Happy New Year
We hope you have a nice 2024. For several years, we always go to The Cellar for dinner on New Year’s Eve. We being Lorna, myself, Lorna’s sister, Elneta, and a close friend, Sue. The Cellar’s food and service are excellent! It was nice to see waitress, “Cindy,” there, too. Here is a little tip I do for reservations.
Before you leave the restaurant, or even before, give the lady at the standup desk a note that reads, “THE CELLAR, RESERVATIONS FOR 4 ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, DECEMBER 31, 2024 AT 5 P.M. (Include your name and phone number). The lady will record it in her reservation book, and ‘yer good-to-go for your next New Year’s Eve visit. Of course, if you check-out here on earth within the year, you might give the place a courtesy call from heaven, assuming that’s where you’ll be! If it’s the other place, at least your steak will be well done!!
Fran Riley
It was a nice tribute that KWQC-TV recently did on Fran Riley. I go back a long way when he was with WHBF-TV and I was with the postal service. During Christmas time he and his photographer would show all the mail being sorted during the busy holiday season. He did a spot at our house one time, but I can’t remember what it was for? Maybe it was on our pet boa constrictor.
One time there was a sad time we needed to talked about. I won’t go into detail, but it just showed what a class guy Fran was. While he has since passed away, Fran Riley was a great guy.
Winter Blues
I really don’t have much news or information while I pound these keys. There are a ton of things to write about during the warmer months, but winter is always a challenge for me. As for sports on TV, there are some good basketball games to be played and ice-skating competition is enjoyable. You know from here on politics will be center court and I can just take so much of their b.s. Excuse my French! We’re not snowbirds and there is just so much ice fishing, TV, reading a good book and so on. Speaking of basketball, the other day I watched the game between UCLA and the Oregon Ducks. I think the Oregon basketball court is totally ugly (Sorry fan, Diane DeBruyckere.) It is supposed to look like fur trees surrounding the floor, but I think it looks so odd. Just my opinion!
Go, Lions
Making the playoffs was not in ‘da Bears DNA for this season. So, I hope the Lions can go all the way. They have had lousy teams for several years. They lost a heart braker to the Cowboys a couple of Saturdays ago. It’s time for the Lions. Advice to the coach: “Use running back, David Montgomery, MORE!” Sometimes he can carry 6 guys on his back and “still” make yardage. Wish the Bears still had him.
Speaking of which, I hope ‘da Bears keep QB Fields. Stop this insane search for a “JC” like QB that will take us to the promise land. No, Field’s is not perfect. None of the QBs, past ‘n present are? So, wise up-front office and keep the dude!!
Notre Dame Girls Basketball
Yeah, that December 31st Syracuse game was a tough lost for the Irish. They will meet again at South Bend on January 25th. Revenge is such sweet sorrow! “Go, Irish!”
Underground RR
Most of us know there was an underground railroad during the Civil War, but maybe little more than that. Angie Snook, Historian, will give a program on that sad, but important roll whites and blacks helped slaves from persecution in the south. The presentation will be held at the Geneseo Public Library on January 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. I know we plan on attending.
Black Atlantic Sailors
Two Saturdays ago I watched a very interesting program on the American History TV channel. Author Michael Schoeppner discussed about 20,000 black maritime workers who were imprisoned by officials in southern port cities between 1822 and 1857. Black sailors worked aboard ships, but when they dropped anchor in southern ports, blacks were taken off the ships and jailed. In one case, a high ransom had to be paid for the sailor’s return.
One time a captain of a ship told the crew they were headed to New York. For whatever reason, the captain changed course and headed to a southern port. The 16 black sailors figured it out where the ship was headed and mutinied. Before the Civil War, those (free) black sailors on U.S. Navy ships were not jailed in southern port cities. England was neutral and their black sailors were also not jailed. If you type in author Michael Schoeppner’s name you can watch his presentation.
Airplane Humor
Geneseo’s Tony Simon is a golfer and a pilot. So, he said over the intercom on a flight, “Since this is a long flight we recommend you do some sort of physical activity. Because of the glass windows, we do not recommend golf.”
A flight attendant said over the intercom, “Sorry for the bumpy ride. The pilot was just dodging some trees.” Flying very low over Green River the flight attendant told the passengers, “In the event of a water landing, please do not yell, “Cowabunga, baby!”