Happy New Year. I was home from work on January 4th, since New York and Long Island got pelted by a nasty snow storm - about 10 inches in Islip.
I was able to dig out of the snow with the help of members of my fire company. But it remains cold - down to single digits - until around January 10th, when it reached the mid 30's.
On January 8th, I was heading to my fire company meeting when I was backing the CR-V out of the garage and collided with the side of the garage door frame, damaging the passenger side mirror. While I was able to "Jerry rig" a repair using duct tape, I still have to have it replaced at Babylon Honda. Ellen told me that I had to make the appointment and I will take the car to the dealer, which I did do on January 13th.
After I helped activate the cell phone of my cousin in law Charlotte, Verizon recommended that I upgrade to an I-phone, which arrived on January 10th. And since I know little about hi-tech, on the next morning I stopped by the Verizon Store at Madison & 43rd Street to have a technician help me set it up. It seems to be working OK, but I will have to get used to the mechanics.
Ellen, Eileen and I were supposed to go out to dinner with my brother in law and sister in law on New Year’s weekend, but thanks to the extreme cold and icy conditions, we had to postpone it until the snow and ice were gone. Besides Ellen, her brother also suffers from myopathy so neither wanted to go out until the grounds were clear. And that came over the weekend of January 13th. That is when we all met at Cafe Testarossa in Syosset. I enjoyed some grilled octopus for an appetizer, and linguine with white clam sauce for the main course - all washed down with white wine.
Ellen and I have been trying to get Eileen to do more walking, so on January 14th, after a trip to the Islip Library and then lunch at the local McDonald's, we drove to Babylon Village and walked for a few blocks along Main Street, stopping a couple of times to take photos.
I was off on the 15th for Martin Luther King Day, so when I got home from some errands, Eileen and I went to the movies in town to see Paddington 2. I loved the footage of London, and really would love to visit it again. I also liked what they said about Paddington himself, that he always wanted to see good in people (even convicts in this movie). Maybe I should also be like that and treat people like I would want to be treated.
Since January 16th, I have been reading Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit. Once I got past the first several pages, it has grabbed my interest. I enjoyed reading about how Tony Dungy changed the thinking patterns of both the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to the point each team eventually won a Super Bowl, and how Bill Wilson founded Alcoholics Anonymous and how it works to change routines and habits but does not change the cues and rewards. I liked how Proctor & Gamble changed the habits of millions with its new product, Febreze. There was a chapter dedicated to Alcoa’s CEO Paul O’Neill and how he changed the culture at that company, just by having certain habits of both management and workers at Alcoa by stressing safety and keeping communications lines open. Then there is a chapter about Starbucks, and how it changed the habits of its employees to always treat customers properly no matter what the circumstances (makes me want to visit one of their locations soon).
Over the weekend of January 20th and 21st, Eileen and I have gone for some nice walks. On Saturday we were going to go for a walk in Patchogue, but then I decided to walk around the Stony Brook University campus. sine I rode past in numerous times, but never went on it. Our walk on the 20th was enjoyable, and I mounted a few pictures from the day. Then on Sunday we decided to walk along the boardwalk in Sunken Meadow State Park. Like the day before, I brought along a camera, and pictures are mounted in the gallery.
During the following weekend, on January 27th, we went for a walk in Patchogue. But first we had lunch at the Subway in East Islip before heading east. Once we arrived in the village, I parked the car at the YMCA lot and then we walked along Main Street towards the east side of Patchogue. We saw that the village is becoming a foodie mecca, as well as a shopper's destination. Naturally we took some photos, and after about a mile walk, we drove back to Islip and did another walk from the firehouse to Town Hall and back but stopped at a gift shop (Nook & Cranny) and Eileen treated herself to a ballerina finger puppet.
I finished reading The Power of Habit and realized that there are some habits that I need to change - such as skipping candy, and certain beliefs about who is always right. When I finished The Power of Habit, I returned it and took out NBA Legend Bill Walton's autobiography, Back from the Dead. In this book, Bill has told us that he had a stuttering problem when young (I never knew that) and that basketball, and rock music, were his escapes.
On January 30th, I was off from work because I had an appointment with the dermatologist. The doctor wanted to check the cysts in one armpit (gone) and the eczema on my hands (almost gone).
On February 3rd, I paused to remember "the day the music died" and later I took Eileen to Starbucks where we bought a turkey sandwich, chips, and a brownie to take home and which she enjoyed. I enjoyed the Chef Boy-Ar-Dee spaghetti that I got from the firehouse (it was OK, but not like my grandma used to make). Then we went into town to visit the bank, and then the library. We also walked from the firehouse to the Oconee Diner by Islip Avenue to get some exercise. Ellen had gone to the supermarket by herself. She was still out around 4 PM, and I wanted to go to the 4:30 Mass at St. Mary's (to get the obligation over with). So I took Eileen with me to the 4:30 Mass at St. Mary’s. She behaved OK, as I promised her that we would stop in Sugared Up, so she could buy another Beanie Baby if she behaved. She basically did, but we had to leave right after Communion since she was getting restless. We did stop at Sugared Up there on the way home and she got a Beanie Baby penguin, bringing her collection up to 11.
Ellen, Eileen and I went to my American Legion Post to watch the Super Bowl just like we did last year. But this year we had planned to have Eileen’s coworker Shannon join us, but her mother told her she could not go. Maybe her mother does not know us that well, and I will not argue with her mother. We arrived early and had to wait until an officer opened the doors. The steps to the basement are very steep and Ellen would have had a very difficult navigating them. So she got to break in the new stair chair – and I learned where it was. We watched the game in the bar room in the basement – 3 TV sets, and pub grub and other goodies available for us. Something Eileen ate got her nauseous, because when she and Ellen left at half time to go home, Eileen heaved in the Post’s parking lot and on our walkway. Luckily it was raining, so the rain washed away the gunk from the parking lot and our walkway. I don’t know what it could be, since neither Ellen nor I felt ill. As for the game, it was a very close cliff hanger, and in the end, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33.
On February 10th, the 3 of us headed over to St. John’s University for the annual Blessing of the Couples, an annual celebration the University has for couples for whom the University played a part in their meeting. When we arrived on campus this year, we got to park in a handicapped space (good for Ellen) and then walked over to St. Thomas More Church. The Mass went well, and afterwards SJU honored three couples with the Fidelitas Award. After the ceremony we headed to the 4th floor of the D’Angelo Center where Ellen & I had our picture taken, and the 3 of us enjoyed some wine and hors oeuvres. Then we went inside the ballroom to table #8. It turns out that one of the guys at the table was a man whom I remember from undergrad days - and went to his house in New Hyde Park with another classmate to study for finals in mid-1971. His wife was there with him and there was another couple at #8. The wives of the two other men were sorority sisters back when I was there in 1971.
The next day, Eileen wanted to see Peter Rabbit at the Islip Movie House so that is where we went shortly after I got back from the supermarket. This was a live action version with computer generated images of Peter Rabbit and his rabbit family, along with several of the other animal characters from Beatrix Potter’s books. I liked the movie and I think that Eileen did too. Brought back memories of reading the books to Eileen over 25 years ago, and also memories of the numerous stuffed toys of the books’ characters that we bought Eileen when she was a baby. The stuffed animals were recently donated to the thrift shop where Ellen and Eileen work, but we still have the books. I also liked the footage of the English countryside.
On February 16th I finished reading Bill Walton’s book, Back from the Dead. In chapter 14, he talks about he learned how to speak and overcome stuttering. He told us that we should concentrate on one word at the moment (the one I was trying to say), and not several words or phrases. I should also read out loud when I can. He also spoke about Coach John Wooden and his laws of learning: demonstration, imitation, correction, and repetition. Also persistence, discipline, and perseverance to get what you want. Since Bill played his last seasons with the Boston Celtics, he has gotten me interested in the team. Not to root for them, since it’s a Boston team, but enough to admire the greats who coached and played for them: Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, K.C. Jones, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Bill Walton, and Red Auerbach. In the last chapter he mentions the great mentors he had through most of his life – people like Coach Rocky, Coach John Wooden, Coach Jack Ramsay, Ernie Vandeweghe, Duane Roth, and Chick Hearn to name a few.
On February 17th, Eileen wanted to go to Starbucks, and the library. I had lunch at home and after that we went to the Islip Starbucks where we bought a cake pop, potato chips, and a sandwich. Since a large number of St. John the Baptist crew team girls were there, we decided to eat at the firehouse ready room. After lunch we headed to the library where we hit the computers, and Eileen took out The Boss for home viewing. After the library I parked the car at the firehouse and we proceeded to walk east on Main Street to Islip Avenue and the Little Shop of Shamrocks. Eileen wanted an Irish doll, but I said no. We did get some white chocolate Dairy Buttons, and then walked back to the firehouse, stopping in Sugared Up where she got herself a Hello Kitty zipper pull. Then it was home where I started to watch TV (University of Illinois – Chicago vs. Southern University) until I nodded off.
Eileen and I have done more walking during February. On the 18th, we went over to Babylon Village and walked from the Village Hall to the train station, going past the rear of the St. Joseph parish buildings, and then the junior/senior high school buildings. We also went past the village’s American Legion post – number 94, founded in the same year as Rusy Bohm (1919), but a few months older. I was off on the 22nd and even though it was raining, we got our walk in by going over to South Shore Mall and walking the corridor from one end to the other. We entered through Macy’s and walked to the Sunrise Highway end (J. C. Penny) and then to the north end (Dicks Sporting Goods) and then back to Macy’s and out to the car.
Eileen and I even got to the movies again. On Presidents Day we headed to the Islip Movie House to see Black Panther. It was not about the radical political party from the 1960’s. Instead it was based on a Marvell Comics hero who is king of a fictional country in Africa called Wakanda, which is scientifically and technologically years ahead of the rest of the world but seems to be a primitive 3rd world country (shit hole to pseudo-conservatives). I liked the special effects with computer generated images, as well as the footage of Africa, Korea, and London. While I will probably never visit Africa, it is a fascinating continent, and worth reading about. And many of the immigrants from the continent whom I have met were quite nice people.
Over the Presidents Day weekend, I started to read Change Anything by Kerry Patterson et al, recommend by the Pace University Book Club. The book says that there are 6 sources of influence: personal motivation and ability; social motivation and ability; structural motivation and ability. I have some things I want to change: stop dwelling in the past and digging up people like some of my pseudo-friends (except to learn not to trust certain people), some people form high school, and the welfare people back in the 1960’s & 1970’s. When I am walking between Penn Station and my office is the worst time for this. I could try another way to go between the two points, but I don’t want to spend money on the subway unless it’s raining. Maybe I will have to work it out by myself, one day at a time. The writers also mentioned speaking with your boss. But I tried that, and it failed at two former places of employment). I now will have to figure out what are my crucial moments (digging up past wrongs) and vital behaviors (rules to follow when tempted). The book reminded me that I will have to watch who my friends are (not that I have many) and avoid people who encourage bad habits and harmful behavior. I want to watch spending even more than I already am. Cut back on alcohol – one drink at a restaurant, if any. I want to stop playing the old tapes. The book reminded of the poison people I knew at Bankers Trust who spent all of their money, played keep up, and back stabbed. All to get ahead and dazzle the shitty managers with bullshit.
I was able to get some walking in with Eileen over the last weekend in February and the first one in March. Last weekend we decided to stay in Islip and walked from the firehouse along Main Street to Willow Avenue (across from Teller’s and Verace) and then down Willow to its end at Raymond Street and back to the firehouse. I think that we got in about ¾ of a mile. On March 3rd we went into town to go to the library, and then go for a nice walk in Islip – from the firehouse to the Oconee Diner at Islip Avenue and Montauk Highway and then back to the firehouse and stopping in Sugared Up for a Ty Beanie Baby (an owl zipper pull). Since the walk took a little over 15 minutes, we probably went about a mile on this walk.
On March 2nd I went to my internist’s office for a sonogram. The office is on the Upper East Side in the 400 block of East 72nd Street. To make it a one seat ride, when I got off of the Long Island Railroad, I walked over to Herald Square to grab the Q train to 2nd & 72nd and went to #420. It turns out that my heart is OK, and now I have to go to the urologist and the sports medicine doctor. Then after the visit I went back to the 72nd Street station and took the Q to Times Square and then the shuttle to Grand Central. This way I stayed underground for the longest amount of time. And speaking of doctors, last month on February 21st, I had my annual fire department physical (see my February 22nd entry). Yesterday I got the results back from that doctor’s office. The papers said that my PSA is high, as are my tri-glycerides. That means no more or almost no more sweets in the foreseeable future. Now I can practice what I learned in Change Anything.
After work on March 2nd, I met my friend Charlie and family at John’s in Greenwich Village. The weather was terrible, and it was a rough walk from my office to the Rockefeller Center station to get to West 4th Street, and then an unpleasant walk from that station to John’s on Bleeker Street. Besides Charlie & Debbie, along with their daughter Emily, son-in-law and granddaughter, there was Emily’s University of Dayton roommate Kate and her friend Steve, who is from Australia. I spent most of the evening talking with Steve about Australia, Guam, and New York City. Since it was a Friday in Lent, I had spaghetti with marinara sauce (also one slice of pizza). Then I had to leave early to get the 7:30 train home.
The next day Ellen and I read the reports from my February 21st fire department physical and it said that my PSA is high, as are my triglycerides. That means no more or almost no more sweets in the foreseeable future. Now I can practice what I learned in Change Anything. Later in the morning I returned that book and took out The Black Bruins: The Remarkable Lives of UCLA’s Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett. It is by James W. Johnson. As of March 9th I am halfway through and learned what a remarkable quintet these men were. Woody and Kenny re-integrated the National Football League in 1946, and Jackie broke the Major League Baseball color barrier in 1947. I managed to get a walk in with Eileen later that day - from the Islip firehouse to the Oconee Diner and back and stopping in Sugared Up for a Ty Beanie Baby for Eileen.
On March 10th, I took Eileen to the movies in town to see A Wrinkle in Time. I think that we both liked it, and both Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon were great in it. And the special effects were first rate.
Eileen and I are continuing to get our walks in various towns when I am home. After the movie on March 10th, we headed out to Sayville for a walk – from the firehouse to the Irish Exit pub, and then along Montauk Highway to the traffic light by the Methodist Church and back to the firehouse – around a mile. On the next day we walked from the Islip firehouse to the library to drop off some items, and then we walked to Chase Bank and I deposited the American Benefits check, and then we kept walking east on Main Street all the way to St Mark’s Church where we took some photos. Then we walked back to the firehouse and drove to the library and St. Mark’s to retrace our steps and figure out how much we walked (it was about 1.2 miles).
On the 13th, we had our third nor’easter of the month. I decided not to go into the office, since I was not certain how the trains will be later. In the late morning I went to the firehouse to respond to a call and had coffee and then hit the computer. Then it was home to shovel out the driveway and walkway, and then have lunch. Two days later, when I got home from work, I went to the American Legion meeting. March 15th, 2018 is the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Legion, and also the Rusy Bohm post. After the meeting I joined the other members for a toast to the Legion and to the Post (I had some Jim Beam Red Stag).
On March 15th, I finished The Black Bruins and came away admiring the five men (Jackie Robinson, Woodie Strode, Kenny Washington, Ray Bartlett, and Tom Bradley) even more. They are five great role models for any person. And I am now a UCLA Bruins fan and am interested in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League, the Los Angeles Bulldogs, and the Rose Bowl. I am now reading Herman Melton’s Liberty’s War. He is telling us about his years with the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II and it’s very interesting. Since Herman’s first convoy headed to Murmansk in Russia I have gotten interested in the city, and also sometimes makes me wish that I joined the Merchant Marine. Since we gave Russia hundreds of P-39 Airacobra fighter planes, and the Russian Air Force greeted our Liberty ships in Murmansk while flying P-39’s, that plane is now one of my favorite World War II planes
On the 16th, my firm had a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, and I enjoyed scrambled eggs (both whites and whole eggs), soda bread scones, and yogurt. I was not sure if eggs were OK on a Friday in Lent, so I Googled abstinence and saw that it was OK. When I got home, I put on my orange Syracuse University cap and my orange and blue sweatshirt and went to the firehouse for coffee and to use the computer. When I got there the only comment was a fellow Johnnie/Red Stormer as to why I was wearing Syracuse stuff when I am a St. John’s University grad. Not one noticed that I was wearing orange. The next day, after lunch the 3 of us drove to Inwood to help Ellen’s cousin Charlotte. I helped by taking out junk to the dumpster. Ellen and Eileen assisted Charlotte by doing the laundry. Ellen then made certain that Charlotte took her pills. We were there for a few hours and when we arrived back in Islip, we ordered Japanese cuisine from Koi Kokoro, which we enjoyed. Then on the 18th, Eileen and I went to Babylon to go for a walk. We parked in the municipal lot behind where Brixton Pub is and walked to Deer Park Avenue. I tried to take a photo in front of an historical sign post but the battery in my digital camera went dead, and I could not get the cell phone camera to work. But we continued down to Main Street and headed west to Carll Avenue and crossed Main Street and headed east again. Since tomorrow is Eileen’s birthday, I decided to pick up a birthday card at a shop called Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. I did get a card and decided to let Eileen buy a mini Beanie Baby – a bee called Zinger – for her birthday. Later in the day we went to my American Legion post for its annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner. We all had a good time, and I enjoyed the corned beef, cabbage, potato, and carrots. There was also soda bread and afterwards coffee and cake. Since I pigged out, we decided that Eileen and I would walk home and meet Ellen there. That is what we did, taking the slightly longer route through Greenview Village to get to our street. When we got home, I watched baseball (Texas vs. LA Angels) basketball (Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota, and women’s Michigan vs. Baylor) on TV.
During the third work week of March I wound up being out for a day and a half thanks to the fourth northeaster of the month. On the 21st, I went into work and it was snowing when I got into the city, necessitating taking the subway both ways. The firm let us out early (1 PM, but I clocked out a bit earlier to make the 1:22). When I got into Nassau County on the way home the snow stopped but we had sleet. But in the evening the snow reached Islip and we then had several inches. It snowed liked hell over the 21st & 22nd and Islip ended up with almost 12 inches. I updated my automatic response on Outlook to tell my boss and others that I will not be in that day. Then it was time to shovel the driveway and walkway. A neighbor helped me using his snow blower, and then it was a shower and breakfast. I checked the train schedule and saw that if I took a train at 11:25 I would get into Penn at around 1 PM, barring any delays, and be in the office at 1:30 or so. That would mean 4 hours of work. Ellen suggested staying home, since I can use PTO and not lose it. And since we only went to the American Legion for a dinner on the day before Eileen’s birthday, on March 25th we went to Café Americano in Islip for a nice sit-down dinner. We will probably have to walk some more, even though Eileen and I walked for over a mile earlier in the day in Babylon Village.
Eileen and I have been doing even more walks as the weeks go by. On Easter Sunday we went back to Babylon Village and walked from the municipal lot behind Del Fuego and the Brixton, down to Main Street to Thompson Avenue and the Sterling National Bank branch (the 6th name, which started with Suffolk County S&L), and back eastward to Don Ricardo’s. I took 7 pictures - mostly of places we have patronized or plan to. When we got home, I relaxed and watched some TV, and then Eileen wanted to go for another walk. So we drove to the firehouse and walked from there to the Treme Jazz club and back. Six days later at around noon Eileen and I headed up to Northport for a walk. We had not been there is a while (the last time being to go to the theater). We took the Sagtikos/Sunken Meadow Parkway to Route 25A and then headed to Vernon Valley Road and where the village’s Main Street ends (and where Pumpernickel’s German restaurant is) and then got onto Main Street to head into downtown. I decided to park on the Northport Fire Department grounds since I am a member of another department. Then we walked down Main Street towards the harbor. There were numerous boutiques and restaurants, even a couple of barber shops. It was a trip down Memory Lane for me, since I can remember coming to the village when I visited my late aunt and uncle, who lived just outside the village. When we got close to the harbor, I saw Tim’s Shipwreck Diner at #46 and decided we can stop for lunch there. It was crowded but Eileen and I got a table by the door and front window. Since I did not have a lot of cash, and it was a cash only business, we ordered cheap: a cheese burger for me and fish & chips for Eileen, and water for both of us. But I was able to pay the bill ($28.13) and leave a decent tip ($4.50). We continued our walk into the harbor park where Main Street ends, and then headed back up Main towards where we started. I was amazed at the houses with their foundations built right into the hills (Main Street is in a valley). Nothing like that on the South Shore. We stopped at the Northport Historical Society and I checked out the history of the LIRR in Northport (not there any longer, but only in East Northport), the military uniforms, and the model of downtown Northport from around 1910. The we took a photo of the American Legion post (#694) and then went up to the Methodist church before turning and going back to the firehouse to get the car. On the way back to the firehouse Eileen ran ahead of me and down an alley When we got to Islip we stopped at Little Shop of Shamrocks since they were having a 30th Anniversary sale – 30% off certain items. I checked the sweatshirts and long-sleeved tee shirts but could not find what I was interested – a Kelly green crew necked sweatshirt, so I passed. Eileen was interested in an Irish doll, so she got a nice rag doll maned Roisin (Rose) and it is a hit with her. Then the next day we returned to Babylon for another walk, this time from the municipal lot to the Babylon Cemetery north of the train tracks, and then back down Deer Park Avenue to Main Street (Route 27A) and back to the car. I brought my camera as always, and among the photos was a shot of three restaurants that I hope to patronize in the future.
On April 9th, I went to the NY Urological Associates over on East 54th Street. It looks as if the results are somewhat favorable (PSA is a bit high but not dangerous) and I don’t have to go back until next April. In the evening I went to my fire company meeting.
I finished Ron Darling’s Book, Game 7, 1986 and liked it. I was glad that the Mets bounced back in that game to win it all. In the last chapter, Ron talked about his 3 best friends forever (BFF’s) from the Mets: Kevin Elster, Ed Lynch and David Cone. I have to admit that I only had a few BFF’s, including my friend Charlie and my soul mate – Ellen. Since that book is done, I have started to read Machers and Rockers by Richard Cohen. It is about Chess records and the great artists who recorded there, such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, and Buddy Guy to name a few. The book brings back memories of my early interest in the blues men while in high school, when it was not popular to do so. On April 20th, I finished Machers and Rockers. Yes, the Chess brothers and Chess Records were a major force in putting the bluesmen on the map and helping to develop Rock & Roll. The recordings by the Delta bluesmen influenced British artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds, and John Mayall (6 of my favorite recording acts) and these groups influenced me. They got me to be sympathetic to underdogs and a supporter of social justice, since I often felt only a step or two above the downtrodden. I am now reading Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmes, about the infamous Berlin Olympics. It also gives us an insight into life in Nazi Germany 80+ years ago.
Eileen and I got in more walks during April. I had considered a nice walk in Huntington Village, since it has some great shops and eateries, and is quite historic. On April 14th, we headed up the Sagtikos/Sunken Meadow to the LIE and then to New York 231. But I was in the wrong lane and opted to go to East Northport instead, on County 66 to Jericho Turnpike and then to Larkfield Road. There are many memories in that hamlet with my late aunt & uncle, and cousins so I figured it is worth a trip down Memory Lane. First, we had to have lunch, and when we saw a list of business in a strip mall on the southern end of town with one being a Greek restaurant – Athens Square – we decided that Athens Square is the place as Eileen did not mind going Greek. When we were done, we headed north towards Pulaski Road and we drove onto Diane Court where my late cousin and her family lived back in the 1980’s and 1990’s. That is where we parked and then we walked past the Hewitt Square shopping center at Larkfield & Pulaski Roads and then headed towards the LIRR station and then headed back to the car, up Kew Avenue onto a dead end (University Place) that led to little league baseball fields – the home of the Larkfield Little League. While I never played for the league, my cousin did, and his dad (my late uncle) coached, and I got to watch many games. We continued to walk back to the car and then drove east on Pulaski Road to the Sunken Meadow and home. On the next day, after lunch Eileen and I went to Babylon to go for another walk. This time we went from the municipal lot to Main Street and east to the end of the Village. Then we headed down Suydam Place to Prospect Street (lots of 19th century houses here) to Fire Island Avenue and back to Main Street. After a stop in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street (Eileen got another Beanie Baby – a lady bug named Trixie, and some candy for us) we walked to South Carll Avenue and went inside the library. While I did not bring a camera, we took some photos with my cell phone. I was off on Wednesday the 18th, since Ellen and her brother had to go to see the myopathy specialist at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, and they did not want to bring Eileen with them. Around 9 am we walked over to Chase Bank from the firehouse and then down Willow Avenue to Raymond Street and then the library. After some time on the computers we walked back to the firehouse. In the afternoon we headed over to my dentist’s office at the eastern end of East Islip, so a cap could be replaced. Then we walked over to the stationery store next to Stanley’s Bakery to buy lottery tickets and back to the car – a 1.4-mile round trip. I promised her a new Beanie Baby if she cooperated with me during the day, and since she did, we stopped at Sugared Up and she got one named Jelly. Since the 18th is a Wednesday, we then went to East Islip Lanes so Eileen cold bowl with her league (she got a 72 and an 84 in the two games).
On April 21st, St. John’s University Department of Fine Arts Student Thesis Exhibition in Long Island City (sponsored by the McCallen and Loughlin Societies). It began at 1 PM so I had to leave at around 11 AM to get to 47-05 Center Boulevard – right by the East River in one of the new developments built over the last several years. It was smooth sailing until I got off of the LIE, as the GPS told me to go down Hunters Point Avenue, and I was not able to get to the garage on 5th Street in the 47-00 block thanks to one ways. But with a lot of perseverance, I was able to park on level 3, go down to the lobby, and out onto Center Boulevard and walk to Skinny’s Cantina at the corner with 47th Road where the reception was being held. Once I got inside Skinny’s I relaxed and spoke with the SJU staff and the bartender before taking my seat at a table – where I could see across the East River to the Empire State Building. Eventually more people came – student exhibitors, Fine Arts Department faculty, and other members of the Societies. I enjoyed a Modelo beer with some good Mexican food -fried squid, tacos, and quesadillas. At the table next to me were two Fine Arts Department professors – two ladies from Pennsylvania. The lady from Harrisburg is also a fan of the Harrisburg Senators and had seen several games at their City Island ballpark. Eventually we walked to the Dorsky Art Gallery a few blocks away at 11-03 45th Avenue. Since I am used to walking, it was not too bad a trek, and I hopefully walked off some of the lunch. I walked with another Fine Arts faculty member, talking about SJU, military service, and NYC. Once at the gallery I admired the artists’ works (had some favorites) but wanted to get home since I was there alone. I walked back to the garage and got the car and soon was on the LIE heading home. First, I stopped at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery to visit Mom & Dad’s interment site and then headed to the Grand Central Parkway, but it seems that all of LI’s Sunday drivers are out a day early since it took forever to get to Islip. I ended up taking the Wantagh Parkway to the Ocean Parkway and home. Before I returned to 304, I stopped at the firehouse to go over the Rescue Squad’s finances with a lieutenant before coming home to relax. With the slow pokes on the parkways, I definitely want to get the hell off of LI.
Besides the walks, on April 14th the 3 of us went to Birdland’s 11 PM show to see Eliane Elias again. Her new show featured versions of songs from Man of La Mancha, as well as some of her hits from her CDs. Since we got into Manhattan a bit early, we had some pub grub at the New York Brew Company (and an Ithaca Wheat Apricot for me). We also enjoyed some more pub grub at Birdland. All in all, we had a great time even if it was not a cheap night out.
On April 22 the 3 of us went to the Rusy Bohm American Legion post for the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Medal Ceremony. 8 other Vietnam Era vets and I received citations from the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, and the American Legion for our service during the Vietnam War (even though we did not serve in country). Somehow, they had me down as serving in the Army from May 1968 to May 1970 instead of the Air Force from July 1971 to March 1975. After the ceremony and breakfast we came home, and I changed out of my jacket & tie into my normal weekend garb. After relaxing for a bit. Eileen and I went up to Kings Park for a walk. After parking on Main Street, we walked a short way to the Kings Park Fire Department for some photo taking and down Indian Head Road to the development that has the house on Balboa Drive that Ellen and I almost bought in 1982. I wanted to walk to it, but I was not certain of the street layout and my various map apps on my cell phone would not open. But we did walk from our spot on Main Street to Hudson Drive & 1st Avenue and then back – a total of 1.4 miles. On the way home we did drive past the house on Balboa Drive but did not take a photo since people were out in the driveway.
During the work week on April 23rd we had some staff appreciation events. On Monday I got a new duffle bag which will come in handy on softball game days and later on when basketball starts up again. In the afternoon there was a get together where mini-cupcakes were served. Then on Friday we enjoyed a staff appreciation breakfast, and I got to have some scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns (stuff I almost never make at home) and yogurt.
During April on the train I am reading Berlin 1936 by a man named Oliver Hilmes. The book has my interest and it is a great insight into life in Germany during the early years of the 3rd Reich. The book also tells us how repressive the ultra-conservative Reich government was. Reminded me of how ultra-conservative Central Louisiana was in the 1970’s – a cultural wasteland - since 45 years ago most activities were either too black, foreign, Jewish, homosexual, sinful, Catholic, East or West Coast, or intellectual. Berlin 1936 is also getting interested in German history and culture, again, including cities in eastern Germany like Chemnitz, Jena, Leipzig and Dresden. I have also checked out the language, history (Wilhelmine Germany, and the colonies), and its basketball and football/soccer teams (which are my favorites?? Probably ALBA Berlin – the A level basketball team, and B level teams like the Chemnitz 99s and Science City Jena, and the A level soccer team in Wolfsburg – VfL Wolfsburg). I'm also getting interested in the Volkswagen vehicles again. Yes there were the Nazis, but they got their asses whipped, and the new country is a strong ally. I finally finished Berlin 1936 and to find a new book to read, I checked out Square Books’ website and decided on two: Jacqueline Woodson’s Another Brooklyn, and The Underworld by Kevin Canty. I did an on-line request through the Islip Library’s website and got them this evening. I will start on Another Brooklyn first since it’s shorter.
Around 11:20 on April 28th, Eileen and I started our walk to the library. We did not go all the way down Grant Avenue but headed over to Watson Place and then to Locust Avenue. When we got to Main Street, we decided to have lunch at Bubba’s Burrito Bar (we each had cheese quesadillas) and then stopped at the firehouse so Eileen can have some iced tea, I could fill my water bottle. Once at the library I picked up 2 Jimmie Rodgers CDs and the way home we stopped at Sugared Up and Eileen got another Beany Baby (Gidget, a white critter). The walk was about 2½ miles. The next day we went for a nice walk in Huntington Village. We made it to Main Street (New York 25A) and parked on Main Street/25A at the Chase Bank next to St. Patrick’s School and parked. Then we walked along Main to the library (pictures) and then pictures in from of the Greystone St. John’s Episcopal Church and then to New York Avenue /NY 110 to the Paramount and then the next corner (Carver Street). We then headed over to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building with its 19th century cannon that I was always afraid of 65 years ago when we went to my aunt and uncle’s house in Northport. While there was a Starbucks, Eileen and I stopped for iced tea (her) and coffee (me) at the Book Revue Café on New York Avenue. Then it was back to the car but not before I took a photo of Eileen next to a sandwich board that had a quote from Coco Chanel on it: “in order to be irreplaceable one must be different”. We got in about 2 miles before heading home.
On May 5th, Eileen and I went to Farmingdale Village for a nice walk. I parked the car in a municipal lot on Main Street just north of the LIRR tracks and we proceeded to walk south. There were several different types of restaurants on and I concluded that this is another foodie’s mecca. We decided to have lunch at the Grecian Grill at the corner of Main & Conklin Streets. Eileen enjoyed a lamb gyro, and I am convinced that she does like lamb. We then walked south to the village hall and then back north to Conklin Street where we turned east and headed to St. Killian’s Church, before heading back up on Elizabeth Street to a street that parallels the tracks and then back to the car. We got in about 1 mile of walking.
We did another walk a week later, and this time we went back to Sayville. We had lunch at a place called Texas Taco, on par with Bubba's Burritos in Islip, and walked past a demonstration against puppy mills in front of a pet store. We got about a mile of walking in. The next day we walked around the St. Mary's Parish grounds before going to the annual Spring Carnival at Main Street. Eileen and I each tired our luck with a boss toss game (no luck) and enjoyed some zeppoles. Then we came home before going back into Islip for a walk on Main Street to Willow Avenue and back. Then around 4:45 the 3 of us drove to Babylon to enjoy Mother's Day at Pier 44 on Fire Island Avenue - a favorite of ours.
I was hoping to play softball with the Bees on May 17th, but the game was rained out and that ended a conflict that I had with my American Legion post. They scheduled their meeting at the Islip Library to join the Islip Historical Society in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and the 100th anniversary (in 2019) of the founding of the American Legion and our post - Rusy Bohm #411. Members of the post told war stories of their participation in conflicts ranging in time from World War II to Iraq.
On May 18th, Ellen called me at work to say that our computer was acting up. When I got home, I called Dell and a technician worked with me to resolve the issues (viruses). He also recommended that we replaced our 4-year-old computer, which we will do. A new one was delivered on May 24th, and the next day I took the day off so I could work with Ellen to set it up. So far, it works great.
At around 8:10 PM on May 19th we headed to Manhattan and Birdland. We were meeting my cousin in law Bob there so we could enjoy the music of Bill Charlap and his two backup musicians – Kenny Washington (drums) and Peter Washington (bass). They were great and Bill spoke to the audience before each number. Since we had arrived at the garage early, Ellen, Eileen and I went to the New York Brewery Company next door for some pub grub. Then we met Bob on line and the four of us went inside to enjoy some more pub grub and the show. We left around 12:30 am and it was fairly smooth sailing home.
On May 27th drove to Babylon’s Municipal Lot and parked behind the Brixton pub, and walked down Deer Park Avenue to Main Street. I had some banking to do, so we stopped in the Chase Manhattan Bank branch where I deposited a check and took out some cash. We continued west to take some photos by the Historical Preservation Society building and then to the southern shore of Argyle Lake for more pix. I had promised a Beanie Baby so we walked past her favorite shop in the Village – Roe Roe’s Sweet Street - where she got another Beanie Baby (a New York Yankees bug), and some candy for us. I also got to speak with the owner (Rose Ann) who turns out is from Corona – across the Flushing Meadow Park from Queensboro Hill! Then we walked back to the car and drove to New York 231 and home.
During mid-May I read a book by Rich Westcott titled Biz Mackey – A Giant Behind the Plate. Biz was perhaps the greatest catcher in the Negro Leagues and one of the best in all of professional baseball. The book has filled me with even more respect for the Negro Leagues, its teams, and the players who played for them. I also checked the bibliography and requested two more books covering the Negro Leagues from the library. The two books are Josh Gibson – A Life in the Negro Leagues by William Brashler and, Black Diamonds by John Holway. I am going to have to figure out how to read both at the same time
I was off on May 25th to work with Ellen in setting up the computer. When that was done, Eileen and I went back to Babylon for another walk through town. We made a stop at Chase Manhattan Bank to do some banking business at the ATM and re-visited Roe Roe's Sweet Street again for a new Beanie Baby for Eileen (a dog named Marci) and some candy for both of us. The details are on the new website.
On Sunday the 27th after lunch I drove to Long Island National Cemetery to photograph my grandparents’ headstone (my grandfather, as the veteran, has the front; my grandmother, as his spouse, is on the reverse) and then a Marine Corps lieutenant who was Ellen’s history teacher at St. Agnes High School, and was killed in Vietnam in 1969. Every Memorial Day, and if I am at the Wall, I stop to remember him, along with schoolmates Frank and Pierce who are also Vietnam KIA’s.
After the Memorial Day Parade I had a snack at my American Legion post, and then headed home to change and take Eileen to East Islip Lanes for some bowling. With the pain in my left hip and femur, it is painful to stoop when it’s time to release the ball, so I got more gutter balls than I needed and only had an 83 average (93 & 73).
On the morning when I headed back to work after my 4-day Memorial Day weekend, when I got up, I could not find my glasses. After looking for them in the bedroom, I gave up and had to go to work without them. But on the way home from work, while on the train, Ellen called me to tell me that she found my glasses – they were under the hope chest. Apparently when I was reading on Monday night, they fell into the bedding and when I tossed and turned during the night, they fell off of the bed and under the hope chest.
On the evening of Friday June 1st, I got in contact with Dell Computers so that they can fix some issues with our new computer (setting up the printer, getting rid of unwanted files). We also bought a new service contract for 5 years to cover our new computer, as well as the printer and our tablet).
The next day was the annual Grand Alumni Homecoming weekend for me. There were also events stating on May 31st and going on to June 3rd, but I only had time and money for stuff on the 2nd. While Ellen, Eileen and I have been going since the first one in 2009, this is the first year that I drove to and from SJU alone, and have the ladies meet me there. That is because I wanted to go to events that started before or after the BBQ/picnic that would have been held on the Quadrangle/Great Lawn. This event was moved inside (the Taffner Field House) due to the forecast of rain that never came, so a lot of people cancelled out). The 3 of us enjoyed the picnic indoors, but I also went on a tour of the Taffner Field House, where the jocks work out and have their locker rooms, and also a talk about great places in Queens to visit. There was also the 5 PM Mass at the church on the Quadrangle, and at 6 PM a get together with the school I attended (Tobin College of Business Administration). I must have forgotten to register for the last event since my name was not on the roster (or the SJU computers fucked up), so they made a name tag for me. I then enjoyed some free goodies, but since I was not dressed in a jacket and long pants (having been there since 10 M, on a hot day) and sick of hearing the same bullshit about great SJU thinks that it is, I left after about 15 minutes. While I am a double alumnus of SJU, I also felt that I wish that I had gone to college somewhere else.
The next day was a typical Sunday in the morning, but in the early afternoon Eileen and I walked from our house to Main Street by Town Hall to enjoy the annual Islip Street Fair. We stopped at any table that had freebies and picked up a ball, pens, beach balls, and crayons, I got Eileen a small bunny ballerina from the Dance Connection table, and afterwards we stopped in Coyle’s for ice cream. Once we got to the foot of our street, she started to walk toward home so I got the hint that she wanted to go home. After we dropped off the freebies at the house, I drove back to town to help man the table that my America Legion post had set up.
Eileen and I managed to get in two walks over the June 9th weekend, On Saturday we did a trek from Islip Fire Department Headquarters to Little Shop of Shamrocks. We bought some Dairy Buttons and then trekked back to the firehouse, but before we arrived, we stopped in Nook & Cranny to say hello and buy a nice small Irish teddy bear. Its "fur" is green with shamrock patterns. Then on Sunday afternoon we headed over to Lindenhurst to do a trek up and down Wellwood Avenue. Stops included the Polish Festival in the Village Square, and the Lindenhurst House Museum.
On Bloom's Day (June 16th) Eileen and I went for a nice walk around Islip, going through Greenview Village near the train station. And on the train, for the past week I have been reading Mind Set by Carol Dweck Ph.D. Mind Set tells us that a fixed mindset is detrimental to everything, while the growth mind set is the one that is beneficial. That pertains to learning, running corporations, and sports among other facets. Over the course of the last 65+ years, I generally had the fixed set. But when I used the growth set, things were a lot better for me. On Father's Day, after church Eileen and I walked to the Islip Movie House to see Incredibles 2. We had seen the original Incredibles back in 2004. We liked this one too. After the movie we walked back home to relax and then head over to Babylon to have dinner at Fancy Lee on Main Street. It's an Asian fusion eatery and I recommend it highly.
On June 30th, Eileen and I went to the Islip Library and the Islip Hardware Store and drove to Babylon for a walk and to pick one another Beanie Baby. Once we got to Babylon, we parked on James Street and Totten Place and walked to Main Street and to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. Eileen had a difficult time deciding which Beanie Baby to get, but finally decided on Curly the Pig. We also got some candy and proceeded to walk to the library on Carll Avenue. We did not on inside like in April but did take some photos with the cell phone and then went to Prospect Street to walk east on the street to Suydam Place and then up to main Street (the almost reverse of our April 15th trip), and finally walked up Totten Place to the car. When we got home, I dropped Eileen off and then headed to St. Mary’s for the 4:30 Mass.
On Sunday July 1st, we rode out to Patchogue, not to walk around the village, but St. Joseph’s College. I was not certain which exit to exit Sunrise Highway from, so I got out at Ocean Avenue but drove to Phyllis Drive. It took us to Main Street, but no SJC. I tried to Google SJC, but it took forever. With no street address, GPS was not much help, and using GPS at first, we ended up in Hagerman. But once I got SJC’s address (155 Roe Blvd West) I entered it and it got us there in one piece. Once on campus I parked the car in the front lot and we walked to the library and took some pix inside (including a poster of the ‘Van Gogh in Arles’ exhibit that Ellen and I saw at the Met in late 1984. Then it was a plaque nailed into a rock and finally the athletic center (go Golden Eagles)
After lunch on the 4th around noon, Eileen and I rode to Amityville to go for a walk. We parked at the Amityville Fire House and headed along West Oak Street to Route 110 (Broadway) and then headed south to the fork and went down Park Avenue to Wanser Place and back to Broadway before heading back to the firehouse. Since today is a holiday, nothing was open, so we drove back to Islip and got a turkey burger wrap from the Long Island Beach Bowls Café, which we shared at the Islip firehouse.
Over the weekend of July 7th and 8th Eileen and I went for some nice walks. On Saturday we trekked through three towns: Islip, East Islip and Babylon. We strolled between the Islip firehouse, the library, and along Main Street to the Veterans Memorial by Town Hall, putting about a mile in. But since I wanted to amend my life as well (being Catholic), we headed to East Islip after that and parked at St. Mary’s Church parking lot. A wedding was going on, so to kill time, and get some walking in, we took a stroll to Brookwood Hall to check out the East Islip Fire Department’s Holiday Fair. I told her that we are not going on rides or play games. We were there to put some more miles of walking in. Since I did not bring my trust Cannon camera, I turned to my cell phone. Around 3:30 we walked back to St. Mary’s and went inside. I told Eileen to wait for me in the pews while I spoke with Father James. I also told her that if she cooperated with me, I would get her a Beanie Baby at Roe Roe’s in Babylon. So when I was finished, and she sat kind of still in the pew, we drove to Babylon Village and parked on Totten Place. Then it was south to Main Street to walk along Prospect Street and west to Fire Island Avenue. After admiring the old houses on the street and a photo shoot at the corner of Prospect and Fire Island, we walked to Roe Roe’s and she got an alligator named Wally. Then we walked back to Totten Place and the car to head back to Route 231 and the parkway. Then the next day we went to Huntington to do some more walking. This time we drove up to the northern terminus of Route 110 to the Halesite Fire Department to check it out. I took some photos and during the shoot two cars screeched and collided at the intersection by the firehouse. I walked over to the scene to see if everyone was out of the cars and call 911. Nobody was seriously hurt, but they were quite shaken up. I stuck around the scene in case the police wanted to question me (they did not). They we drove down to the village to walk along Main Street to St. Patrick’s Church (more photos) and then to Ben & Jerry’s to share a cup of ice cream, and then walked to Central Presbyterian Church, before walking to the parking lot to head home.
The Islip Fire Department hosted a blood drive on July 11th, ending at 8 PM, not too long after I usually get home. Since we were busy at work, I could not leave early. But when I did get home, I told Ellen that I was going to go down to see if they will take a walk in. They did and I was able to donate a pint.
I dropped my cell phone on the evening of Friday the 13th, and the screen shattered. The phone would not turn on, so on Saturday I had to go to the West Islip Verizon store to see about replacing my cell phone (which they will do), activate my substitute phone, and see why my tablet was not up to date. The technician was able to fix two out of the three (my current cell phone was beyond repair). My new phone came on the 16th which was my fire department. Since I would not be back home until after 10 PM, the next day when I got home from work, I called Asurion and they helped me set up my new cell phone.
In the early afternoon of July 14th we all went to Huntington's Central Presbyterian Church to attend my cousin Gary’s wedding to his fiancée Jayne. It was a second marriage for both, as their kids were all in the wedding party. Then we went to the reception at Halesite FD. Except for the fact that the youngsters of many of the guests were running amok and possibly disturbing some of the older guests, we all had a great time. Good luck to Gary and Jayne.
On Sunday, after a shower and lunch Eileen and I went over to Babylon for another walk. We parked in the municipal lot near The Brixton Pub and walked to Fire Island Avenue and then headed down Fire Island Avenue to where it makes its turn, taking up the right of way of another avenue, to where it turns south again. At that corner (Reid & Fire Island) we took photos of a monument to Marconi and his radio broadcast he made there. We then turned around and walked back up Fire Island Avenue to Main Street, taking a photo of Eileen in front of #126, a house built in 1882. The next stop was Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where Eileen got herself another Beanie Baby, a Rabbit named Whiz. Then we walked up a side street called Cottage Row/Oak Place to the American Legion Post on Grove Place, where I photographed Eileen next to a street sign dedicated to the Legion: American Legion Way. Then it was back to the municipal lot and the car. We drove to Route 231 and then to the Southern State. Then six days later on July 21st, after lunch Eileen and I went for a walk in Babylon, but not around Main Street or Deer Park Avenue. Since today is Saturday, parking would not be free or restricted in the municipal lot or on Main Street. We decided to walk along the southern end of Fire Island Avenue. We parked at a marina, and then walked along the left fork to Fire Island Avenue, past Pier 44 and the Babylon Fish & Clam House, all the way to the end at the Great South Bay, a large marina, and the Venetian Restaurant and Catering Hall (scene of an Installation Dinner in the late 1990’s). I took two photos of Eileen with the Robert Moses Bridge and the choppy Bay in the background. Then we walked along Yacht Club Road, past a building housing the Babylon Beach Club – an adult assisted living facility. We saw houses raised from the original foundations, probably thanks to Super Storm Sandy. Then it was a short street called Merman Place that brought us to the right fork of Fire Island Avenue (the one that ends at the Village Pool), and we headed back to the fork to take a picture of the fork sign – Fire Island Avenue on all sides of the iconic Babylon milepost street signs. Then we went back to the car and drove to Trask Lane where Ellen and Eileen’s former coworker Donna lived until a fire during Super Storm Sandy destroyed the house. We then ended up on a street called The Crescent which took us back to Fire Island Avenue and then to Prospect Street where we parked and walked to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. I promised Eileen a new Beanie Baby and she selected an owl called Hooty. Then it was back to the car and home.
My friend Jerry (a fellow St. John’s alumnus) is visited New York form his home in Arizona, and on Wednesday evening the 18th, he came out to Islip joined Ellen, Eileen and me at Café Americano in town. We all liked the restaurant a lot.
The next day at around 11:30 Eileen and I went to the Islip Movie House to see Mamma Mia 2, but it was not playing there – it was at Sayville. We had to get into the car and hustle out there. We got there in time and enjoyed the movie: a bit hard to follow at first until I realized that it was a flashback and current time, with pairs of actors and actresses playing the old and young versions of the characters. We liked the music, and the footage in Paris, NYC, and Croatia (but the setting is Greece). After the movie we went for a walk around Sayville from Railroad Avenue to near the Methodist Church and back, stopping some of the shops along the way.
I started to read Elizabeth Rush’s Rising. So far, I read the chapters about Jacob’s Point in RI, and Isle Jean Michel in LA. And then about Oakwood Beach on Staten Island, and how it was destroyed by the storm surge from Tropical Storm Sandy in 2012.
After work on July 27th I met up with my friend Charlie and wife, since Charlie is here in New York City as a visiting professor at Fordham University. After work I walked over to Times Square to meet them at Junior’s at the corner of Broadway and 49th Street. I ordered a steak burger and iced tea, and then we went to the M & M’s Store. I managed to get myself a zipper pull for my backpack (a brown M & M candy), for only $2. After our visit to the store, Charlie checked out the TDF Tickets across the street and eventually decided on Jersey Boys. And I wanted to grab the 7:30 train home.
After lunch on July 29th Eileen and I headed over to Babylon for a walk. We parked at the Municipal Lot behind the Brixton Pub and walked to Grove Place past the American Legion Hall, a 1909 house and St. Joseph Parish property. Then it was the Babylon High School athletic fields. We walked over to Argyle Lake and took photos, of the lake and also one from the shore with St. Joseph’s Church and the high school sports fields behind me (I see all of these from the train every day). I had also promised Eileen a mini Beanie Baby if she cooperated with me, so we stopped at Roe Roe’s on the way back to the car, and she selected a new friend named Olivia. We also bought some gummi candy which we had in the car on the way home. But before we went to the car, we stopped at the JP Morgan Chase Bank branch to get money from the ATM. Then it was to the car and onto Route 231 to the Southern State and home. We were back in Babylon on August 4th, walking around from Totten Place to Roe Roe's where Eileen got a Beanie Baby named Seaweed - a seal and we treated ourselves to some gummi candy. We also walked up Oak Place to the railroad union headquarters for a photo shoot before going home. We also walked in Islip before going to Babylon.
The next day Eileen and I went to Sayville to go to the movies and saw Christopher Robin. We liked the CGI's of the Pooh characters, and footage of London in the mid- 20th century. Then we drove out to Patchogue for a nice walk along Main Street. Later in the evening the 3 of us enjoyed dinner at Koi Kokoro in Islip.
My nephew Eddie and his wife Kim had their new baby – Owen Russel – on August 9th. So Ellen and I are great aunt and great uncle. Three days later Eileen and I went to the East Islip post office to mail a card to Eddie & Kim to congratulate them. We had decided to go to Patchogue for a walk and lunch and headed east on the Sunrise to the Waverly Avenue exit and then to St. Joseph’s College. We did a nice walk around the campus, and everything was closed since it was Saturday. But we did take some nice photos. Then we headed to Ocean Avenue (the east/west divider) and into the village. I decided to park by the Patchogue Fire Department headquarters and took photos of memorials to 3 department members killed on 9-11. Since Eileen wanted to have lunch, we walked down to Main Street and decided on Del Fuego Tex Mex (a branch of the one in Babylon). We each had a burrito and iced tea, and when we were done, I paid the bill with my Amex card and then we headed to Sensationally Sweet, a shop similar to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and Sugared Up. One reason we stopped here is that there is a nice collection of Beanie Babies that I know that Eileen does not have. When we went inside, she decided on Buddy, a dachshund. We then bought a small bag of M&M’s to have on the way home. Before going back to the parking lot, Eileen took a photo of me at Main & Ocean, where the east, west, north and south streets originate. Back in Islip we stopped at the Islip library before returning home.
On Sunday August 12th Eileen wanted to go for a walk again so I decided on SUNY Farmingdale. I had heard about the school but was never on the campus. We drove there and when we reached Route 110 it was raining. It looked like there were downpours because Route 110 and Conklin Street were flooded in some spots. Even the campus streets and parking lots were flooded. Eileen and I managed to get about a mile of walking in and got to admire the campus buildings. But like St. Joseph’s College, there were almost no other people around. After our walk we returned to Islip and stopped at the fire house for some iced tea.
On August 13th I walked over to 2nd Avenue at around 11:45 to meet Charlie & Debbie at Mee’s. It is a nice place, but it is a hike for me from Park Avenue. I have asked him on several occasions if we can meet at a place closer to Park Avenue, but he insists of Mee’s. Still, lunch was enjoyable, and I did like talking with old friends. And I was able to make it back to my desk in 1 hour. And the following evening, I finished Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury, and I think that we are fucked as a nation. I decided to bring back David Allen’s Getting Things Done since it did not capture my interest. I then took out Howie Rose’s Put It in the Books 50 Years of Mets Mania. Like Howie, I am a Mets fan since 1962, when I got in on the ground floor.
On August 18th, after the growers’ market, breakfast, and a shower Eileen and I headed to East Islip where I redeemed the bottles, and then we went to the post office to mail some items. There were errands to run in Islip, so I parked at the firehouse and we walked to Chase Manhattan Bank to pay bills and make a deposit, and then we walked to the library to return items, use the computers, and take out DVD’s. We decided to have lunch in Babylon, a foodie’s paradise. We headed over to the village and parked on Totten Place and walked through the Municipal Lot to Deer Park Avenue and then Jack Jack’s Coffee House. We decided on sharing an eggplant panini and washing it down with iced tea. Since we needed to do some more walking, we walked west to Carll Avenue and south to Main Street, stopping to take more pictures, including one of a 1730 vintage house at #17 Carll Avenue that was first occupied by members of the Carll family. I had also promised Eileen another Beanie Baby since she cooperated with me, so we stopped in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and she bought a critter called Trick (whose friend is Treat, which we will probably acquire later), and some gummi candy. Ellen had asked me to get cash, so it was a stop at the Babylon Chase Manhattan Bank branch and the ATM for some money. Then we headed back to Totten Place to get the car and drive to Route 231, and then the Southern State and home. I think that the walk in Babylon was over a mile. The next day on the 19th we walked around Islip from the firehouse to the library (returned DVD's) and over to Church Avenue and then back to the firehouse. In the evening we went out to dinner at Dang BBQ.
I finished Howie Rose's book and took out one covering football: The Senior by Mike Flynt. Mike returned to his former college (Sul Ross State in Alpine TX) at 59 years old in 2007 to play one more season after being kicked off of the team and expelled in August 1971. So far it has gotten me interested in Texas, and football.
On the 25th, Eileen and I went out for a walk, so after some errands we drove to Babylon and parked on Totten Place. We headed to Deer Park Avenue and through about lunch at either a Philadelphia cheese-steak place on Railroad Avenue or a Greek restaurant on Grove Place. The cheese-steak place was a bit cramped, so we walked back to Grove Place to the Greek Garden for lamb gyros and iced tea. Then we walked along Grove Place past the American Legion hall for a photo op (my picture) and then towards Main Street along Mansfield Road and then to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street. Since Eileen cooperated with me, she got to pick out a Beanie Baby – Treat, who is Trick’s partner (the friend she bought last weekend). We also got some gummi candy that we enjoyed in the car as we headed to Route 231 and the Southern State. On August 26th, before the 9 AM Mass I walked through the East Islip Street Fair and brought home some freebies. In the afternoon the 3 of us went to Babylon to see Hairspray at the Argyle Theater. After the show, which we really enjoyed, we walked down Main Street to the Post Office Café for dinner. The ladies each had fish & chips while I had a chicken wrap.
Eileen and I did another walk in Babylon on September 1st. After parking at the usual place, we walked to Glen's Dinette on Main Street. It reminded me of the luncheonette's that I patronized 50 years ago, so we decided to have lunch there: a fish sandwich for Eileen and a Philly cheese steak for me. After lunch we walked west to Belton Road, taking time to photograph the new Bay Man statue at the marina, and in front of the Masonic Lodge at Belton Road. When we headed back to the car at Totten Place, we stopped in Roe Roe's Sweet Street so Eileen could get another Beanie Baby - Pee Wee, a hamster.
The next day we went bowling at East Islip Lanes. Eileen had a down day - 69 and 70. Since I have bad hips and joints, I ended up with 92 and 110. But we had fun.
On Labor Day the 3 of us headed out to Orient Point to go on a boat tour around the lighthouses between Orient and Connecticut. We got to see lighthouses on Plum Island, Big Gull Island, Big Dumpling Island, Groton and New London Connecticut, and Fishers Island. When we got back to land, we had dinner at Orient by the Sea, down the road from the ferry terminal.
I finished The Senior and it got me interested in Sul Ross State University, and since Sul Ross plays Louisiana College, that school as well. Now that I finished Mike's book, I started Amy Morin's 13 Things that Mentally Strong Don't Do. Besides the desire to work out more that The Senior had prodded me to do, 13 Things has gotten me eager to do new things to change my life: start playing my guitar again for change, don't try to make everyone else happy, don't dwell on the past, and don't hold grudges. The book also reminds us to never believe that the world owes us anything, there is nothing wrong with being alone, and don't expect immediate results.
Over the weekend of September 8th and 9th, Eileen went for some nice walks around Babylon, Huntington, and even Islip, and enjoyed a nice lunch at the Terrace Diner on Sunrise Highway. We were back in Babylon on the 16th to enjoy the annual craft fair in Argyle Park, and to visit Sweet Street where she got another Beanie Baby, a mouse named Anna.
I took September 19th off, so I could go to the annual St. John’s McCallen Society Mass and luncheon. I arrived early so I had a chance to walk around and visit some buildings, and to talk with receptionists in St; Augustine Hall and the Career Building about my time there, and how I met Ellen, and took chances to join the Islip FD and the company softball team.
September ended with a walk in Babylon, to try and shed some pounds. We parked in the Municipal Lot and then headed over to Willow Street on the eastern end of town. We then proceeded down Willow past where it becomes Shore Road to a street called Sumpwams Place and then over to Fire Island Avenue and then finally back to the car. But we did check out some shops on Fire Island and Dee Park Avenues before finally heading over to the Islip Library. After some time at the library we came home to relax, and I watched part of the Giants – Saints game before we headed to Viva La Vida for dinner. While it came to $116.36 for the 3 of us, we enjoyed our meal and were full when we left.
I have been reading Duke Snider's autobiography, The Duke of Flatbush. He told us about his early years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, including the disappointments in losing the pennant to the Giants in both 1951 and 1962. losing the World Series to the Yankees and winning it all in 1955 and 1959. Then there was the move to California in 1958 and then being sold to the New York Mets and finishing his career in 1964 with the Giants.
On October 13th Eileen and I headed over to Patchogue to go for a walk and enjoy the Fall Festival on Main Street. After we parked at the fire house, we walked through New Village to Main Street and visited several tables, getting a coffee cup (free) candy (free) and a pumpkin ($3.00). As with our last visit to this village, we had lunch at Del Fuego and stopped at Sensationally Sweet for a Beanie Baby (this time a panda named Puck). The next day was the semi-annual Islip Street Fair. We walked down to Main Street and checked out several tables, taking several freebies. Before heading home, we stopped in Coyle's Ice Cream Parlor. After we got home, we put the freebies away, and then I went back into town to help man the table that my American Legion post had set up.
I took October 17th off because Ellen went to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital with her brother. Since I was watching Eileen, we decided to do some walking. In the morning we managed to walk from the firehouse to Islip High School and back, and also from the firehouse to the bank and the library and back. That got us about a mile and a half in. After lunch (we ordered from Subway) we drove over to Jones Beach Field 6 and walked to the Boardwalk Cafe and back, a round trip of 1.2 miles. Around 4 PM we went to East Islip Lanes so she could bowl with her league. Despite some issues with the gadget that removes pins still standing, she managed an average of 101.
I finished The Duke of Flatbush in mid October and then started Living in the Now by Gina Lake. It's a series of 95 essay about how to live in the present and to forget the past and not worry too much about the future. And the Ego is the part of us that prevents us from living useful lives in the present, unlike the Essence. I must admit that it is not easy reading, so I will probably have to read it twice.
I did some more walking with Eileen over the weekend of October 20-21. On Saturday we headed over to Babylon Village to enjoy the annual Fall Harvest Festival. It's similar to the ones that we went to in Patchogue and Islip. Here, Deer Park Avenue is closed between Main Street and Railroad Avenue and the business in the village set up tables. We walked the length of the festival and visited the various tables but did not buy anything. And the next day we walked from the Islip firehouse to Oconee Diner on Main Street at NY 111, since they set up life sized skeletons who posed as landscapers. After a brief photo session, we walked to the Islip Library to use the computers before going back to the car at Headquarters.
I was off for my birthday, October 26 and in the afternoon Eileen and I went up to Stony Brook University to check out the campus again. After lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn coffee shop we checked out the residence village, and then the West Book Store where I got myself a red hoodie and Eileen got another stuffed mascot (an elephant this time). Then it was the activities center and where we walked through the building and came upon a private Halloween Party. Then we kind of retraced our steps from our January walk there and headed back to the visitors parking lot to go home.
I brought back Gina Lake’s Living in the Now, as I kind of got the gist of the essays, and it was not the easiest book to read on the train. So now I know that a mind guided by the Ego is not a good thing, and we should strive to be in the Essence. On October 26 (off for my birthday) I took it back to the library and checked out The Last Pass by Gary Pomerantz. It is about two of the Boston Celtics’ greatest players: Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. And while I am from New York and find it hard to root for a Boston team, I respect the Celtics’ history and the greats who played for them – like Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and KC Jones to name a few.
Ellen had made reservations at the Red Rooster Bistro in Cutchogue (on Depot Lane at the LIRR tracks) to celebrate my birthday (we were there on October 28). When we got to Route 25, we first stopped at the Bayview Farm Stand where I got myself 3 duck eggs, and Ellen got red leaf lettuce and plum tomatoes. When we arrived at the Red Rooster Bistro, we took pix outside, went inside and we were seated in a back room, next to the train tracks. Later I would photograph a westbound train going past our window. As for eats, Ellen and I had a nice white wine, and the 3 of us shared Prince Edward Island mussels. Main courses were duck for me. Beef Bourguignon for Ellen, and Pacific cod for Eileen. The bill came to $147.76, but my birthday only comes once a year. After taking a few more pix, we headed back home on Route 25 and then south to the Sunrise Highway.
On the following weekend Eileen and I went for a nice walk in Babylon (again). We had lunch at the Greek Garden, located on Grove Place and then continued down the street and visited the American Legion post and then St. Joseph's Church. It was quite windy so we avoided Argyle Lake and went down a back street - Cottage Row - to Main Street and Roe Roe's Sweet Street. This time we got some M & M's and Eileen got another Beanie Baby - a fox named Finley. We then headed back to the car and home. Then on Sunday the 4th I went to the Annual Law & Order Dinner at my American Legion post. 5 Suffolk County police officers, and three high school students who participated in the state government were honored by the Legion and were given citations by our congressman, and also state, county & town officials.
On November 10th Eileen and I headed to Babylon around 1 PM and parked on Totten Place. We did some walking and hoped to have lunch at Del Fuego, but there was 30-minute wait for a table. So we then walked back to Main Street to Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and Eileen got Beanie Baby #37 – a mouse named Miko. Since she wanted to go to a diner, we decided on the Terrace Diner where we shared a cheese quesadilla and French fries (smaller portions and lower costs), and each of us had iced tea.
I naturally observed Veterans Day, and I headed to my American Legion post not long after getting up. Around 8:30 we went to the veteran’s triangle at Commack Road & Moffitt Boulevard for a ceremony, and then we headed to Town Hall West for a similar ceremony before returning to the post to relax and have coffee. Then around 10:15 we walked over to the Veterans Memorial Park at Town Hall to participate in Veterans Day ceremonies. Our immediate Past Commander, who served in country during the Vietnam War, told us about “killer babies” in Vietnam – youngsters who slipped hand grenades into the American soldiers’ pockets, and young girls who sold Coca Cola at the side of the roads – laced with battery acid. After the talks, the 21-gun salute, and the sounding of the siren at 11 AM, we walked back to the post where we enjoyed hot dogs, and I got to talk with some members, as well as two visitors from the Islip Fire Department before heading home. That was my lunch so I was able to save my appetite for dinner at Koi Kokoro.
I was off on November 14th to take care of business at Chase Manhattan Bank and in the late afternoon Ellen wanted to call a lawyer as well as her brother to discuss financial planning for the 3 of us, so I took Eileen to bowling at East Islip Lanes. She did OK, 109 in game #1 and 84 in game #2, for an average of 97.5.
On November 17th I was up early and headed to the firehouse for coffee, and around 9:20 met Ellen at the Growers Market – the last one for 2018. Around 11 am Eileen and I stopped at 7-11 for the lottery ticket and then parked at the firehouse before walking to the library. We returned a DVD and also took out another one (La La Land) and I picked up Eric Metaxas’ book on Martin Luther. After our session we walked back to the firehouse and drove to Sunrise Highway. We wanted to try the Peter Pan Diner but the parking lot was full – we headed to the Terrace Diner instead. This time we split a fried chicken wrap (came with French fries) and each of us had a cup of soup. After lunch we headed to Route 231 and Babylon Village. We parked on James Street and walked to the LIRR station where each of us used our respective rest rooms and then walked to Park Avenue and then to the Hibernians’ Hall where I took 2 photos. We kept walking to Main Street and stopped in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street where Eileen got Beanie Baby #38 – a dog named Flora. Then we went next door to the liquor store for a bottle of wine – Duck Walk Vineyards Windmill Red for Thanksgiving. Then we came home and I uploaded the two pix from the camera and then headed over to St. Mary’s. Then the next day the 3 of us were in Babylon for dinner to celebrate Ellen's birthday. We decided on Horace & Sylvia's, a pub style restaurant that we patronized before. I am still reading Never Ran, Never Will by November 21st I reached the chapter where the Mo Better Jaguars will be going to East Orange to play a major game. On the 21st, we got out early (3:30 for me) and I managed to get the 4:03 home and arrived in Islip at around 5:25. After dropping off my stuff, I went to the firehouse for coffee and watched the Duke-Gonzaga basketball game being played in Maui. It was a nail biter in the final minutes, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs won the game 89-87, and also the tournament.
On Thanksgiving morning I was up from habit and went to the firehouse for coffee and then headed to Hauppauge High School to watch part of the Turkey Bowl (see the Firefighting page for details). Since I brought my camera, I was able to take several photos that I downloaded to Google Photos, this site, and Facebook. It was in the 20’s temperature wise and with the wind chill, felt even worse. Since it was frigid outside, and I also had some errands to do for Ellen, I left in the second half (but Islip FD was leading 3-1 and ended up winning 3-2). Once home I had lunch and watched TV. Got to check out Investigation Discovery, as well as football and basketball games. I did find some time to update the two Billy 2018 websites. I helped Ellen with the Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, and I made turkey soup with the neck bone and innards, and also carved the turkey. Since we did not have company, the dinner was not as formal as prior years.
Since I was off on Black Friday, I avoided the malls but take the CR-V to Babylon Honda for some maintenance - including having the heating system repaired. The visit costs us $440.00, but the car is in good running condition. I have done some more walking with Eileen: later on Black Friday we walked from the house to Little Shop of Shamrocks to get an anniversary gift (a nice Belleek Christmas tree ornament, and then walked up Islip Avenue to Oak Street and through the Wing School grounds.). On Saturday the 24th I had heard a radio ad for the South Bay Diner on Sunrise Highway across from Babylon Town Hall, I figured why not go there. At the diner Eileen and I split a chicken gyro wrap with French fries, and each had a bowl of seafood bisque, and iced teas. It was not that cheap (over $20) but I guess Eileen is worth it. Then we decided to go back to Babylon to do a walk. We headed down Route 109 to Railroad Avenue and then to Totten Place where we parked the car. We were going to walk into West Islip at the Atlantis Diner, but Eileen wanted to go down Willow Street so we headed down that street to Prospect, and then to Suydam Place. We walked up that short street and through the sidewalk connection to Main Street, and back to the car and took NY 231 to Sunrise and home.
On Sunday we went to the Islip Theater to see Ralph Breaks the Internet. It involved a video game character who tried to save a video game that was being discontinued. The Pixar film showed in cartoon form how the Internet works, and also featured the Disney princesses from Snow White to today. In the Evening the 3 of us went to Verace to celebrate Ellen and my 39th wedding anniversary (a day late).
On the train I finished Never Ran, Never Will. It make me wish that we had a Pop Warner football program in Queensboro Hill 60 years ago. I resumed reading Eric Metaxas' biography of Martin Luther. I never realized how corrupt the Church was 500 years ago, and how scrupulous Martin Luther was when went to confession while a monk.
Sadly, on November 30, former president George H. W. Bush passed away today at the age of 94. RIP Mr. President. The next day, after I gassed up the car at East Islip Shell Eileen and I headed east on Sunrise and opted to go for a walk in Patchogue. We exited at the Ocean Avenue exit and drove to Patchogue FD and parked there. Then we walked down South Ocean Avenue past the former Union Savings Bank HQ (interviewed in 1989 there but Providence did not let me get hired, since they went in the 1990’s). Then we took some photos at a park with a trail and plants and then headed back to Main Street. We did another walk on the 2nd, driving to the firehouse, parking the car and walking to the library where Eileen picked out a DVD, and I picked up a book I had ordered weeks ago: The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane. We then walked back to the firehouse to drop off our library borrowings in the car and walked to Sugared Up and Eileen could get a Beanie Baby – a parrot named Diva (#40 in her collection). We then walked to South Bay Avenue and the Town Veterans Park and I took some photos with the cell phone. But without her sunglasses, I did not like how the photos of Eileen turned out. We also walked on to Nook & Cranny and I got to talk with Lori, the owner.
After work on December 7th I went to the Grand Hyatt Hotel for the firm’s annual Christmas/Holiday party. I walked over with my coworkers. There is always a raffle and this year I won:– a Starbucks gift basket. I got a car service home and we left the Grand Hyatt at around 9:15 and I arrived home in about 65 minutes – losing a few minutes on the Southern State Parkway thanks to roadwork. On December 8th Eileen and I visited the Islip Library to return some items and take out CD's and DVD's. We then got a walk in - from the firehouse to the high school campus. When we got home, I decided that it was time to re-new my subscription with Microsoft Office – as I do need Word and Excel.
While reading The Charisma Myth I realized that I have to improve my presence, warmth, and power (this one would not mean dominating or manipulating people, but being able to influence them, hopefully in a positive way). I can see that this book has changed my outlook on life, from the past to the present. No more self-pity. While power may not be that easy to improve, there are still warmth and presence that I can work on. I also want to imagine myself being successful, and practice self-esteem and self-compassion (avoid self-pity) and develop self-confidence.
We did not get a chance to put up the Christmas decorations on December 2nd, the first Sunday of Advent. But we were able to do it on the 2nd Sunday (December 9th) in the bay window: the ceramic Christmas tree and the village (with a Nativity scene), and also some items on the piano. I then went to the firehouse for the tailgate party: Giants at Washington, Jets at Buffalo. Big Blue won 40-16 over the Redskins; Gang Green won in the end, 27-23 over the Bills. I had one cheeseburger, and some Dr. Pepper – a lot less than others who were there. Someone bought a football to the event and after and I tossed the ball back and forth with one of the other members there. He probably expected me to drop it at every pass, but like him, I only missed one. I was surprised that my aim was that good – not William Tell accurate, but better than I realized. I then left at around 3:15 to come home and change and get ready for my American Legion Post’s Christmas party. This time Eileen and I walked to Main Street (through Nikia Drive) to stop at Sugared Up where Eileen bought a Beanie Baby (#41, Gene a cute critter) and then we stopped at the Chase ATM where I took out some $$. After taking some pix we arrived at the Post and met Ellen in the meeting room. Dinner was goulash with stuffing and veggies, and salad. There was a Chinese auction raffle, and we bought $20 worth of tickets and I won a gift certificate to Butera’s Restaurant in Sayville, and with losing tickets won a consolation prize as well – a plate of cookies. All in all we had a good time.
The next day I was off to day since I went to the ear nose & throat specialist up in Islandia. The doctor cleared out the wax in both ears – a lot in the right. I have eczema in the right ear. After the visit I headed to Islip and went to the barbershop and after that, to the pharmacy to get the prescription that the ENT doctor prescribed. There was the Engine 2 meeting in the evening, with a nice Christmas dinner, and cigars, for the members.
2 days later I went to the surrogate’s court on Sutphin Boulevard to get letters of testamentary so I can redeem savings bonds and then deposit the proceeds into my mom’s estate account. Since I got to Jamaica early, I relaxed at the Starbucks across the street. After I bought my letters of testamentary, I walked back to the LIRR station and then I headed to work where arrived at 10:15. It was pretty much non-stop the rest of the day.
Eileen and I did a nice walk on December 15th, at Adelphi University in Garden City. We first stopped for lunch at the Terrace Diner and then proceeded up Route 109 to the Southern State and then to Exit 17 on the parkway. Even though I have not been to the campus in over 30 years, I was able to find it and it has changed a lot since then. We parked the car and then headed to the University Center and visited the bookstore where we purchased a tee shirt for me and a panther mascot for Eileen. We then walked around the campus photographing the various buildings with my digital camera before heading back to the car to go home. We did another campus tour 5 days later, this time at St. John's University. Once we parked in the south parking lot, we stopped in the St. Thomas Moore Church to make a quick visit (and then went across the Quadrangle and took pix by the Celtic Cross. I was planning to visit the food court in Marillac Terrace, when a lady coming out of the admissions office told me that most of the vendors are closed since the University is closed, but Dunkin Donuts was open. So that is where we headed. Eileen had a grilled cheese with iced tea, while I had two small wraps with coffee. Then we walked past Bent Hall and to the Carnesecca Arena/Alumni Hall. We took some pix there, as well as inside Bent Hall by their ticket tape room. Then there was a walk past the Taffner Field House and then the D’Angelo Center. There were the 5 core values posted on the wall so we took pictures of them. And since it’s Christmas time, they has a sculpture on huge Christmas balls by Lourdes Hall, and naturally we could not resist a photo op there. Then it was back to the book store where Eileen got a wildcat mascot, and I got an SJU Alumni sweatshirt. The store game me a 10% discount since I am an alumnus. Then we walked back to the car going past St. Johns Hall, and the statue of St. John (another photo op) and past the law school and then the car, to head home.
I had decided to take off after December 18th (lose them or lose them) but on December 19th I did go in on the usual 7:10 train to my internist up on East 72nd Street. I got there early and the patient ahead of me was running late, so they took me early and ran blood work, as well as the usual heart & lungs. The heart & lungs seem to be OK, but the jury is out for a few days on the blood work. When they were done, I walked to the 72nd Street Station at 2nd Avenue and then took the Q back to Herald Square, walked to Penn and grabbed the 10:22 home. Ellen could not pick me up because she was waiting for a chimney sweep to arrive, so I walked from the station. I had lunch and after that Eileen and I drove into town where I parked at the firehouse and we walked to the library to take out some items and use the computers. and when our time on the computer was over, we drove over to East Islip Lanes. On the 21st I went to my dentist's office over in East Islip for a cleaning, x-rays, and to have the cap put back in. Later on Friday I took Eileen to the movies – we saw Mary Poppins Returns. Maybe because I was still tired from the work week, but I nodded off a few times. And it was slow moving in some spots. But I did like the footage of 1930’s London.
Ellen and I met our new grand nephew on December 23rd when my nephew, nice in law and grand nephew came by the house to visit. Naturally I took lots of photos, and we all went to dinner at Mango Tango on Main Street in Islip.
Eileen and I managed to get some walks in during the latter part of December. On December 22nd, we visited Port Jefferson (very hilly up there on the North Shore) and had lunch at a taco place and got a Christmas stocking stuffer at a gift shop. On Christmas Eve, we went to Babylon Village again, walking along Main and Prospect Streets past the bay man statue and the library, and ending at Roe Roe's Sweet Street.
I am still reading The Charisma Myth and Olivia Fox Cabane tells us not to tense up because others will see that . I have been walking taller and trying not to dwell on the past. She also says that self-pity is harmful. I had it and it looks like I really made a somewhat troubled life even worse by self-pity, denial, resentment, and negative thoughts to name a few. But it is never too late to begin again. I have to practice self-esteem and self-compassion (avoid self-pity) and develop self-confidence. While I am a bit leery of power, I can work on warmth and presence to be charismatic.
By the end of 2018 I finished The Charisma Myth and hope that it will make my life better. I do see changes already.
I finished 2018 on December 29th with a visit with Ellen and Eileen to a nice restaurant in Syosset called Rare650 (the address is 650 Jericho Turnpike). It is quite upscale and we only went there because my brother in law and sister in law invited us, and they live nearby. Luckily my brother in law picked up the tab, or else Ellen and Eileen would both have to get jobs. Rare650 is a good place but out of my price range.