Life Experience Gleamed From Red Green

I wish I could say that I am the creator of the original thought of this, but, alas, I cannot. I did first hear this on the Red Green show. On one of his spots of wisdom, he had talked about growing up from youth to adult. He mentioned that he noticed time passing. As a youth, when he went to some themed restaurants, and had to visit the restrooms, he had noticed that above the stand up urinals was the sports page of the day. And the thing that he noticed over time was that as a youth, he barely had time to register that there even was a paper on the wall, and he wondered why it was there.

As he came to grow older, he noticed that he spent a little more time standing there while he was going, and had enough time to scan the headlines at least. Well, as more time progresses, he know realizes that he has enough time to be able to read whole articles. Now now there, it not that he is passing that much more fluids as an adult, it is just that it does take more time to be able to pass it.

As I now am coming to that age, I to have to say that yes, I do now notice that I have a little more time to read what is there rather than just look at a monochrome painted wall. There is more to see than just headlines.

Damn, I am even starting to look like him!

Wanderlust Gene at Work

As many of you know, my siblings have inherited the wanderlust gene from our father. On Sundays, it was his job to entertain the kids, and not only his own, but some of the neighbors as well as cousins. He would take us for rides with no particular destination in hand. At times, especially in the fall, he may have a gallon of cider and a bag of hardrolls. We never travelled with maps, and GPS was not even the dictionary at that time. We would allow fate to decide what road to take, and to see where it took us.

Back then, we were always amazed that we eventually got to a road that we recognized and we found our way home. Now, as an adult, I realize that he just knew the county and knew even if we were on a new road, we would eventually cross a road or highway that he knew. It at that time added to the aura of dad knowing all and never getting lost. Well, if I had children, I am sure that for some years, it would be the same. I would not look at road map, or if I did, it just would not be in front of the kids before I determined where we would eventually arrive somewhere.

Sunday Sept 19th, 2010, I was feeling the call of the road and the wanderlust called strongly upon me. I hit the road as we used to do on Sunday afternoons. I went to one of our favorite haunts from yesteryear. This was a favorite that we had to hit at least once a year and normally around the fall time. Alas, no children of my own and no nephews or nieces to take to enjoy the call of the road, I made the trip solo. This time, I was at the wheel.
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I have had the hankering to go to Pymatuning Reservoir. Had to go see the carp go wild. They have just remodeled there, and updates availability for handicapped. Last time when I started out as driver on Sunday drives, taking my father rather than the other way around, I had to push him in his wheelchair on the edge of the narrow road of the spillway and when you get to the bridge, there was room atop the bridge for relative safety for wheelchair. Now, there is a paved path right near the water for the whole distance and it has a fence up as well.




Photo above shows some of the feeding frenzy that occurs. Next below is a photo of the fish right at the shore as they wait to try to ambush the visitors and get their bread. They are all along the shore and just out of range are the ducks and geese and sea gulls.

Below is a shot of where the tourist stand is and you can see the railing and the walkway is to the left of this.


Here, they try to serenade you. Anything they can do to get you to give them some of your bead. Quite a trio this group was. Such three part harmony.


Of course in every combo, there has to be a soloist, that or it is just more hungry that the others


Here is a link to youtube video I shot of the feeding frenzy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIN4xg79s84

What Is Your Favorite Whine?

Can it be, "I want to go to Miami!," or "Are We there yet?," "How Soon?," Well, yesterday 3-27-2010, ours was I WANT TO GO TO "WINE ON THE LAKE!'' It was held at Erie Convention Center on the bay front. It was my first time to attend. This was my Christmas present to my brother Phil. he had made a comment way back around thanksgiving that he was thinking about getting a ticket to check it out. I had figured, No brainer what to get him for Christmas. Alas he had to wait another 3 months to actually experience his present. I hope that the wait was worth while for him.

Also attending were my friends Margie and Bert. Plans were made, and we planned on going together as a group. We decided on dinner first. Going to a wine tasting, did not want to go on an empty stomach. We decided to give us time, to meet for dinner at 4 PM. Wine tasting was to start at 6 and run to 9. Figuring early start to dinner would allow us to be sure that we finished in time to make it to the convention center on time. Knowing that there is limited parking at the center, we did not want to arrive too late.

I do not know if it was because we arrived so early or was it meticulous planning, but in any case, we were finished with dinner by just after 5 PM. A leisurely drive had us arriving at 5:30. We were early! That is so not a family trait! We got great parking, only approximately 25 yards from the front doors. We entered and joined the queue. This line was not too long, maybe a hundred people ahead of us. VIP passes allowed some people to enter earlier. We chatted in line and just were able to enjoy the view from the wall of windows to our right.



Just before 6 Pm the cattle chutes were opened and we were herded in. Just inside the gate, they took our tickets and then we proceeded to get our complimentary wine glass, and bag of coupons, and guide to who was where and what vendors were present. Luckily, since we were at the head ( nearly ) of the line, we got in before the crowds really hit.

In the first ball room, the floor was all carpeted, and all vendors were against the walls. Center floor had some tables to stand at to enjoy one another's company and to soak in the ambiance. Center floor was a small stand of which a string ensemble played music for your enjoyment. As you step up to a vendor, they were all so very friendly. They asked what sort of win you like, and then they would relay what they had that might meet your criterion. They would give you a sample and you could sniff, taste, and enjoy the experience. They were available to answer questions. Alas, that option quickly died as the building filled with eager samplers. You got the impression of a very popular bar with a very thirsty crowd. Do not get me wrong, was not pushy or bad attitudes, but just so many people there wanting to sample all of what was available in our region.



Into the next ball room, this one had tiled floors, and also had vendors in the center space. Some of the center space vendors had more room and more people to dispense samples. Not only was there wine available, there too was vendors selling cheeses, and fruits, as well as vendors selling jewelry and art. There was also even a vendor selling yachts. I guess the tie in for that one would be that you could drink wine on the lake all summer. lol Also, as an added bonus, a chiropractor had a small booth set up where they offered a few minute should massage. Sitting kind of backwards in a chair, your face goes into a doughnut hole and you lean against it while you get your massage. Also, for entertainment, this conference room had a trio playing. Again, there were some tables around, as well as this time some chairs.


In the photos posted here, I tried not to show all of the crowds. Had attempted to shoot around them. At one point, I rec'd a tap on the shoulder with the question, " Excuse me, are you Mikes brother?" I peered upwards towards the ceiling likes to face who had asked me the question. It was a young and very tall gentleman, and I said, possibly, because I wanted to be sure of which Mike he was referring to. Turns out he is my sister in laws nephew Mark. We chatted a while, and went on to sample the wares of the vendors.


We had heard from one of the vendors that the original wine tasting last year was all done in the first conference room where we entered. From what they said, it was very crowded and very hot!. Even with all the room we had, the rooms both had definitely warmed up. Every here and there, you could feel the cool air from air conditioners come on and blow down on ya. I am sure I had a great time, and hopes that everyone else did too. And also, they were selling their wines as well as letting you sample them, so of course, we had to walk away with some bottles.

I've Had A Birch Of A Time

Follow up to last post. As most all of you know, my intent was to have Birch trees. I had seen the material panels at one time, and it took me over a year to find out where the printed material had been gotten. Alas, by the time I got there, the pattern had been discontinued, and they no longer had any.

I opted for second choice, and I did follow through with the Oak pattern. Was not my best endeavor, but, I went for it anyway. In searching for photos of Birch trees, I came across the two here below that most came close to what my idea was to be.

"Imagine if you will, either a larger stand of White Birch trees, or just a couple filling the corner of your room, multiplied only by the number of panels you apply. However you choose, you have entered the Tree Zone."

OMG! I HAve Been Queer-Eyed

OMG! As the title already states, "I Have Been Queer-Eyed !" I had an idea, and I am experimenting. I had wanted to make a change. nothing drastic, but I wanted to do something different. I no longer just wanted to live with just plain blank, painted walls.

I am not artsy enough to do murals or anything, or even faux-suede a paint scheme, so I had a thought. Mind you, I never said it was a good one, or well thought out.

My idea was to use material to hand and put a scene up in one corner of the living room. In my mind, and stole the idea from someone else, I wanted to put up trees. I had originally seen White Birch Tree pattern used like this in a corner and it really brightened up the room, and made a little statement. Sure did break up just the whole mono-chromatic paint scheme.

Sighs, as is always my luck, "A Day Late, And A Dollar Short," It took me some time to track down where the material was purchased at. They no longer handled the White Birch design. Sighs, Had to go to a plan B. Had to find another design. Finally decided on an Oak Tree Pattern. Of the four designs available, the one I opted for was the lightest shade. Sighing, it is still too dark now that I have it up.

Which brings me up to my next hurdle, How to hang this. I had asked questions when I got the material. They recommended me to go to a paint store. Alas, the one they recommended is not long in existence. Some thoughts given to me was to use wall paper paste to glue it up, Grommets was another option, and to not have the grommets show, would turn the top edge over so that the material would drape back up and over the grommets and they would not show at all. This would have moved the top edge of the material out from the wall before coming back down. I went for another route. I went with Velcro. So, if the idea does not work out, can more easily return back to the way it was.

So, below is how the end? product looks. Comments or guffaws are always welcomed.

First Snow In Erie 10/15/09

Not a big thing to say today, but, As I was driving home from dinner tonight, I had noted at first that there were a few snowflakes mixed with the rain. Well, before long, it had changed over to a lot of snowflakes mixed with a little rain. We are not expecting much, but, this was our first real snow of the season. It actually got cold enough outside, that the temperature dropped lower than my low limit for the furnace in the house, and my furnace kicked on. Brr, am not looking forward to the rest of the season. Whatever happened to Indian Summer? LOL I would like a week or so yet of warmer weather.

p.s. The grey streaks above the car is the snow as it is falling down yet. this was taken at about 8:45 this evening

Adventure Day

I had promised my nephew and his wife a special Birthday present for their son Grady. he likes trains, so I had promised to take him on a train ride. Alas, at the time of his birthday, things just had not worked out. I had a week of vacation time, but alas, between families, out off time did not co-ordinate well. Now, the last week of Sept. had been nothing but cold and rain, but, in a good way, that was good for us. I am off from work now, and it just worked out well, that Sat. Oct 3rd, was open and there were seats available on the train. This was questionable because with the fall season, a lot of people go on the train to see the fall changing of the leaves. As mentioned above, with the rain the prior week, and temps down into the 50's well, that made for some available seating. Train was due to depart the station in Titusville at 11 AM. I arrived at the house, and the kids were ready, and with directions from the Garmin, we were on the way. Evan was a great help with the navigation, but, his own personal knowledge ended at Rte 198. We went a bit beyond that. But, all was well, and we arrived with a little time to spare.







I had gotten a bit anxious as the last 15 minutes out of town, were were following a bus. Sure enough, it was going to the same place. Yikes! Well, we unloaded out of the car, and got into the station before the bus did and got out tickets. Not to worry though, there was still plenty of seating available. The train excursion for this trip was the OCTRR, or otherwise known as Oil Creek & Titusville Rail Road. All told, there were like six cars, plus one open stand up car for the passengers as well as a few freight cars. This trip as posted, was in THE VALLEY THAT CHANGED HISTORY. That was because we were running the valley where commercial oil was first discovered and refined and shipped from. Up this valley where the cliffs could be within 5 feet of the car on one side and about 15 feet from the water. All told, we crossed the Oil Creek four times on each direction. This train also had a dining car/post office. This post office is the last moving railroad post office still in existence.





Jennifer, the children's mom, had accompanied us for this adventure. Mike was involved with his work and the school. We were all excited. We found a couple of seats, and within a few minutes, we were underway. Approximately 10 minutes into the trip, the train stopped at Drakes Well Park. Here we picked up some bicyclists. They were going on closer to Oil City. And off we were once again. We found that even though the cars were riding in and original, we found that we could open the windows. The opened up about half way. This was enough for the youngsters to look out unimpeded. For them, it was an adventure. For once, while traveling, they were not seat-belted into place. They could actually get up and move around. One of the big thrills was to be able to move from one car to another while the train was underway. The floors were moving from side to side and a little up and down and you can actually see the tracks below us as we went from one car to another.



This excursion is scheduled for about a total of 3 hours. they held pretty close. For a 3 year old, 3 hours is a long time. We got a little antsy before the end, but nothing too bad. We had fun all along the way. We even enjoyed a snack! At the haly way point in Oil City, as we were waiting to load new passengers, Our engine decoupled, and went a ahead a bit, and then switched to a set of tracks right next to ours, and Then swapped ends and hooked back uo so that they could pull us back to our start point in Titusville.

After three and a quarter hours, we all arrived back at our original train station. They boys seemed to be really thrilled with just looking and watching the model train display that was set up in the lobby. After viewing the lobby/museum/gift shop, we loaded back up into the car, and with navigator Evan, we found a place to have some lunch before heading home. Even got some time in at the play area. On the way back home, the skies had darkened but no rain had fallen the whole day. Was a great trip and great company to go with.