06 November 2005
Now Hear This! | 30 October 2005
NAME OF THE GAME - INVOLVEMENT
10/11/05 09:10 AM
It is now 0900 hours, and I have just finished eating my breakfast. Two slices of French Toast, 3 sausages, 2 scrambled egg and a cup of tea. Frisco and I are logging in each meal attempting to better control of our blood sugar. I have been a diabetic for over 30 years and fortunately have been able to keep it under control through dieting, and my daily exercise routine.

On the minus side of the ledger is that my A1C blood test reveals that it is at the 8.1 level which indicates that down the road a piece I very likely will be put on insulin. This I do not want and will do everything within my power to avoid it, if possible.

My health provider, at the VA, is a diabetic herself and understands the troubles I am having. She is well versed on the subject and I have every confidence in her advise. She suggested that I start a log and keep track of what I am having for my meals and take my blood sugar test 2 hours after each meal.

In that way, she informed me, if my blood sugar elevates too high, I can look back in the log and see what it was that caused it. She told me to stay away from all white food products. Things such as, white bread, pasta, potatoes, and the like. If my sugar elevates, check the log, and delete it from the menu. Try the same menu again, minus the deleted item, and check it again 2 hours after the meal. It should show an improvement in your blood sugar. It works, so both Fran and I are diligently recording our meals and making the proper adjustments.

Frisco is not considered to be a diabetic, but her blood tests show that she is borderline case. She has her own monitor for testing blood and we both heed the advice we receive from our health provider.

It makes me more conscious of my health, having Fran joining me in efforts to remain insulin free. We have been married now for over 50 years. Tomorrow evening our children and grandchildren will be coming home to treat us to a fine evening dinner. We made a reservation at Graziano's Casa Mia Restaurant for 17 people. Family and work commitments kept many of them from being with us on our anniversary date, October 29th.

They got together and picked Veteran's Day to honor us with their presence. They couldn't have picked a better day, for I am a proud old veteran of 3 of our nation's wars. I am going to take my grandchildren over to the memorial site so that they can see what their grandfather is working on. They will be proud to know that they contributed to their "grandpa's" memorial.

Sometime next week the forms will be removed, and a bed of gravel will be laid at the base of the monument. The four (4) foot deep trench will then be filled with sand and will be allowed to settle until the spring, when we will finish up the foundation by installing the concrete walk ways leading up to the memorial.

I am beginning to see, and feel, the excitement of the community coming to play in our endeavors. Lois Brown, our treasurer, informed me that a couple of the bank tellers suggested we promote a Gala Town of Lenox Memorial Dinner in April. The women volunteered their services to help in promoting and helping in the arrangements. When Lois asked what I thought about the idea, I told her by all means. This is what I wanted it to be, a community project, something that everyone can help with.

We are going to try and get the U.S. Army Band, from Fort Drum, to put on a concert before the dinner hour. We will presell tickets for the event well in advance. The bank has approved the sale of tickets at their place of business, along with both the American Legion and the VFW also selling tickets in advance. The proposed dinner date is on April 22nd and will be held at the Rusty Rail Party House on Route 5 in Canastota. Rusty has reserved his establishment for the event and has promised us a delicious buffet.

We had originally planned on having another Spaghetti Dinner there, with my running mate, Louie Balducci, doing the cooking and volunteers serving the meal. As I said, the community is excited and wants to join the ranks of those of us who want this project to succeed. It's a warm feeling to know that so many people are offering their services to help. This is a small rural community, proud of it's sons and daughters. I have found throughout the years that citizens of our small village will response to any worthy cause. I know that they will not let us down.

Tuesday, November 8th, was election day and our Town Supervisor, Rocky DiVeronica, was re-elected to serve another term. I was happy to see him win as he has put so much into having this World War II Memorial built. It has been his dream for many years to reconstruct a likeness to the old wooden memorial that honored those who served.

Rocky, Bob Clarke, our designer, and myself will be making a trip to Vermont to visit the Rock of Ages Monument Co. to get a preview of how they are progressing on our Memorial. We will more than likely be going in early April when the snow has died down and the roads will be safe for traveling.

Well, my good friends Frisco has requested that I take her over to Wal Mart so that she can do little shopping. I have to run over to the Oneida Daily Dispatch with a news release so I'll drop her off, run into Oneida and take care of my business and then make headway for home. Once again, thanks for allowing me to bend your ear and making my day a little more interesting. Take care good people, and Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack
THINGS ARE SHAPING UP
07/11/05 08:18 PM
November 7th, 2005. At long last things are beginning to look up at Clark Memorial Park. Today at 1300 hours, the cement trucks rolled into the park and concrete began pouring into the forms. I could see the monument come alive as I stood there watching it begin to take shape. I actually had a chill run up my back as I stood there taking pictures. Maybe the chill was due to weather conditions. It was windy, cold and the temperature was in the mid 40s. At any rate it made my day.

I stopped off at the Town Hall after I finished my exercise routine at the "Y". Lois, our treasurer, informed me that she and a couple of other gals got to talking about the memorial, and came up with a suggestion which I endorsed wholeheartedly.

A month or so ago, I made a request from the one and only party house in town to allow us to use their establishment for a spaghetti dinner in late April. The gals suggested we put on a dinner and have the Rusty Rail cater it at their party house. They are going to get in touch with Congress McHugh, our representative in Washington, to contact Fort Drum and request a musical concert prior to the dinner to attract support for our project. I am sure Rusty will accommodate us as he stands to reap some of the proceeds from the event.

This will be a last hour push for the fund drive and I am positive if we all work together, presell tickets for the affair we will have an overflow crowd for the dinner. The gals and I, along with my running mate, Louie Balducci, will begin planning the affair within the next couple of weeks.

I called the Rock of Ages Monument Co., in Vermont, this afternoon and was informed that everything is on schedule, that they received my list of names that are to be inscribed on the memorial and will be sending us a proof for us to sign off on in a few weeks.

He also extended an invitation for Bob Clarke, Rocky Di Veronica and myself to make a trip in the Spring to get a preview of what the monument looks like. I told him I would accept his invitation on behalf of both Rocky and Bob. I saw Bob tonight at the legion and he was all for it. I am sure Rocky will accompany us if he can break away from his many duties as the Town Supervisor.

My daughter, Lorraine, the oldest girl, called this evening and said it was all firmed up for the dinner engagement this weekend celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. Tomorrow I have to go Graziano's Casa Mia, an Italian restaurant here in Canastota, and make reservations for 17 people. Frisco and I are both looking forward to having the gang home to celebrate with us. Dave, our oldest son, and Eric, our youngest, live out of state and work commitments keep them from attending. Their thoughts and prayers will be with us that evening, I know.

Yesterday the weather was really hectic here in Central New York. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph hit all through Madison County. Trees were uprooted, falling on houses and cars. Accompanying the wind, was a driving rain storm that dropped hail galore. The ground was white with hail, you would have thought we had a snow storm.

A large pine tree that was planted in memory of John F. Kennedy, was uprooted in Clark Memorial Park. The roots of the tree were taller than my bride, Frisco. I took her over to the park to see it, and also view the monument site. It was a shame to lose the tree but it did have one benefit - It opened a clear view from the street to where our memorial will stand.

It was a fast moving storm and we managed not to lose electrical power. I was happy for that. The last time we lost power we were shut down for 10 hours or more. That was about a month ago. The weather sure seems to be getting awful savage of late. Hurricanes, tornados, floods, you name it. I think someone upstairs is getting annoyed with us, and attempting to send us a message. Pay heed.

It's now 2140 hours and my mind is not functioning properly so I believe I'll call it an evening and relax in my recliner and watch TV until sack time. It's been good talking to whomever is out there listening to me. I'm still a kid at heart. I have lots of imaginary friends out there in the nether world. We get along fabulously, we never have harsh words or bad feelings between us.

Veterans Day is this Friday. If you meet up with a vet shake his hand and thank him, or her, for their service. I have had it done to me on several occasions, and it gave me a warm feeling knowing that people appreciated the service and sacrifices we made for our country.

That's it for tonight. Nice chatting with all you good people. Till next time remember, Keep the Faith -- Sailor Jack