Today is the day.

Duncan is in NC for his annual college SuperBowl Party.  I've had enough of traveling lately so I'll be at my 1st annual SuperBowl in Schenectady as the Panthers defeat the Pats by at least 7.  So I say.

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01 February 2004...Later

Railroad trestle over a frozen Mohawk River.	Frozen Mohawk River. Only a few snowmobile tracks.
Abandoned section of Erie Canal frozen over for cross-country skiers.	Railroad trestle over Mohawk River.
Railroad over Erie Blvd. at Union St.	Railroad over Nott St. going into our neighborhood.
Old trestle in The Stockade.	An old trestle in Glenville. Barely two lanes.
Tracks through the snow.	Better move, here comes a train.

Early morning adventures included following train tracks through the city with pictures and McGriddles.  The trestles in the city are dated 1903 through 1906 when the tracks were elevated to keep so many people from getting killed. They honestly look like they could fall at any time but I try not to think about it while I sit under them waiting on traffic lights.  My first McGriddles rocked by the way and the above images are thumbnailed.

The sun is out, Elvis Costello is blasting and Kaleb needs a walk.  Gotta go...

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01 February 2004...Later Again

So close, but what a great game.  I've never enjoyed a SuperBowl this much.  As a matter of fact, the playoffs were even better.  Next year, next year.

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04 February 2004

One step closer.

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05 February 2004

The Catholic Church is big in the northeast. North Carolina has big Catholic Churches but it's definitely not the dominate church. There were several allegations of sexual abuse in the area but nothing compared to New York. To this day, every other month there are new allegations and even one guy who claimed the priest stalked, harassed, and threatened him if he came forward. Yesterday, a guy came forward about his brother who doused himself with gas and ignited himself 25 years ago. In 1978, everyone knew he killed himself but his mom (or parents) had kept the suicide note to themselves. She died in December and while going through her stuff, his brother found the note along with his diary. The note and diary named the priest and everything they had done. His mom knew what was going on because she followed him to the rectory one time and my understanding was she also found some bloody underwear. The family is not asking for anything, only to honor the brother but letting the truth come out. His mom must have lived with this for 25 years. If she didn't want anyone to know, she would have destroyed all evidence. She didn't. I guess it was her way of telling the truth without having to say it, or admit it to herself.

Times were different, that's for sure. Better some might say, but I know things are better today. Secrets eat and you and can destroy you. I used to have secrets, so I know.

And all allegations were denied by the church.

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05 February 2004...Later

I want one.  For both feminine and family cleaning. It cleans and dries. I wouldn't even have to put my book down.

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09 February 2004

Matt Damon doesn't have to move over yet, but Orlando Bloom and George Eads have tickled my fancy.  Smart, beautiful, and talented.

Yesterday there was a news story on road rage. Must have been a slow news day because this story's been hashed out enough.  Their suggestion was to carry a sign about 8½x11 with the word SORRY printed on it in big letters.  My suggestion is not to piss people off. And don't crash your car as you look for your stupid sign to hold up.  I'm probably at my worst when I'm behind the wheel. I think I'm a pretty considerate driver. The problem arises when someone pisses me off with their rudeness. The words that come out of my mouth are pretty bad but it usually passes.  I've only flipped someone off a few times and only spit at someone once.  Last year while driving down by New York City, a lady tagged me in the back but not hard so I just shrugged my shoulders at her and she did the same.  It would've been too much trouble to stop.  Traffic was was very heavy and I didn't think there could be much damage.  There wasn't. Why get mad, right? On the other hand, a guy tried to pass me by going straight in the right turn lane last weekend so I didn't let him in when the one lane road but two lanes wide narrowed. Shallow yes, but also sweet. To bad he didn't have his SORRY sign.

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12 February 2004

Growing up, my dad was like an emotional brick wall. He was never around and I was somewhat glad about that but I don't know why. It wasn't that he was mean, he just wasn't nice. In the last 15 years though, he has changed. I'd say now he's one of the nicest people I know. Not just to me, but to everyone. I've wondered many times what brought about this change. This was also about the same time his dad died. I've never heard him say anything nice about his dad, only that he made them work very hard and when he talks about his childhood, the good times he had were with his sisters. My mom has more to say though. My dad has told her many stories about his dad. The minute he could, he left and joined the Navy and never looked back. When he was done with that, he moved to the "big city" and never looked back. I remember my granddad coming to visit us just once or twice my whole childhood, and even then, I remember it being very uncomfortable. I don't think they ever reconciled their differences. My dad never talks about two things, his first marriage and his dad. We talk all the time and he fills me in on all the goings on in his life (sometimes twice during the same conversation) and visa-versa. I could see myself being him if he hadn't changed. So the chain is broken.

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12 February 2004...Later

Why I love Bette Davis:

Joan Crawford and Davis had feuded for years. During the making of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" Bette Davis had a Coca-Cola machine installed on the set due to Joan Crawford's affiliation with Pepsi. (Joan was the widow of Pepsi's CEO.) Joan got her revenge by putting weights in her pockets when Davis had to drag Crawford across the floor during certain scenes.

Davis told one interviewer that when she and Joan Crawford were first suggested for the leads, Warner studio head Jack Warner replied: "I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for either of those two old broads." Recalling the story, Davis laughed at her own expense. The following day, she reportedly received a telegram from Crawford: "In future, please do not refer to me as an old broad!"

Here are some quotes she had on Joan Crawford:

"I wouldn't piss on her if she was on fire."

"She has slept with every male star at MGM except Lassie."

"You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good...  Joan Crawford is dead, good!"

"Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies."

"The best time I ever had with Joan Crawford was when I pushed her down the stairs in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? "

"I see - she's the original good time that was had by all."

Can you feel the love? And some other quotes:

"Gay Liberation? I ain't against it, it's just that there's nothing in it for me."

"I'd marry again if I found a man who had fifteen million dollars, would sign over half to me, and guarantee that he'd be dead within a year."

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13 February 2004

Happy Anniversary baby, I've got you on my mind.

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15 February 2004

Yesterday started out going to the vet to see why Kaleb was walking with a limp.  Turns out she has a sprained rear leg.  I feel so bad for her because you can tell she's in pain even with the medicine and she can't communicate it.  this morning she hasn't wanted to do anything except lay around which is highly bizarre. I finally picked her up to make sure she was alright. It was several hours before she would even go outside to use the bathroom.  I just wish she could talk to say she'd be alright.

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16 February 2004

I go out the back door and look left...

...and then right.  It's just as cold either way.

Kaleb's still tending to her sprain.  She does this by sleeping.  She wants to be left alone and as strange and selfish as it sounds, I don't want to do that.  I know she doesn't want to but it hurts my feelings.

17 February 2004

Congratulations are in order I must say!

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18 February 2004

Rule #1:  Suck + Suck always equals Suck.

Rule #2:  Get teary eyed when you see friends get married.

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20 February 2004

I should have learned by now not to go into a convenience store on a Friday afternoon payday when the Mega-Millions is up to $230 million because I always get behind some loser blowing their whole paycheck and picking each number one by one.  I just wanted a soda!  And besides, I'll be winning that money, thank you.

I took Kaleb to the vet for the 4th time since Christmas today because her leg didn't seem to be getting any better.  It turns out she has a chipped bone and it should heal itself but it'll take a little longer.  Poor smelly dog.

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25 February 2004

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

"Can we somehow change this so we can keep the fags from marrying?  Maybe we can change it so they can't vote either."  George W. Bush did something no other president in U.S. history has ever done, he demanded a constitutional amendment to require discrimination in America.

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26 February 2004

Tuesday our mayor said he would marry same sex couples but he'd have to consult with the city attorney first.  They decided to hold off because the city cannot afford any legal troubles and I understand that. In the meantime, the backlash started.  Besides being slammed with calls from gay couples inquiring about marriage licenses, City Hall got calls from a clergy member and an anonymous woman who called him stupid and chastised the City Council President for coming out in favor of gay marriage.  The head of the County Republican Committee in his brilliance said, "We never thought Mayor Stratton's first economic initiative would be to have Schenectady get into the same sex marriage business.  What's next?  Tax breaks for flower shops and divorce lawyers?"  Hey, that's and exact quote.

Personally, it sounds like a cash cow to me.  We're pretty close to New York City, and let's say at $200 a pop, we'd be one step farther from bankruptcy.  It would mean extra business for the hotels and the restaurants in the area.

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27 February 2004

The mayor of New Paltz will become the first to marry gay couples in New York today.  The New York State Health Department warns the marriages will be illegal and penalties are possible.  We'll see where this goes.

For me, I'm getting ready for a trip to sunny warm North Carolina where 17 inches of snow is on the ground.  Years of getting e-savers every week finally paid off.  The local news anchors were talking about it and one asked, "Do they have snow plows?" and the other said, "I'm sure they have one."

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27 February 2004...Later

Our friend Madison is playing in the 17 inches of snow they received in Charlotte. I finally got a ticket out of this place and they get 17 inches of snow.

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