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Holiday Parades; clogged fireplaces; new/old uniforms
It was only a two day weekend for me, but I managed to get quite a bit done just the same. Since we are going to a wedding later this month in Indiana (at the Basilica on the Notre Dame University campus) and will be driving, I had to go the Auto Club offices in Nesconset to get books, and have the trip outlined on a map. It will be about 770 miles each way and we will most likely stop halfway in Toledo Ohio on the way out, as at Hershey Pennsylvania on the way home. Each year on the first Sunday in December the Town of Islip has its annual Holiday Parade, and at the end of the parade Santa Claus arrives on a float. The Islip Fire Department has been going since inception, except for the years 1983 through 1988. While I did not live in Islip at the time, at the 1982 parade one of the Department’s assistant chiefs collapsed and died of a heart attack. We decided to stay away from the parade for several years, since the unhappy memories still lingered. We only resumed going in 1989. I always have a good time, and this is my first year playing the cymbals in this parade. Winter has arrived early on the South Shore this year.  When I got up at 7 AM (from habit) the temperatures were in the 20’s and we had about an inch of snow on the ground! By the early afternoon it was melted from the streets and parking lots, but is still on the lawns and in the woods as of now. The Islip Fire Department requires all members who wish to operate department vehicles, from the tower ladder trucks to the vans, to take a course given by New York State, called the Certified Emergency Vehicle Operators’ (CEVO) course. There were two tests given after the instruction, one for fire apparatus, and one for ambulances. They were both multiple choice, but anybody with a little bit of common since would be able to pass them with little trouble. During the course we got an alarm for a structure fire (signal 13 in Suffolk County radio code) on a street called Boston Avenue. Since the class was being given at the main station and my turnout gear is at the North House on the other side of town, I had to borrow someone else’s, which was quite large on me. Still, I managed to get breathing apparatus on me, and also a radio and hand light. It turns out that it was a fireplace that was blocked and filled the house with smoke. Therefore we did not need any of the tools that we took off of the truck, but simply had to open the windows and doors of the house to air it out. It turns out that the only tools we needed were electric fans, and a small ladder. The ladder was so that an officer could reach the skylight to facilitate ventilation.  The only other thing that some of had to do was to administer “psychological first aid” to re-assure some family members who were visibly upset and shaken up that everything was under control. When all of that was over we headed back to headquarters to finish the course. When I got home I watched the Jets Dolphins football game. The Jets wore “throwback” blue and yellow uniforms to commemorate their early years in the old American Football League, when they were called the New York Titans.  Maybe the throwback jerseys are a good luck charm, because right now they are winning 33-13 with less than 5 minutes to go in the game. The Giants play at 4:15 New York time against the Bears. If they do well, then so will my fantasy football team, since 3 Giants were drafted onto my team. We will know for certain this evening.
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2.12.07 21:10
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Notre Dame forever!!
Last Thursday we left for South Bend IN to attend my cousin's wedding, which was held on the Notre Dame University campus (he is an alumnus). Since my daughter Eileen had never been on a plane, and if we flew there would be a 10 hour layover, we narrowed it down to Amtrak or driving. With the ice storms and bad weather in the Midwest, Amtrak won out. So we left New York's Penn Station on Thursday about  90 minutes late. After going along the Hudson River and the Erie Canal, we were in Buffalo (and I was sound asleep) and eventually we passed through Cleveland OH and Toledo before arriving in South Bend, 3 hours late. The hotel sent a van to pick us up and once we settled in we showered and had lunch with my cousins, aunts and uncles. Later in the evening we had the rehearsal dinner at the College Football Hall of Fame, which was across the street from our hotel.  The dining room features paintings of all of the Heisman Trophy winners. There were the stones honoring, the inductees, as well as a Wall of Honor saluting people who did much for college football, even if they may not have played themselves. Among the honorees are Douglas MacArthur, George Steinbrenner, Jackie Robinson, and several US presidents. Exhibits also featured the development of the uniform and helmet, a niche showcasing Army football, and the development of the sport itself. There was also a room showcasing movies about football (Hollywood Huddles).
On the 8th we got a tour of the Notre Dame campus, and in the evening my cousin tied the knot in the Sacred Heart Basilica on the campus. The basilica is gorgeous, and any parish would be glad to have it as its parish church. The reception was held in downtown South Bend at the Palais Royale (a registered historic building). Eileen managed to dance with me for several numbers. It was the first time since she was a baby that she let me do it.
On Sunday I went to church and then we did our laundry before going back to our room to watch the NFL games. Since our train would not leave South Bend until 1230 AM on Monday, my cousin arranged for us to check out at 6 PM instead of noon. After dinner and checking our e/mails, we headed to the Amtrak station around 1145 to check in. This time our train was on time in departing and after seeing the cities of upstate New York again, we arrived in Penn Station on time!
Eileen enjoyed the train ride and should we ever have to go somewhere by plane, we are certain that she will enjoy the flight.
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11.12.07 18:41
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Bowling; fantasy football; winter's here
I did not get a chance to make any blog entries since I got back from South Bend. Over the past weekend we went bowling with the St. Mary’s Bowling League for our monthly get together at the East Islip Lanes. This time I nearly broke 100 in each of the three games played. I fell short in game two with only a 96. Maybe next month. With the National Football League’s regular season winding down (we are entering Week 16); the fantasy league is also almost over. My team, the Washington Federals, is presently 7 and 7. Hopefully it’s a win this weekend, but is all depends on how well the real players and their teams perform. I can’t believe that it’s winter already. So far, the South Shore of Long Island has not had any major snowstorms. Whatever we did get did not stay around too long. Now if it can stay like this until spring, it would be a good thing. Happy holidays to all.
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21.12.07 06:00
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December 29, 2007's entry
Since last weekend I managed to go on one fire call where a clothes dryer caught fire and we had to disconnect the appliance and drag it into the yard. I also had the honor of helping with the venting – by opening up the windows! Ellen, Eileen and I celebrated Christmas Eve at my parents’ house, and they served their traditional Christmas Eve meal of pasta and crabs – delicious but messy! In the past they served blue claw crabs, and they were even harder to get opened. For the last several years it has been king crabs, which are easier to open since the shells are not as hard. On Christmas Day I went to church at St. Mary’s and in the afternoon hosted my brother-in-law, a “cousin-in-law” and a friend of the family.  Since my mother-in-law passed away in early January, she was not there. While she was 93 at the time of her passing, we still miss her a great deal.  So far my fantasy football team, the Washington Federals, is 7-7 through Week 16. I have also been working on a new web-page commemorating our recent trip to South Bend IN. While it’s not finished yet (there is still film in the camera, and I have to write a few more narratives) it can still be previewed at http://www.southbend2007.homestead.com. Over the last week I also edited two older web pages that are on Lycos’ Tripod provider: It’s hard to believe that 2007 is almost over.  It’s been a trying year for me, but I did get to go to Notre Dame University and also see the Staten Island Yankees play at their picturesque ballpark.
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29.12.07 21:55
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new restaurant; web page is done
Yesterday Ellen, Eileen and I went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant in Central Islip. It is called Carrabba’s and it part of a chain that was founded in Houston TX in 1986 (Italian Texans). The ancestors of the founders moved to Texas in the early 20 th century from Italy. To commemorate the Texas connection, one of their chicken dishes is called Chicken Bryan (named after the city near College Station). I did not have that, but did have a pasta and shellfish dish which was quite good, and washed it down with some Italian beer from the tap. To find out if there is a Carrabba’s near you, please check out the company’s website: http://www.carrabbas.com/.  We enjoyed our meals and recommend the restaurant to all. Today is New Year’s Eve and while I had to go in to work, the trains were empty and so was the office. We got out a 3 PM. I have no intention of being anywhere near Manhattan, since with over 1,000,000 people it’s going to be a madhouse. We will watch any festivities on TV. Besides, the fire department might get busy with motor vehicle accidents or other alcohol related incidents. We finally finished the roll of film that we took to South Bend earlier in the month, and I was able to complete my web-page about the trip. The URL is http://www.southbend2007.homestead.com Please check it out and please sign the guest book.  Best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous 2008.
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31.12.07 22:01
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