hochul speaking before a group from the Towers.  It is always nice to have her visit, and quite a surprise when she showed up with a camera crew. 
I've been exceptionally busy these last few weeks.  I've decided to run for President of our Council (the election is the Monday before our general election).  I'm trying to finish "To Kill a Mocking Bird", our book discussion selection for October.  I've never read the book and I haven't seen the movie, so it is all new to me.  I'll admit I got sidetracked with two excellent historical novels about the War of the Roses.
Two weekends ago, I attended the Farm to Table dinner at 7 Springs Country Club.  The weather was perfect for that "in the woods" type atmosphere one wants for an event like that. 
Last weekend, I was a guest at the LeRoy Horseshoe Club's end of year dinner at the Red Osier.  The food was fantastic.  The next day,  was a three hour trip east to Groton for a tournament and another great meal at a German restaurant in Weedsport.  Sunday, a two hour trip south for an international Thanksgiving day with Canadian friends. 
This weekend will be quiet.  I have plans to just clean and read.  It is time to dial it down for a few days.
Then it is up and running again.  The newsletter's deadline; lunch with the 60's gals;  and the annual poll coordinator training are all next week.  The following week is the appreciation luncheon for my volunteers.  Then....it is the first of November and I'll be off for York PA for a long weekend.
It is wonderful to have people one can count on for help.  I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Pat Burke for the pizzas and Loren Penman for the case of water they brought for Kathy's visit.  Both offerings were so very much appreciated.

Knoxville Trip Winding Down

Our two week adventure is coming to an end. Today, Bob played score keeper and I spent that time checking in with friends back home. Tomorrow, we reverse roles and on Saturday we will both be score keepers for the finals.

Bob ended his competition on Wednesday night. He finished tenth in his class. I think it was a great showing considering this is his first world tournament.

After Bob finished his score keeping duties we decided to take the free Knoxville trolley to Market Square for lunch. This is our third visit to the Downtown Brewery http://www.downtownbrewery.com/index.html and it hasn't disappointed us. Just as we were leaving the restaurant the sky opened and the rain came pouring down. It wasn't a gentle rain, but a true deluge. Umbrella in hand, we tried to make it to the trolley stop, but it was apparent that the only thing we accomplished was getting very, very wet. The stop is in front of Mast General Store, so the obvious thing was to step inside the store until the trolley arrived.

Mast General Store http://mastgeneralstore.com is a story unto itself. It has everything one could imagine, including a bulk candy section that boasts over 500 varieties, We were there yesterday. I found my licorice and Bob found his chocolate. A sugar high for both of us. We were too wet to think of going back to the candy department again. What we did do was abandon any plans we had for the afternoon. We went back to the motel, changed into dry clothes and then out and out crashed. We finally decided to order out for dinner. I think we both needed time to rest and regroup.

In the scope of things the world of horseshoes is very small Yet, 1200 pitchers and their family and friends still make an economic impact on the host city. It seemed that no matter where we went, we ran into people from the tournament. Restaurants, stores, gas stations and even at the local laundromat. There were times when I would forget I was seven hundred miles away from home when I ran into people we see at every local tournament.

Something that makes me smile is the genuine appreciation from the people for whom I kept score. I'd run into them and I'd hear, “Hey, Miss Bea”. How often would I expect to be called by name in a city as large as Knoxville?

I really wish we had another week just to explore the area, but it is time to get back to the reality of everyday life.  The day planner for the week we arrive home is already filling up. 

Sometimes it pays to be the last one in.

Last night we were scheduled to be at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame to attend the NHPA's Hall of Fame Banquet.  As usual, we were running late.  The facility had tables set up on the main level balcony and a lower level.  We found friends sitting at the very last table and joined them.
Sharon and Starry are from the Tri County club in Groton; Dale and his wife, Lee, come to Groton from their home in Pennsylvania.  No one else joined the six of us at that table.
The buffet was served on the balcony which meant either climbing the stairs or taking the elevator.  I opted for the elevator.  Our table was the last served. 

We sat right by this sculpture - very cool

Later in the evening, each table put money in a pot for a 50/50 drawing.  A table number would be called and the people at that table would share the winnings.  Sharon (pictured above) drew #24 as our table number.  Imagine our surprise and delight when it was called and the six of us shared $367.
All of the other tables had 10, our table of 6 made out quite well.
Starry also won the door prize, the centerpiece plant.
Today we start a new routine.  Instead of scorekeeping early in the morning (yes, it means showering at 4:30am) Bob will scorekeep at 1pm and I will do the 7pm. for Mon, Tues and Wed. while Bob is pitching.  I still woke up early, had my coffee and then crawled back into bed for a few more hours.  It was a luxury to take a shower at 9am.  Another luxury was breakfast at IHOP, across the street from the motel, and not feel rushed.

Buffalo Wins the 2014 Horseshoe World Tournament

The vote is in!
Buffalo will host the 2014 Horseshoe World Tournament at the Erie County Fairgrounds and Event Center, July 14 to July 26.
What swayed the vote to Buffalo instead of West Virginia or Wausau Wisc. ? 
Most likely it is the on site parking; the on site camping; and the casino.  To top it all, it has to be the proximity to Niagara Falls and the other attractions that make up our Western New York.
This means a lot of work for those of us on the committee and a trip, next year to St. George, Utah where we will staff a table giving pitchers and their families all of the information about WNY.
So, now we can relax for most of today.
Tonight we'll be at a banquet and tomorrow is when Bob starts his three day adventure to winning his class at his first world championship.
So, taking pictures of people falling over the falls paid off.  People loved the pictures and the wing sauce.
The competition was tough (casino chorus girls isn't easy to top).
As plans progress, you'll hear about it here.  Naturally, the public is invited and I hope many of you plan to stop in and catch the action.

While waiting for the vote.....

Bob hamming it up with one of the casino gals.   You never saw anyone zip into a buffalo suit as quick as he did in order to catch up with her and get his picture taken. 
Each city made their presentation this morning, Buffalo just finished.  Now it is voting and waiting time.
tick, tock, tick tock.

River boat dinner cruise - a great time in Knoxville

We were an international party of 11 on the river boat cruise.  Some from the U.S. and some from Canada...and only ONE who didn't have, what they consider in Knoxville, an accent.
The surprise was our waitress who is originally from Rochester.  Her dad moved them here when he took the early buy out from Kodak in the early 90s.  On our way to the landing, we stopped at a convenience store.  Bob stopped to talk to someone and come to find out she was from Rochester, too.  Small world.
Toughest part of the Buffalo 2014 campaign is convincing people from California that Buffalo isn't that far away.  I figure that there are enough people from NY who are going to Utah next year.  If the NY contingent can do it, those in the western states can certainly make the trip east.

Vote for Buffalo in 2014

As part of our promotion of the Erie Co. Event Center as THE place to be in 2014 we are inviting people to go over the falls in a barrel.  We've had loads of people stop by to get their picture including the people who are touting Wausau Wisc. and West Virginia for the 2014 bid. 
This is Bob battling the rapids. 
He'll be in the Buffalo suit again on Sat. and then at the meeting on Sunday (as Buffalo Bob) where he will hand out small bottles of Buffalo Wing Sauce to the delegates.

Knoxville Tidbits

We arrived in Knoxville on Saturday afternoon.  The weather is HOT! 
First things first, find the convention center.  That done, we looked around - registered for the tourney; and ran into a few New York friends.
When I was here for the World's Fair, this building wasn't here.  It is very impressive.
Settled into the room and did little more than soak in the cool air.
We're never lost, just visiting places that are new and exciting.
This should be Bob's motto.  I must say we have explored new ground - far off our beaten path.  Google maps are great for getting us back on track, even if it is only 10 minutes away.
Electronic score keeping is wonderful.
I can't say how much I love the electronic score boards.  It makes it so easy. 
Bringing the Worlds to Buffalo in 2014
This is the reason we are here.  We are talking up Western New York at every opportunity.  The table will be set up on Wednesday and then pictures will be up showing Bob, Diane and Ellie in their buffalo costumes.  I can't wait to see it.
We ran into a couple from Michigan this evening at supper at Applebees.  Great conversation and they had good things to say about our WNY area.  Let's hope that translate into a vote for us.
The real world beckons
Tomorrow, I'll be on a conference call with the BHA.  It is back to reality for a few hours.
So far, no phone calls about the shop.  That is good.
Sadly, we had bad news just before we left about a good friend's cancer diagnosis.  We are praying that we don't get that phone call anytime in the near future.
Is this trip worth it?
It is on many levels.
I'm glad we decided to go. 
More later

Headed for Knoxville

True to form, we didn't leave when originally planned.  To disspell the rumor, we are not on a 'honeymoon' as one of Bob's friend's suggested.
It is almost 10pm, we are near Painesville, Ohio.  Not sure how much longer we'll go tonight.
More later.

Weather, Farm Hands and other things....

The Weather Channel's models for the 'historic' April storm were a tad off.  We did get the snow but not the wind that would have made the beginning of the week miserable.
That said, the week did bring great surprises.
At our last book discussion we decided to extend our season by one more month to read Tom Rivers' "Farm Hand".   Tom is a local author and his book has generated interest for quite some time.  We will host Tom at our May discussion group.  It is always fun to have the author discuss the book.

 If you have followed our book selections, I recommend "Farm Hans".  Feel free to add your comments on my Facebook page.  Always great to hear what you think.

Tom Rivers

Tuesday, I was a poll coordinator for the Republican Primary.  The ladies with whom I had the pleasure of spending the day were delightful.  That is a good thing since the Republicans really weren't all that interested in coming out to vote.  

Participation was dismal, to say the least.  We had exactly 30 people come in.  That was a good showing and the only reason it was that good were the children!

The polling place was at a school that had a second grade event in the afternoon (parents stopped by and voted as an after thought)/  That evening, the school's PTA met and we picked up a few more.

Howard Owens,stopped in during the afternoon.  One place he stopped just before that had no one come in.  Later that evening, I learned that the site I was originally assigned only had two all day.   

The weather did postpone our Hot Dog Tuesday.   There was no way I would send our grill man out into the snow to grill hot dogs.  So, it is scheduled for Friday.  Hopefully, the hot dogs will go as fast as they did last Tuesday.  We started serving at 11:30am and we were sold out at 12:24pm.  If we can do that again then everything will be cleaned and put away before I leave mid Friday afternoon for the weekend.

The weather promises to be sunny but cool for Alan, the grill man.  The only SUNNY day predicted for the next few days.

Which brings me to the weekend weather.  Friday is supposed to be clear and dry.  Perfect travel weather.

Saturday will be cloudy and cool.  Deciding what to wear for an all day outdoor event is an exercise I hate.

My pile of warm clothes keeps growing as I listen to the forecasts.  

The first order of outdoor business is a meeting where I will give a presentation on fundraising.  I'll look like Nanook from the North in that outdoor pavilion.  After the day's activities there is a steak dinner (also at the outdoor pavilion) and after that another meeting for the project committee.  I hope that one will find itself in a warm cozy restaurant or even back to the hotel.  

Enough for now, I just remembered to look for my Alaska socks that will keep my toes very warm.  The pile just keeps growing.  

Birkerød

I only know of one person living in Denmark and I would imagine that this visitor to my site is also a visitor to Denmark.  So, for those interested in where Birkerød might be, here is some information.
Birkerød (ˈbiɐ̯ɡəʀøːˀð) is a town and was a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Frederiksborg County on the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 34 km², and had a total population of 21,930 (2005).

Tuesday, April 10 is Hot Dog Tuesday

Hot dog Tuesday....will have it's opening event beginning at 11:30am.
First and foremost, the weather isn't going to cooperate.  The prediction is for rain and snow.  SNOW!!!!
Can this be a double edged sword?
If the weather is snowy and cold it may dampen the urge to get a hot dog.
However, if the weather is snowy and cold, people may not want to go out and will grab a dog for lunch.

I'm still awake because I can't stop worrying that I've forgot something.
The hot dogs are in the fridge, ready for Alan to take out to the grill.
Rolls, bought.
Condiments, including freshly chopped onion,  are in the chiller.
The hot dog trays and napkins are on the counter
BBQ Fork and tongs are ready.
Slow Cooker is in the storage bin, ready to be used to keep the hot dogs warm after grilling.
Guest checks on the counter.
Something is missing.   I can't figure out what it is.

Work order put in for two tables to be placed outside The Snack Shop.  My dear friend, Martha, will dish out the hot dogs from those tables.
Customers will pay for their order in the shop and take their guest check to Martha, who will fill the order.
Martha can't read, so we had to go through a system that was easy for her to decipher in order to fill those orders.  I know she has it down pat.

By tomorrow night, I'll know what I forgot.
In the meantime, I have a feeling it is going to be a long, long night.

Root Beer Floats, Ice Cream, and Hot Dogs

Summer is coming and the shop is gearing up for a fun and busy season.  Today we started our ice cream special.

All ice cream products are at a discounted price for the month of April.  This promotion is always a winner.  There is no reason not to think that it won't be again this year.
The root beer and orange float promotion starts in April and will continue through the summer.  This is a gamble on my part.  The floats went well, last summer, when we ran The Summer Diner.

The question will be if we can transfer the interest to The Snack Shop.  The weather certainly didn't cooperate today.  The temperature hovering around freezing was hardly an invitation to buy a float.
Root beer floats seem to be the most popular, but I'm hoping the orange floats will sell well too.

We already have Pizza by the Slice Wednesday and starting, soon, we'll be offering Hot Dog Tuesday.
Not just any hot dogs, but Zweigle Red and White hots fresh from the grill.

The object is to make The Snack Shop THE place to go for summer treats.  It can be ice cream, pizza, floats or hot dogs.  All of the things that make for a fun summer.

Blister Pack, Revisited

My discontent with blister packs has reached a new level.
A few days ago, I broke the nail on my right thumb.
"No big deal", you say.
The nail broke just below the nail line, leaving a nasty gash.
That thumb is now useless until the gash heals.
In the meantime, opening the blister pack is now a challenge of monumental proportions.
"Please open this for me.  I can't do it with this thumb", I handed the nasty blister pack to a friend.
"How many times do I have to show you how to do this?", he sighed.
"All you do is fold the corner in.  You don't need thumbs.",  he said as he struggled with it. . " Ah, usually that is all you have to do.  Darn, this one is hard to open."
I looked up to see he was using BOTH thumbs to get the pack open.  He finally did make a dent in it.  Enough for me to break the seal with another nail.
Then, there is the trick of getting that tiny pill out of the blister pack without it dashing away as if it were liberated.
This time I succeeded.  I think I'll bring my friend the entire packet of pills and ask him to open them all.  Then, I'll just put them all in a pill bottle for easy access.

It will get better, it will get better, it will get better.  It better get better fast!

Rest in Peace, Maxine

Saturday morning, I sat by my window and worked on the 400 Towers' News.
A siren pierced the air.  I looked out to see an ambulance leaving our parking lot.
What I didn't know until today is that they were here for my neighbor, Maxine.
She lived on my floor.  One would think I would hear the commotion of the EMTs as they went about their business.  I didn't.
So, it came as a shock to learn that Maxine passed away today.  They rushed her to Buffalo, but this trip would be her last.
Maxine had a green thumb, and a heart of gold.  She loved jewelry, gardening,

 and (I learned this summer) grilled cheese sandwiches.

When I started the newsletter, I never thought about writing about those we lose in our community.  It isn't easy.
Sometime tomorrow, I'll put down my thoughts.  In Maxine's case, they will all be happy thoughts.   I can think of her, free of the wheelchair, reunited with friends and family - dancing and offering them juicy tomatoes from her garden.
She was quite a lady and will be missed.

Pearl Jam

All day long this has been going through my head, but for some reason when I get to the chorus, I end up singing, "I play for the choir".
Hate it when a song does that.
I'm a thief, I'm a liar
There's my church, I sing in the choir:
(hallelujah, hallelujah)

From the Ban the Blister Pack File

Ban the Blister Pack File

I am an adult.  I live alone.  I have arthritis which makes opening blister packs difficult.

Currently I am taking an over the counter medication recommended by my doctor.  These pills appear to be sealed for eternity in a blister pack.

I can appreciate child proof containers.  I can appreciate containers sealed so idiots can't access them in an attempt to contaminate to do harm.

I can't appreciate the half hour it took me to get ONE damn little pill out of a blister pack.  Back up, actually it was the second one I managed to free.  The first, slipped out of my fingers and rolled to a safe haven.  I still can't find it.

I know that prescriptions, that come in blister packs, can be had in containers.  I wish the same was true for over the counter.

Color me frustrated.

I will take my scissors; knitting needle and whatever else I need to pry that damn tiny little pill out of it's home for the time when I need to take another.

Weekend Winner

A fun weekend in Cortland and Groton.
Bob was tied for first place in his class, but lost the playoff to come in second.

He and Justin make quite a pair.  Both love to tease and have fun.  Justin reminds me of a butterfly.  You never know where he will land next.  They seemed destine to be top in the class.

Justin, Bob, and Dan

1st.  2nd. and 3rd.

Why Mom Has White Hair

So, he turns 50, but not before he decided to try sky diving.  Yikes!

The Quiet Life of a Retiree

Checklist starts for busy weekend. 
Laundry - done 
end of month books for the shop - almost done
Pizza by the slice Wednesday paperwork - done 
March posters - done and hung
April poster featuring All Month Long Ice Cream Special - done 
pre trip shopping list - done, now just have to find time to shop :( 
March staffing schedule - done
maps in the infamous green folder - done (note to self, if we ever lose that green folder, we'll be lost forever)
reservations made - done. 
book discussion readers' guide - done
folder to leave at the office for copies - done
Still to do. 
Wish daughter a happy birthday on the 1st
pack
We get back on Sunday.  Monday we'll be at an out of town meeting.  
Folder for that meeting - ready to go.
Estimated departure time?  2pm Friday afternoon
Real departure time - probably about 3:30pm

J.D. Turned 50 on Feb. 21 and he is still celebrating

In order to mark the occasion, he and his son, Doug, made this short video to show how his 40s slipped away.
You'[ll be happy to know that his 40s were found, in Florida.  They will reside there with Eric for a few years.

I knew that Deb gave J.D. a gift of a cruise on the Ruby Princess.  They left on Sunday 3/18 from Ft. Lauderdale.

What I didn't know.  J.D. gave himself a gift, too.

a 50 year old vette for a 50 year old.   

50 years ago, I never dreamed this son would celebrate in such a wonderful way.

Got Plans for Mothers' Day?

Most likely Mothers' Day isn't on your radar yet, but it will be soon.
I'll admit I hadn't thought about it until this came across my desk courtesy of The Mud, the NYS Horseshoe Pitchers Association Newsletter:


ALL U CAN EAT BREAKFAST:
To benefit the NYSHPA Junior Fund.
May 13, 2012 from 8:00am-11:00am,
Cost-$6.00/person
Held at the Montour Falls Moose Club on Rte 14, Montour Falls, NY
A non-sanctioned doubles tournament will be held at 11:00 am.  No entry fee
Raffles and 50/50

The price is right and it is something the entire family can enjoy.  Mom gets a great breakfast and the entire family can join in the tournament.
If you are looking for something different for Mothers' Day, then mark your calendar.  This sounds like a winner.

Having Fun This Winter

Horseshoe Pitchers don't hibernate in the winter.  They play in oven mitt tournaments - yep, out in the snow and cold and indoor pits too.

Overheard in a Restaurant

From the "I Can't Believe I Heard This" file.

"Being married once is enough.  The only time I'd consider getting married is if I have a terminal illness, then I'll ask someone to marry me so they can have my social security."
Can you imagine some lucky lady getting that proposal?

February Book Discussion - The Call

A Tale for Three Counties Selection
The Call
by Yannick Murphy

Our discussion will be Feb. 15 at 1:30pm. Anxious to see what our readers think of it.

Happy New Year

From the "You Can't Win" file
2012 came in quietly.
Spending a few days before New Year's Eve nursing the mother of all colds didn't allow much time to prepare.
The community New Year's Eve dinner was well attended and friends gathered just before midnight to ring in the new year.
I thought I was so careful about not transmitting this cold to anyone else. Even on New Year's Eve, I toasted without any hugs or pecks on the cheek.
Today, I learned that three friends came down with the same symptoms on New Year's Day.
My turn to make chicken soup and send it to all three of them.
At any rate, Happy New Year.