APRIL 1 – 30

 

TECHNOLOGY

            *I’m looking for a sound bar for my TV. The sound now comes from the top rear of the TV. I would like it to come from the front at the bottom of the set. That’s more the same level as my ears. Today, Kathy and I went to Best Buy and I saw one for $300 plus an additional $100 for them to install it for me. That’s a little steep! I’m going to look around at P. C. Richard, Target, maybe even Walmart. I want something good, but hopefully a little less expensive.

            I went to P.C. Richard and I picked up my sound bar today (4/9). My first challenge was to get the box opened. Finally managed! Then the process of setting it up. The small bookcase and the TV cart had to be moved in order to access plugs. Done. Then plug everything in where I think it should go. The power was no problem. However, which end of the HDMI cord went where. Got that set up and did not work. Kathy tried to help. Seems we should not work together on a gnarly problem. After Kathy left and I had time to think about it, I reversed how the HDMI cord was plugged in. I think the sound bar is working.

            Well, that was wishful thinking. I returned the soundbar this morning-4/16.

*Would you believe I had a telephone conversation with a computer? I called AAA to check on where our cards were (I added Kathy to my account). The voice I was conversing with was totally electronic, monotone (no variation indicating emotion), rapid fire questions and answers. An interesting encounter leaving me to wonder about who, or what, I was talking to!

LUNCH

            *Before Kathy and I went to Best Buy, we had lunch at Joey Garlic’s. I really like that place. I had the grilled salmon and Kathy had a mountain of muscles. We both brought a lot of food home! (Critique: Kathy’s meal could have had fewer muscles, less sauce and more pasta. My meal could have done with a lot less broccoli, however I will cook it some more and put more butter on the linguini. Both meals were very good.)

            *Lunch yesterday (4/15) at PJD with Nancy, Ricki, and Germaine. Today is lunch at the Yarde Tavern with classmates. 

            *Had lunch on 4/29 with Kathy and Kathi who I knew when I worked at CT Nat. Gas. Actually, I took over Kathi’s job when I was a temp and she transferred to a different department! We met at First and Last Tavern in Glastonbury. It was so great to catch up! (Critique: the chicken, walnut wrap was delicious. The soup was supposed to be creamy chicken-broccoli. However, it really was ground beef with very little broccoli. It was good, but not what it was supposed to be.

MOON SHOT

            *There is something more to today’s (April 1) ARTEMISS II rocket trip to the far side of the moon. I seem to recall that it has already been done once before. What are they looking for or looking at? I hope Maya was able to watch this.

FAMILY

            *Jacob called me this early evening (4/2). It was so good talking to him. Bozeman was experiencing a blizzard at that moment! Just a few short weeks from now he will have his Masters Degree and be able to relax until the next chapter of his life unfolds…hopefully gainful employment. (NOTE: he nailed his Thesis and it will be published! So proud!)

SPORTS

            *You know by now the UConn women’s basketball team lost in the Final Four by 14 points. I had the game on, but I couldn’t watch or listen to it. I just looked up occasionally to check on the score. Geno was really hot under the collar about the officiating and the behavior of the South Carolina coach. I think he walked off the court without the final handshake with Dawn Staley. So ends the 54-game winning streak and all those folks who bought furniture from Jordan’s Furniture are going to have to pay for it. Lots of drama.

            And the men lost to the Officials by 6 points. They were calling fouls on UConn whenever they took the lead that were not fouls. Even the commentators were saying those were not fouls. And so, another season ends.

POLITICS

            *The Mad Man and his Second-in-Command have crossed the line! The AI created picture of Trump as Jesus was blasphemous! How dare he use that image and even consider himself that personage. And Vance, preaching the Gospel to prove Trump is doing the right thing and his detractors are spreading false rumors! How dare he! If there is such a place as Hell these two are sure to burn there. 

            *Did the Mad Man use the Correspondents Dinner gunman event to show “how important it is to build the ballroom as soon as possible”? A ballroom that would never come close to holding 2,600 guests!

            *And speaking of the Mad Man, he wants to build a “Triumphal Arch” in D.C.. And if that isn’t enough, I heard the new passports will have his picture and name on them. What a great way to discourage foreign travel!

I hope April was a good month for everyone. I'll see you in a  month!

 MARCH 1 – 31

 

WEATHER

            March can’t decide whether it’s going to be a lamb or a lion. March 1 has a snow shower and sunshine! Temperatures will drop to single digits.  Later this week, it will be in the 50’s. And that’s just the first week of March! Freezing rain to 68° in a week’s time. The entire month was a temperature roller-coaster.

            I know I’ve mentioned it before, and probably will again, that our seasons are changing. Spring seems to come all of a sudden in early May (instead of April) and just as suddenly, it gets hot before the end of May. It seems the Spring season has gotten much shorter. Fall lasts longer. The weather seems to remain comfortable well into October. It is Climate Change. How long will it take for New England to become tropical?

            At the moment it is March 31^st, 4 p.m., and the temperature is 79° at our house! It may have gone higher and I missed it. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid 70s, then the bottom drops out! Enjoy while we can!

POLITICS

            The mad man in D.C. needs to be reined in! It’s the job of Congress to do that. I don’t understand why they seem to be so afraid of rebuking him. He has put us back into a war in the Middle East. Why? He created the situation from his own demented imagination/ego! If Congress can’t/won’t stop this man, then we must appeal to another Power! If that means aliens or God, whichever, let’s get going! I know there is order in chaos. However, the chaos this mad man creates contains only chaos…there’s no observable order to it. Even he says he’s winging it. Scary!

LUNCH

            Mid-March found me having lunch with Nancy and Ricki on a Wednesday at the Pickle Jar, and the next day with classmates at Jimmy Chen’s. If I’m lucky, the PJ will have clam chowder on the menu. At JC’s it was shrimp and vegetables in a white sauce.

SPORTS

            The college basketball season is drawing to a close. Soon it will be all baseball. Not sure how I feel about the Automated Balls & Strikes thing some teams will be using. Only pitchers or catchers can challenge and they only get 2 challenges per game (or something like that). I guess I’ll have to wait until I experience it during a game. It has something to do with the strike zone as it relates to very tall batters.

             Both UConn teams are going to the Final Four! Did you see that shot by Mullins that beat Duke? And he's only a Freshman!!!

AN INTERESTING DAY

            Thursday, March 19^th. It began as I expected: late, light breakfast because I’m having lunch with classmates at noon at Jimmy Chen’s. That was it. That’s what I was expecting. Then I get a call from Nancy asking if I would meet her at the East Windsor Historical Society at 1:30ish to help with some research. 

A young man from Japan, who lives in Canada, and is profoundly deaf, is researching the Bartlett family from East Windsor. Why? Members of that family were instrumental in the founding of the American School for the Deaf. 

I had some Bartlett documents on my computer that I could share. At the Osborn House, where the research library is, there was an enormous 3-ring binder devoted to the Bartlett family! What a treasure! We decided that the best way to get my information transferred was for me to put it on a thumb drive. That meant going home, doing the transfer and bringing the drive to Nancy’s house. Once there, I was treated to a delicious cup of coffee, some Japanese cookies, and excellent conversation with Ron and Nancy!

I did not get a chance to meet with our visitor because he was spending the day at Yale doing research. I was just happy I could help in some small way.

While at lunch, I got a call from Jacob in Montana, but unfortunately we couldn’t talk. Then on my way from lunch to the Osborn House, I stopped at the Pickle Jar Deli to pick up some clam chowder to take home. They didn’t have it on the menu yesterday when I was there for lunch but they let me know it would be there the next day! It’s so good!

After the research, I stopped at Barbara’s house to see if her mail was being delivered again. When she goes to Florida in the Fall, her mail delivery gets messed up. It is now supposed to be delivered to her home in Scantic, and until she gets back, I’ll monitor her mailbox for her. It was empty.

Then it was home. Tired but happy that my very interesting day was done!

THAT’S IT!

            So, another month has passed. It’s been a good month and I look forward to April! Be happy and be well. Blessings of Easter!

 February 1 – 28, 2026

 

SPORTS

            The month began with the UCONN women’s basketball team knocking off archrival, Tennessee, by 30 points. I could not watch the first half when the score was so close. The half started out with UCONN easily taking a 20-4 lead. Then the dreaded Lady Vols woke up and the score went back and forth. The first half finished at a 42-42 tie! I don’t know what the message in the locker-room was, but the Huskies came alive and won. One thing was very evident: UCONN has to value the ball more than they did in this game. Take care of the rock! Stop throwing it away in bad passes!

WEATHER

            Bitter cold on 2/1. Supposedly temps will moderate with threats of snow later in the week. This coming weekend (2/7-2/8) we are going to have snow, bitter cold temps and windchill on top of that. The highs are supposed to be in the single digits. I had to reschedule my haircut to next Saturday. By then I’ll look like Albert Einstein.

            The January Thaw has slipped to February! Temps in the upper 40’s mid-February! The New Moon is on the 17^th. The January Thaw used to occur around the Full or New Moon of January. Which means (and you have probably observed this already) Spring comes later and Fall lasts longer. The seasons have slid one month.

            Blizzard Calvin dumped 31” of snow in Stonington; 48” in Providence, RI; and Cape Cod is without power and passable roads! That was on 2/23. Now, 2/25, we had 3” more this morning.

LUNCH

            Had lunch with Sandy and Mike who worked in the CNG cafeteria when I worked there. Two of the best people on the planet! 

            Had to reschedule lunch with Cheryl. She and her husband, Chris, mentored me (took me by the hand!) and showed me the ropes at the CT State Library when I was doing my research for Remembrance. More good people!

            Had lunch with Ricki and Nancy at the Pickle Jar Deli. I called ahead and asked if they could put clam chowder on the menu for that day (it wasn’t). I know so many good people!

MEDICAL/HEALTH

            I finally had my hearing test. It was rescheduled because of the January snowstorm. I have my new hearing aids, 2/26. I should have gone to Hear Again to begin with the first time! Watching the morning news at volume 9 instead of 14+! Can I hear you now? Yes I can!

EXERCISE

            I have started using the gym at the Senior Center. It’s not a big room and the equipment is arranged close to each other. It’s OK if I’m the only one working out, or just a couple other people are in there. I have rejoined Planet Fitness so I have a back-up if the Senior Center is crowded and I want to work out. I’m still doing the Stretch & Flex class on Fridays at the Center. 

            I had a session with the PF personal trainer. This was determining the machines best for me right now and figuring out the settings. All that was written down so I won’t have to remember. So far so good! 

RESEARCH

            I’ve been working with my good friend, Jon Roe, on the Azel Roe genealogy. Jessica Vogelgesang from the Watershed Collective (formerly Friends of Wood Memorial Library and Museum) has joined in the search for information after she was contacted by Todd Cleary from PA whose 97-year-old mother is Fanny Bartlett Roe. So now we are sharing stories of the family as well as watercolor paintings of The Elms (the Roe house) that was on Route 5 in East Windsor. Now Jon has a lot more to add to his book on the family history! Did I mention Mark Twain was a frequent visitor?

 

And that’s a wrap. See you next month.

 January 1 – 31, 2026

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The new year begins with a dilemma for me. For some reason the hymn, “Let there be peace on Earth” started running through my head. It is a beautiful hymn, so I looked it up using Google. Here’s the dilemma: how do I reconcile “letting it begin with me”, when there is so much anger, frustration, and hopelessness in the world today. How do I reconcile my anger and frustration with the buffoon in the White House defiling National Monuments (the White House East Wing), being militarily aggressive against Venezuela, to say nothing of sending our own troops into various American cities for reasons known only to him, ending thousands of federal employees’ jobs, and cutting funding to vital services?  America has become the laughingstock of the planet! How do I let peace begin with me when I am so angry and frustrated with my own American leadership (that includes Congress)? 

Please, God. Let there be Peace on Earth and please show me how to let it begin with me! 

KITCHEN CHORES

Our Food Saver vacuum sealer (I think it was the one I brought with me when I moved to Kathy’s…I had it for years) had to be replaced in September of last year. That one now needs to be replaced. They just don’t make things as good as they used to! The replacement does what it is supposed to do…vacuum and seal! It’s a beast! We also had to retire/replace the old hand blender.

HEALTH CARE

I used my new Medicare Advantage Plan for prescriptions. It cost me nothing (as advertised!). Have not been charged a premium. Entitles me to Silver Sneakers at the Senior Center. So far, so good!

GOING TO LUNCH

1/7 - Had lunch at Pickle Jar Deli with Ricki (haven’t seen her in ages) and I’ll be back there tomorrow to have lunch with Jon. They said they would save me a bowl of clam chowder for tomorrow! Then on the 11^th I had lunch with Lisa at Figaro’s. 

On the 15th it was the monthly gathering of a few high school classmates (who are still in the area) for lunch at Joey Garlic’s (we go somewhere different every month). I highly recommend Joey Garlic’s!!!! I wouldn’t mind going there almost every month. One of the best! 

SAD NEWS

The Class of ’53 has lost another classmate. Elsie was part of our lunch group and joins Pat, Thelma, Dave, and Nancy in our memories. We don’t have many classmates left. 

WEATHER

So far it has been more days warmer than average. Today (1/17) we are having a wet, heavy snow. Messed up our plans to go to Maya’s violin recital. It looks like an unsettled, windy, colder than normal spell coming up. That’s what I love about New England. I had to reschedule my hearing test because of the snowstorm we are expecting…12” – 18”…this weekend (1/25-1/26). I tried posting pictures but technology is not my friend right now! Our weather to finish out the month has been way below zero nights and barely 20's during the days.

  POLITICS 

 The buffoon/a$$hole occupying the Oval Office in   Washington, D.C. has me reacting between disbelief, disgust, and hilarity. First comes the threat; then the rhetoric to back up the threat; then the back-down from the threat claiming middle ground has been achieved when in fact it was nothing but an idle threat to begin with! Don’t waste your energy being either disgusted or elated at what drivel comes out of his mouth initially because it will change to nothingness. This is his “reality show”!

 COX CABLE & INTERNET

 I just downloaded my Cox bill for next month. This is the end of my discounted Agreement and my bill will go up $41.69 starting in March unless I go into the store and plead for a lessor amount (while keeping my same line-up of programming). Don’t they understand that fewer people would opt out for streaming options if Cox wasn’t so expensive? I would go streaming myself but it would require my using technology new to me; uncertainty about if the channels I want would be on just one streaming “thingy”; and what would that cost as opposed to my Cox bill? I need to keep Cox internet. I don’t like going to them and begging for a lower rate…but …..

That's it for January! See you next month!