I think because we recently watched the entire nine seasons Waltons series, all three sequel movies, all three reunion movies, the pilot movie, and Spencer’s Mountain, I have been thinking about writing. And just now I started thinking about the novelette I wrote. I didn't read it again; maybe I will soon. But I was turning over in my mind what the redeeming quality or lesson would be. It's such a tragedy. I’d already identified her sense of humor, love for cats, and artistic talent as her best qualities. I asked myself the question, “was she a good friend?” I think she wasn't, and eventually I wasn't a good friend to her either. 

I tried to remember times when I would have called her a good friend. When we were kids, don't remember whether it was in high school when she lived with us, or if it was later, when I was in college and she was living there without me most of the time, she organized the secretary. I remember she left  notes to me in there after she straightened it up. I thought it was nice of her. I had one of my usual messes going on in the desk, and I wasn't annoyed, but I did think while nice, it maybe was an overstep. She tended to use cleaning as a way of showing affection, or as an apology, or perhaps she felt fearful and believed it would prevent something negative, like an argument or direct questions, the kind of stuff that was routine in her family. 

Much later, when I got my Master's Degree and invited everyone over for a party, she agreed to be here to meet the caterer. She went to my small graduation ceremony the day before at the downtown campus rather than the big one at the Knickerbocker Arena. Being here to meet the caterer was a very nice thing she did. But then it was ruined afterwards by her behavior once everyone was here. She pulled me outside in the yard and confided through tears that she felt trapped, like she was in a box. I was distracted, preoccupied by having all of my and Bob's families inside. I am reminded with this story of Anne's wedding eve nightmare. A similarity. She wanted to be the center of attention whenever I had something else important going on, I guess to validate my affection for her?

She shoplifted gifts for me when she worked in Woodstock. I'm not sure whether that was nice. I guess it was, in a screwed-up way. She gave me a favorite mug of mine. It says something about preferring to be sleeping. 

That's about all I can come up with under the heading “good friend.” Still a tragedy…

In the words of Burke, the founder of trustee representation - that I owe the village my enlightened conscience, and ought not to sacrifice it to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

The most astonishing thing has happened. Out of no where a nurse who cared for Donna contacted me. For three years, she'd been searching for the sisters or anyone who knew and had a relationship with Donna. She came across the high school yearbook photo in my Facebook album that was labeled with Donna's name. She was careful not to violate HIPAA, but she told me about the last months of Donna's life.

At one point she wrote:

"She finally became well enough for discharge and almost immediately went missing."

That sums up the last 25 years of her life. I feel as if I have received one of those phone calls I'd get every couple years & Donna is filling me in on what she has been doing. She never changed. To the end she was having adventures. And she managed to suck the nurse in and haunt her to this day.

It's primary day today!

First week back on campus! It's good to be back, but it signals the looming end of the growing season, and that makes me sad.

They are even more beautiful in person. The best hanging baskets to grace the front porch, ever. Golden Harvest Farms rocks! They must be the new variaet that doesn't need deadheading. And, they are not sterile! Small plants that are now blooming have sprung up in the little triangle patch of purslane and grass near the sidewalk below them.

I will be teaching toleration again this Fall, after taking a break from the class during the Spring semester. I'd taught it every Fall and Spring semester since 2005, so was glad to skip last Spring, but I think the class is important and I'm looking forward to teaching it again. I'm going to make it a blended class. I also plan to emphasize how much *I* find myself thinking of the theories and applying them in everyday life. For instance Domain Theory, which I referenced in this blog twice recently. Good examples of the two domains are students calling me by my first name without asking first or making assumptions about my marital status (Mrs., when my surname is my patronym) or level of education (Ms. rather than Dr.) -- these are violations of social convention; there are no intrinsic consequences from the action, but it is a rule that is socially agreed upon; and animal or child abuse -- breaches in the moral domain (where intrinsic harm is caused, regardless of the social norm).

I was reminded of toleration on Facebook recently; there is a meme image being shared that begins something like "I am not the tolerant left. I am the appalled left" and continues listing items. I didn't comment (I stay far away from controversy on FB) but the meme lingered on my mind. It's true that both the left and the right are not tolerant. It's the moderate who are tolerant. Tolerance takes compromise. Vogt's book was written over 20 years ago - and we are even more divided today.  

I have been to Howe Caverns once (20 years ago?) and while I'm glad I went, I remember feeling anxious -- with my clothes on. I had a scary experience in a cave 35 years ago. No desire at all to go there again, whether clothed or naked.

I could cite this as an example of questionable behavior leading to career success, but since I believe truth is always stronger in the end, I won't. She was one of two people in a pick-up truck who pulled up after Riverkeeper Sweep and hassled Bob. They represented themselves as Amtrak employees but would not give their names. We got their license plate number. After the train accident, she posted sensational and inaccurate stories on her TV-10-branded Facebook page. I believe they also aired on the news, but did not see the stories myself. By then I had already figured out that the guy in the truck was an Amtrak engineer. He and some of his associates had been giving me guff on the Village and Friends Facebook pages. Once the reporter's first story was posted on Facebook, I was able to ID her as the passenger in the truck. So I sent her a FB message protesting her stories and setting the record straight. Did she have the courtesy to answer? No. I considered reporting her behavior to TV-10, but decided against. I probably should have done so, but I know truth will be the victor in this case, too. A sort-of aside, a recent news story she posted on FB had a Saratoga horse racing theme. That crosses my moral domain (my prior cartoon post is also about the moral domain). The only acceptable story on the horse racing  topic is how cruel it is - not whether whichever horse is winning should come to Saratoga to break his or her leg. It reminded me, when I am done with public service and river access advocacy, back to other bucket list (a term I can't stand, LOL) items.

The days-long extreme heat waves and frigid cold snaps are a collective bonding experience for northerners.

Hot topics in social media administrator-land: Over on the Friends of Main Street page, there is lively (to the point of having to be watched) commentary about the proposed Amazon fulfillment center. At the Village page, on a post about even/odd parking for summer street sweeping, there is a polite hijack about excessive speeding on Village streets. Meanwhile the department's page is quiet, after receiving a hand-slap from the university's social media police. My co-administrator posted the verboten "SUNY Albany" (rather than "University at Albany" or "UAlbany") several times in a post.

This will be incredible, if it happens. I had heard rumors that amazon was the tenant. I view the opposition to the project as NIMBY at its worst. That area lost the battle to stay wilderness or farmland when the Berkshire Spur went in and then Route 9 became 5 lanes. Newsflash: Don't buy a house in a development anywhere and expect it to stay rural. I also believe philosophically that consumers should have to host necessary services they use in their communities -- where should it go, if not in areas where lots of people shop amazon? Should Amish farmland be used instead of the suburbs 15 miles from Albany?

I hope the suicide-themed warning posts are over on social media. Yesterday I even got an email from the university on the topic. Two famous people kill themselves and the web goes haywire? Don't misunderstand, I feel bad that they took this action, and I have always been concerned about the incidence of suicide, but I'm not sure whether the attention is helpful or harmful.

I think one of the reasons I don't write here as much as I'd like is because now that I'm an elected official, it would not be right to share specifics that might reveal who I am writing about. I've always had this restriction because I teach, but it is way worse now that I am a trustee. Hardly anyone reads this, but some do, and the risk is too great. Suffice to say, people can be extremely irritating.

Then there is another situation of a personal nature that has been going on for a few months now, and I can't write about that either! See the last sentence of the above paragraph.

Exciting Times

Yesterday, I read the most delightful thing Mimmie wrote - in 1972. What a treat. Have to type it up.

It's hard to believe it has been twenty-five years since she died. I wish I could have a cup of tea, piece of danish (heated up in the toaster oven, of course) and a visit with her, but my memories will have to do. Miss you, Mimmie! This year, I know Uncle Buddy is with you.

We had an election in the Village on Tuesday. Bob and I were running for our second terms. No one filed petitions to be on the ballot, so it was a big relief that it was an uncontested race. We didn't do a lot of campaigning as a result, although we did have 100 brochures printed and bought 100 buttons.

Then on Friday, we leaned that there was a secret write-in campaign for Mayor by the former mayor (whom Bob beat in 2016) going on. It's silly to think that a secret like that could be kept, and it wasn't. But the clock was ticking. The strategy was clearly low turn-out -- the only way he could win was if few people voted except his organized supporters, and it was a safe assumption that turn out would be low, as it always is in an uncontested year. I am not sure if he was aware the No Bob, No Gina - No Gina, No Bob policy was in force again (meaning I would have declined the seat if Bob didn't win). It is quite possible he didn't care, and hoped his strategy would knock us both off the board.

Some say his tactics were clever and smart. I say they may have been legal, but they were not moral or ethical. And they didn't work, of course. We got our strong network alerted, I printed 700 flyers on my marvelous printer, and Bob kicked his you know what. How did he think he could ever beat Bob? He must be living in an alternate galaxy.

What is appalling to me is not his vindictiveness, which comes as no surprise at all. It's that the people who did write in did not care that he has no platform. No plan. And did very little during the six years he was in office. I guess the supporters are either stupid, are comfortable with a decaying village, he made empty promises, or they share his bad character. Sad any way you slice it.

Final thought, why would you want to win that way? Our slumbering supporters would have been furious. He would have faced open revolt -- lucky for him he can now crawl back into a dark corner like all sneaky creatures.

I'm not a big fan of walking out of class at any time, and when college students have done it to demonstrate over an issue (usually rising tuition) I have not been pleased, but I do appreciate the political and speech aspect of protest and I like student initiative. If I was a guide for the walk out participants, I would have advised them to ask teachers to have a lesson related to the issue (varying based on subject) and organize a mass demonstration on the weekend or evening. I hate to be cynical, but I will. It's easier to ask students to join if academic time rather than personal time is being sacrificed.

I had the 16th anniversary of this blog last week.

So far this March really is coming in like a lion. Why is it when we are getting a nor'easter or have lost electricity, all the a-holes (many of whom have retired south with their public sector pensions that us northern tax payers funded) chime in on social media to gloat about the weather in Florida.

I have never seen a northerner make a snarky comment when they have a hurricane and their houses have been destroyed. I feel like writing this when I see their insensitive remarks, with a parting shot of "good riddance to you, please don't come back even for a visit" but of course I never would.

Uncle Buddy died! :-( Here is his obituary.

I made a campaign website.

Having a new computer is awesome, but getting everything to work the way it should (printer, software, passwords, etc.) is such a hassle!

My computer crashed on Wednesday. It wasn't completely unexpected, since it had been acting up for the past several weeks. It was six years old and didn't owe me anything. Because it was not working properly, I backed up my files in late November, so the data loss was not extreme. A new computer was delivered today! I have been working on my laptop, so it hasn't been a really big deal except that I don't like typing on the laptop keyboard, and I don't have my files readily available without swapping in and out flash drives. Also, programs work a little differently on the laptop, a slight learning curve but I don't feel like investing time to customize it or enter accounts.Waiting until I have set up my new computer for that!

In other news, the first Repair Cafe of 2018 is tomorrow!

I think I have never missed posting for an entire month before! Oh well...my first post of 2018. We dumped Spectrum because they wanted us to get a set-top box and pay $11.75 per month to rent it. When it came, hooking it up didn't work, and after hours on the phone, they wanted to send a technician. So instead we canceled, got a new Roku (the old one owed us nothing) and a digital antenna. Bye Spectrum! You suck! (A new annoyance from them -- they call all the time pitching something. Time Warner did too, but Spectrum ratchets it up by insisting you need a service call because there is a problem.)

I finished fall grades two days ago, but didn't enter the grades untul this morning. And then Winter session begins today! There are 10 students in my class. I already got one email with a student who is "confused," asking what is due today. Always funny, as blackboard reveals student has put in zero time exploring class, which of course has several documents that explain everything.

I had a memory today of Mimmie and her old house on Whispell Road. I have never written about it before. Upstairs there was a small bedroom where we slept when I stayed overnight. The toilet (there was no bathroom) was in the downstairs bedroom where Grandpa and eventually Uncle Bud slept. Mimmie had a chamberpot upstairs for us to use (for pee only, LOL) during the night. I wonder how many people my age have had this experience? I think I had this memory today because the bathroom in my old house is three flights down from my office and the bedroom. I was thinking how handy that chamberpot would be!

Don't really know what to say about this story. It's scary that someone would have no common sense. There should be a penalty for such absolute stupidity, but I'm not sure jail time is the appropriate choice.

I am amazed by the #metoo phenomenon. It's not that I am exactly surprised, especially by the appalling behavior of those in the media and politics. For years we gave Roman Polanski and Woody Allen a free pass, rather than shunning them for the creeps they are. What is more shocking is that it is so widespread everywhere. Personally, I can't say I have had this type of experience often, except on a couple of occasions, and it was not extreme or serious; it did not rise to the level of a #metoo. On the other hand, I have sometimes been targeted over my religion, and especially over my ethnicity -- or should I say, my half ethnicity. The latter happened to me all the time, and in every setting. It still happens on occasion. I can only shake my head.

On a completely different note -- my classes are over today. Yippee!!

Things are going incredibly well in the Village. I am so pleased. However, there is still occasional pushback from a few select individuals. It's like they are so comfortable with their dystopian reality -- a dead, crumbling Main Street -- that change and improvement are too threatening.

I am a yogurt enthusiast, and I have loved Chobani since the company first got started. I recently bought some Noosa brand yogurt at The Store, and it is incredibly delicious! I am not abandoning Chobani entirely (which luckily The Store sells as well), but I encourage you to try Noosa!

I don't understand the trend of tearing down buildings that have been the scene of violence. It's not that I think congregations or school communities don't have the "right" to do it, but do people think the tragedy will somehow be erased or that the building itself is responsible?

Election Day. So here is my annual complaint post. I know, I know...they weren't always accurate, they weren't modern, they weren't efficient, the records weren't good enough, blah, blah, blah. But even after several years, I still miss you, lever voting machine, and feel nostalgic for the past. The click of the little levers...scanning the top for ballot initiatives...trying to write upside down during a write-in campaign...the turquoise curtain...the loud snap of the big red lever in the beginning and end. I will never get used to the scantron system, which always seems confusing and not private enough, and as a result, I now dislike voting. RIP, charming dinosaur :-(

I will be so glad when tomorrow's election is over. Tired of throwing mailers into the recycle bin. I should just put the bin under our mail slot so they fall in when the mailman delivers and save myself the trouble. How much $ did the candidates spend on them?

I've had a drop in the number of posts here over the past two years, but very recently, I've felt like writing a flurry. Not sure whether it will continue. But today's post is about Massachusetts considering year-round Daylight Savings Time, but not wanting to do it alone.

“Massachusetts should only consider moving to what in essence is year-round Daylight Saving Time if a majority of other northeast states, also possibly including New York, also do so,” Commission chairwoman Sen. Eileen Donoghue said.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want my hour back & I don't want it to be dark at 7 AM. Can't wait to be back on EST - REAL TIME. I am still pissed that DST is starting earlier (in March) and ending later (in November).  DST is torture. I guess I am OK with it in June, July, August -- but hate it in October and March. If a switch to consistent time is considered, it should be to real time -- EST -- NOT DST.

I searched this blog, and see that I have written about my dislike of DST many times before, especially regarding Springing Ahead. So I made a new label. If this idea is considered in NYS, my opposition will make Save Our Stewart's look like apathy.

I hate to admit this, but I think I am getting burnt out on teaching. Not at the graduate level, but at the undergraduate level. I say "they are getting younger and younger," but it isn't that I can't relate to them or keep up with them. What bugs me is the (admittedly small) proportion who just don't care and make no effort. This type of student has always been present, but it bothers me more now. Why would someone (fairly) consistently come to class, but make no effort and do no work? I have five small five point assignments due throughout the semester. Why would someone just not hand them in? Four of the five are done at this point -- so this is a loss of 20 points already. I don't get it.

So I've been doing Blue Apron since late August. Overall, I like it. I don't think it's too expensive or a bad value, the vast majority of the recipes have been delicious, the ingredients are both fresh and unusual, and it saves me from having to go to the supermarket (something I hate) so often.

At first I struggled with all the steps on the recipe card, and with the amount of dishes generated. But after a couple weeks, I figured out how to streamline things and use some of my own methods, instead of theirs. I also have been able to use ingredients for something else, when I suspect the recipe will not work for me.

A few times there have been missing ingredients, but customer service has been great about issuing refunds. I took the opportunity to give feedback, but I don't think they are using my suggestions. As a vegetarian, the recipes tend toward too much reliance on carbs (pasta especially) and do not include ingredients like seitan. Only twice have the recipes been things I consider truly inspired from a vegetarian perspective (both were lentil dishes). I did a little looking on the 'net, and there does not seem to be any vegetarian or vegan service. Or rather, there are, but the recipes sound no different than Blue Apron.

My most significant criticism, and it is quite a serious one: the packaging. They use far too much plastic, and it is mostly, if not entirely, unnecessary. Every little thing is in a film plastic bag. Why? I don't need 10 red pepper flakes in a plastic bag. I don't use the red pepper anyway, but I would feel this way even if I loved it. I don't get it. If I discontinue the service, this is likely to be the reason why.

Trees for Tribs was a success!

This video is coming up as a memory post from three years ago on Facebook and a friend shared it this morning. It's still great, possibly even better now, because in the end, we won! We fought to the point of being a-holes. We tortured @garydake and @StewartsShops on the net -- and were rewarded by being blocked from their Facebook page. We boycotted. (No easy feat when traveling from Castleton-on-Hudson to Samsonville on the Thruway!). We took our protest to the Village, and used the momentum to grab two board seats 18 months later. Some people, even close friends and family, laughed at our intensity and thought we were crazy. But our advocacy caused Stewart's to lift their usual deed restriction of no convenience store, and three years later, we have a better privately owned shop at the location (as @chris_churchill announced in the Times Union) and Main Street is revitalizing!

Two upcoming events!

I'm sure the two people in this story are / were wonderful human beings, and it's sad the man died. I was extremely relieved the dog was saved by police.

More commentary on something that is contentious on Facebook, and I am not joining in. Full disclosure: I can't stand football. I find America's obsession with it like a scene from Idiocracy. The only reason the "athletes" are (far) less sympathitic than in the "sport" I disdain even more (horse racing) is because they choose to play, and they are paid handsomely. I could not care less whether they streak, do cartwheels or set themselves on fire on the field. What gets my attention is when a scum like Vick is still given kudos by his former team and that team's fans, rather than called out for the jerk he is. I also am appalled at people's understanding of the First Amendment. The Bill of Rights is all about limiting government power. "Congress shall make no law..." The First Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with fans boycotting, owners threatening to fire players, or keyboard pundits yelling about it on Facebook. Finally, I am shocked how little attention anyone pays to this issue. The players themselves don't care, and the team owners, beer and car companies, media and fans certainly don't. We may as well still be watching a spectacle dating from Roman times.

I think it says a lot that I am only comfortable sharing this brave and excellent column here (I saw it on FB).

Happy Birthday to me!

In 2014, when Stewart's announced they would close, I dreamed of an article like this one in the Times Union. Pinch me.

I am in the midst of a very unpleasant situation with a contractor. In all my years of home ownership (30 in Castleton-on-Hudson and 18 in Samsonville) I have never had a bad experience, much less anything like this happen. It is not over yet, and I have no prediction for when or how it will resolve. I consider myself unmaterialistic, and so I know it is only a house, but it's a significan part of my retirement portfolio, not to mention a source of relaxation and stress reduction, a place to get away from the demands of professional life. Bob is proud of the work he has done on the house, and in fact, only finished his every-three-year maintenance of the exterior finish a couple weeks ago (and this time it took two summers to complete). Since he received the startling news from the contractor while he was at work late Thursday afternoon, we have discussed and brainstormed and theorized about "Why?" Why is this happening? How could it happen? WTF? We want a logical explnation, one that makes some kind of sense. Sometimes there is no rational explanation I guess, and that's hard to swallow. Maybe the dude is just plain crazy, or a liar, or a cheat. Last night we postulated, perhaps he is a drug abuser, and is addicted to opioids. That would explain his behavior, and make more sense than anything else we have formulated.

I refuse to comment about this story on Facebook, because a mob of commenters would call me an idiot or worse for saying this, but there is something very wrong with this story. The detective in me says "Screw up and Cover up." How did the officer get shot in the abdomen? He was facing the cop who shot him? And they still can't figure out who it was? What BS. I'll bet they freaked out when they learned the victim -- who they shot six times -- did not have a gun and was a beloved elementary school teacher, and they had to work very, very hard on spin. Most people gobble it up, of course, and are fine with blaming the victim. Suicide by cop is only supported because cops killed him. Death by cop is way more accurate. The take away for me? Stay far away from cops, especially local ones.

Finally picked the first tomato!! Isn't it a beauty?

So many things happening: End of summer & back to campus (summer class ends this week), and in the Village, Repair Cafe, farmer's market, and I finally got a grant! Despite writing nine so far, I've had success with only two, and both are not money, but things (seeds for community garden and the latest, plants for the park).

I wish I had time to write more, but someday this blog will be a priority again.

The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson will be hosting Repair Cafe at the Village Hall, 85 South Main Street, on Saturday, July 15, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Bring your beloved but broken item and volunteers will do their best to fix it for free.

Getting psyched!

Instead of a cartoon, I made this

I have been spending an enormous amount of time doing research and writing grants for the Village. I enjoy it, and it has garnered compliments from reviewers, but unfortunately no actual $ awards to date. Yesterday was a demoralizing day, so I think I'll pick myself up, dust myself off,  draw a cartoon, and move on.

Spring grades are done! (Deadline is tomorrow.) Just have to enter them. Summer session begins May 31...

About the last post, apparently it was open & shut guilty. And, I continue to be revolted by the defense attorney.

I've been finding the quest I've been on for a year - getting access to the Hudson River for the village -- very demoralizing. First, all the grants I've written have come to nothing except compliments from the state (about how excellent the writing was). I'm changing my focus from "keep your word & build us a bridge" to "just open the gate because it's equitable." I'm not very optimistic about that approach either.

Riveted by this trial. Maybe because I can't stand rich entitled punks who are enabled by their foolish families. Also because I've found the defense attorney repugnant ever since she sported an offensive Halloween costume at a party, and was in the DA's office, prosecuting the shooting at UAlbany in the 1990s. And most importantly, I know I am not on the jury hearing the arguments (and not hearing some evidence that is public) but it seems open & shut guilty to me.

There have been several occasions since my last post when I had an idea for something I wanted to write here, but I was busy and didn't make the time. Now that I am writing...can't remember or don't seem relevant any longer, LOL. I know, saw Barenaked Ladies at the Egg last Friday (sixth time we've seen them, and they were awesome, as always), and one project I am working on for the Village that I am really excited about: Repair Cafe (July 15). It will be the first in the Capital District!

I like this TU writer. He championed the village in the Save Our Stewarts advocacy and I am forever in his debt. However, I disagree with this column. A policy may have more than one goal, in this case supporting middle-class college students and keeping college graduates in the state. There will surely be consequences of this policy, and some may be unintended. One can debate the merits of the residency requirement, but trying to avoid being an exporter of our most skilled workers is hardly an evil justification. Making a deal that is palatable to both the Assembly and Senate is difficult. And, full disclosure, this will be good for SUNY, my undergraduate and graduate alma mater and where I have worked for nearly thirty years.

On a completely different subject, in honor of my father's 90th birthday, I am sharing this story I wrote years ago that was published by the Daily Freeman in 2006. Happy birthday to Daddy, one of the best storytellers I know.

 

This is a tragedy, and a crime.

The Nicholaus building was adjacent to the former Olender Mattress building. Before the Olender was razed, historic preservationists called for an in-depth review of how demolition might affect the Nicholaus building. At the time, Schenectady Heritage Foundation Chairwoman Gloria Kishton said she believed the demolition would "extremely endanger" the Nicholaus building, and called for an engineering plan to be developed that would ensure its structural integrity.

That this was not done makes all involved culpable for this shameful act of historic destruction. Makes me sick!

A comment on the United Airlines passenger assault.

Full disclosure:

• I am not much of a traveler (call me provincial, but I just don't like it much. Also, when you decide to have a weekend house, all extra resources go in that direction. And finally, I favored staycations before that annoying term was coined)
• If I was a traveler, I prefer trains and would not be an air traveler (can you say "carbon footprint?")
• I am not big on being publicly embarrassed or physically injured. So even if I had initially refused to leave the plane, I would have immediately done so the moment the cops arrived. No screaming. No dragging.

That stated,why didn't they increase the incentive until there were enough willing takers? The bad PR (and eventual lawsuit) from this will cost them way more. Stupid!

It was fun to see the Airplane! clips floating around social media, though. Love that movie.

Finally hit my stride in my toleration class this semester. It was a rough start because the room is just awful - small, crowded & very structured, and discussion is difficult at best. The registrar was either unwilling or unable to find me new space. So I've been suffering (tolerating, lol). One change I've made is to rely somewhat less on in-class discussion (I'm using online discussion instead). I decided to go in-depth into a subject rather than taking a mile wide and an inch deep approach, so since March 9 we've been focused on a single topic (classroom simulations). We've seen a documentary (A Class Divided), read a novel (The Wave), written a paper, had an all-class discussion of the paper executive summaries (by creatively re-arranging the desks) and it has so engaged them that I decided to stick with the focus another week. At their request, Tuesday I purchased (from amazon) and showed another excellent documentary called "The Lesson Plan" about the actual "Third Wave" class experiment.

I have three reactions to the ridiculous Pepsi / Kendall Jenner thing (what else to call it escapes me).

• Two minutes is ridiculously long for a cola ad.
• This is a faux controversy, generated for publicity by the company and the model.
• The most irritating part: It's hawking soda! EWWW. Nobody should be drinking that crap.

OK, this is unrelated. Because of weeding my FB feed of all political posts, it is now almost exclusively nice photos and funny memes from friends, or atrocious stories about animals. Yesterday there was one about a teenager stomping a Chihuahua to death. Currently NYS is negotiating a late budget, and one of the roadblocks is "raise the age" legislation. I tend to think 16 & 17 year olds should not be prosecuted as adults, but yesterday after reading that appalling story, I thought, prosecute him as an adult, or better yet, forget the trial, and let a mob stomp him to death. (And this is coming from someone who doesn't support the death penalty.)

I don't visit the Times Union's website as often as I once did, mostly because the screen seems to now be optimized for phones or tablets, and I only use my devices for email and social media or rarely, a google search. But I do visit by clicking links in Facebook when I am using a desktop computer. Today while I was there reading about a college student who died after a pancake eating competition, I looked at the list of "most popular" stories and noticed one about the TU's integrity, or rather, lack thereof. It was a post from the blogs section (from a lifestyle blogger I've never read before). I read it, and laughed. Not to dismiss what seems like the blogger's genuine outrage, but it was re-hashing the same tired subject that has been visited and re-visited numerous times over the years, about the unfairness of TU policies regarding non-staff, community, unpaid bloggers. That history was not detailed (and possibly is not known by the current crop of volunteer bloggers), but having read the TU blogs quite a bit years ago and every so often more recently, I would need more than ten fingers to count off the number of times the situation has arisen. The TU does something to offend such as edit or delete, a group of bloggers cries foul, one or more depart (willingly or unwillingly), other bloggers defend the unfairly treated blogger(s), and commenters also defend or sometimes fight each other. URLs to the new blogs of the departed are shared. The controversy gets a lot of attention for a couple days, generating clicks on the TU website. The TU will eventually recruit and promote new community bloggers who are naive and flattered by the offer of the TU platform. Lather, rinse, repeat.

It's quite amazing how defensive people get when you criticize television. They don't want to be seen as a TV person, but don't you dare threaten it!

Recently we binge watched the amazon original series "Catastrophe." Once we got through Season 1, I remarked, "it is a vulgar show." We started Season 2, and it went from kind of vulgar but funny, to very vulgar and quite offensive. We bailed before the first episode ended. Really? Their banter about their baby's penis made me think "pedophiles" and the treatment of the dog was what led to us bailing. No thanks. Not funny or worth the time.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'm sharing this story from my book "A Visit with Mimmie: Catskill Mountain Recipes."

All four of Mimmie's grandparents immigrated from Ireland. She was proud of her Irish heritage, and had no patience for tired jokes about being Irish and drinking. Her mother, she said, would not touch birch beer or root beer either, just because of the word “beer.”

On the card for my 18th birthday she wrote:
“Want to wish you Happy Birthday for Tuesday. Hope my card gets there on time. Eighteen is a lovely age to be isn’t it. Just think you are now your own boss. Have a Happy Birthday Tuesday and don’t drink too much (champagne). Suppose that is spelled wrong, but guess you will know what I mean. That horrible tasting drink that they always have at weddings.”

Years later, I noticed Irish Soda Bread being sold at the Kiwanis Club barbecue at the firehouse. and many restaurants serve it on St. Patrick's Day. I was not really familiar with it, so was wondering if Mimmie had a recipe for it. I looked, and couldn't find anything. However, the 1926 Old Book begins with a recipe for Irish Wedding Cake. Mimmie wrote on the page: “I started this cookbook in 1926. My first recipe was given to me by Gladys Fox.”

Irish Wedding Cake
Flour 2 cups
Baking Soda 1 teaspoon
Butter 1 tablespoon
Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
Cloves 1 teaspoon
Egg 1
Molasses 1 cup
Boiling Water 1 cup

Sift dry ingredients, add remaining ingredients and beat all together. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes in loaf pan, or recipe can be used to make layer cake. Use white icing.
Here's Mimmie's Irish Apple Cake recipe; this one is not from the 1926 notebook, but from the little 1970s mod recipe file box:

Irish Apple Cake
Flour, sifted 3 cups
Sugar 3/4 cup
Salt ½ teaspoon
Egg Yolks 3
Butter 1 cup
Lemon Rind, grated from one lemon
Applesauce 1-3/4 cup
Cinnamon ½ teaspoon
Cloves 1/4 teaspoon

Mix flour, sugar, salt, egg yolks, butter and lemon rind. Divide mixture in two parts. Press one part in bottom of pan. Mix applesauce, cinnamon, cloves, and spread over mixture in pan. Sprinkle rest of mixture over applesauce. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased 9x9x1-3/4-inch pan for 40 to 45 minutes. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

 Ann Kathryn McSpirit Eckert (1904-1993) at about age 17

The blizzard of '17

Today is the calm before the storm. We are supposed to get hammered with snow tomorrow. Mid-March is famous for these big storms.

This was a momentus week! Rosie's fifth gotcha day, the 15th blogversary of Gully Brook Pess, and The Store opened at the old Stewart's (and it is much nicer)!

Clearly not doing too well with that goal of posting here more than in 2016! The 15 year anniversary of this blog is coming March 1, so I better get busy.

Putting my new pencils (& pad) to good use.

Starting the year out with a post here to say, I'll set a goal to post more than I did in 2016. When I started this blog nearly 15 years ago in 2002, my goal was to write once per week. I easily hit that number in every year besides 2016. Bob came in from the car on Saturday with a set of colored pencils, handed it to me and said, "I bought this for you for Christmas and just found it in the trunk." I saw the sets at Ocean State on Sunday for $2.99, LOL. But I picked up a new sketch pad while there (I think the one I've been using I've had since high school). So that bodes well for Nileston News too.

This is my commentary on why 2016 is the year with the lowest number of posts (since its beginning in 2002) here at Gully Brook Press.

I don't care much for the new business lingo "looping in." Just sayin'.

I received unexpected compliments today. During a village-related meeting with the State, referring to our (unsuccesful) DRI application, one person remarked "I don't know who your grant writer is, but they should be a published writer" and the other said it was the best of the applications they received from smaller municipalities.

I am extremely alarmed by the recent narrative being pushed, that "fake news" on social media somehow influenced the election and so the remedy is censorship. I believe this is the result of regular media being threatened by alt media, and by regular media's inability to explain the election results. The censorship solution is outrageous -- as if outlets such as the New York Times have stellar record on accuracy! Speech is sacrosanct. The answer to offensive speech is not censorship -- it is more speech. It is a little amusing to see how worked up regular media is over everything, though. They grow increasingly more irrelevant and dig themselves in deeper & deeper.

I am considering changing my security settings on Facebook so that people can't post items on my wall.

And in honor (?) of election day, another graphic

Forgot to put up our Halloween picture! First time we've done costumes in years!

November 1 will become a momentous occasion: The one-year anniversary of becoming a vegetarian! It is something I've wanted to do since I was a teenager, and in recent years, I kept thinking it was on my bucket list (a concept I hate, BTW). It had been years since I'd eaten any meat, besides poultry and fish. But for some reason I could not give those up -- even though I felt guilty eating them. Finally, last year, I suddenly went "cold turkey," and it was easier than I'd imagined! I do not miss it at all, and did not, even in the first days. I feel much happier and more aligned with my principles. I was reminded of this today, when I got an email from a local farm about ordering my Thanksgiving turkey. When explaining that they will not know exact weights until the turkeys are "processed," I felt a pang at the euphemism. Not that I think agro-business slaughtering thousands of hormone-injected birds after they lived under inhumane conditions is better, because I certainly don't. But I still was disturbed by the email.

The new lifestyle has some health benefits for me, that I won't go into here in detail (suffice to say that a lifelong problem I had is just about gone). It is probably easier than I'd thought it would be because I am not a vegan. I understand the health benefits and support the philosophical reasons for veganism, but I can't figure out what I would eat. I go to restaurants often, that isn't changing any time soon, and vegetarianism is challenging enough. I might attempt it someday (and may find it easy, who knows) but for now I am pleased and proud to be a vegetarian.

Yesterday I made a vegetable pot pie. I've always loved pot pie and used to occasionally make chicken pot pie, and it occurred to me that it would be a wonderful vegetarian dish for fall. I made up to recipe. First, I made a double crust (2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup butter, 5 tablespoons cold water). Then, I made the filling (saute 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove garlic, 1 can mushrooms, a handful of carrots, 1 can small white beans, 1 bag frozen corn, 1 bag frozen peas -- I would have used potatoes too, but didn't have any). Then I made white sauce (2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 cup milk, 2 cups stock made from boiling vegetable peels). I poured 2/3 of the white sauce over the vegetable mixture, put it all in the pie crust, baked it for 50 minutes at 400 degrees, and served it with the remaining white sauce. It was awesome.

A few days ago Ted the Cat knocked my Kindle Fire on the floor (from the kitchen table). It was in a case and nothing was obviously broken, but when I used it the next day, it was dim and the color was off. I could fix it by tweaking settings, re-booting didn't help, so I went back to factory default, and that worked. Although having to set up all the accounts again is annoying. First world problem, I know.

The question is, how to handle someone who won't take no (10 times) for an answer, and continues trying to distract, waste time, and hijack?

We are in week 4 of the semester (hard to believe). It's going well -- my reduced schedule is much better. Toleration is majority freshman for the first time in years (and that's great). Two days ago was my birthday, and I turned 55. State retirement age! But of course I'm not retiring. I did something kind of radical and anti-social -- took my birth date off social media, and so did not get 200 Happy Birthday posts this year. I decided to do it not because of anyone on Facebook, but because I was in a crummy mood over village-related issues and I just didn't feel up to clicking all those "Likes" (LOL). It was a good day though. Ate dinner here, which was fabulous, and that's an understatement.

If it's August...it's time for my annual post about the disgusting frenzy in "The Summer Place To Be." I saw a painful story on the local TV news this weekend about the Travers. The interviewed women were so face-lifted and made-up under their gaudy hats that it looked like the freak show it is. My mantra: Not glamorous, not a sport, it's animal abuse. Promoted by the media! Ugly people on the inside & out.

On another note: my classes start tomorrow! (Semester begins today).

The Fall semester begins next week. I did not accomplish the same things I normally do during my long summer bread (gardening, reading, writing). Instead I wrote four grant proposals and did many other things for the Village, along with teaching my usual two classes. Let's hope the proposals pay off in some way and don't work out to be a waste of time that could have been better spent growing green beans, writing here, and reading Mark Twain! I'm pretty much ready to start the semester. I'm sad about the end of my long summer, but it will be good for me to get out of the house. The animals will be sad though!