buffaloroots

All Is Quiet on Christmas Day

2011-12-25T12:28:00.002-05:00

Walker Evans and I just completed our Christmas neighborhood walk, including a stretch of the normally very busy Elmwood Avenue.
Only three business out of the more than 20 we passed by were open; the Sunoco station/mini mart at Elmwood and Hodge, and the Tokyo Shango Bistro and Peking Chinese restaurants, both on Elmwood Avenue between West Utica and Hodge.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everybody.

Who Do I Turn To?

2011-12-18T22:19:00.002-05:00

It's been a difficult week or so, beyond the usual financial and other problems, with a disorienting call form my mother Sheila today a real tough one.
So, I normally turn to my loving wife, Val, and dog Walker Evans, for support, love and discussion. Sadly, both Val and Walker Evans are sick and sleeping/resting; Val has been voiceless for the better part of the last 48 hours.
As I write this, I realize that this is both an exercise in rhetoric and probably a self-pity session that should end now, but the laundry isn't going to engage me in discussion, so...

Um, Who?

2011-12-14T21:46:00.003-05:00

Like most people, Val and I receive a lot of donation solicitations through the mail, as well as online. Due to our continued tenuous financial state, we cannot really make any at this time, worthy or not.
But at least we get an occasional laugh. Tuesday, we received two solicitations for donations in the mail from the same place, St. John's-Grace Church on Colonial Circle in Buffalo, seeking National Register of Historic Places inclusion.
Both are addressed to the same "couple," Valerie & Hosey Dunne. Seems like they are paying both too much and not enough attention to Val and I referring to our house as the Dunne-Hosey Estates.

My Reading List

2011-12-12T16:54:00.003-05:00

My lovely wife Val often comments, sometimes strongly, on the books I read, calling them my "happy books."
I have always been a nonfiction book fan more than fiction, not because I dislike fiction (Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell and Henrik Ibsen are among my favorites), but because I am a major history fan. I am intrigued and fascinated with what people do to other people, what they create and why, in the macro and micro.
To give you examples, the book I just finished reading was "Harvest of Despair: Life and Death in Ukraine Under Nazi Rule," by Karel C. Berkhoff, and I am currently reading "Bloody Sunday: Massacre in Northern Ireland, the Eyewitness Accounts," by Don Mullan.
Before these two books, I read a work of fiction, "Celebration," by Harry Crews, which was OK but rather predictable.
It's not that I do not enjoy fiction, as the authors I listed above show, but for me, with so many factual, historical events having occurred that I know little or nothing about, and my need for not only detail but analysis, I seek out this route to reality first.

Yikes; I'm Still Here

2011-12-12T12:52:00.003-05:00

I truly apologize to you fine readers for the lack of commentary over the last month or so; I had to look at the date of my last entry to realize how long it has been since I last wrote here.
Due to political campaigning (mostly successful) and a few other activities, I haven't been as good at updating this blog as I should, and starting today, I have several entries to write. I thank you all for sticking with me.

If You Haven't Got a Ha'Penny...

2011-11-15T10:51:00.003-05:00

When Walker Evans and I visit the area around Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, surrounded by Elmwood Avenue, Hodge Avenue, Delaware Avenue and Bryant Street, it is usually between 8-9 a.m.
This means that we get to see the daily Parking Maneuver Olympics and Exhibition, as vehicles try to find free on-street parking while the occupants attend to various business or relatives' treatment at the hospital. This is in addition to residents parking on one side of the street, as city laws allow.
What amazes me is to see vehicles such as Cadillac Escalades, Lexuses and other high-priced vehicles attempting to dart into rarely vacated parking spaces, and sometimes circling the neighborhood doing this. All of this happens while there is a large, multistory parking ramp with entrances on Hodge, Elmwood and West Utica Street, with the maximum daily charge of $3.75, as well as designated, permit-only lots for at least some doctors.
It has gotten so bad that several residents along these streets stand outside or at their windows to make sure no one parks across their driveway entrances.

Do You Like Gladiator Movies?

2011-10-29T15:49:00.003-04:00

During today's walk, at about 2 p.m., Walker Evans and I crossed Richmond Avenue at Summer Street.
As we started to head down Little Summer Street, as this block is called due to the jockey cottages on it, a bit of color across the street caught my eye. When I looked, I saw a man in a red gladiator outfit (costume, I assume); a red flowing cape/tunic, brown leather/fake leather skirt/shorts, gold helmet and sandals. Yes, nothing else; it seems this gladiator wanted to show off how ripped he was, and indeed, this guy, about age 25-30, was in great shape.
I gave the guy a thumbs-up sign and shouted, "Brave costume for this weather (the temperature was 40 degrees)." He waved, laughed and replied, "Great weather for this costume," and walked down Richmond Avenue toward downtown.
Sorry, Matt Locker, but I didn't have a camera with me.

Random Music Selection

2011-10-27T12:55:00.003-04:00

To illustrate how interesting it is to delve into my late father Edward's record collection, I thought I'd reach in and describe one.
Well, here is what I came up with today: "Peg O' My Heart," b/w "Moonlight Bay," by Glen Miller and His Orchestra, Decca 25075. Side one is described as an "instrumental fox trot," side two a "fox trot with vocal." My mother Sheila once tried to teach me to fox trot for a high school dance in 1975; not exactly a success.

Suspicious Minds

2011-10-27T10:52:00.002-04:00

A couple of days ago, during our morning walk, Walker Evans and I crossed Richmond Avenue at Connecticut Street coming back home from Buffalo's Lower West Side.
As you cross the street there, if you are on the side of the intersection we were on, you come to a former red-brown brick church building that is now a high-rent/luxury apartment complex, which has a small outdoor parking lot and several indoor parking spaces under the building.
As Walker and I stepped up on the curb in front of the parking area, there was a silver luxury sedan in the parking space nearest the sidewalk with two women about age 35-45 in the front seats. As Walker and I took a step on the sidewalk toward and leading past them, they both stopped and stared at us, frozen in position and wide eyed, until the driver actually lowered her sunglasses enough to peer over them at me.
Walker seemed pleased that at almost age 13 and half blind, that he can still scare people. I actually caught myself laughing out loud and saying in a stage whisper, "Really?"

Bowie's "Changes" For BMW

2011-10-21T17:04:00.002-04:00

It may not be a brand-new advertisement, but I still get a cognitive jolt when I see and hear the BMW commercial featuring David Bowie's "Changes."
I realize that "Changes" was previously used to advertise for Microsoft, and has been used in other promotional efforts, but it may be the one song (well, maybe one of two, along with "Scary Monsters") of Bowie's I never thought he'd sell for a commercial.
I suppose it is nice to hear some of it every once in a while; it does help counter the Hank Williams Jr. stain. And it was interesting picking out a photo of Bowie; he remains ridiculously handsome in his 60s (just ask Val).

Morning Music Surprise

2011-10-19T09:57:00.003-04:00

As Walker Evans and I crossed Richmond Avenue and started going down Connecticut Street on our walk this morning, a car at that intersection was blasting music from inside.
While this is nothing surprising, even at 8 a.m., the music was unexpectedly not hip hop, harder rock/punk/heavy metal or urban dance/R&B pop. Instead, the song blaring from the car was "Green Green Grass of Home" by George Jones.
I'm hoping Walker Evans and I come across this driver and his car a little more often as we traverse the Lower West Side of Buffalo on our sojourns.

Two Tastes That Taste Great Together? No

2011-10-16T17:49:00.003-04:00

Despite the improvement of my eating habits over the years, I am a serious snack food fan, as well as a MAJOR appreciator of chocolate and coffee. But that doesn't mean that certain foods I like should be combined.
After not buying any for several years, I have recently bought a couple of bags of Bugles corn chip snacks, a favorite I hadn't eaten in years. Next to the regular Bugles on the shelf at Wegmans, I saw...Chocolate Bugles? What the hell? Someone actually thinks that as I enjoy my rather salty, crunchy corn chips that the one thing that could make me happier would be to add chocolate?
I checked online, and there are way more flavors of Bugles than I expected; some seem OK, some I may not enjoy, but chocolate? Indeed, there is one variety called "Sweet and Salty Chocolate Peanut Butter."
Ugh.
Oh, before I forget, I also miss the red box that Bugles used to come in (my favorite is shown here); now, it is the ubiquitous plastic bag.

Ooh Ooh Ah, Fashion

2011-10-15T14:31:00.003-04:00

Walker Evans and I also witnessed an interesting fashion statement during our walk today on the same block of Norwood Avenue between Bryant and Summer.
We saw a couple standing outside their house at about 1:30 p.m., mugs of what I assume was coffee in their hands, smoking cigarettes. Apparently, the need to smoke overrode the need to be dry and warm.
What first caught my attention was that the man was wearing a long, white terrycloth bathrobe, while the woman was wearing a long, red terrycloth bathrobe. As we got closer, I noticed that they were wearing fall/winter bed clothing, he a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, she a hooded sweatshirt and print sleeping pants; both hoods were being worn.
When we got to the bottom of their walkway to the sidewalk, they waved and said hello, and I returned their greetings, also noticing that he was wearing black, large corduroy slippers, while she was wearing floppy bunny slippers.
Just another cool, rainy day on Buffalo's West Side.

The Undead Candidate?

2011-10-15T14:05:00.002-04:00

As Walker Evans and I dodged rain puddles and windblown objects on our walk today, we discovered the newest entry into politics.
A lawn on Norwood Avenue near Summer Street had a sign reading "Frank N. Stien for Eerie County Executive," with the "I" in "Stien" being a line of surgical stitches.
And you thought it was bad for dead people to vote in Chicago.

Debussy, Goodman, Berigan Together

2011-10-06T10:08:00.004-04:00

I haven't written about my late father Edward's record collection (much of it old 33 and 78 RPM records, including a lot of big band and jazz vocalist music) in a while, due to several freelance and job-seeking projects, but I took a look at a few items yesterday that are getting me back on track.
Along with the many jazz-based records, there are a good number of bound albums that have the covers and artwork of classical and major Broadway show records. As I have mentioned in the past, one must investigate to see if what is stated on the outside actually appears within.
These classical and Broadway records appeared mostly in the last few shipments I moved from my mother Sheila's house to our house as we prepared to sell her house a few months ago, and there are several I still have not had the chance to investigate.
One I was drawn to is a blue-green cover with small bubbles and an 18th Century sailing ship on it for "La Mer (The See)," by Claude Debussy, performed by Arthur Rodzinski and the Cleveland Orchestra, Columbia Records M-531, recorded December 29, 1941. "La Mer" has long been a favorite classical piece of mine, and I found a link to listen to this record here. There is a piece of masking tape on the front with some faded marker on it that I could not read at first.
When I opened the record, I found that none of the three records from this album that should be inside were, in fact, inside. Instead, the first record is "More Than You Know," b/w "Superman," by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Columbia 55002. Also in the album are "Sing, Sing, Sing - Part 1," by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Introducing "Christopher Columbus" (Louis Prima), RCA Victor 36205, and "I Can't Get Started," b/w "The Prisoner's Song," by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra, RCA Victor 36208.
After seeing the records inside this album, I looked at the tape on the front again, with yellow marker on very light beige tape, and after tilting things a bit, I finally made out the writing: "Benny Goodman."
I was fortunate to find this web page, which lists tons of old records, including many of the same in my father's collection. I listened to the first two mentioned Benny Goodman songs, and you can bet I'll be visiting this page again.

Scenes From a Price Rite

2011-10-03T17:31:00.004-04:00

I had to stop at Price Rite to pick up a couple of things I forgot over the weekend; I don't usually shop there Monday mornings.
I was greeted by some new hard rock style music over the intercom, something I never hear at Price Rite. This segued into "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven)," by Van Morrison, an all-time favorite of mine which definitely lightened my step. The next song? An urban/funk number by a female vocalist I didn't recognize, and I wish I did, because it was pretty good.
After getting my three items, I entered the "express" line for people with 12 items or less. There were six people ahead of me as the line snaked toward the other checkout lines, and five people quickly lined up behind me.
After a couple of minutes, a female Price Rite employee unchained the line to the register next to the "express" line and said, "this express line is open." Before any of us in line for a few minutes could even move, three people with carts all but stampeded to the new line, and the next two customers, with just a couple of items in their hands, did the cartoon classic of trying to get in the small space at the same time and had to maneuver to get out of each other's way.
I noticed that the woman in line behind me had the same bemused look on her face as I figured I did, and we ended up having a conversation on the lost arts of courtesy, respect, cell phones, kids today and so on.
I haven't stopped shaking my head yet, or laughing at my own reaction.

Newest Surprise Commercial Music

2011-10-02T12:20:00.002-04:00

I'm not 100 percent certain why, but the latest surprise music and performer I heard in a television commercial really shocked me.
I was watching a college football game about two weeks ago when a Travelers Insurance commercial came on; since I was watching the game live for once and not on DVR, I had to watch and listen.
The kind of bluesy, rootsy song was pretty cool, and while I recognized the voice, I could not put the singers' name to it at first. As I listened and kind of sang along, suddenly, it hit me: "Holy crap, that's John Hiatt," singing "Gone" from his "Crossing Muddy Waters" CD.
It is the first song Hiatt has approved for use in commercials, and while I no longer am as offended as I used to be by good music, particularly punk and new wave songs, being used in advertisements, I was and remain more surprised by normal to hear this. Of course, if this exposes Hiatt's music to a larger audience which goes out and buys some of it, good for Hiatt and the commercial worked for him.

Is This Thing On?

2011-10-02T12:17:00.002-04:00

OK, OK, I know; I let things get a bit behind here at the blog. I thought I missed a couple of weeks, but I see it's been a month and a day since my last post.
I have several things to write about, so I'll get things started in a moment, but thanks for your patience and questions as to where I was. I'm here, still looking for full-time work and still doing some freelance projects.

Am I Out of Style in Every Way?

2011-09-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

I've never been accused of being a slave to fashion, a clothes horse or anything like that, and it appears my lack of style may be threatening my writing side.
I knew that it was old (I graduated from Buffalo State College in 1985), but I was taken aback when I checked my well-used, well-worn copy of the AP Stylebook and Libel Manual tonight and saw that it was printed in November 1982.
You might say that there have been a few writing, editing and language changes in the last almost 29 years, so I am placing a new copy of the AP Stylebook and Libel Manual on my birthday gift list.

Poster Archive, Happy Birthday

2011-08-19T10:57:00.006-04:00

From time to time, I have posted posters from my archive here highlighting some music memories.
As I am proud to write, I am a WBNY 91.3 FM Buffalo State College veteran from 1984-85, and had a great time DJing, talk show hosting and producing. We had a lot of great shows at WBNY, and one of them was "Vinyl Underground," hosted by two friends and music lovers, John Hudson and Bill Woelfel.
Since today is Bill's birthday, I thought it was time to photograph and show you an old, coffee-stained WBNY poster promoting their show, a great listen for many of us.

West Side Encounter, Lost Dog Edition

2011-08-15T16:08:00.002-04:00

As I closed the driveway fence gate after going to the Post Office and Price Rite, a woman about age 25-30 was sitting on the lawn across the street with a small dog, but she would not get too close and the dog was not paying close attention to her.
She yelled to me that the dog was a stray that had been seen in the neighborhood for the last 2-3 days, and that the dog would not let her pick it up and occasionally growled at her. She added that she read the number on the collar to contact, but that the telephone number was disconnected.
A neighbor who started to talk to the woman asked me if we had any extra dog food; I had just bought a few cans, so I opened one up, put some in a disposable plastic dish and carried the dish and can outside.
The neighbor, who was calling the SPCA, said that the woman and dog had gone around the corner from Norwood Avenue and were going down Bryant Street toward Elmwood Avenue. We proceeded to go that way while the SPCA told him that if we could drive the dog to them, they would handle her, but that they could not come to pick her up; that would be the responsibility of the Buffalo Animal Shelter, if we called them.
At this point, as we came to Bryant and Ashland, we saw the original woman across the street on Bryant, leaving a residence where two other women were standing outside; she had found the owner and friend of the owner of the dog and returned the dog to its home. The woman said that the dog had gotten out of the house and under the (backyard?) gate and had been missing for a few days.
Relieved, I headed home with a dog food can in one hand, open dish of dog food in the other, while the two residents of the house asked my neighbor if he could move a table for them.
As I neared home, a woman was walking her dog toward me. "Yes, there is a reason why I am walking with an open can of dog food," I said to her. "There was a stray dog on our street, but her owner was found." The woman smiled and replied, "Good."

More West Side Encounters

2011-08-13T14:10:00.002-04:00

Today's walk by Walker Evans and I provided more reasons to enjoy and note the variety of life on Buffalo's West Side.
The next block of Norwood Avenue, between Bryant and Summer, was hosting several yard sales, at least seven by my count, but it seemed like we had more people by holding ours two weeks ago, during the Garden Walk.
As we walked past the Richmond-Summer Apartments building (where my grandmother Hilda Connelly lived about 35-40 years ago), a woman was talking/yelling out her sixth-floor window to a woman in a car across the street, at relatively loud volume:
"You didn't return my call," the woman in the window said.
"What?" the woman in the car replied.
"You didn't return my call."
"What?"
"You didn't return my call. Did you check your phone?"
"I have it right here. Let me check...no, no calls."
"Huh?"
"I don't have any calls."
"No, not that phone, your real phone."
"My what?"
"Your real phone. Check your real phone"
"This is my real phone. See?" She held the phone out the car window.
"No, your real phone. The one at home."
Walker and I finally made it out of earshot of this engrossing philosophical debate.
Later, as we walked down York Street near 16th Street, a woman was watering some flowers and plants with a garden hose, including flower pots at the corners of that intersection. As we came to the intersection, she stopped hosing the plants so we could walk by dry.
I smiled and said to her, "I actually wouldn't mind being hit by the hose," so she smiled, raised the hose, aimed up a bit and turned it on. It just barely reached my left arm, but the spray felt nice on a hot, sunny day.

New Wave (Still) Pays

2011-08-11T10:01:00.002-04:00

Yet another classic new wave song being used in a television commercial caught my attention last night.
The amazing, battered version of "Money (That's What I Want)" by the Flying Lizards is being used in a Taco Bell television commercial, which I saw several times while watching new editions of "Storage Wars" on A&E last night.
Besides being a great cover, the Flying Lizards' deconstruction of "Money" is looked on with approval by some Situationists and Dada/Fluxus fans, and its use in a commercial brings a wry smile to many of our faces.

What Next, Burma-Shave?

2011-08-11T01:11:00.004-04:00

Disclaimer: If you don't shave your face or head, this post may not interest you.
After using Edge Gel for years, I decided to try Barbasol shaving cream for the first time ever this week, and damn, does it work good. Not only was my shave closer than with Edge, but I barely nicked myself using the Beard Buster version.
I realize that this may not seem like big news to most of you, but for someone who shaves his face and head and has had trouble accomplishing just the closeness and almost always cuts himself, this is big news.
On the other hand, between using Barbasol and being this thrilled at shaving results, I think I have planted both feet squarely in middle age, at least fashion/appearance wise. Maybe Tom Waits will write a song about it. Oh, and Wikipedia has a pretty extensive page on Barbasol.

Demographic Inaccuracy...Some

2011-08-06T18:24:00.002-04:00

I have started getting some spam recently concerning my "personal" life, and at least it makes me laugh.
At about 4:15 p.m. today, Saturday, August 6, I received an email from ChristianMingle.com, "The Community for Christian Singles" (a descriptive term apparently so catchy that it is trademarked). I have nothing against people who identify themselves primarily or solely, or even eventually, as Christians, but have I ever indicated that I am looking for someone who upholds alleged Christian values pertaining to romance? Does anyone believe I ever looked for a dating or romantic partner who believed in waiting until marriage for sexual activity? Right.
Tuesday, August 2, I received an email from SeniorPeopleMeet.com, offering to help me "Meet Other 50+ Singles." I may be 50 years old, but does anyone that age have to limit himself or herself to interest in other 50-year-olds?
Of course, on top of everything, I have been incredibly happily married for more than 9 years to my loving wife, Val Dunne, and am listed everywhere I have submitted any personal information as married and have since June 23, 2002.
Finally, if someone wants to be creative and maybe find a niche in the singles market, start a "Singles Who Listen to the Clash, B-52s, Blasters, Public Image Limited, X, David Bowie, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Gurf Morlix, Lucinda Williams, Hank Williams, Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, Rosanne Cash, Blue Rodeo, Bruce Springsteen and Richard Thompson Singles Club." Fortunately, I still won't be joining it.

Yard Sale July 30-31

2011-07-27T20:22:00.004-04:00

Yes, the Dunne-Hosey Estates will be holding a yard sale Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31, at our compound at 168 Norwood Avenue in Buffalo.
Indeed, our yard sale will be held to coincide with the annual Buffalo Garden Walk, which runs all around and through our neighborhood, including on our street; several houses on Norwood Avenue will be officially part of the Garden Walk.
Among the items for sale will be glassware, table settings, books, CDs, vinyl records, some furniture, toys and electronics, and we will have more details for you posted here and on Facebook soon. Val will also be holding a sale of framed artwork, her photographs, inside our house for those interested. Additionally, the vinyl will be kept inside and will be shown to serious customers.

Dinner and...?

2011-07-24T14:42:00.002-04:00

Friday, July 22, was my loving wife Val's birthday, and the financial difficulties we are experiencing almost prevented me from taking her out to dinner. Fortunately, the day before, a freelance check arrived and I could at least afford to take Val somewhere.
We decided to go to Dug's Dive, a waterfront spot Val enjoys the food and scenery at, but when we got there, using Val's car, we were told that we had a choice of at least a half-hour wait for indoor seating, or we could immediately sit out in the sun. With the temperature still about 90 degrees and Val's MS causing further hardship in extreme heat and humidity, we decided to go elsewhere.
Our next try was Old Man River's on River Road in Tonawanda, and things went much better there. The crowd was not too bad, we were able to order right away and Val really enjoyed her order of steamed clams. My food was pretty good as well, and the scenery, breeze and cover from the sun made for a fine eating/lounging environment.
We eventually headed for home, at about 7:15-7:30 p.m., and that is where the real, um, fun, began. We drove south on Route 190 for a bit, and we were between the Scajaquada Expressway interchange and the Peace Bridge exit (our exit) when our car started to feel weird, and then would not accelerate, despite my depressing the accelerator repeatedly, both firmly and pumping it. The car did not lose power, but was obviously losing speed, and I pulled over in the area that used to be the old toll area, a little more than a mile before the Peace Bridge exit. The car's battery was working, and we were able to use the warning lights, but the car would make little more than a "whirring" sound when I tried to start it, after turning off the engine after we got off the 190.
As if this wasn't bad enough, we forgot to bring our cell phone with us and I hadn't renewed our AAA membership when it recently expired, because it was too expensive. We had recently changed auto insurance companies, and while I had planned to add the 24-hour roadside assistance plan (very affordable), I hadn't done that yet. So, with Val reasonably safe in the car off the road, I set off walking down the 190 to the Peace Bridge exit, and possibly a nearby friends' house.
After briskly walking the more-than mile to the exit, I then walked the quarter-mile or more to where it hit Porter Avenue, and went left toward where Porter bends and heads toward Symphony Circle and Richmond Avenue. At this point, I realized that I had not brought my house key or car key off my key chain with me, and hoped I could somehow climb in the house. Of course, no one was home at our friends' house on Porter, so I kept going, turned left at Jersey, which ran on a diagonal to Richmond Avenue and cut out some time and distance, and eventually walked the rest of the way home.
This estimated 3.25-3.5-mile walk took about an hour, maybe less (no watch, either), and when I got home, I checked to see if our neighbors were home; sadly, they weren't, so I checked our windows, found one I could get through if I could find a ladder to reach it, and went into the garage. I found a painting ladder and moved way too much crap off it so I could carry it around and try to get in the window I could access. I had no idea of this would work.
As I came around the corner of the house, I saw my neighbor, Jim Whitford, carrying his standup bass up his stairs; he had just gotten home with his wife, Lynn O'Meara, from playing a gig. Thankfully, he had a key to our house, and let me inside; I immediately grabbed Val's key chain, which has her house key, but none for my car. Whitford offered to drive me back if needed.
I next needed to call for a tow truck and then get back to Val; I called our auto insurance agent and added the 24-hour roadside service to our plan; sadly, it would not start, by company rules, until the next day. It was about 8:45 p.m. at this stage. I told the person at our insurance company this, and she said she could contact a tower and put me in touch and arrange for it at our expense; as she was doing so, she realized that the 190 is a restricted state thoroughfare, and that I would have to talk to the New York State Police. She connected me to the State Police, who took down the information and said they would dispatch a truck, at our expense, to get Val's car off the 190.
I headed out the door and approached another moment of truth; I hadn't had to start up my car with the new keys I got made during the winter, and hoped that they would work so that I would not have to bother Jim. Lo and behold, the first key I tried worked on the first try, and I was off, with a water bottle, to get Val. She was rather happy to see me, both for security sake and because she was figuring out how she would be able to, um, relieve her bladder if I was gone much longer.
The tow truck pulled up a minute after I got there, and in a matter of a moments Val's truck was on its bed and the driver followed me to our house, where the car is right now. It will be towed to the place we plan to get the repair work done tomorrow morning, and we hope and plead that it will not cost too much money, since we are at the end of our financial margin.
A final note to this problem/comedy of errors: My passenger-side front door will not open all of the way, so Val is really enjoying having to climb over my gear shifter and other parts of the interior to her seat while she has to ride in my car.

I Can Hardly Wait to See His Commercials

2011-07-18T14:10:00.003-04:00

Over the years, one of the top searches for people reaching this blog is Sean Kipp, the uncomfortable looking and acting star of television commercials for a former car dealer, currently working for a Southtowns car dealership. Yes, even uncomfortable for a used car salesman. Years ago, I mocked his commercials and demeanor several times.
Kipp has been nominated by the Erie County Republican Committee to be its candidate for the 144th State Assembly District seat, vacated when former Assemblyman Sam Hoyt was appointed to a senior position with the Empire State Development Corporation.
Sean Ryan, my former boss as the chief of staff of the Erie County Legislature Democratic Majority Office, was earlier named to be Sam's replacement and will run in the September special election.
Besides Kipp generating my amusement as to what his commercials will look like, gee, what a coincidence, the GOP nominating someone named Sean to run against someone named Sean in a special election.

What's Your Order, Please?

2011-07-17T16:34:00.002-04:00

It seems that Walker Evans and I were being taunted during our recent neighborhood walk.
Less than a block after we started, a La Nova delivery person parked on Bryant Street and delivered the order to a customer in the apartment building we were passing. A few blocks later, another La Nova delivery person dropped off an order on Norwood Avenue, less than a block from home.
For obvious financial reasons, we haven't ordered takeout/delivery food in a long time and won't be any time soon.

And Act Like An...

2011-07-15T18:14:00.004-04:00

We are quite happy to have encountered/received a serious bump in visitors to this blog in recent weeks, and this week has been quite busy. I often check the origin of visitors, from where the visitor comes from to what search he or she used to find Buffaloroots.com.
As the accompanying artwork may hint at, this blog got a visitor from Mexico City, Mexico, Thursday, July 14, through the search "The Fems go to a party 45." Welcome, new reader, and by the way, nice taste in Buffalo bands/music. Feel free to come back often and say hello, especially if you are a Buffalo/Western New York expatriate.

Diagnosis: Terminal. Treatment: Love

2011-07-14T23:49:00.002-04:00

With Walker Evans' cancer spreading from his left eye to the rest of his body, there is little we can do for our almost 13-year-old dog and companion but give him love, something Val and I are doing.
As well as mixing in canned food with his normal dry food (more as well as richer), Walker is getting more treats, we have placed a fan on the floor near where he often lays and I am spending more time with him in the backyard (on top of his walks).
Normally, whether at meal time or otherwise, Walker was/is an efficient dog when it comes to pooing and peeing. But as of late, he is taking much more time in the backyard, apparently just to sniff flowers, leaves and his own offerings, and to simply commune with nature.
I am the person still awake to give Walker his last meal of the day, so I have been going outside with him for the last backyard visit of the night, to get some air, to think about way too many stressful matters, to make sure Walker doesn't get tangled around our wild raspberry bush and to provide Walker with some company and talk with him.
This will continue as long as we have this time together.

See How We Are, Walker Evans Edition

2011-07-13T22:31:00.004-04:00

As many of you readers know, our beloved dog, Walker Evans Dunne Hosey, has been going through some health problems recently; as he nears age 13, this probably should not be too surprising.
Sadly, after several visits to the veterinarian, including a veterinary opthamologist, and some blood work, it has been determined that Walker's left eye problem is glaucoma and a tumor to the eye, and that the cancer has spread elsewhere in his body.
Val and I are devastated, and realize that the health problems Walker has had recently that have been worsening were signs and symptoms of his cancer, and we are determining the next steps to take. We don't want to worsen Walker's pain and suffering; he has had increased trouble walking (his walks are a bit shorter and much slower) and climbing/descending stairs, his balance is worse and his appetite has been greatly reduced. He has lost 14 pounds since January, and his appetite only returns when we feed him canned food or mix some canned food in with his dry food.
All three of us warmly appreciate all of the signs and expressions of love and concern that so many of you kind friends and readers have made and no doubt will continue to make, and we plan on making Walker's time as comfortable, fun and loving as possible.
And boy, could this household use some good news.

Comeback for Creem Magazine?

2011-07-12T22:24:00.003-04:00

According to this story, Creem Magazine, a legendary snarky, obnoxious, irreverent, ass kicking and high charged music magazine focusing on rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk and similar styles, originating from Detroit, is planning to resume publication in September.
The home for writers such as Lester Bangs, Joel Fernbacher, Richard Riegel, Billy Altman, Dave DiMartino, J. Kordosh, Robert A. Hull, Toby Goldstein, Penny Valentine, Mitchell Cohen, Rick Johnson and great comic reviews from Mad Peck Studios, Creem Magazine was able to both take music seriously and take the stuffing out of music, music criticism and musicians. Very few magazines and writers could make you care so much, laugh so hard and swear so loudly as Creem and its staff and contributors.
As a longtime subscriber who still has several issues (from 1979-1981, I believe) as reading material in our bathroom, I fear that without these great writers and in an atmosphere and music community where such attack journalism and criticism, blended with humor, sarcasm and bitterness, seem to have lost favor, that this may not be a successful or long-term return. Of course, with the success of The Onion, maybe it is time.
And yes, that is me you see here with one of my better-conditioned older copies of Creem from my collection, from February 1981.

Thank You Ever So Much

2011-07-11T10:28:00.002-04:00

Val and I would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts the occupant or occupants of a car who apparently decided to go on a weekend neighborhood beautification effort.
When we came home from the annual Meat Day ("Carne Diem"), as always wonderfully hosted by David Staba and Josselyn Borowiec in Darien, we found out that the parking spot immediately in front of our house, directly adjacent to our driveway, where we had been parked before we left, had been at least temporarily occupied by someone without a hoarding disorder.
The spot was filled with the remains and wrappers from a Dunkin Donuts breakfast, including coffee cup and sandwich holder, as well as several napkins, tissues, other refuse and paper and a larger-than-grocery-store plastic bag containing more of the same.
I will always remain annoyed, and worse, over the disrespect and laziness of some douche nozzles.

Box of Music, Memories

2011-07-03T23:59:00.003-04:00

I haven't had the chance to recently write about my late father Edward's record collection, which I continue to sort, but a box I found this week will start me back on track.
This box, which was one of the last of his collection I brought here from my mother Sheila's house before we sold it in June, was put in the laundry room until I was able to get to it, but I haven't had much time. I knew there were several old record albums in it plus some other stuff, which turns out to be some of my childhood and adolescent trophies, ribbons and so on from sports and other activities.
The albums, with all of the records in fantastic shape and most of the albums and their artwork still in rather good shape, are an interesting group. Of the eight albums, four actually have all of their records inside; three have one missing/switched, and one has contents completely different from its cover.
Of course, the album I would most want to listen to is one that is incomplete, "Artie Shaw Plays Cole Porter" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra, Musicraft S2. Three of the four records inside are from this album: "Night and Day," b/w "Get Out of Town;" "Begin the Beguine," b/w "You Do Something to Me;" "I've Got You Under My Skin," b/w "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." "In the Still of the Night," b/w "What Is This Thing Called Love," is missing and in its place, the album contains "Sugar," b/w "Sensation Rag," by Yank Lawson and His Orchestra, Signature 15004.
Another interesting feature of this version of "Artie Shaw Plays Cole Porter" is that the album cover, seen above, is different from the two I have found posted on the Internet.
The other albums in this box are: Bing Crosby, "Going My Way," Decca Records A-405 (complete); Stan Kenton (surprisingly missing a record, since this is one of Dad's favorites), "Artistry in Rhythm," Capitol BD39; Al Jolson,"Songs He Made Famous," Decca Records 469, missing one out of four records altogether; Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, "Boogie Woogie," Capitol BD 12; Earle Spencer and His Orchestra, "Progressions in Boogie," Black and White 62; Bob Hope, "I Never Left Home" (a greatest hits of sorts of his World War II routines and tributes to the individual armed forces), Capitol CD 26.
While the last album cover indicates that it is Ethel Waters, "Cabin in the Sky," Liberty Music, the records inside are all Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra Columbia Masterworks recordings.
I have checked a few values so far, and nothing more than $25 for any of these has been found.

West Side Encounters III and IV

2011-06-30T10:09:00.002-04:00

This morning's walk of Walker Evans produced a couple of interesting, and often typical, vignettes from Buffalo's West Side.
First, a couple of blocks from home, Walker Evans and I were approaching the Bryant-Ashland intersection, when a woman parked her car on the side of Bryant facing Elmwood, with her car past the stop sign and partly blocking the sidewalk.
A man already at the intersection, walking his dog, told the woman she was blocking the sidewalk and parking unlawfully, and creating a dangerous intersection situation (this is often a bad intersection even when everyone lawfully parks). The woman stopped, looked at him and loudly said "EXCUSE ME?" The man repeated himself, but the woman started walking away toward Elmwood before he finished.
After Walker Evans and I took a long walk (from there to Hodge, crossing Elmwood and down to Delaware Avenue, then back on Bryant), we caught up with neighbor and photographer Eileen Graetz and her new greyhound, Kat, at Bryant and Ashland, and we walked back to Norwood Avenue. At one point, Walker Evans and Kat stopped to sniff a bush; Walker Evans then decided to walk under Kat, who has the high back arch of greyhounds. Walker got only partway through before he got stuck and wouldn't move. I had to push him forward and Eileen had to coax Kat to step up and forward so we could untangle them.

For My Listening Pleasure

2011-06-28T00:21:00.006-04:00

I listened to one CD and am listening to a second CD tonight that are among my favorites, period, any time or reason, but they are also intimately connected.
The first CD I listened to was "Interiors," by Rosanne Cash, and I am currently listening to "Tremolo," by Blue Rodeo. While "Interiors" came out in 1990, I didn't really sit down and listen to it until early 1997; "Tremolo" came out at about the same time in 1997, and being a major Blue Rodeo fan since about 1990, coincidentally, I was thrilled to receive a review CD of it.
Without going into great detail (those who know me well, and even those who know me some, can flesh out things), these CDs were basically the soundtrack to one of the most serious, disruptive, painful and finally redemptive events/periods of my life. Both CDs, in their ways, depict and represent relationships falling apart, people hurting, not understanding what or why things are happening, and just looking to survive.
In my experience with music listening, appreciation and criticism, it appears that music that moves me in painful, uncomfortable ways, making me think and feel things I wasn't aware of or tried to avoid, stays with me and means more to me than even the best of the happier music.
This may not exactly be a stop-the-presses moment, but these realizations sometimes need to be directly stated or written. And I and many others don't listen to these kinds of albums just to wallow in sadness, but to feel things and often remind ourselves of feelings and situations, and to be glad that we are not in them and are in better situations now.

Another (Kind of) New Wave Commercial

2011-06-24T10:22:00.003-04:00

I have been pointing out the use of older new wave (and occasional punk) songs in commericals here, and there is a new one of a song I rather like that kind of fits.
While not actually "full" new wave, but certainly unusual and angular for rock when it came out, "Moving in Stereo," from the Cars' self-titled debut album, is now being featured in a new Pennzoil commercial.
Having been a Cars' fan since their first album and getting to see the band live once, in 1980 on the Candy-O tour, I remember how some classic rock fans were shocked that the band was played on 97 Rock and similar stations at first, and how weird they thought the band members looked. With songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek appearing (and sometimes publicized to be) about 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7, but actually about 6-foot-4 next to diminutive band mates; pale, very thin and with a champion black mullet behind sunglasses all the time, I can see why some people had problems with the Cars, amusing and dumb as it may have been.

Happy Aniversary to My Love, Val

2011-06-23T09:35:00.002-04:00

June 23 is a great day in my life; on June 23, 2000, Val Dunne and I went in our first date; June 23, 2001, I asked Val to marry me, and June 23, 2002, we got married at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
To say Val is my best friend and, indeed, the best thing that has ever happened to me, would be both true and a serious understatement. I can turn to her at any time for strength, support, advice and love on anything, and always receive it.
Here's to many more years of being this happy and loved, my dearest.

West Side Encounter II

2011-06-20T10:06:00.002-04:00

Walker Evans took me on one of his new walk routes today; after going down a couple of streets, we crossed Elmwood Avenue at Hodge Avenue, from the Sunoco station to Ambrosia, then down Elmwood awhile.
After we crossed West Utica Street, Walker said hello to a woman at the Elmwood/Utica bus stop; she said hello and pet Walker while she ate her breakfast, a dish of baked beans. She asked if she cold give Walker some, but because Walker has had dietary issues and has recurring gastritis, I told her thank you but no thanks.
As we said goodbye and Walker and I walked away, she called out to us, "I hope you get a new dog when he or she dies."

When the Big Man Joined the Band

2011-06-18T22:56:00.003-04:00

Clarence Clemons, saxophonist and occasional backing vocalist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, died of complications today, June 18, from a stroke he suffered June 12, at age 69.
I can still write the lead for an obituary as I did for years as a journalist, but it will be tougher for me to explain the effect Clemons and the E Street Band had on me as a teenager when I first heard and fell in love with their music.
While I had heard their first two albums, I was really only a minor fan of Springsteen and the band until the album"Born to Run" was released in August 1975, just before I turned age 15. Not only did "Born to Run" launch Springsteen to superstardom, it turned my musical fandom and appreciation into something more of an obsession and religion, something that became a major part of my life and indeed a vocation of sorts.
To me, the depictions of people trying to break free of whatever and whoever were holding them back, and to escape what wasn't working, to have the opportunity to find something better and more fitting, even from the oh, so woeful adolescence I thought I was experiencing, were stories, ideas and feelings I had never experienced before. I had never been reached like this by a rock band, hell, any kind of band, before, with such intensity and meaning, such power and understandable message. And, hey, having a saxophone as a key instrument and Clemons an upfront member were vital to this then-tuba player.
"Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," off of "Born to Run," was a story about the beginnings of the E Street Band and of Clemons joining the group, a joyous, upbeat story, but for a while was not paid too much attention with an absolute classic as the title song, possibly the ultimate rock and roll break-our-chains, escape-to-glory song, naturally gaining the spotlight. Clemons' playing on these songs, as well as "Thunder Road" and "Jungleland," grabbed me then and stay with me more than 35 years later.
I never listened to or looked at music the same again after "Born to Run," and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band became one of my all-time favorite musical acts, along with The Clash, Elvis Costello, Sonic Youth, Husker Du, Neil Young and X. The amount of enjoyment, thought and fulfillment I received from the band's music, as well as gaining the viewpoint of not taking the music for granted or to not challenge it when it deserved it, never died in me, and no doubt led in part to me first writing about music more than 30 years ago, and, to my good fortune, still being paid to write about music today.
I was fortunate to have been assigned to review "The Promise: The Making of 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'" recently for Artvoice. A powerful movie on the arduous recording of the followup album to "Born to Run," the film ends on a soaring, evocative cover of "Darkness on the Edge of Town." As it comes to a majestic ending, Springsteen and the band look a bit lonely and desolate, not only because of how fitting that emotion is to the album itself, but because this version of the song was recorded shortly after the death of E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici in 2008. It was as if the musicians knew that with Federici dead, that this song will never sound and can never really be performed as it should be presented again. With Clemons now dead, the band will probably feel this way more, not just on signature songs such as "Born to Run" and "Badlands," but every song, and may finally mean the end of the E Street Band, at least as a name under which to perform.
It also means another piece in the slow end to my musical innocence, something that part of my mind says has been gone for a long time, but part of me never wants to surrender, still believing in the transformative power of rock and roll to change and improve lives. I will not only still be immensely moved by Clemons' solos on, say, "Born to Run" or "Jungleland," I will appreciate and enjoy them even more.
Peace, Big Man.

An Oldie But Goodie Poster

2011-06-16T00:28:00.003-04:00

This is the kind of stuff one finds when years and years of memories and memorabilia (often a nice way of saying junk) are received/dumped on you. And yes, I mean the poster, not my grim visage.
This Fleshtones concert poster from their July 19, 1983, Buffalo State College show was also the debut show for Nullstadt, then a two-piece (David Kane and Stephen Collins) if I remember correct, or was it a three-piece (Kane,Collins and Donald Kinsman)? I don't remember who did this poster (Michael Graphix? David Meinzer?), so if anyone knows, please drop me a line.
It is one of the posters I have proudly kept over the years and will keep for as long as I remain a music geek and chronicler of sorts of Buffalo's original music community. I have a few more in store for you in the coming weeks.

First Short Story Is DONE

2011-06-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

I have wanted to write a short story for reasons other than a college writing assignment for years, and finally, after encouragement from my wife Val, friend/excellent writer Heather Holland Wheaton and others, I succeeded today.
It certainly wasn't easy; while I have been coming up with ideas for a while, I had not been good at writing them down. Instead, I went through them in my head, editing them as I thought about them (something I have done for my music writing for years). Sadly, I have forgotten way too much in good story ideas, dialogue and other fragments.
Indeed, I sat down at the computer after breakfast and some other work to write, having been inspired in the last week or so by Wheaton's reading of her new book "You Are Here" at Talking Leaves Books. But as soon as I opened a file, I came up absolutely, 100 percent blank. After spending too much time staring at the computer screen and my desk, I posted a frustrated status to Facebook, hoping to loosen up my mind and possibly get some inspiration from my friends.
As I read and responded to comments from my friends, I saw an item on my desk, a record and jacket from my late father Edward's collection. One of my ideas hit me clearly, and I started writing. I ended up with a 1,012-word story.
While I don't know if it is going to stay in its original form, whether or not it will be slightly changed, overhauled, lengthened or shortened, whether it is good, bad or mediocre, or way off target, it is done. The next step is for my best editor and critic, my loving wife Val, to read it and give me some feedback.
But I have finally gotten back in the saddle, and I have more ideas and inspiration flowing. I'm looking forward to where this will take me.

Dad's Vinyl Bait and Switch, Part Infinity?

2011-06-13T10:25:00.006-04:00

Once again, while cleaning out and sorting my late father Edward's vinyl record collection, my hopes were raised and then lowered by reading and then checking the contents of an album.
One album/collection I recently found has a jacket reading "Vol. 4 This Modern Age" from "The History of Jazz" collection. The still bright green cover has a charcoal drawing apparently based on a session photograph, and the featured artists listed on the front jacket are Billy Butterfield, Benny Carter, Nat (King) Cole, Hank D'Amico, Vic Dickenson, John Guarnieri, Bob Haggart, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Kenton, Baby Lovett, Howard McGhee, Jay McShann, Eddie Miller, Bump Myers, Oscar Moore, Walter Page, Oscar Pettiford, Allan Reuss, Bobby Sherwood, Oliver Todd, Stan Wrightman "and many others." Inside, there are black and white photos of many of the artists listed.
There is no other information on the record jacket, including when it was recorded, but a quick Internet search shows that this and the other three volumes in this series were released by Capitol Records in 1945. Whether or not this record set was/is particularly valuable, it sounds rather interesting.
Of course, the records inside this jacket/cover are not those listed on, but instead there are five Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra disks, in order front to back: "The Legend of Tiabi," b/w "Cool Water, RCA Victor 20-2923; "The Things We Did Last Summer," b/w "Now More Than Ever," RCA Victor 20-1972; "Rides in the Sky," b/w "Single Saddle," RCA Victor 20-3411; "Matinee," b/w "Someone Who Cares," RCA Victor 20-2671; "Tallahassee," b/w "I Wish I Didn't Love You So," RCA Victor 20-2294.
After seeing these records, I checked the piece of packing tape on the cover, and the faint yellow marker in fact reads "Vaughan Monroe" if you hold it up to the light. Oops. I hope you appreciate the image of this record collection above; I don't know why Photo Booth shoots these images in reverse, and I cannot figure out how to change this, so that is why the image appears like this for now.
I have found way more Vaughn Monroe records in my father's collection than the interest Dad ever expressed to me about him. Another mystery I'll never get answered.

West Side Encounter

2011-06-09T10:28:00.002-04:00

Among the reasons Val and I love living on Buffalo's West Side are the seemingly everyday encounters which provide smiles.
As Walker Evans and I approached the end of our walk this morning, we had crossed Elmwood Avenue coming back home and were on West Utica Street between Ashland and Norwood Avenues. Walker is strolling slower as his arthritis and other conditions progress, but he still enjoys and demands his walks.
As we walked on the sidewalk, a woman came up from behind, just on the street, pulling her two-wheel wire basket cart with several bags in it; she had probably just been to PriceRite down the street.
She noted that Walker seemed to be setting his own pace and taking the walk where and when he wanted to; I laughed and agreed, noting that as he slowed down, he was more determined to go where he wanted to go, and that while our walks have become shorter, he always insists on them.
She then asked me how old he was; I told her Walker was 12 1/2 years old. She smiled and said that he was getting on in years but looked good for his age, and God bless him. She then added, "I see that as he walks slower and more deliberate as you say, that you two are walking exactly alike."
Instead of being offended or confused, I laughed and agreed with her, as she walked to the bus stop. Honestly, a couple of blocks before that, I thought to myself that as our walks went slower, that I was walking more like Walker in these jaunts, slower and with a very determined, small-stepped gait.
But when I go to the library, PriceRite or the pharmacy, I still walk rather fast and use my long stride. Some things never fully change.

Now, It's the Jesus and Mary Chain

2011-06-04T22:45:00.002-04:00

I had to run upstairs during the intermission between the third period and overtime in Game 2 of the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup Finals to mention the most recent punk/new wave commercial music bed.
As I watched the game on CBC, Hockey Night in Canada, I heard a commercial start with the familiar strummed guitar chord of the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey" in an advertisement for the VW Golf; the original recording, singing included, then kicked in. The man driving the car was apparently trying to find the courage to ask his significant other to marry him.
This is not the first television commercial to use an actual Jesus and Mary Chain recording (neither is an anonymous rerecording); "Happy When It Rains" was used by Chevrolet in advertisements during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007.

Full Circle Link

2011-06-03T10:45:00.003-04:00

I checked this blog's statistics occasionally, mostly to see who is coming to and reading this fine online screed collection.
This morning, I had to smile; someone got here on a search "peter case plimsouls interview" from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, at 4:49 a.m. My maternal grandmother, the late Hilda Connelly (nee Elliott) and her family came from Newcastle upon Tyne, apparently at least some by way of Ireland.

The Message Is Obvious

2011-05-30T00:32:00.002-04:00

The hell with the prostitution of new wave songs; when an utter classic early rap song, decrying life and the scourge of drugs on the streets of New York City, is turned into a fragrance commercial, it is obvious that money trumps all.
I was watching television about 5 minutes ago, and a commercial came on playing the easily recognizable introduction and musical bed for "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The advertisement was for Lacoste "Eau de Lacoste," a new fragrance that probably smells like a combination of pissed-on dollar bills and crushed artistic integrity.
This isn't the first time the song has been used in a television commercial, because "The Message" was also used in a Kia Sportage advertisement. What's the old joke, we know what you are, we're just quibbling over the price? Artists certainly can sell their art how they like, and we, the consumers, can say when we don't like it.

Better Now

2011-05-28T11:46:00.002-04:00

The aforementioned crisis was actually solved about an hour after the previous blog post was written, so I will soon be back to more stuff on records, music, politics and other likes and annoyances.

Damn, Damn, Damn

2011-05-26T14:44:00.002-04:00

I so hate a major screw up that I should have taken responsibility of that is costing us needless money and serious worry/tension.
So, there goes my concentration over posting these past few days. I actually have a post or two in mind (not forgotten for once), but that will have to wait until this crisis is solved.

Another 'New Wave' Commercial?

2011-05-24T11:08:00.002-04:00

Yet another television commercial is using a 1980s song as its music, this time with slightly rewritten lyrics, and I'm shaking my head a bit.
Travelzoo, a cheap travel website/company, is using a version of "Hey Mickey," an annoying pop song that because its lead instrument was a synthesizer and its singer/choreographer, Toni Basil, tried to be weird/strange, was lopped in as a new wave song.
The advertisement itself comes off as an adult-filled version of a scene from "Glee," so you know how much I like that, and having to hear this song again is painful for the 30 seconds the commercial lasts.
I just saw another ad using a great song by a great, nay, legendary protopunk singer, and I will get to that very soon.

New Wave Mangling

2011-05-18T22:02:00.002-04:00

I've frequently mentioned old punk, new wave and rock songs, mainly ones I like, that have been used in broadcast advertising in this blog, sometimes to good, other times horrible or humorous, effect.
Most of these songs used are by their original artists or the artists who made the song famous/popular, so sometimes, covers or reworkings can really catch one's attention, and yes, one has caught mine.
The version of the Human League's "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," by Rob Crow of the band Pinback (who?) in the newest Kingsford Charcoal, is absolutely awful and painful, an amazingly slow, mawkish acoustic rendition you'd cut someone off at an open mic if he or she sang it this way. And if you feel fascination from the charcoal or other substances you use to start your grill, well, you're worse off than help can revive.

Artvoice Tribute to Michael Meldrum

2011-05-13T13:07:00.002-04:00

Among the tributes in words, music, print, etc., is a large one in this week's edition of Artvoice.
I was honored and humbled to be asked to write an extended piece as kind of an anchor for the coverage of the loss of our great friend, musician and organizer Michael, and I hope you get to read it to see us try to convey our thoughts for this lovely man, who will be greatly missed.

Dear Erie County Legislature Chair...

2011-05-11T12:52:00.003-04:00

Dear Erie County Legislature Chair Barbara Miller-Williams:
I am in receipt of the invitation mailed to me by your campaign/supporters/blind leading the blind group, Friends of Barbara Miller-Williams, inviting me to your May 12 fund raiser. First, brilliant move, asking people to join Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, among the hosts; at least they know this will be a comedy event.
But, am I attending? I guess I need to remind you that on January 8, 2010, hours after you became the new chair of the Erie County Legislature, you fired me as the Director of Communications there at the end of a more-than 10-hour work day, giving me about 5 minutes to clear out my desk and leave.
So, thanks for the invitation, but this event, among others, just validates my thoughts about your utter incompetence. Thanks for writing; yours truly, Kevin.

Bryan Trottier?

2011-05-07T16:19:00.002-04:00

Since this week hasn't been enough of an emotional roller coaster ride, I went to my mother Sheila's house Friday to do some of the final work in emptying and selling her house, namely moving most of the rest of my late father Edward's record collection and part of the remainder of my vinyl collection here.
The house is now all but empty; in the living room and connected dining room, there is only a mirror on one wall, an abandoned cable television cable and curtains. The kitchen has only cupboards and a sink; the refrigerator, oven, microwave oven, table, chairs, telephone and its cabinet are gone. The bedrooms are also vacant. Downstairs, the remnants of the record collections, some very old posters, some cleanup items and garbage are all that is left.
Oh, and one other item I had no idea was there or even still existed. Next to the records on one shelf, I found my college intramural floor hockey stick, a "Bryan Trottier Signature Model 19" stick with a replica autograph on it. I can't find any brand on it, and the only other mark is "RIGHT-GARD" on the plastic blade.
I graduated from Buffalo State College in 1985, so this stick is at least 26 years old, and I know it wasn't purchased new in my senior year, so it is 27-30 years old. Surprisingly, it seems a little short for me now, about an inch less than optimal use dictates.

Michael Meldrum RIP

2011-05-06T18:03:00.003-04:00

I am working on something more in-depth for both this blog and another publication, but it saddens me (and Val) to make note of the death of singer, songwriter, organizer, Buffalo music community and Allentown legend, and simply great person and friend, Michael Meldrum, who died Thursday.
Val and I were fortunately able to visit Michael, his wife Diane Gall-Meldrum and their children, Julia and Xander, in hospice care Wednesday to share our love and concern and sadly, say our goodbyes.
Michael was surrounded by family and friends, musicians and artists, on the last week leading to his final journey, which was the way he lived, and he will be sorely missed by the music and arts community, his family and friends.
It hurt to write these words, but sharing as much as we can about and with Michael and his family is the best way to address this sad time.

Love Is in the Air

2011-05-04T09:54:00.002-04:00

As Walker Evans and I tromped around the West Side of Buffalo on our morning walk today, we noticed an increase in bird activity; apparently, our aviary friends are tired of waiting for spring weather to arrive.
In particular, we observed two birds in a tree on Richmond Avenue apparently starting their courting ritual. The female, all brown with slight darker marks on her wings, sat on a branch, while the male, the same body shape and size but with a brown head and black and sparking dark purple plumage, sang to/at her, flew around and landed on branches near her, puffed his stomach and preened for her. Both were a bit larger than a sparrow and maybe as large as a robin but slightly less, I believe. When I got home and had finished my coffee and breakfast, I checked online and it appears that the birds I saw were brown-headed cowbirds, which are year-round residents here.
Just to make sure, I am turning to my resident nature expert, niece and wonderful nature writer and photographer (and regular blog reader) Kimberly Hosey for her opinion on this matter. Kim?

John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Me

2011-05-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

Well, another find in my father and mother's record collection has me shaking my head in amazement and appreciation.
I've written about cleaning out and selling my mother Sheila's suburban house here several times, and also written quite frequently about my late father Edward's (and apparently some of my mother and possibly grandparents) record collection. It is quite an impressive one of big band jazz bands and vocalists as well a lots of other jazz, classical and even Celtic music.
As I cleaned out the house and compile that collection, I have become a bit more familiar with my own vinyl collection, with much of it having been stored at my parents' house and slowly but surely making its way to our house.
So, as I was doing some cleaning and compiling this morning (in between some job searching), I found a cardboard box, 12 inches wide, 14 inches long and 6 inches tall, with the flaps folded over. From what I could see inside, it contained some old record jackets/albums of 33s and 78s. Nothing too surprising yet, considering the age of many of my father's records.
When I opened the box, I found on top of the other albums and jackets a clear plastic trifold holder with an old photo of President John F. Kennedy and the dates 1917-1963, obviously issued in memorial after he was assassinated.
Also in the folder is an old 45 in a plain brown wrapper with the words "'High Hopes' with Jack Kennedy" on the front and "Jack Kennedy" and "All the Way" on the back, and the number kb-2077 on the front and kb-2078 on the back. There is no record label listed and no other credits or explanatory information on the record or sleeve.
I assumed that this was a spoken word record, like so many elected officials, politicians and celebrities of that era recorded (hell, I also found a kind of flexi disc Red Skelton recorded in my father's collection), so I looked it up in the Internet to find out a bit more about it.
Holy crap; it turns out that this record is the legendary, rare recording Frank Sinatra made of his hit song "High Hopes," with new lyrics written by Sammy Kahn specifically for the 1960 Kennedy presidential campaign. On the flip side is the same orchestra and chorus, but minus Sinatra, with a Kennedy campaign version of "All the Way."
I have heard of this 45 before, but never actually seen it and never had any idea that it was in my parents' record collection. Admittedly, both were fans of President Kennedy (my parents being Roman Catholic and first-generation Irish Americans), but this record was never mentioned and was obviously put aside and protected. It makes sense because I have found a copy of the special edition of the Buffalo News from the day Kennedy was assassinated in my mother's items.
The amount of money being offered for copies of this record also gave me pause, so now the question arises, do we sell this and put the money toward my mother's continued care, do we keep it, let it gain value and sell it a little later, or do we treasure it as an amazing keepsake?
On the whole, this is another reason why music and music collecting has such a hold on me.

No, Really, I'm Still Alive

2011-04-30T01:18:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, the searches that lead people to this blog are rather interesting.
Someone not only got here, but stayed here and read several pages, after getting to BuffaloRoots through the search "kevin hosey death florida." Last I checked, I'm still alive and in Buffalo, NY.
Aren't I?

"Death or Glory" Comes Alive

2011-04-28T01:02:00.003-04:00

I was fortunate enough again to be part of WBNY 91.3 FM Alumni Weekend a couple of weeks ago, as several of us alumni from Buffalo State College's radio station took air shifts and got the chance to feature some of the music we love and played years ago (I was a DJ from 1984-1985), be creative and have some fun.
My air shift was from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 16, with my show called "Death or Glory," and I had a blast, as usual. One of the few tough parts of WBNY Alumni Weekend is that, due to the success of the weekend and the number of returning alumni, we basically only get 2-hour shifts (a couple of exceptions), compared to the 3- and 4-hour shifts we used to get on the weekend. Obviously, that's a good sign pointing to continued high participation.
This is my play list from "Death or Glory" April 16, which reflects my playing more punk/new wave from my musical upbringing and a bit less roots rock this year:
10 a.m. - "Hello There," Cheap Trick; "Indecision Time," Husker Du; "No Action," Elvis Costello and the Attractions; "Death or Glory," the Clash; "Walking Out on Love," the Beat; "Nature's Not in It," Gang of Four; "When You Fine Out," the Nerves; "South of the City," the Jumpers; "JJ," Oui 73; "That Girl," the SplatCats; "Suzie," Bobo; "Stranger from Another Planet," Michael Oliver; "All I Ever Wanted," 1969; "Worry When We Get There," Monkeywrench; "Skintight," the Donnas; "Disgusteen," Teenage Head; "Tattooed Love Boys," the Pretenders; "Love Comes in Spurts," Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
11 a.m. - "Anarchy in the UK," the Sex Pistols; "Death Valley 69," Sonic Youth; "50FT Queenie," PJ Harvey; "Your Phone's Off the Hook(But You're Not)," X; "No Goodwill Stores in Waikiki," Gurf Morlix; "Four and Twenty Blackbirds," Linda McRae; "Innocent When You Dream," Tom Waits; "Little Bitty Kiss," Buddy Miller; "Going Down to Memphis," Cathy Carfagna; "Sally Lou," Scott Carpenter and the Real McCoys; "Million Dollars Bail," Peter Case; "Forget That Guy," the Vores; "Gee Angel," Sugar; "Customer," the Replacements; "Johnny Appleseed," Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros.
I was also grateful to have been able to co-host "Rebellious Jukebox," a 3-hour live, on-air fundraiser for WBNY, with its host, Cal Zone, one of the great DJs from my era at WNBY. A fantastic band of prominent Buffalo musicians took requests from callers who made pledges and performed them live, and the band sounded absolutely great this year.

Brass, Cash in Pocket

2011-04-28T00:41:00.002-04:00

Another great punk/new wave song has found its way into a television commercial, and not for the first time.
"Brass in Pocket" by the Pretenders is now being used in an advertisement for Blackberry, and this is not the first time this song (the actual Pretenders' performance) has been used. The song was also used in commercials for National City Bank in the 1980s, as well as a few others, including a cover by Kelis for Hair Cuttery.
Again, an artist making some money through their own art no longer offends me, unless it occurs for some vile company or campaign.

I Should Have Known

2011-04-20T13:56:00.002-04:00

I noticed a recent spike in visits and other activity to this blog, and for a moment, wondered why it occurred.
As soon as I checked, it made sense; the searches leading to this blog from "Daniel Briere shirtless" again account for the vast majority of the visits, and yes, almost all of those were from people/places in Pennsylvania.
Hopefully, the visits for "Flyers Lose to Sabres" will start to increase soon.

Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law

2011-04-18T13:34:00.003-04:00

This Monday went from annoying clumsiness to criminal faster than a Camaro went from 0 to 60 MPH in the mid to late 1970s.
After waking up, I turned on the computer and went into the bathroom to, um, well...and wash my hands, face, etc. But as I took my wedding ring off, it slipped through my hands, pinged off the rim of the toilet and went into the garbage can. I had to empty 90-95 percent of the crap in it (hair, tissue, dryer sheets, Q-Tips, etc.) before finding the ring at the bottom, and fortunately, the plastic piece helping my ring from being too loose fell right next to the can.
Walker Evans and I then went on our walk just after 8 a.m., about 15 minutes late due to my clumsiness, and made it a long one by crossing Elmwood Avenue and going down West Utica and Lexington. We came back on Lexington to our street, Norwood Avenue, and had about three blocks to go home.
As I got to Norwood and West Utica, about a block from our house, I saw what I thought to be a neighbor and a police officer standing at our fence and driveway gate looking back at the yard and garage, and as Walker and I approached, went into the backyard. Walker and I then broke into a trot (as much as an aging man and dog can) and when we go to our fence, saw two Buffalo Police Department patrol cars in front of our house and the neighbor and one officer back at the garage, which is a bit behind and not attached to our house.
I identified myself and asked what was happening, and was told that a man had broken into our garage and taken one of the bicycles inside; fortunately, the genius picked a bike that had two deflated tires, and he was caught a block or two away on Richmond Avenue. By the time Walker and I had returned, the suspect had already been transported downtown for booking.
It turns out that this douche nozzle had gotten someone to drive him to our neighborhood, and either watched Walker and I walk away or just happened to pick a house with us gone and no one to see or bark at him. One of the two padlocks on the garage door was popped, and the bicycle was the only item taken.
Walker was pretty friendly with the main officer responding at the house, probably because, as her uniform showed, her last name is Walker. She told me that the neighbor (who will remain unnamed), who is a member of the BPD, saw the suspect go down the driveway, break into the garage and leave with the bike, and he contacted police. Two other neighbors saw the suspect in our backyard and leave, but the first one had already contacted police, who arrived almost immediately.
I had to go to the precinct house at Main and Tupper to file a supplemental report and claim the bicycle, all of which went smooth. My timing was perfect, as someone was leaving the second-closest parking spot to the precinct, and also had about an hour left on his parking stub, which he gave to me and was more than enough for this visit.
After I filed the report with the detective, I claimed the bicycle and left; the only problem being that the bike would not fit in the trunk of my 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, nor in the backseat until I took the front wheel off, which allowed it to fit.
I really didn't have too much of my day interrupted, but as many people have experienced, the adrenaline has been rushing through me ever since. I feel pissed at the loser who did this, but the violation doesn't feel too bad, probably because the garage is not attached to the house; I bet I would feel a lot worse if our house had been burglarized.
So, I'm thinking that to make up for this crappy Monday so far, that the Buffalo Sabres will defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of their Stnaley Cup Playoff series.

Radio Radio

2011-04-16T01:13:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder that I will be returning to the airwaves at WBNY 91.3 FM at Buffalo State College for our alumni weekend, particularly for my show, "Death or Glory," from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 16. Hopefully, you will get the chance to read this before the show.
I will also return from 5-8 p.m. Saturday for "Rebellious Jukebox," a fund raising musical request shindig; Cal Zone will be hosting the affair, and I will be co-hosting, and the band of local all-stars will take requests for money pledged to raise funds to help WBNY.
Join us, please, at 91.3 FM or at www.wbny.org, here.

Oh, Come On, Dad

2011-04-06T11:23:00.002-04:00

My reviewing and compiling of my late father Edward's record collection (lots of 33s, 78s and some 45s, mainly big band/jazz vocalist and similar music) frequently produces surprises and smiles, and today was no exception.
This actually stated a week or two ago, when I brought home some of my father's 78s (more on these later), and found some other records that piqued my interest. My father and mother Sheila often surprised me over the years with some of the music they listened to and knew/remembered quite well.
The first record to catch my attention was an "extended play" 4-song 45 by the Ray Charles Singers with Musical Accompaniment, "Mam'selle" and "Mademoiselle de Paree," b/w "Where Are You?" and "La Seine," MGM X1424.
The next two records need a bit of untangling. One cover is for "Chansons Parisiennes," (Volume 1) by Edith Piaf, Columbia FL 9501, and the other cover is for "Voice of the Xtabay" by Yma Sumac, Capitol H244. Both are 10-inch 33 RPM records, but neither cover contains the record mentioned.
The Edith Piaf cover actually contained Volume 2 of "Chansons Parisiennes," Columbia FL 9507, while the Yma Sumac cover contained "Chansons Parisiennes" Volume 1. The records have been switched to the opposite covers so at least the first volume for Edith Piaf is in the correct record cover/holder, and the search for Yma Sumac records continues.
For a person as over organized and occasionally anal as my father, this arrangement is surprising, to say the least, and possibly intentional, seeing if anyone was paying attention. Yes, I am, Dad.

Shirtless Hockey Interest Returns

2011-04-02T17:47:00.003-04:00

In the past month, this blog has been getting a lot more hits and visits, including new and individual visitors.
The leading searches coming here? Well, some old favorites are showing up again, led by "Danny (or Daniel) Briere shirtless" and "Ryan Miller shirtless." This all started a few years ago when Briere did a commercial shirtless, and I remarked here that he was surprisingly ripped, adding that I was glad that Miller had not done such an advertisement.
It's good to get a read on the interests of my readers, and yes, the vast majority seeking Danny Briere shirtless references are from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and those for Miller are from Buffalo/Western New York.

Back to Dad's Musical Finds

2011-03-30T00:58:00.002-04:00

Between some regular searching through my late dad Edward's musical collection, getting the records (33s, 45s and 78s) ready to move here and to sell where possible, discard where necessary, I've found more fun and standout discoveries, and gotten behind in describing them.
So, here are the contents of one of those old, thick volumes of records, a red leather and cardboard one embossed "Record Album" on the front cover containing 10 78s. I'll mention them in order of their appearance, with things getting better as they progress.
The first record is "Leap Frog," b/w "Show Me the Way to Go Home," by Les Brown and His Orchestra, Columbia 36857; next is "Twelfth Street Rag," b/w "Somebody Else, Not Me," by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra, Capitol 15105; next, "Blue Bird of Happiness," b/w "Sunset to Sunrise," by Art Mooney and His Orchestra, MGM 10207; this is followed by "Swedish Rhapsody," b/w "Song of the Vagabonds," David Rose and His Orchestra, MGM 30196; next, "Bolero in Boogie," b/w "Production on Melody," Earl Spencer and His Orchestra," Black & White (B&W) 795; then, "That Lucky Old Sun," b/w "I Get Sentimental Over Nothing," Frankie Laine (with Harry Geller and His Orchestra and Carl Fischer on piano), Mercury 5316.
Then, a record you might have heard of, "Take the 'A' Train," b/w "The Sidewalks of New York," Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, RCA Victor 27380; next,"Hong Kong Blues," b/w "Stardust," Hoagy Carmichael at the Piano, Decca 18395; "How High the Moon," b/w "The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful," Ziggy Elman and His Orchestra," MGM 10332; "Mule Train," b/w "Carry Me Back to Old Virginney," Frankie Laine (with the Muleskinners on song one, Carl Fischer's Orchestra on song two), Mercury 5345.
I hope you fine readers are enjoying this exploration of my father's musical collection as much as I am, and there is more to come.

Welcome, Readers Old and New

2011-03-29T11:15:00.002-04:00

For some reason, yesterday, Monday, March 28, was the busiest day on this blog in several months, maybe longer.
This includes not only visits and hits, but people actually staying around, reading several posts and leaving a few comments. Thank you for your interest, whether you are a new reader or a return fan of this blog, and I will try to keep up the increased posting.

Retirement Humor, New York State Style

2011-03-28T01:10:00.004-04:00

I received mail from the New York State Office of the Comptroller a couple of days ago, and it looked official enough for me to immediately open it.
Inside was a letter and other information sent to me about the New York State Retirement System; while I worked for Erie County for 5 years and almost 11 months, I am officially credited with 5 years 9 months of service with the system, which makes me a vested member.
Apparently, every vested member of the system receives this mailing when he or she turns age 50, because it made mention that as I approached retirement age, the earliest which is 55 with 30 years of service in New York's system, that I needed to know that I had to file my intention to retire and start collecting at age 55 before I started receiving benefits. It also reminded me that I would not receive my full New York State retirement amount upon my early retirement, and that the full amount would kick in at age 62.
I'm sure the mailing was chock full of more important information, but my laughter overtook any other serious review. If anyone thinks that I (or they) can retire on 5 years 9 months worth of state retirement credits based on the salary I earned at the Erie County Legislature, they are more wrong than climate change deniers.
Quite frankly, I wonder if I will ever truly be able to retire, although it would also be nice to have a career from which I could retire.
Dear New York State Office of the Comptroller: Don't wait up for my filing for state retirement system benefits.

More Old Neighborhood Sadness

2011-03-24T16:34:00.002-04:00

As the process of emptying and selling my mother Sheila's suburban house gathers momentum, another sad event came to my former neighborhood.
Mary Ann Prusakowski, the wife of Paul Prusakowski and neighbors to my mother, late father Edward and family since the early 1970s, died in Hospice care last week. While suffering the debilitating effects from advanced multiple sclerosis for years, she recently fell ill and never recovered.
Mrs. Prusakowski (it is hard to call your adult neighbors starting almost 40 years ago by their first names; we were raised to respect our elders) was a loving, caring mother and wife, and she always had a smile and a kind word for neighbors, including us no doubt frequently annoying kids. The Prusakowskis were also long-time parishioners of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Depew, of which my parents were founding members.
Paul, er, Mr. Prusakowski, is an amazingly generous, caring, giving man and was a wonderful husband to Mrs. Prusakowski, always being there for her needs and transportation and never giving in to self-pity or bitterness. A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War as well as a churchgoer, he obviously took to heart the notion of service to others. He is a retired television station chief engineer.
This service to others was also more than amply demonstrated in the help he gave my mother, and before that mother and father, over the years, especially since my mother was widowed in 2004. In so many big and little ways, Mr. Prusakowski looked out for my mother and helped her, and has continued to do so since she entered assisted living last year.
Mr. Prusakowski, Paul, would just kind of pshaw this blog entry if he ever read it, because he never looked for thanks yous or credit, but looked out for the welfare of others. He truly demonstrated, and still demonstrates, how to be a good neighbor, and I join many others in offering my deepest sympathies for his loss.

I've Been Framed

2011-03-20T16:22:00.002-04:00

Along with everything else I've been mentioning, I seem to have hit the mother lode in photo frames as I go through my mother Sheila's items while clearing out her house.
Not only those with photos (which are rather plentiful), but lots and lots of empty frames, frames that may have held photos or other documents in the past and many that were apparently never used. There are wood, metal and plastic frames of all colors and sizes.
The ones with photos range from displays of photos of more than 100 years of Hoseys and Connellys (my mother's family), as well as those made for my mother and late father Edward's 40th anniversary party in 1997, and tons of photos of family here, Arizona, Ontario and even Ireland.
It may seem flip and even disrespectful to some, but the empty frames will be up for sale at a yard sale (probable neighborhood one) this spring. There just isn't room for any more here or at my mother's residence.

Open House, Empty House

2011-03-19T01:39:00.002-04:00

Thursday was Day II of the major clearing out/cleaning out of items from my mother's suburban house, and the job is about 98 percent complete.
The washer, dryer, refrigerator, television, couch, all but one reclining chair, dinner table and chairs, kitchen table and chairs, bedroom furniture, dressers, everything of that nature is gone. One recliner, the stove and a corner stand are all that remain upstairs, items that Val and I will be moving to our home soon, as well as my father's record collection and part of my record/vinyl collection, which is stored downstairs at my mother's house and will also be moved here soon.
We knew it would happen, but now, finally, a home has become a house. I kept busy both times I was there while the people moving and eventually selling my mother's items were working, because I needed to get a lot of personal effects out of the house and to keep myself from going crazily maudlin or starting bawling.
It really hit me at one particular point; just before I left at about 6:15 p.m., I walked through the house one more time with Stephen, the man in charge of the effort, to see that everything that was to be removed had been and that all of the windows and doors were closed. As we finished and he went back outside, I was standing between the living room and dining room, looking at the reclining chair we will soon make a new home for here. I looked in the mirror next to it, and all the reflection showed were two empty rooms and four walls stripped bare. I felt a chill and sense of loss I hadn't felt before, shook my head and left, my footsteps echoing through the house.
With the melting of the snow, the deer tracks are now all but gone, with only those left in the mud between my mother's garage and one neighbor's house. I haven't had the heart to tell them that Mom won't be returning.

Stacks and Stacks of Memories, Part One

2011-03-15T01:34:00.003-04:00

As my sister Heather and I continue to clear possessions and items out my mother Sheila's house in the suburbs in preparation for its sale, more circumstances arise. Even the expected ones make one pause, and I'll mention them here occasionally over the next few weeks.
Our mother was a major scrap book compiler, making up one each for the three kids, including my late brother Brian (and his wife, Janet). Mine has become two books, as has my sister's, and I think my brother's was as well, and my mother compiled an additional one for Brian upon his death and the ceremonies and honors that occurred and continue to occur in his name. There are also books concerning his three children, Kim, Dan and Colleen, including the marriages of his two daughters, and Kim's son, David.
All told, I have found at least 12 scrap books and photo albums so far, as well as folders of information we thought were lost, and I think there are more to come.
Some of this concerns my father's U.S. Army Korean War service, and I was happy to have found a folder containing much of his military information. I had possession of his DD-214 and honorable discharge, but this grouping contains his induction and discharge papers, transfers, promotions, assignments and training, or at least the training he could have paperwork about, since the most important part of my father's military service is accounted for only by one sheet of paper with scant information marked "Restricted." Dad had a top secret clearance (FBI background check, etc.) and told me that he destroyed a lot of paperwork upon reading and that he never actually received his own copies of other things in his Army Security Agency service. He was asked to join the National Security Agency when he left the Army, but he chose to come back to Buffalo.
I was even happier to have found an old, very expensive looking photo album made in Japan, and when I opened it, it was what I had hoped it was, the legendary but never-seen-by-me album of photos my father took while stationed with the ASA in Japan. It showed the building of barracks and offices, fellow servicemen and some touristy sites. Halfway through the album, it suddenly switches from black-and-white photos to color, and each page has a protective sheet of wax paper between keeping the elements away from the photographs.
I have some old slides taken of my father when he left California to fly to Hawaii before shipping out to Japan, as well as a couple of when he first landed in Japan (wavy dark hair and looking almost too thin for his uniform), but this album had been lost/misplaced for years. Dad only appears in two or three photos, and he had become a bit of a photo nut while overseas.
I had been thinking about Camp Oji and other places my father was assigned in Japan as the pictures of the recent deadly earthquake and tsunami show utter destruction, and I have to wonder how these people and places are doing today.
But in the midst of some personal turmoil and difficulty, these and other items have given me a bit of a boost and filled in some memories. These memories can't wait.

Commercial Music (Almost Forgot)

2011-03-15T01:14:00.003-04:00

I frequently note the use of music in television and radio commercials that impresses or surprises me here, and I have forgotten recently to mention one that did both.
A Kinect xBox commercial, often seen on NBA and college basketball broadcasts, uses the choppy, abrasive but great sounds of the intro of "Natural's Not in It" by the Gang of Four, from its classic 1979 album, "Entertainment."
While I used to be more tight-assed complaining about the commercialization and commodification of music, particularly that of a band with serious Marxist and Dadaist roots and influences such as the Gang of Four, I love hearing this advertisement, although I suppose I am still a bit miffed that the band did not get its commercial as well as artistic reward when "Entertainment" was first released. In other words, yes, I am pissed off that the Gang of Four did not earn the recognition and reward I believe it deserved, but of course, would have wondered about if they had received it then, me having been a know-it-all music critic for so long.

Trying to Be Ready for Today

2011-03-10T01:05:00.003-05:00

Today, Thursday, March 10, is going to be one of those days that has to occur, that my sister Heather and I knew was coming and yet still, hard as I try, I am not sure how it will go.
With my mother Sheila now residing in assisted living, we are selling her house in the suburbs, and today will be the day the person I have spoken and met with, and we are almost assuredly hiring to do this part of the process, will come over and commit to what possessions and items he and his company will take and sell, what they will dispose of and what few items that are left that we want that my sister and I are taking.
Little by little, Heather and I have taken things over to my mother that she needs, taken a few things that we want and need that she no longer needs or uses and disposed of other things. But considering my mother and late father Edward bought and moved into the house new in 1959, with my then one-year-old older brother, Brian, and she and my father raised my brother, my sister and I there and my mother lived in the house until late July 2010, we're talking about a little more than 50 years of objects, clothes, appliances and items, and, mainly, more than 50 years of life, love, happiness, sadness, memories and simply being the Hoseys.
This is the house we used to live in; this is the place that I called home.

The House Is Too Damn Quiet

2011-02-23T16:26:00.002-05:00

I took Walker Evans to the Brighton Eggert Animal Clinic to have a dental procedure (serious teeth cleaning of tartar) and a check of a growth on his stomach this morning.
He came through the dental procedure fine so far and is coming out of the anesthesia, and the growth is apparently not cancerous, so we are happy at the moment but won't be too happy until Val and I have our pup home.
It was strange not having him barking, walking, coming up to me for petting or to be let outside today, so hopefully, things will be back to normal soon.

Just What I Need, More Social Media

2011-02-20T21:01:00.002-05:00

Yes, I took yet another leap today and created a Twitter account for myself. You can connect with me and read all of the self-important comments I have and will make at @kjhosey.
We'll see if this is as enlightening and fun as it has been made out to be, or if no one cares what I have to say in 140 characters or less.

Inside Fats Waller

2011-02-16T23:05:00.002-05:00

As I wrote last week, my late father Edward's record collection featured two albums with covers stating they contained music by Fats Waller, but neither contains any actual Fats Waller music. While I was at my mother Sheila's house earlier today, I found them to check their contents.
Both albums are called "'Fats' Waller Favorites," a "Victor Musical Smart Set," and have a painting of a close up of Waller's face and part of his left hand on their covers.
The first one contains these records: Jazz at the Philharmonic, Volume 4, "Lester Leaps In," Part 2, b/w "Lester Leaps In," Part 3, Disc New York 6026. The musicians listed are Jack McVea and Illinois Jacquet, saxophone; J.J. Johnson, trombone; Shorty Nadine, piano; Johnny Miller, bass; Les Paul, guitar, and Lee Young, drums. Also, "Wild Bill" Davison and His Commodores with Edmund Hall, "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," b/w "At the Jazz Band Ball," Commodore C 575, and by the same performers, "Clarinet Marmalade," b/w "Original Dixieland One-Step," Commodore 549; George Brunis and His Jazz Band, "Ugly Chile," b/w "That Da Da Strain," Commodore 546.
The other album features four records by Tommy Dorsey in various groupings: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "A Friend of Yours," b/w "There's No You," Victor 20-1657; Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "There You Go," b/w "Boogie Woogie," Victor 20-1715; Tommy Dorsey and His Clambake Seven, "Sweet Eileen," b/w "There's No One But You," RCA Victor 20-1866; Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "Until," b/w "After Hour Stuff," RCA Victor 20-3061.
Some of this disorganized organization from my dad is surprising; from his days in the U.S. Army Security Agency, he was always closely-scripted and orderly to the point of being anal. I wish I could have talked to him more about his record collection before he died. Some day, I will write about some of his musical loves, especially Stan Kenton.

Another Great Record Find

2011-02-12T22:18:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, the most enjoyable parts of searching through and sorting my late father Edward's record collection are the surprises I find.
Recently, I found a plain blue book-like holder containing 12 records, with no writing on the outside or the inside. Finding out which records were inside was like a trip through a music history book.
From front to back, these are the records I found: Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters with Orchestra, "My Darling, My Darling," b/w "Girls Were Made to take Care of Boys," Capitol Records 15270; Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, "Stompin' at the Savoy," b/w "Don't Be That Way," RCA Victor 20-1549; Artie Shaw and His Gramercy 5, "Summit Ridge Drive," b/w "Cross Your Heart," Victor (RCA) 26763; Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra, "Passion Flower," b/w "Going Out the Back Way," Bluebird (RCA) 30-0817; the Mills Brothers, "You Always Hurt the One You Love, " b/w "Till Then," Decca 23930; Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra, "Remember," b/w "Tippin' In," Victor (RCA) 20-1639.
Also, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, "Mood Indigo," b/w "Wall Street Wail," Brunswick 80003; Harry James and His Orchestra, "Love and the Weather," b/w "Forgiving You," Columbia 37588; The Three Suns, "Twilight Time," b/w "It's Dawn Again," Majestic 1027; Ken Griffin at the Organ, "You Can't Be True, Dear," b/w "Cuckoo Waltz," Rondo R-128; Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc, "Big Noise from Winnetka," b/w Bob Crosby and His Orchestra, "Honky Tonk Train," Decca 25117; Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, "Caravan," b/w "Darktown Strutter's Ball," Apollo 1070.
I am familiar with almost every artist and with most of the songs, and there are three records here, those by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, the Mills Brothers and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, that all but make my heart stop and cause my eyes to widen and mouth to hang open. I am too nervous and not yet in possession of the proper gloves to take these records out of their sleeves and individually hold just yet. It is also fascinating to read the musicians listed on several of the records.
This, folks, is part of the joy of being a music geek.

Record Madness

2011-02-08T11:51:00.003-05:00

Since my mother Sheila moved into assisted living last year, my sister Heather and I have been working on various projects to get the house ready for sale and to make as much money for our mother as possible.
One of my main jobs is to try to arrange, place in order and/or classify my late father Edward's record collection; this collection dates back to his first purchases from the 1940s (Frank Sinatra, Stan Kenton, tons of other vocalists and big bands), as well as some from earlier that he obtained through various methods (including some Fats Waller, Pete Johnson, tons of opera and show tunes and other jazz).
As I have worked on this, one main concern/problem that many of you readers who have worked with record collections in one way or another for years have also come across has been the actual identity of the records. That means not only making sure something is a first edition, but also the larger and more time-consuming concern of "is the record in the jacket/container the same one the jacket itself states?"
I have almost too many examples to mention, but here are a few: my father has two of the same Fats Waller compilation folding holders, each containing four 78s, but neither one contains any actual Fats Waller records. He does have a few Fats Waller records elsewhere in his collection, none from these jackets.
I also have right in my lap a dark blue record jacket with silver writing, containing a Capitol Records logo with the nation's Capitol Building and the words "Long Playing" underneath it, with the title "Music Out of the Moon: Music Unusual Featuring the Theremin;" apparently, the number is H2000. On the back, the notes state that "Harry Revel created the basic 'idea' and themes, while Leslie Baxter, arranger and conductor, has given them appropriately unique tone color..." The Theremin itself on this recording is played by Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman, and the song titles are "Lunar Rhapsody," "Moon Moods," "Lunette," "Celestial Nocturne," "Mist O' the Moon" and "Radar Blues." My research shows that this 33 1/3 RPM record, or at least jacket, is a 1950 reissue of the 1947 original release.
So, what is my concern/problem? The record inside this very cool and fascinating jacket is "Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra in Eight All-Time Hits," Columbia Masterworks ML2106. The songs are "One of Those Things," "If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You," "Frenesi" and "The Very Thought of You," b/w "I'll Follow My Secret Heart," "You and the Night and the Music," "Beautiful Love" and "Carousel Waltz."
On the other hand, I also have in my lap "The King Cole Trio," again on Capitol Records, a four-record, eight-song album (Album A-8) with a very nice red, yellow, grey, black and white cover released in 1944. Inside are the actual four records that are supposed to be here: "Sweet Lorraine" b/w "Embraceable You," "Prelude in C Sharp Minor" b/w "What Is This Thing Called Love?" "It's Only a Paper Moon" b/w "Easy Listenin' Blues" and "The Man I Love" b/w "Body and Soul."
I have to admit that it is a very enjoyable concern/problem to have to go through my father's records, and one no doubt I'll be writing about more as it continues.

I'm Available to Work

2011-02-05T15:47:00.004-05:00

Unfortunately, as some of you know, I rejoined the ranks of the involuntarily unemployed recently, and no longer work for the nonprofit agency I had worked for since October.
So, yes, I am searching for a new full-time job, as well as once again picking up my efforts to obtain freelance writing assignments and freelance proofreading, copy editing and research/writing assignments. I have a couple of writing opportunities I am working on, and again, am available for writing, proofreading and editing, and no job is too small to consider.
So, if you are looking for an experienced, award winning freelance writer, proofreader and copy editor, please feel free to contact me at kjhosey@roadrunner.com. Also, if you want a copy of my resume, feel free to contact me and ask for it. Thanks.

Watch Your Change

2010-12-13T00:06:00.002-05:00

Val and I collect spare change in jars like many other people and convert them into Amazon.com funds (no exchange taken out) at the change machine at Wegmans.
We did our annual holiday time coin exchange today and almost made a bad deal. After the machine totals the coins, one of the comments on the screen is to check the catch at the bottom to see what change did not go through the machine.
We had several coins in the catch, and all but one went back into the machine and registered; fortunately, I looked over the change. The one coin we did not send back in? A 1941 Mercury Head dime, which neither Val nor I know how it got into the change piles we made.

Back to Work

2010-10-18T07:20:00.002-04:00

As you can see, I've been a bit busy in the last few weeks. This morning, Monday, October 18, I start my new job as managing director of the YWCA of Western New York, Inc. I am very excited to be starting this new opportunity and will be writing more about it soon.
I have a lot of people to thank, but first and foremost, I have to thank my wife, Valerie Dunne, for her love and support over these last nine months, as well as for a few well-deserved kicks in the butt.

My Fault

2010-10-18T07:19:00.002-04:00

Yikes; I said I would start posting more and it's now been two weeks since my last post here. My apologies again, and look, here comes another post.

Like (Stopped) Clockwork

2010-10-03T18:51:00.002-04:00

Ever since this blog's readership increased recently, in both hits to this blog and the length of time people are staying here reading, it would seem wise that I continue regular posting.
Well, after dong that for several weeks, I have fallen off, and have missed a week or so. I have a post that will appear either tonight or tomorrow, but I thank you readers, old and new, and hope to continue the best blogspot.com has to offer in snark.

It Was Worthwhile While It Lasted

2010-09-24T11:59:00.003-04:00

The official voting results are in for the Democratic committee people races in the Niagara 32 District.
My wife, Valerie Dunne, received 30 votes, one of our opponents received 29 votes, I received 27 votes and our other opponent (husband of election opponent 1) received 25 votes. So, Val and one of our opponents have been elected the Democratic committee people from Niagara 32, and my service as a Democratic committee person has ended.
I appreciated, was honored by and enjoyed serving as a Democratic committee person in our district, and know that Val will continue our service and representation. I learned a lot about serving people, the Democratic Party, the democratic process, our district and politics in the 6 years I served as a Democratic committee person.

Still Waiting

2010-09-23T11:00:00.003-04:00

Although Val and I were informed that the unscanned and affidavit ballots would be counted Tuesday, as of 11 a.m. Thursday, we have not heard word about the new results for the Democratic committee people races in the Niagara 32 Distrct.
The voting results are to be certified as of Friday, September 24, in time for the Erie County Democratic Committee annual reorganization meeting Saturday, September 25, so we will have to eventually know the results, but pins and needles is the current status.

Official Voting Results Tuesday

2010-09-20T12:49:00.003-04:00

As I previously posted, Val and I tied with one of our opponents for first place in the race for Niagara 32 District Democratic committee people in last week's voting; Val and I are the incumbents.
If the voting ends up in a tie, as far as we know the seats are declared vacant with no winners and the zone chair will appoint the committee people. But we were informed that 11 unscanned ballots have been found in our district, and these ballots will be counted Tuesday, so there may be a clear-cut winner or winners in this Democratic committee race.
This now gives me two reasons to be nervous starting this week, with both possibly presenting rather positive results. I will let you know about those events as soon as there is a determination.

Death Or Glory at the Polling Place

2010-09-15T23:18:00.002-04:00

One great story from yesterday's Primary Day voting: Val and I voted between 7-7:15 p.m., after hours and hours of campaigning and before we went out to Sam Hoyt's campaign result shindig.
As I got up after filling out my voting form to submit it into the scanning machine at our polling place, a couple in their early to mid-30s got into line, with the man carrying a two-month-old child in a carrier. After smiling at the child behaving quite well, I noticed that the man was wearing a t-shirt with the image of the Clash's self-titled debut album.
I commended him on his shirt, and as all of us live on Norwood Avenue, we started talking about the Clash. I mentioned how the first import album I ever bought, in the late 1970s, was the same Clash self-titled debut record, and that it and "London Calling" were on my all-time Top 10 album list.
The man smiled and said that he hadn't gotten into the Clash that early, of course, due to his age, but started in high school and was a major fan. As he went to submit his voting form, his wife noted that their 4-year-old son, who was at home with someone, counted "Wrong 'Em Boyo" as his favorite song, requested it frequently and went around the house singing it.
There is hope for our next generation.

Three-Way Tie for First

2010-09-15T18:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, folks, that is how the Erie County Democratic committee person/people race in Niagara 32, the district Val and I represent, turned out last night. Val and I, as well as one of our opponents, received 26 votes; her spouse received 23 votes.
The legalities of what happens to the two seats (I have held one for 6 years, Val the other for 8 years) is being researched and finalized, and things may look good for our return, but damn, it hurts and pisses me off, especially since the candidate we ran with, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, not only won his Democratic primary but won by a more than 2-1 vote ratio in our district.
So, I am waiting a bit longer before I analyze more so I don't really let out the bile.

Fuller Post Coming Soon

2010-09-14T20:00:00.001-04:00

I've got a couple of things to write about, including today's Primary Day activities, but Val and I are awaiting the results of several races, including ours as Democratic Committee people in the Niagara 32 District, so I will be filling you fine readers in on more soon.

Eight Freaking Months

2010-09-09T01:53:00.003-04:00

Yes, I just hit the eight-month mark for this bout of involuntary unemployment, and while my freelance work is picking up a bit, it really needs to get into a higher gear, which means so do I.
And yes, my job search continues, along with some stressful personal situations, my mother Sheila the main one. I just have to keep working, applying and helping my mom.

I've Been Overtaken

2010-09-06T10:39:00.002-04:00

The more I look over the Internet and evaluate things, it appears that I have been succeeded by my niece Kim as the better and more frequent blogger and writer in the family.
First, and this isn't because she is my niece, you should read her quite simply excellent blog, Arizona Writer. Second, search the Internet for Kimberly Hosey (and maybe throw in Arizona) and check out some of her newspaper and magazine articles.
And yes, I should use this as a kick in the ass to get going with my writing more.

Great Blog by a Friend

2010-09-05T22:12:00.002-04:00

I just came across and started reading a very cool and well-done blog by a college friend of mine, Alexandra M., Living Without Money.
I was tipped off to it by a mutual friend from college, Leslie Adams, at a party Friday, and Alexandra, who lives in North Buffalo, does a fine job not only in writing about living without a lot of funds or credit, but of how to live right simply without spending money or spending as little as is necessary. Alexandra's dry, often sardonic sense of humor comes through, and among her co-stars are her dog and cat.
So, check it out when you get the chance.

Deadlines and Commitments

2010-08-25T11:02:00.001-04:00

Things are getting a bit busy around here at the Dunne-Hosey Estates, and that is a good thing.
This is for two reasons: first, it means that I am getting some response and potential work in various areas, as well as applying and bidding for more, and two, having been a newspaper person for so many years, I simply operate better on deadline. Let's hope this continues.

The Legendary Lost Music Box Story

2010-08-23T21:49:00.002-04:00

I was fortunate to write a story on my views of the last 20 or so years of Buffalo's original music scene for Artvoice's 20th anniversary edition this summer. I also wrote two boxes to go along with the story, depending on available space.
The first was on my favorite local recordngs, and it got placed on my Facebok page with a link here. Unfortuantely, I forgot about the second box, a remembrance of several Buffalo musicians who have died, until today.
For those of you who haven't had the chance to check Facebook, here is the story:

By Kevin J. Hosey

Too many members of Buffalo’s music community have died before their times, and many have been and remain to be effected by their passing. A few still make me pause.
Mark Freeland – There have been too few people as talented as Mark Freeland as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, all-round musician and performer, as well as visual artist. Like many of them, Mark had his demons, but he not only made peace with but beat a major one in his later years. Before that happened, despite years and years of writing positive things about Freeland, Electroman and even Pegasonics (the first album review of mine to appear in print was of Pegasonics’ “New New York” album), we had a falling out of sorts. While acquaintances, we weren’t palling-about buddies, while my now-wife Val was very close to Freeland for years. But after I gave his “Adventures in the Solar System” cassette a seriously negative review, Freeland was upset and caught up with me before an Electroman set at the Showplace Theater and, after apparently tipping a few, launched into a profanity and spittle-laced tirade before some of his band members physically dragged him away. Needless to say, we did not talk for years. In 2005, Freeland had an exhibit of his paintings at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and Val and I attended the opening. His face lit up when he saw Val and, after they hugged, he looked at me, shook my hand and invited the two of us to a bench to sit down and talk, which we did, between Freeland saying hello to other friends, for at least 30 minutes. He was thrilled to have a show at the Albright-Knox, and he talked about doing more work as well as music, to which he expressed surprised delight at new listeners to his music. A few weeks later, Val and I visited his and Carla’s apartment and had another great talk, or, he had a great talk while I smartly listened.
Tim Switala – Switala, a drummer with Pauline and the Perils, 1969 and other bands, a producer at WEDG-FM and formerly of the Tom Calderone Variety Show, was most influential with me as a writer, including at the Buffalo News and also the late, great Second Story. He is one of the persons and reasons why I started to write about music. Switala was never hesitant to criticize my work, which I appreciated; not the opinions but how I expressed the opinions and structured my writing, things that should matter to writers. He also successfully executed the only scam on me (that I know of); I received a cassette from a “local band” called the Doom Patrol, an allegedly two-person noisy band of sorts using synthesizers and percussion. While I wondered why the two members only used first names and did not leave a contact address or telephone number (pre-email days), it wasn’t particularly unusual, and I ended up listening to and reviewing it. Months later, Tim strangely asked me about the Doom Patrol and how I liked it, but said nothing else; eventually, Eric Van Rysdam confirmed that Tim was the Doom Patrol and that I had been had (it may be a bit different; EVR does not remember this part). This would have been the standout memory of Switala if he hadn’t died on my birthday before I thanked him; regardless of the date, he is missed.
Bart Mitchell – The guitarist for Nullstadt and Elk and the guitarist, singer and songwriter for Little Sheba (a great band), as well as the poet Hieronymus Dude with David Kane’s Them Jazzbeards, Mitchell fought and sadly lost to his demons. But he didn’t die without a fight, and few people I know have lived as hard as Mitchell, the first musician I had covered to any extent and knew who had died wile still being very creative.
Joe Orlowski – Known as Joe Oh! as drummer, songwriter and singer for the Real Wigs, and drummer for the two-man band Handguns with Greg Sterlace, Orlowski was about as nice a person as existed, and not just “nice” nice, as I discovered when I got to know him outside of music. Orlowski was an Eagle Scout, and truly enjoyed and lived to help people and to relieve their problems; in fact, he died when he was hit by a car while helping a disabled driver on the Kensington Expressway.

Oh, By the Way ...

2010-08-21T20:05:00.003-04:00

Yes, I did recently pass the seven-month mark for being unwillingly unemployed, and while the job search continues, I have also stepped up taking freelance writing, proofreading and copy editing jobs, and am available for them at KJHosey@roadrunner.com.
I am bidding on a few more jobs, and will accept bid notices well as freelance assignments. I'm not always comfortable doing this self-advertising, but every little bit helps.

Oh, Here's The Blog

2010-08-18T22:25:00.002-04:00

After trying to make my writing here a bit more frequent, I fell off the posting wagon again.
I have a bit of a reason, since my sister Heather and I have now moved my mother Sheila into respite care at an assisted living residence, and things really haven't slowed down on the visiting front.
So, blend this with some other things and I have gotten behind again. I plan to write a few more entries soon, so please be patient.

I've Just Seen a Face

2010-08-06T11:25:00.002-04:00

I just looked into the mirror as I ponder if I should shave now or later; the question is more do I have time now or later (probably later).
But I noticed two things in the reflection: first, damn, do I look more and more like my mother facially (this is not an age/looking older comment, but feature wise), and second, will I look worse with the about week's worth of stubble or shaved and showing the bags under my eyes?
Which should I subject the public to at this stage? Hmm.

Political Sign Hijinx

2010-08-03T00:26:00.002-04:00

Val and I have two Sam Hoyt for Assembly signs on our front lawn, and apparently, someone doesn't like them.
Twice over the weekend, we found attempts to remove and vandalize the signs; in the first, one of the two legs of one was pulled out of the ground, and in both the plastic sign was pulled about 80 percent off the metal sign legs.
This will not only not stop us from posting Hoyt signs on our lawn, I may even get a third one.