Putting Together the February Newsletter

If a knee could have a shiner, then the right knee has one.   It is black and blue.  The only saving grace, today, is the pain pill.

Since I couldn't do much today, I decided to work on the first page of my February newsletter.

Of course, there has to be a mention of Valentine's Day.
I started my "Tales from the Tower" feature with a couple dancing.

Then, I realized that it was really a generation or two before most of us.
That got me thinking about the 1950s and if Valentine's Day cards and sentiment had changed since then.

When I was in grade school, everyone in the class HAD to give each student a card. It wasn't until sixth grade that passing cards became more selective.
That year, one card I received felt heavier than the thin envelops should be. I opened it to find a pair of tiny figure skates attached to a pin. It was from a boy who sat waaay across the room from me. We were casual friends and it came as a surprise.
I remember thanking him for the pin. He explained that his parents took him to Ice Capades that weekend and he purchased it there. He wanted me to have it.

What a fun memory.

I think our expectations about Valentine's day change as grow older.
It goes from childhood exchanges to a personal and intimate experience as we reach young adulthood.
As we get older, the expectations change again. Maybe a dinner, a box of candy or flowers. The sentiment changes to something more like, "we are like two old shoes that are comfortable". Not bad, but certainly not the romantic hearts and flowers day of our youth.

A few years ago, I invited a friend to taste test a recipe I planned on using in the newsletter. After dinner, he noticed an ad in the local paper for a restaurant serving prime rib for two on Valentine's day.
He thought it sounded like a good deal and asked if I would like to go.
I agreed.
Valentine's day turned into a very busy day. I did get my hair styled that morning but, from that point on, it was a day filled with must do errands.
Perhaps it was partially my fault for not mentioning the plans for dinner.
At our last stop to complete the errands, he handed me a box of candy.
I commented that it really was nice, but way too much considering we were going out for dinner that evening.
He looked at me with a total blank stare. Dinner?
I reminded him about the dinner plans. He totally forgot.
He was apologetic and offered to see if he could still make a reservation, but I knew it was too late.
We ended up eating pizza on the sofa while watching tv.
Was the evening a total loss?
I don't believe it was.  It was the thought that counts.

That year, I gave him a large coffee mug with a neat saying on it.
He put it away and said he didn't want to break it.
I found it a year later, still tucked away in the closet.
Jokingly, I gave it to him again last year. He didn't remember it from the year before.
So, I put it away again.
I'm not sure if I'll drag it out again this year.
If I happen to run into him, I might just do that.
Time will tell!

Governor Andrew Cuomo Slashes His Own Paycheck

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is slashing his own paycheck. The new Governor says he will give back five-percent of his 179-thousand dollar yearly salary. Cuomo says Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy and other senior members of the Administration also plan to take similar salary reductions. The move comes on Cuomo's third day in office.

I believe he is headed in the right direction. 
I can't help but wonder how his opponents will try to demonize this.

The Right Knee and Me Week 3

Today was the last of three gel injections in the right knee.  I wish I could say I sailed through it, but I can't. 
I have to thank my friend, Lu, for taking me and being in the waiting room when I came out.  Injections never bother me.   I had to sit and let the nausea settle before I could leave the office.  Lu, bless her soul, waited patiently until I felt I could leave without fainting. 
The target for this shot was the vein.  It was right on target.  The doctor couldn't get it to stop bleeding and at one point even asked if I was on blood thinners.  I'm not. 
So, he wrapped it in gauze and then an Ace bandage which makes my knee look five times bigger than it really is.  It has to be iced tonight to bring down the swelling.
My next appointment is in six weeks (on Valentine's Day, no less) for x-rays to see if the gel is doing what it is suppose to do. 
I think I hoped that the right knee would react the way the left knee did.  But, it seems to want to take a different path.  Not only is the pain still there, but the top of my right foot is swollen too.  I'm told that it is all part of the process.
I have a script for a cane!  A cane?  Sometime on Thursday, I'll be getting a cane.  It will only be for six weeks until my next visit.   It is suppose to help with stability.  We'll see.

Perhaps one of the intriguing elements of a blog is to see where my visitors live.

The United States, of course, is well represented.
In the few short months since I began the blog, visitors came from
Vietnam (25); Slovenia (24); Netherlands and Russia (17 each); Croatia (14);
Germany and France (8 each); Denmark and Canada (5 each); Philipines (4); Great Britain (3) Australia and Isreal (2); Singapore (1).
I can reasonably assume that many of the hits come from Facebook friends; relatives and people with whom I worked at Kodak and LiveWorld.
I can, also, reasonably assume that some are gathering data and watch to see which ads get hits. (if that is the case, then please click on an ad once in a while).
Whoever you are and wherever you are located, welcome. I appreciate the interest.

Andrew Cuomo Sworn In

Read a great little item in the Albany paper that mentioned two friends. Lorie (Genesee Co.) and Jeanne (Wyoming Co.) drove four hours to spend a few minutes at the meet and greet for our new governor, Andrew Cuomo. It is nice that our small counties were represented.

I'm glad they had good weather for that eight hour round trip drive.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

The Bills play the Jets today. Game time 1pm.


The leftovers from New Year's eve and New Year's day are history. The tailgate party, sponsored by The Snack Shop, will be ham and cheese sandwiches, fruit salad, relish tray and whatever others bring to the party. There will be a birthday cake for one of our regular tailgaters. His birthday was yesterday, but we are celebrating it today.

The Bills didn't make it to the playoffs, but we will still root for them. It is going to be a fun afternoon.

The thermometer is at 29 and snow is in the air. Nothing like the first few balmy days we've enjoyed, so far, this year. I guess the few inches of snow we might get will just cover the dingy snow left in the corners.

From the "You Can't Win" File - Venison Roast

 The You Just Can't Win File

 Remember the story about the venison roast?
Tonight, I got blindsided by a very angry person who lost the love of his life over that story.
It is, of course, all my fault that his love searched out this blog and read it.
Apparently she also gave him a recipe for making the roast. The one, by the way, he used.
He raved over the venison for two days.
It was a good recipe and one he could easily handle.
When she read that he received a recipe from someone else, she broke up with him.
True love has many twists and turns. I guess this is one of them.
No doubt, by tomorrow, the air will clear and they will be back together. He'll go to church and in her words, "act lovey dovey", and all will be good.
I hope so. Once upon a time stories should always end with "...and they lived happily ever after!".




Happy New Year

2010 ended with friends.  The celebration began with an early supper with 45 friends and neighbors. 
Later, about 10 of us got together to ring in the new year.  As usual, there was way too much food; a lot of laughs; and best wishes for a great 2011.  Will it be?  I hope so.

Today is 'leftover' day.  There will be another supper this evening consisting of the leftovers from the big party last night and later in the evening, the smaller group will follow suit.  It all has to go because we will be getting together on Sunday afternoon for our Buffalo Bills' tailgate.  I've no clue what we'll have for tailgate.  I guess I better give it some thought today and head to the store first thing tomorrow morning.  New Year's fare is a hard act to follow. 

The new year, one friend suggested, means that resolutions MUST be made.  I don't agree.  I do believe that one goal should be set for each week.  Write it on the calendar.  Make it part of the to do list.  Then strive to reach that goal by the end of the week.  It is easier to make life changes in small segments.  At least for me it is.  There are no monumental resolutions forthcoming from me.  

"Change the things you can, and change your attitude about the things you can't".  Not very profound but certainly a good way to start the new year. 

Wishing you a very successful and healthy new year.