I did 99% of the electrical work today. I'll finish it tomorrow. I needed to get the ceiling junction boxes hung for the fixtures, and the wiring run, before the "Boys" could finish the insulation and start the sheet rock. I'm going to get cleaned up and then go up to the Brickhouse Brewery for dinner, fresh brewed beer and then at 8:00, "Jack's Waterfall" for more of the music I told you about last weekend.
When I get back, I'll see how far they've gotten and decide if I'm hanging with the "Boys and Girls" tonight. I'll fill you in later if I can find the computer. ;-)
Update on my night out tonight.
Well, I'm home safe and sound and I had a great time, even though I'm not drunk. ;-( Jack remembered me and gave me a bootleg of his new CD. (Is it really a bootleg if your give copies of your own songs?) Tonight he also had a sax and a violin with an extra percussionist.
I got home about 11:30 and the Club House was dark. WTF! I was all set to keep partying! I walk in the house and Brian is in a pair of sweats looking for something to snack on (so what else is new). I ask him where everyone is and I get the 'Old Folks' response, "Everyone had work tomorrow and they were tired." I can see I have my work cut out for me. I'm just going to have to teach these kids how to pace themselves through a weekend.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
I had a blast last night
I went out to Sweet Magnolias for dinner again and stayed for the music. This time it was some weird stuff that I've never heard before. My son said it was probably new age, what ever that is. I also saw a couple we knew from boating. It was nice chatting with them.
When I got home around 11:00, I saw a lot of cars in front of the house. Brian is working on turning the garage into a place for him and his friends to hang out so I figured they were working on it. I saw they had accomplished a lot. The small boat was in the driveway, the front yard was covered with all the junk I might want that was inside the garage and the dumpster had a lot of useless junk in it. I opened the garage door and saw the place all swept out and insulation between the studs. There was also a small party going on. They handed me a beer and I joined right in with the fun. I hung out until about 2:00 when some of them started to leave. The rest of them left about 3:00 Brian said. It was a lot of fun.
Brian said they would probably do the same thing tonight, but I don't think I can drink like that two days in a row. LOL!
When I got home around 11:00, I saw a lot of cars in front of the house. Brian is working on turning the garage into a place for him and his friends to hang out so I figured they were working on it. I saw they had accomplished a lot. The small boat was in the driveway, the front yard was covered with all the junk I might want that was inside the garage and the dumpster had a lot of useless junk in it. I opened the garage door and saw the place all swept out and insulation between the studs. There was also a small party going on. They handed me a beer and I joined right in with the fun. I hung out until about 2:00 when some of them started to leave. The rest of them left about 3:00 Brian said. It was a lot of fun.
Brian said they would probably do the same thing tonight, but I don't think I can drink like that two days in a row. LOL!
Friday, November 11, 2005
My Home Away From Home in 1968
As follow up to the post of me in my US Army uniform, I thought I would post a few shots of my military life before that one.
This is BTExpress the draftee. I was drafted on May 6, 1968 at 19 1/2 years old.
Here I was in basic training at Fort Jackson South Carolina. I'm just a bald as my mom used to keep me growing up. I hated these kind of haircuts. Come on, you know why, look at those fucking ears sticking out.
After stops in Oakland California, Hawaii, Midway Island and the Philippines, I landed South Vietnam and on October 6, 1968. The next day, I was in the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. A week at Cu Chi, a week or so at Fire Support Base Pershing and then to Fire Support Base Stewart or Stuart depending who you talk to, right outside Trang Bang (Just down the road a piece from Cu Chi on the map).
This is a nice shot of Cu Chi. There were so many trucks driving around that place all the time, that the smell of diesel fuel permeated the air. To this day, whenever I smell diesel fuel, it brings me right back to Cu Chi.
This is a shot of FSB Stewart. It was just a patch of sand surrounded by razor wire and mines.
This is 12 inch artillery cannon(?) on tracks like a tank. There were two of these monsters right in the middle of the FSB. When they fired, the ground shook.
I was an infantryman. We are the guys that got to walk around waiting for someone to shoot at them.
Sometimes we didn't have to walk. Sometimes we got to rides in helicopters. My favorite spot was right behind the pilot sitting on the floor with my feet hanging out the door.
The guys in this shot are holding their rifles the wrong way. They are suppose to hold them with the barrel pointing down. That's in case one accidentally goes off. They could a shoot the engine and in turn shoot down the helicopter.
I was wounded on November 6, 1968 just a month and two days after arriving in South Vietnam, but that's another story.
Picture credits: None of these shots are mine, but they are pictures of what I described in the captions. I found them by searching the internet over the last several years. I have no idea where I got them, so I can't give proper credit to the owners.
This is BTExpress the draftee. I was drafted on May 6, 1968 at 19 1/2 years old.
Here I was in basic training at Fort Jackson South Carolina. I'm just a bald as my mom used to keep me growing up. I hated these kind of haircuts. Come on, you know why, look at those fucking ears sticking out.
After stops in Oakland California, Hawaii, Midway Island and the Philippines, I landed South Vietnam and on October 6, 1968. The next day, I was in the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. A week at Cu Chi, a week or so at Fire Support Base Pershing and then to Fire Support Base Stewart or Stuart depending who you talk to, right outside Trang Bang (Just down the road a piece from Cu Chi on the map).
This is a nice shot of Cu Chi. There were so many trucks driving around that place all the time, that the smell of diesel fuel permeated the air. To this day, whenever I smell diesel fuel, it brings me right back to Cu Chi.
This is a shot of FSB Stewart. It was just a patch of sand surrounded by razor wire and mines.
This is 12 inch artillery cannon(?) on tracks like a tank. There were two of these monsters right in the middle of the FSB. When they fired, the ground shook.
I was an infantryman. We are the guys that got to walk around waiting for someone to shoot at them.
Sometimes we didn't have to walk. Sometimes we got to rides in helicopters. My favorite spot was right behind the pilot sitting on the floor with my feet hanging out the door.The guys in this shot are holding their rifles the wrong way. They are suppose to hold them with the barrel pointing down. That's in case one accidentally goes off. They could a shoot the engine and in turn shoot down the helicopter.
I was wounded on November 6, 1968 just a month and two days after arriving in South Vietnam, but that's another story.
Picture credits: None of these shots are mine, but they are pictures of what I described in the captions. I found them by searching the internet over the last several years. I have no idea where I got them, so I can't give proper credit to the owners.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Half-Nekkid Thursday
I'm not really in a festive mood so the best I could come with is an old army picture of me from early 1969.
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Too bad I voted tonight
After work today, I finished dinner and then went up to vote. It's not a big election today, but I feel it an obligation to do so, even if it's not one of the "BIG ONES" held every four years.
What a mistake that was!
I walk in to the same polling place I have walked in, off and on, for 28 years. I walk up the usual table, in the usual room and give the lady my name. I spell it as I always do, "C-*-*-*-*-K, Anthony".
She thumbs through the book for my name and gets to the "C****k" page. There they are as big as life, Anthony, Barbara and Brian, all in order, just like they always are. We all vote regularly in our household. Our signatures are what I noticed most, well Barbara's actually. Her signature was just as I remembered before her brain was damaged from the cancer a few years ago and her handwriting suffered. I was still clear, crisp and neat as the day she first signed the book. Barbara had beautiful hand writing. It was a combination of printing and script and very much different than most of us who really put little effort into penmanship and write like crap.
The lady at the table looks the page over and exchanges the relevant information. "Sign here." She points to the spot in the book where I'm suppose to sign and I sign my name. She looks it over.
"Thank you."
"Excuse me", I say. "Barbara C****k" I point to her name in the book. She passed away three weeks ago."
In unison, the ladies say, "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Thank you."
"We'll remove her name."
OUCH! It hits me, Barbara is being removed from the voter roles.
"Damn!" I think, it's the beginning of the process to get her out of the "SYSTEM!" I know that's what's done, we all get purged from the "SYSTEM!" eventually, but it's not easy. It's not easy to deal with it when you loose someone so special to you.
Every time, almost everyday, I turn around and have to deal with another case of removing her from the "SYSTEM!" Everyday it's the snail mail and emails that keep coming in her name. I also still have to deal with the cemetery, motor vehicles, the Veterans Administration, the funeral home's insurance company as they fucked up something, but not with her thank God, the banks, credit card companies, investment companies, NY State Retirement system and whatever else that pops up I haven't thought of.
"Sir.......Sir", the lady at the tables calls.
"Yes."
"What date did she...blah....blah....?"
I choose not to hear the rest of what she said, but I knew what she said.
"October 17th", I say.
"Thank you. Again I'm sorry."
I go into the booth, pull the handle to the right, pull a bunch of levers and push the handle back to the left. The curtain opens and I walk out of the booth.
At this point I would always see Barbara standing there waiting, as I always let her vote first. We would always smile at each other and then I'd follow her out the door. This is the way it has been for the 28 years we lived in Sayville, but not this time. This time she wasn't there waiting for me with a smile, this time I walked alone back to my car alone and this time I drove home alone.
When I got home this time, I got the mail, opened the door and went inside to a very quite and very empty house, Brian's at work this evening. I look the mail over, walk over to the trash and throw away the junk mail in her name as I do everyday now. It's just that this day, it was a little harder to do. You see, she is being removed from the "SYSTEM!" and this is just one more thing I have to do to get that done, throw away mail in her name.
Now here I sit at the computer as I do everyday, except this day, the house seems more empty and my life seems more empty. Today I feel more alone.
I miss Barbara very much.
What a mistake that was!
I walk in to the same polling place I have walked in, off and on, for 28 years. I walk up the usual table, in the usual room and give the lady my name. I spell it as I always do, "C-*-*-*-*-K, Anthony".
She thumbs through the book for my name and gets to the "C****k" page. There they are as big as life, Anthony, Barbara and Brian, all in order, just like they always are. We all vote regularly in our household. Our signatures are what I noticed most, well Barbara's actually. Her signature was just as I remembered before her brain was damaged from the cancer a few years ago and her handwriting suffered. I was still clear, crisp and neat as the day she first signed the book. Barbara had beautiful hand writing. It was a combination of printing and script and very much different than most of us who really put little effort into penmanship and write like crap.
The lady at the table looks the page over and exchanges the relevant information. "Sign here." She points to the spot in the book where I'm suppose to sign and I sign my name. She looks it over.
"Thank you."
"Excuse me", I say. "Barbara C****k" I point to her name in the book. She passed away three weeks ago."
In unison, the ladies say, "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Thank you."
"We'll remove her name."
OUCH! It hits me, Barbara is being removed from the voter roles.
"Damn!" I think, it's the beginning of the process to get her out of the "SYSTEM!" I know that's what's done, we all get purged from the "SYSTEM!" eventually, but it's not easy. It's not easy to deal with it when you loose someone so special to you.
Every time, almost everyday, I turn around and have to deal with another case of removing her from the "SYSTEM!" Everyday it's the snail mail and emails that keep coming in her name. I also still have to deal with the cemetery, motor vehicles, the Veterans Administration, the funeral home's insurance company as they fucked up something, but not with her thank God, the banks, credit card companies, investment companies, NY State Retirement system and whatever else that pops up I haven't thought of.
"Sir.......Sir", the lady at the tables calls.
"Yes."
"What date did she...blah....blah....?"
I choose not to hear the rest of what she said, but I knew what she said.
"October 17th", I say.
"Thank you. Again I'm sorry."
I go into the booth, pull the handle to the right, pull a bunch of levers and push the handle back to the left. The curtain opens and I walk out of the booth.
At this point I would always see Barbara standing there waiting, as I always let her vote first. We would always smile at each other and then I'd follow her out the door. This is the way it has been for the 28 years we lived in Sayville, but not this time. This time she wasn't there waiting for me with a smile, this time I walked alone back to my car alone and this time I drove home alone.
When I got home this time, I got the mail, opened the door and went inside to a very quite and very empty house, Brian's at work this evening. I look the mail over, walk over to the trash and throw away the junk mail in her name as I do everyday now. It's just that this day, it was a little harder to do. You see, she is being removed from the "SYSTEM!" and this is just one more thing I have to do to get that done, throw away mail in her name.
Now here I sit at the computer as I do everyday, except this day, the house seems more empty and my life seems more empty. Today I feel more alone.
I miss Barbara very much.
Too bad I voted tonight
What happened? It looks like I posted the above post twice yesterday so I deleted the text on this one. I didn't delete it completely so I could save the comments.
Sunday, November 6, 2005
I have another story for you
Did you ever have a sequence of events happen that leads to something that if one of those events hadn’t happened, everything would have turned out completely different?
Sure you have, we all have.
Do you think these things were just a series of coincidences, or do you believe they happened because that something was meant to be? You know fate or destiny? Before you answer, let me tell you a story and then I’ll ask you again.
Last week I got a letter from our church letting me know that they were celebrating All Saints Day and that during the service they remember the church members that have passed away during the last year, Barbara being one of them. I kept changing my mind about going all week, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. Even though it would make me sad, I thought it would be a good way to honor Barbara and to let her know I’m thinking about her. Brian couldn’t come because he had to be at work a 4:00.
It was a really nice service. The pastor was excellent as usual, and we received Communion. I like that. I even got a little misty-eyed a few times, which I knew would happen. After the service, I hung around for a while to talk to some people I know. They asked me to go to dinner with them, but I didn’t accept the invitation. It would have been nice to chat some more, but I don’t know, I just decided not to go.
The first place I tried for dinner was packed. I decided not to keep trying other places because it was getting late and I was hungry, but to go to a little southern place near me called Sweet Magnolias. It’s never very crowded so I knew I could get a seat. I got a seat at the end of the bar nearer to door. It has really good food so I don’t know why it’s never crowded. I had trout stuffed with breading, shrimp and crayfish; it came with rice and steamed broccoli. Yummy! Did I tell you I like seafood?
Just when I was finished eating, the staff started removing some tables right by me, next to the bar. I knew what that meant, live music. I looked at the chalkboard and saw that some band named ‘Jack’s Waterfall’ was playing. A short time later, I saw the band start carrying in their equipment so I decided to stick around for a little while. I’d never heard of them, but I had a perfect seat, so figured why not stay for a few minutes, have another beer and see if they were any good.
About 45 minutes later, 9:30 or so, the palace is packed, which is always a good sign if you’re looking for good music. They started playing and are excellent! They played all kinds of different stuff; Pop, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Gospel and even some African music. I really enjoyed it. They did a great rendition of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’. Now one set turned into two and then two turned into three. I enjoyed it so much I closed the joint. I had a great time. I even bought their CD, it’s called “Calling All Angels”.
I got home and put the CD on. Here is the list of the songs on the CD; Vision, The Hero, The Sweetest Music, Spirit Voices, Believe, Song of Hope, Vuelve, I Am No Prisoner and Calling All Angels. It was very enjoyable, so much so that I put the CD on repeat, turned out the lights and sat back in a large comfortable chair I have and fell asleep after it had played through twice. I woke up when Brian got in and went to bed.
This morning I’m curious to learn something about the group, so look I them up on Google. It seems that Jack Licitra got into music many years ago as a way to help him deal with his father’s death. “The loss of his father at the age of 14 played a major a role in that. Writing songs to help his family through these tough times, Jack began to realize the healing power of music at a young age. It has always been natural for him to express through song and voice some of his deepest emotions in a creative and refined manner. He believes "Music or any of the arts are universal. A shared experience or communication that brings people closer together. It gets them in touch with things they were feeling, but never actually tried to express."
He took the name Jack’s Waterfall “… to reflect a vision of an ever-changing ensemble that would enable me to pursue a variety of creative forms. ...music has transformative qualities – it can facilitate healing, promote unity and certainly express powerful feelings. In my own life it has helped me deal with loss and the passage of time. I believe that the magic of art is its ability to transform the everyday into something greater, something universal, something shared.”
Interesting, huh?
You know, I’m very glad I went there last night because that could be a turning point for me right now. I loved the feelings I got listening to their music. I didn’t talk to anyone really, so to me, it was all about the music. Next week they are playing a charity thing a few towns over at the Brickhouse Brewery. I think I’m going to go. What’s not to like? Great music that makes me feel good and fresh brewed beer.
Okay, let's examine what happened.
1. I went to church even though I hadn't been in 4 or 5 years and I knew it would make me sad. I'm tired of being sad.
2. I got delayed leaving because I was talking to friends.
3. Didn't go with them to dinner, even though I would have liked to.
4. Where I wanted to go for dinner had no room.
5. I decided to skip other places I would have preferred to go, to go to Sweet Magnolias.
6. I got a good seat at the end of the bar where I could see what was going on, i.e., tables being moved, band setting up, etc.
7. ‘Jack’s Waterfall’ was playing and I buy their CD with some very relevant music. You'd know exactly what I was talking about if you heard the words. The titles make the point though.
Now, let me ask you. Was that just a series of coincidences or was that meant to be? I think it was meant to be. What do you think?
P.S.
I forgot a few things.
8. Three lovely young ladies, mid 30's I'd say, sat around the corner from me at the bar. They were just to the left of my view of the band.
9. The one that faced me had on a low cut top, showing a lot of cleavage. Did I ever tell you I like boobs?
10. Her friend that sat with her back to me, had on low rider jeans that kept "riding low" and revealing a pretty blue thong.
11. The barmaid also had on a low cut top so everytime she bent over to get a bottle of beer, the cleavage view was excellent.
12. I made it home safe and sound.
Just more reasons to drive my point home. ;-)
Sure you have, we all have.
Do you think these things were just a series of coincidences, or do you believe they happened because that something was meant to be? You know fate or destiny? Before you answer, let me tell you a story and then I’ll ask you again.
Last week I got a letter from our church letting me know that they were celebrating All Saints Day and that during the service they remember the church members that have passed away during the last year, Barbara being one of them. I kept changing my mind about going all week, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. Even though it would make me sad, I thought it would be a good way to honor Barbara and to let her know I’m thinking about her. Brian couldn’t come because he had to be at work a 4:00.
It was a really nice service. The pastor was excellent as usual, and we received Communion. I like that. I even got a little misty-eyed a few times, which I knew would happen. After the service, I hung around for a while to talk to some people I know. They asked me to go to dinner with them, but I didn’t accept the invitation. It would have been nice to chat some more, but I don’t know, I just decided not to go.
The first place I tried for dinner was packed. I decided not to keep trying other places because it was getting late and I was hungry, but to go to a little southern place near me called Sweet Magnolias. It’s never very crowded so I knew I could get a seat. I got a seat at the end of the bar nearer to door. It has really good food so I don’t know why it’s never crowded. I had trout stuffed with breading, shrimp and crayfish; it came with rice and steamed broccoli. Yummy! Did I tell you I like seafood?
Just when I was finished eating, the staff started removing some tables right by me, next to the bar. I knew what that meant, live music. I looked at the chalkboard and saw that some band named ‘Jack’s Waterfall’ was playing. A short time later, I saw the band start carrying in their equipment so I decided to stick around for a little while. I’d never heard of them, but I had a perfect seat, so figured why not stay for a few minutes, have another beer and see if they were any good.
About 45 minutes later, 9:30 or so, the palace is packed, which is always a good sign if you’re looking for good music. They started playing and are excellent! They played all kinds of different stuff; Pop, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Gospel and even some African music. I really enjoyed it. They did a great rendition of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’. Now one set turned into two and then two turned into three. I enjoyed it so much I closed the joint. I had a great time. I even bought their CD, it’s called “Calling All Angels”.
I got home and put the CD on. Here is the list of the songs on the CD; Vision, The Hero, The Sweetest Music, Spirit Voices, Believe, Song of Hope, Vuelve, I Am No Prisoner and Calling All Angels. It was very enjoyable, so much so that I put the CD on repeat, turned out the lights and sat back in a large comfortable chair I have and fell asleep after it had played through twice. I woke up when Brian got in and went to bed.
This morning I’m curious to learn something about the group, so look I them up on Google. It seems that Jack Licitra got into music many years ago as a way to help him deal with his father’s death. “The loss of his father at the age of 14 played a major a role in that. Writing songs to help his family through these tough times, Jack began to realize the healing power of music at a young age. It has always been natural for him to express through song and voice some of his deepest emotions in a creative and refined manner. He believes "Music or any of the arts are universal. A shared experience or communication that brings people closer together. It gets them in touch with things they were feeling, but never actually tried to express."
He took the name Jack’s Waterfall “… to reflect a vision of an ever-changing ensemble that would enable me to pursue a variety of creative forms. ...music has transformative qualities – it can facilitate healing, promote unity and certainly express powerful feelings. In my own life it has helped me deal with loss and the passage of time. I believe that the magic of art is its ability to transform the everyday into something greater, something universal, something shared.”
Interesting, huh?
You know, I’m very glad I went there last night because that could be a turning point for me right now. I loved the feelings I got listening to their music. I didn’t talk to anyone really, so to me, it was all about the music. Next week they are playing a charity thing a few towns over at the Brickhouse Brewery. I think I’m going to go. What’s not to like? Great music that makes me feel good and fresh brewed beer.
Okay, let's examine what happened.
1. I went to church even though I hadn't been in 4 or 5 years and I knew it would make me sad. I'm tired of being sad.
2. I got delayed leaving because I was talking to friends.
3. Didn't go with them to dinner, even though I would have liked to.
4. Where I wanted to go for dinner had no room.
5. I decided to skip other places I would have preferred to go, to go to Sweet Magnolias.
6. I got a good seat at the end of the bar where I could see what was going on, i.e., tables being moved, band setting up, etc.
7. ‘Jack’s Waterfall’ was playing and I buy their CD with some very relevant music. You'd know exactly what I was talking about if you heard the words. The titles make the point though.
Now, let me ask you. Was that just a series of coincidences or was that meant to be? I think it was meant to be. What do you think?
P.S.
I forgot a few things.
8. Three lovely young ladies, mid 30's I'd say, sat around the corner from me at the bar. They were just to the left of my view of the band.
9. The one that faced me had on a low cut top, showing a lot of cleavage. Did I ever tell you I like boobs?
10. Her friend that sat with her back to me, had on low rider jeans that kept "riding low" and revealing a pretty blue thong.
11. The barmaid also had on a low cut top so everytime she bent over to get a bottle of beer, the cleavage view was excellent.
12. I made it home safe and sound.
Just more reasons to drive my point home. ;-)
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