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Saturday, August 16th The two of us took Christina and her best friend Lizzie to the Drive-in to see a "Squash-Belter" (as Christina called it by mistake; The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) and Freaky Friday. I really liked both, but Christina didn't get the pirate movie. The next day, we all went to the Erie County Fair and I was wearing my much-needed new sneakers I bought earlier in the day. The two of them had all-you-can-ride wristbands, and I even joined in the fun with one round of bumper cars (may favourite of the few rides I'll go on). Wednesday, we went to a Coptic Mass at St. Tommy's. It was really nice and a learning experience, but Christina was less than enthusiastic. On Thursday, however, we went to the farm together and Christina didn't complain once. In fact, she put in several consecutive hours working, and as a team we whipped through pickings and washings. It still amazes me -- she didn't even go back to the car for her CD player. She even said on "going to parent workplace" day, she would consider coming with me again. Later in the day, the greatest power outage in history rocked the Northeast US and Southern Canada. We still had power, and I still went to Frontier Middle for Tai Chi class and power was on there, but hardly anyone showed. The fair almost cancelled a concert. And there was blame everywhere ... first a fire near NYC, then a failure in Ottawa, then Niagara Falls, Cleveland, whatever. They still haven't traced it back to the first domino. Saturday, Christina danced at the Community Stage at the Fair as part of Miranda's dance studio, using numbers from their recital. It was only a bearable hour, and Christina did well. Afterward, we went to Mer's company picnic and had a good time, good food, and good company. Sunday, August 17th Someone rummaged through my car -- fortunately, only some change was missing. It's still a little "violating" and annoying that I actually have to lock my car doors at night. At the fair this evening (closing day), it was just Merry and I, and Merry promised to dance with the "natives" in the Indian Village. They didn't invite people in for the friendship dance though, and we spent a mere few seconds making fools of ourselves in the "smoke dance". Not the same, older announcer as in last years. Maybe next time... Tuesday, August 26th Last weekend, I had Christina over from Friday to Saturday. Friday, we tried to go to the Erie Basin Marina, but they didn't allow dogs. I thought I didn't see any other times I've been there. We went for ice cream at the Bedrock Eatery instead. On Saturday, we had out BNI picnic at Mike Harmony's house out in the middle of nowhere. It was a great party -- we even went paddle-boating in the pond, and Christina and I fed Cheerios to the fish. She was catch-and-releasing them with a small net for what seemed like an hour, and even caught one on a line. After we came home, Chrissie and I went out to "The Spot" for coffee later that night, and stayed out real late. She had a "Chocomoco" and I had Kenya AA. Chrissie was put to work weeding with me around the Plaza, and she did a decent job, so I allotted her regular wage. She was proud to spend some of the $20 later that day on makeup and such. Today, I went to the Women's Equality Luncheon at the Adam's Mark honoring my friend Jennifer Sinatra as one of the Federal (Employee) Women of the Year. I had no idea she was involved in so many community projects! Afterward, I caught up with my old associate Jamie at The Spot while she was working to see if she could help me with sales. We were both happy to run into each other again -- I didn't realize it was about two years! Wednesday, August 27th, 2003
My only lower wisdom tooth (I never had the other, and the two on top never came through) grew sideways into the molar in front of it and needs to be extracted. I still have two baby teeth on the bottom (a few were extracted as a teenager), and I only have three fillings, all done as a teen. Unfortunately, I have three more to take care of, but thankfully they are only small ones. On another note, we found out today that pretty much everywhere we would want to go camping (State and other Parks) are all booked. We'll have to call last minute hoping there's an opening or make alternative plans. Tuesday, September 8th
At the Gas & Steam show, however, I did get to play security Friday & Saturday, and bringing Christina and her friend Lucy, on Saturday, I even got to drive the tractor-pulled people tram for a couple of hours. It was a big blue New Holland hydrostatic transmission tractor, and I took to it right away. Last week, I rescued an abandoned cat from the farm, and now we call her Nora "Cupcake" Peaches. She's so tiny, but very affectionate. After much reconsideration, I've finally come to grips with the reality that I like cats. I hope we can find a home for her, but I've got that nagging feeling she may end up ours in the end. Friday, September 11th
Friday, September 19th Wouldn't you know it? First, I get very few RSVPs for the Tai Chi picnic tomorrow, and how hurricane Isabelle may deliver Western New York the first tropical storm in recorded history. Actually, the weather predictions lately have gotten increasingly optimistic, with less and lass rain earlier and earlier than expected. It may even be only partly cloudy during the picnic! Tuesday, September 23rd The picnic had only a few guests, but we had a good time, and good weather. Pretty much uneventful, except that I got to see a couple of students I haven't seen in a while. Yesterday, I found out the apartments have been sold, and shortly afterward received a call from the new owner. I met with him this morning, and there may be some upheaval in my life if we can't come to an agreeable management & office space arrangement. We'll see ... Open house at Christina's school was pretty nice. The new principle said she was "thinking about me" and the computer teacher and her are looking forward to my assistance with computer-related issues. I just hope I don't have to fix any hardware! Wednesday, October 22nd I got my first cavity filled since I was a teenager, and it was actually a "re-filling" of an old one. Old silver to new silver with almost no pain in 15 MINUTES! A few hours later and I'm already eating leftovers -- fish, actually, which with the breading-stuffing Merry made with it is actually really good (I don't usually care for fish at all). Saturday was our 6th Anniversary, and we spent it at Pumpkinville (sorry, no website to link to and I forgot my camera!). It was really cold, but we bought gourds, pumpkins, and Chrissie and I went through a nice corn maze. We had to find all the hole-punch stops to get a free small pumpkin at the end, and Chrissie found them all before I did. It also had seemed like the leaves changed color and fell everywhere but where we lived, then one day -- bam! Leaves all around the property. We actually had an "Anniversary Season" that started when we went alone to Ellicottville for their Autumn festival the weekend before. I also grabbed her a couple of things from Valvo's coming back from a trip to Dunkirk I made last Wednesday. On Sunday, Christina cleaned her room, and as usual, it was Christmas all over again! Beads, gel pens, clothes, you name it -- stuff she didn't remember she had. And I ate some of her old candy, not knowing it was a couple of YEARS old. No harm done -- I didn't get sick. Pumpkin Contest 2003 (Merry's parent's house)
Wednesday, November 5th Last week Thursday, the closing went through, and the new landlord is now owner of Fisher Park Apartments (website no longer available). I've got to meet with him again, and I am more and more confident things will work out for the best. I also recently found out from my Aunt Bobbie that my Great Aunt Emily (my Mom's Mom's sister) died. On one hand, I wanted to represent by branch of the family and be there out of respect, but on the other my wife felt it disrespectful or awkward to turn the funeral into a reunion with people I hadn't seen in many years. I really need to go over that part of my genealogy and meet some of these relatives, especially those nearby, and on a more pleasant occasion than a funeral. Last weekend, I bribed Chrissie $5 to rake the leaves in front of two buildings, and she firmly believes it was not a fair wage. I'm not really sure, but I know she doesn't have any concept of money yet. A couple of bucks seems like a lot to her most of the time, but then other times it's "only" a couple of bucks. When she gets a job someday ... Yesterday was election day (I voted but Merry didn't feel well), and all the West Seneca schools were closed. It was still no excuse for four 14-year-olds to do criminal mischief in the middle of the night. I had my vending machine damaged in the process of attempted burglary, and some garbage was dumped on top of Merry's car. On a positive note, they were caught, one charged criminally (for now), and I got to watch a local detective take fingerprints (off the vending machine). Now if only the PARENTS would spend an overnight in jail every time their kids were brought in -- one officer said they've been know by the department for two years already. On a bright note, today my Dad is visiting us, along with Kathy, and I believe Josh and his wife Melanie and their new baby. A bit of tidying to do! Monday, November 10th It's down to 60 degrees F -- in our apartment. Merry considers that "room temperature." It really got cold, starting later in the day my Dad was here. We finally met up Thursday at lunchtime at the Broadway Market. I kidded Merry that he chose that place to reaffirm his belief there wasn't much left in Buffalo. I also got to see Josh and his wife (whom we never met) and she had a much more positive view of the area, having been brought up in a small town most of her life. Kathy's friend Karen came along, too, and we spent the day shopping mostly. There are a lot of things you can't buy outside of Buffalo, such as farmer's cheese (for pirogies) and Salen's hot dogs, which many people consider "the Best", including my daughter, who will eat no other brand.
"Annie" was great -- I never saw it before, and Chrissie was one of the orphans and townsfolk. A little hard to see her, as she was in the background mostly, but I think I got some pictures. That night (Saturday) I also got some pictures of the lunar eclipse (partial, or at least when I looked it was). I never saw that before either, and it was really cool. Afterward, as part of an informal cast party, I took Chrissie and a few friends midnight bowling at Recckios. Friday, November 21st It's been really mild lately except for cold wind. Last week, the day after I went out in a t-shirt, it actually snowed, but was too warm to stay on the ground. Merry is nervous, hoping for freezing weather for Thanksgiving so the kitchen doesn't get too hot from cooking! Monday, December 8th Spent the last few days painting apartments. The new owner is really putting a lot of work into the apartments, to the point where rent is raised for the renovated ones, and tenants are still scrambling to get them as fast as they're done. I may as well paint -- my Internet connection is down (maybe until Wednesday) and my car is in the shop. The battery died running errands with my friend / associate Rob ("Kaith"). A little gas line anti-freeze wouldn't have hurt either I'm sure. I has mead for the first time at Thanksgiving dinner, which was at our house with Chrissie and Merry's parents and sister. If I has to be a drunkard, Mead would be my poison. Even my favorite Greek desert wine didn't taste the same after it. It was just us on the farm this last week, and the crops were too frozen to pick. Fortunately, a lot was picked the day before, and there's a lot of squash, potatoes, onions, etc. in storage. It's all the better because I hurt my hand in a stupid fall on the way there. We got to pitch hay and feed the cows. Being up in the barn with the sunlight shining through the window and cracks was almost a spiritual experience -- somehow I picture the Ark being like that. And I LOVE cows! Too bad they are naturally so stand-offish. However, I got the recently calved momma cow to eat from my hand, who everyone said wouldn't let them near her. Last night at midnight, Merry took a call from someone she has been playing "Scrabble" with from England. It really freaked her out, as it would many people, but it's not that all unusual except for wondering how a first name and general geographic location turned into a phone number. Probably a little Googling ... and I don't think he's a stalker. Wednesday, December 17th Had a few holiday parties already ... ECAS, the farm, BNI, and even got to give the invocation at the last one. Merry is too busy to go to the farm last week or this week, but is helping around the complex. I've been busting hump painting apartments after renovations and such, and I'm tired. Lots of exercise and work that I actually enjoy, but the reward is wearing this fast. I think I'm just in a bad mood today, but am desperate for a change in something. I just don't know what. I ran into someone I didn't recognize at Big Lots. She remembered my first name and said she lived half-way down the street from me on Bellwood. All I could say was, "That was forever ago!" and nod and be polite, although I wish I had remembered her. I really didn't know the neighbors back then. It's settled that the Little Christmas party will be on a Sunday this year at Dennis & Agnes's new place. Now we have to rush out invitation, and I finally printed off labels for by business Holiday Cards. It's like time is short and yet moving ever so slowly forward. Again, maybe it's my mood. Monday, December 22nd Lots of little notes ... Saturday, I was officially appointed as Chaplain for the Buffalo Guards Camp of the SCV. Yesterday, I couldn't even sing at mass -- my voice is almost gone as I am getting over a cold -- at least I could play the tambourine to "Nova! Nova!" Post-nasal drip is my nemesis. Speaking of which, we saw Star Trek: Nemesis for the first time last week (on DVD) -- poorly constructed details in the story line. Anyway, we couldn't make the North Ridge holiday party for various reasons, including our cat Chopsticks being really sick with an IV at home. Lastly, the last of the Christmas presents have been wrapped, Merry, Mom, and Moo have been making cookies like crazy, and the weather is hovering back and forth at the freezing point. I'm rushing out the Little Christmas party invites today. Tuesday, December 30th Saw Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and could only think that George Lucas is no longer The Man. Sorry, George ... it was wonderful while it lasted.
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