Back to the grind

Well, we’re back from a whirlwind road trip to a little town just north of Scranton, PA.  It was a cloudy, gloomy, rainy day on Friday when we left.  We filled our CD cases with a variety of tunes and set off to the south. 

We were amazed at how much foliage is still out there and in the areas where the foliage is always the prettiest, the trees were still fully loaded with leaves of every color.  Rounding the top of the hill that begins the descent into the Cohocton Valley in the southern tier of NY, the rolling foothills were ablaze with brilliant color.  Had it been a sunny day it would have been that much more spectacular.  The picture is from the Marie Antoinette Lookout near Wyalusing.  This is the valley that Marie was planning to escape to before she lost her head over certain things.

We travel well together.  We chat about everything and nothing.  I find Lisa a fascinating person to talk to, even after seven years together.

We got into Meshoppen just about 4:00.  Lisa’s mother was over getting dinner prepared for her own father (who is now 92).  Lisa’s Grandpa (Karl) was the one who was in the accident with Lisa’s mother back in June when they were traveling to the hospital to see Lisa’s Grandma in the hospital.  Both of Karl’s arms were broken, as well as his left thumb.  Looking at the x-rays, it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up to see all the breaks in the bones in both of his arms and that thumb.  He’s a pretty strong guy, that Karl is.

Some years back he had some sort of degenerative condition that caused a rapid disintigration of the bone material in his neck and lower skull.  They had to fuse his neck with rods and, as a result, he can’t turn his head any more.  He also has a glass eye.  Arthritic hands.  Diabetes.  And a host of other minor medical issues.  But, when Lisa’s brother-in-law came in and said hello to him and said “You’re looking good,” Karl quipped “Yeah, but only through one eye…”

Saturday morning we woke up and saw that the stone yard had a light dusting of snow and large wet flakes were still falling.  It was cold and damp out but by noontime the frost and haze had burned off and the day shaped up to be pretty nice.

The drive home yesterday was under a clear, cloudless, sunny sky and all around us the foliage sparkled and boasted its vivid colors.

We got home yesterday about 4:30 and watched the later games on the schedule.  Around 10:00 we dropped into bed, exhausted from the weekend.  I swore twice this morning at the alarm clock.

The stone yard (Meshoppen Stone) behind Lisa’s parents’ house was eerily quiet yesterday morning.  The business was shut down for the funeral of the company’s founder, Meredith “Rube” Ruark.  “Rube” also founded Penn’s Best trucking company.  The Ruarks have always been good to Lisa’s family and even today employ Lisa’s 75-year-old father on the premises so that he can earn some money with which to spend the winters in Florida.  From all accounts, they’re decent people and very community oriented.

Check out the Pennsylvania Bluestone in the picture above.  Many people use this beautiful stone for fireplace hearths.  And yes, it actually is blue.  They have all sorts of cuts and colors and stuff.  If you’re ever in the market for a stone wall, stone treads, or a hearth for your fireplace, ask for Pennsylvania Bluestone.

 

Another hypocrite Repugnican anti-gay lawmaker has been caught soliciting “gay sex” in a public restroom in Florida.  He claimed he wasn’t soliciting sex as much as he was looking for some sort of protection from the numerous black men in the area.  Mmm hmmm.  Very believable.  He might have been more credible had he used Larry Craig’s “wide stance” defense.

Titusville Officer Danny Kavanaugh who was on plainclothes duty says he observed Allen entering the washroom twice. Kavanaugh said he was drying his hands in a stall when Allen peered over the stall door.

The officer’s report said that after peering over the stall a second time, Allen pushed open the door and joined Kavanaugh inside. Allen muttered “‘hi,’v” and then said, “‘this is kind of a public place, isn’t it,'” the report said.

Kavanaugh wrote that he asked Allen about going somewhere else and Allen suggested going “across the bridge, it’s quieter over there.”

“Well look, man, I’m trying to make some money; you think you can hook me up with 20 bucks?” Kavanaugh wrote in the report that he had asked Allen.

The Republican lawmaker, the report said, replied, “Sure, I can do that, but this place is too public.”

According to Kavanaugh’s statement, the officer said, “do you want just (oral sex)?” and Allen replied, “I was thinking you would want one.”

It was at that point Allen was arrested.

There’s a theory that those who rail the loudest against homosexuality are, themselves, either unsure of their own sexuality or hiding their true sexuality.  Seems that this might be more than a simple theory, eh? 

Peyton Manning threw six interceptions against San Diego yesterday.   But just when you thought he was going to still lead his team to victory, Vinatieri misses yet another easy field goal.  Manning passed Johnny Unitas in a franchise record for most touchdown passes, but also set a dubious franchise record for most picks in a game.

Cincinnati beat Baltimire 21-7 yesterday.  So what, you ask?  It wasn’t 3 touchdowns to 1 touchdowns.  It was SEVEN field goals to one touchdown.  Even Denver pulled one out of their asses yesterday in a week filled with upsets and surprises.

I only got 5 games right on the pool for yesterday.  Normally I get about 2/3 right.  What’s even worse is that Lisa is leading the pack with only SIX right.

Today banks and schools are closed in honor of Veteran’s Day.

Today, in America, there are almost 200,000 homeless veterans — with Gulf War veterans already comprising a staggering 10% of that number.

Only in America are you good enough to send to war to serve a dictator’s greed and lust for oil but NOT good enough for follow-up services to provide the basic necessities of life like food and shelter.

On Veteran’s Day we SHOULD honor those that fell in service of this country but we also need to remember those who are still alive and in need of services.