What I am Doing in 2020
Welcome to 2020. I am now retired and it should be an interesting year. I will talk about general activities, books, ball games, firehouse events and trips. Like I said, I retired from my day job on December 31, 2019. Let's see how it turns out.
I started 2020 with a visit to St. Mary’s to commemorate the Solemnity of Mary, as January 1st is a holy day of obligation, just like Christmas. Around 3 PM the 3 of us drove to a rehab center in Far Rockaway to visit Ellen’s cousin, where we stayed for about 50 minutes. After we left, we returned to Islip to have dinner at Mango Tango, and I got to watch part more bowl games. The next day I went to the Social Security office in Patchogue to update my records. In the afternoon Eileen went on the first of our many 2020 walks. We visited the Veterans Memorial Park at Islip Town Hall and checked out the sculpture there – Spring’s Promise. On the third day I took the Accord to Babylon Honda because the tire pressure warning light came on when we were heading to Far Rockaway on New Year’s Day. After I dropped the car off with them, instead of a ride, they gave me a loan car – a Civic – which I drove home. Since it’s a push button start, I had to figure out how to work it, which I eventually did. In the early afternoon Eileen and I went to the Islip Library for the usual stuff and then to the Islip Movie House to see Spies in Disguise. It was interesting but since I was pooped, I nodded off a few times. Later we learned from Babylon Honda that the Accord will have to stay overnight because the dealer needs to procure a part for the cooling system. So I had to retrieve it the next day.
Based on an e/mail that I saw in 2019 before I retired and came across a six point list from www.inc.com that I can consider:
Explore passive reading; Incorporate a weekly review and plan the week ahead; Watch classes online instead of attending traditional ones; Adopt the uniform approach to clothing; Don't procrastinate replying to emails; Prioritize your to-do list. I have done most of these so far.
After OSHA class on January 5th Eileen and I went to the Islip Library for the usual activities. We had to take a walk somewhere and figured that Babylon would be a good choice. We went to the library and used their computers. Later she still wanted to go out to dinner so Ellen made reservations for 6 PM at Viva La Vida. I also read more of Basketball Junkie. In chapter 13 Chris Herren is in rehab at Daytop, on his way to becoming clean. I finished the book on January 6th and saw that Chris is finally clean and sober, and while not playing on a basketball any longer, now runs a basketball clinic. He got elected to his high school’s (Durfee High) hall of fame in 2009.
I started a new book that I got from the Islip Library, titled The City Game by Matthew Goodman. It is about the City College of New York (CCNY) basketball teams of the mid-20th century. We learn about the history of City College, its student body and several of the coaches and players of the mid-20th century Beavers, and then the points scandal and games played.
Later when we got home from bowling, I finished watching the 1977 production of Our Town and checked for some websites to see if anyone else can tell me about the lessons to be learned. On https://www.theodysseyonline.com Elizabeth Barker of SUNY Plattsburgh gave us 5 lessons that she got out of the work: Love appears when love is ready to; It is unwise to seek counsel from others when making a personal decision; Life is unpredictable; We live without looking; Does anybody truly realize life while they live it? Another website summarized it into: The lesson that we learn is the need to be content with the traditional rhythms of life rather than go searching for something strange and exciting. Still another one had this to offer: Everything changes, gradually; Try to help others (but know that some things can’t be helped; Love transforms us; Carpe Diem (Seize the Day); We don't realize life while we live it; We spend so much time sitting around and doing nothing, waiting for tomorrow and expecting tomorrow to come; We aren't guaranteed tomorrow, nor should we expect it to be what we want; How many people actually live life as they live it? I don't, but Our Town has made me aware that I don't live; Try to appreciate life while you live it. Even simple things. Don't dwell on the past. It's over. Since realizing this, I am going to try to live my life to the fullest extent that I am able to.
On January 10th Eileen and I drove to Commack to have lunch at the Candlelight Diner on Veterans Highway. Today we had seafood bisque, and a chicken salad with bacon wrap. The next day the 3 of us met my train friends Barbara and Michelle at the Oconee Diner. After lunch we then assembled under the canopy and took a few group shots. When I got home I read more about Our Town and this site says that we don't realize life while we live it because we spend so much time sitting around and doing nothing, waiting for tomorrow and expecting tomorrow to come. We have to realize that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow, nor should we expect it to be what we want. Then I asked myself, “How many people actually live life as they live it?”. I know that I don't (or didn’t), but Our Town has made me aware that I didn't always live. On Sunday Eileen and I went to the library and then we drove to Babylon for a nice walk. We parked in the Municipal Lot and then went south to Main Street and west towards Argyle Lake - to the gazebo on the canal that leads from Argyle Lake and then we walked back to the parking lot and stopped in Roe Roe’s Sweet Street and Eileen got Beanie Baby #73 – a zipper pull named Slush who seems to be a dog. The next day Ellen, Eileen and I went to the movies on January 14th to see Little Women at the Islip Triplex. We all liked it, even if it was slow moving in some parts.
On the 15th Ellen, Eileen and I went to the OPWDD (Office of People with Development Disabilities) office in Hauppauge (called Front Door) and listened to talks and saw a Power Point presentation. I took decent notes and now we have to get the ball rolling. The next day I went with Ellen and Eileen to East Meadow where we all went to the hair salon that Ellen and Eileen patronize. While I was not getting my hair cut, I did have my goatee trimmed. I think that the stylist did a pretty good job.
Eileen and I went to Patchogue on the 17th to visit St. Joseph's College and use their library’s computers and then walk around the campus for some exercise. The next day we were in the Village and stopped in a novelty store called Paper Doll Curiosity Shop and saw some interesting items. We told the shopkeeper we would be back after lunch, at Del Fuego where we enjoyed splitting a mesquite chicken wrap, with iced tea for each of us. And I got to watch some basketball. We then went out the back door and walked to the Blue Point Brewery. We did not go on a tour but did take some photos in the lot before walking back east to the novelty shop where I treated us to a coffee cup about being Normal (in Normal IL).
On Sunday afternoon Ellen, Eileen and I went to the annual Past Commanders’ Dinner at the Rusy Bohm Post. We honored the post’s commanders, as well as the presidents of the auxiliary, living and deceased. The sergeants at arms of the post and the auxiliary escorted the living leaders into the meeting room where they were introduced to those present. Then the names of all commanders and presidents were read, with a bell tolled when each name was read. Eileen and I headed to Sayville on Monday the 21st to see 1917. I thought that it was a great movie. The depiction of the trenches was very authentic, and it almost made me feel like I was there. I’ve been looking for ways to make new friends and keep busy and on Tuesday evening I drove to Christ the King Parish in Commack to join an old SJU friend and some other men for the Men’s Roundtable. We discussed the scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday’s Mass and the state of our country and agreed that it is divided.
The next walk was in Kings Park. We parked in the firehouse lot and we walked along Main Street (Route 25A) to a diner at the corner at the corner of Pulaski Road called Relish. For lunch we each had iced tea and a cup of potato leek soup and split a fried cod sandwich. After I paid the bill, we walked back to the firehouse but first stopped in the Long Island Toy and Hobby novelty shop where we bought a pair of Mashems. And then to the parkway and Sunken Meadow State Park, where we parked in the lot and took some photos, and then trekked to the boardwalk to walk to the western end and back. Unfortunately, it was hazy out and that meant not being able to see the Connecticut shore. But we got a decent amount of walking in between the boardwalk and the village.
Ellen, Eileen and I went on the 26th to Far Rockaway to visit her cousin at the nursing home. After our visit we came back to Islip to have a nice dinner at Mango Tango (same as on January 1st). On the 31st Eileen and I went to Babylon. I parked the car on James Street at Totten Place and we walked to Deer Park Avenue and then down Grove Place to St. Joseph’s Church where we both stopped for a visit. Then it was over to the Babylon Library to use their computers. At around 7 PM I headed over to my American Legion post for a Social Night. I just watched TV, spoke to some other members, and noshed on some snacks. I also learned that the Auxiliary’s Sergeant at Arms is a member of the Hagerman Fire Department, as is her husband but both are on leave.
We started February with a visit to the Little Shop of Shamrocks (walking from the firehouse and back). Eileen & I bought a small bag of Cadbury Dairy Buttons to share. We also stopped at Nook & Cranny before heading home. Eileen got herself a cupcake doll, which is a small doll that folds into a cupcake (it is quite cute). I finished The City Game and by the Epilogue I was happy to see that there were some happy endings but one player died young of leukemia.
On Sunday the 2nd the three of us went out for a light dinner at a pizzeria called A Slice of Bay Shore, located in a former Friendly's on Montauk Highway at the western edge of town. My cousin in law had recommended it to Ellen and she suggested that we give it a try. I enjoyed linguine in red clam sauce (clams in the shells as opposed to minced clams) and thought that it was pretty good.
Naturally Eileen and I are still doing walks. We visited St. Marks Church at the eastern edge of Islip to get more exercise and to check out the thrift shop. I saw some jeans for $4 that I may look into in a few days, and Eileen got Beanie Baby #74 - an owl zipper pull she named Wingan. After I went to my dentist and the barbershop on the 7th we drove to Sayville to go for a walk. We parked in the Sayville Fire Department parking lot and walked to the Starbucks where she had iced tea, I had coffee and we shared a muffin. One of the other customers noticed my fire company and it turns out that he is a retired FDNY firefighter, assigned mainly to the “Big House” in Far Rockaway. When we finished our snack in Starbucks, we stopped to browse in Celtic Crossroads before heading back to the car and home. The next day we drove to Babylon and had a nice walk along Totten Place to Montauk Highway and then, after a stop in Chase Bank, all the way to Carll Avenue and then up to Grove Place and eventually back to James Street and the car. On Sunday we went to the main campus of Suffolk County Community College in Selden for a nice walk up the hills there. Then we headed to Waverly Avenue (County Road 19) to Patchogue to go for a walk and get a snack. As usual, I parked by the Patchogue FD headquarters and then we walked to Main Street and decided to have a snack at Roast Coffee and Tea Trading. We split a scone, and I had coffee while Eileen had tea. After that we walked through New Village to the car and then home.
On Monday February 10th I helped Ellen with sorting out the LP’s and 45’s that we had amassed and stored around the house. We separated the rock & roll and blues artists’ recording from the others and cataloged them. We now plan to take them to a record dealer to see if they will buy them back from us. It was raining the next day but Eileen and I did want to go for a walk, so we decided to go to the Walt Whitman Mall where we walked up and down the aisles/hallways, even stopping to take her picture next to a Tesla sedan.
February 13th was a Thursday and Ellen and Eileen usually to go out for lunch on Thursdays. We headed out to the Brick House Brewery in Patchogue for a late lunch. There were micro-brews available, but we opted for iced tea. I had an Asian shrimp wrap and a cup of egg drop soup. While eating I also got to watch the Villanova – Marquette basketball game. For most of the game, Villanova led by as much as 10 points. In the final minutes, Marquette kept gaining on the Wildcats, but still fell, 72-71 – a very close game.
We have been going to the St. John’s University Blessing of the Couples pretty regularly since 2009, and we did not want to miss this year. On Saturday February 15th we headed to the Jamaica campus and the St. Thomas More Church at the end of the Quadrangle. When we got to the parking lot a couple asked me to take their picture. They noticed my Mets jacket and Eileen’s Yankees cap and I said that it was peaceful coexistence. The couple are Yankees fans and we talked about baseball on the way to the church. In the foyer I met fellow alumnus whom I knew from undergrad days and I almost pledged his fraternity with him. He taught at Islip High School for 40+ years and knows several members of the Islip Fire Department. During the Mass all of the couples took turns telling everyone who they are and how they met. After the Mass three couples were introduced and honored for their contributions to SJU and their accomplished in life. We then went to the foyer for some goodies and then got into the car to head back to Islip, where we went to the Oconee Diner for a light dinner.
The next morning I drove to Looney Tunes Records in West Babylon where I sold the blues & rock LP’s, and all of our 45’s, to them for $150.00. It may not be thousands, but I do want to clean out the house. When I came home, I took Eileen with me to the library for a visit and then we walked from the firehouse to the American Legion post and back. On the return part of the walk we stopped in Sugared Up and bought some gummi fired eggs (6 of them - I ate 4 and Eileen ate 2) and she got a little pink teddy bear which we named Hope (#75 in her collection). On Tuesday we stopped at the St. Mark’s Thrift shop and Eileen got Beanie Baby #76 – a bear named Erin and I got a $4 pair of jeans (a bit loose but they fit).
On Presidents' Day Eileen and I went to Sayville to go to the movies. I was not in the mood, but she wanted to go. We ended up seeing Doolittle. I thought that it was OK even if I nodded off a few times, and they did a good job with the CGI’s.
On Tuesday evening I went to Christ the King Parish to join my friend Tom and some others in a bible study. We read part of the second epistle of Peter. I also got to learn about ETWN and Catholic apologetics. We all agreed that the Bible is not to be taken literally. I told them that I read that the Roman Catholic Church did not start until the early 4th century when Constantine made Catholicism/Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Then what did we have for 300 years? When I got home, I listened to John Oliver talk about televangelists (whom he thinks are mostly con artists).
Eileen and I checked out the Willy Nilly Boutique (nice stuff but we did not buy anything) and also walked from St. Patrick’s Church and back for some exercise where I took two photos of Eileen by the statue of Mary, and when we got home we walked to the Wing School, first going through Greenview Village to Moffit and then up Wingan Hauppauge Road to James Street and home. This would become out usual route in the future. Eileen did well at bowling that week so we took her to dinner at Fancy Lee, an Asian Fusion Bistro in Babylon Village – it is a converted diner. I had flounder and veggies. The ladies had udon noodles. The bill came to $111.61 but we were not hungry when we left. The lights were really low in the back where we sat. But I really like the place.
On Monday the 24th after coffee at the firehouse I went to St. Mary’s Parish Ministry Office to follow up on my visit from last week. This time I left a business card. I also spoke for a little while to Tom, the volunteer who is manning the desk. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. After breakfast I went with Eileen to the library for around 45 minutes, and then for a walk from the firehouse to Nassau Avenue and back along Chestnut Street. But it was only around 1:45 so we hung around the firehouse to kill time, as the Call of the Wild first showing is at 3 PM. I let her use the computer in the Ready Room and we each had some hot drinks, and then around 2:45 we walked to the movie house and got our goodies and sat in our seats. Once the movie came on, I found it interesting. I loved the CGI dogs, and the footage in the Far North Country. It will probably make me want to read one of Jack London’s novels or short stories. But Jack London will have to wait since on February 23rd I started to read Falling Upward and finished the Introduction and am starting chapter 1. The intro mentions life is in two halves, and life has failures and falls. Father Rohr mentioned myths and that in the Western World they have been replaced by “isms” like communism, fascism, terrorism, and materialism. Father also refers to The Odyssey and how Odysseus went from part 1 to part 2 of his life.
Mardi Gras was the 25th and the next day, February 26th, was Ash Wednesday. After coffee at the firehouse I headed to St. Mary's Church to receive ashes as part of the ritual. In the afternoon I was back in East Islip since I took Eileen bowling. I promised her a Beanie Baby or a Cupcake Doll if she broke 100 in each game, and she did - 111 in Game 1 and 115 in Game 2. After I tallied up the scores for the two teams, we headed to Nook & Cranny Boutique. I spoke with the owner, Lori, and Eileen got herself another Cupcake Doll. She already had the grape scented doll, so this time she got the lemon scented one. I also found some time to read more of Falling Upward and finished chapter 2, which describes what makes a real hero or heroine. I read part of chapter 3 that describes our first part of life.
On Thursday February 27th, Eileen and I went to the Sonic on Deer Park Avenue where we bought a Philly cheese steak combo. Yes, the car hop brought it out to us (I gave her a $1 tip) and then we came home to eat it at the table since I did not feel like eating in the car (too messy). I then went to a record store in Amityville and was able to sell our jazz LP’s to them for $40. I am also trying to fill out my application to volunteer with Catholic Health Services (CHS) and I looked for the papers that said I had a flu shot at work last fall. No luck. That means no patient care or hospice if I cannot get the shot again. I also got in touch with the Henry Cowit Fur Company and scanned them the photos of my mom’s mink coat to see if they would like to buy it from us. I spoke with the brother of a man who lived on the same floor as Ellen and I did when we lived in Oceanside. I ended February with a nice walk with Eileen through Babylon Village - from James Street & Totten Place to the Hibernian Hall and back. We also stopped at the LIRR station - the first time for me since December 31, 2019.
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I started March by marching in the East Islip St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I read a bit more of Falling Upward and chapter 5 mentions that there are going to be events in life that we cannot overcome with our current mind sets. Not much happening for me after the Parade, but Eileen and I did go for a nice walk on March 3rd in Babylon Village and also drove to Fire Island Avenue to take a photo of the Pier 44 restaurant which closed two days before. It was a favorite eatery of ours for years. The next day (03/04) I took Eileen bowling at East Islip Lanes. She was the only girl on her alley, and she did manage to get a 105 in game 1 and 130 in game 2. I had promised her that we would go have lunch at a diner on Thursday if she broke 100 in both games so on March 5th, we drove to Route 110 in Melville to have lunch at the Sweet Hollow Diner, a place that my friend Barbara had told me about. We each had iced tea and a cup of matzoh ball soup and split a chicken with feta cheese wrap. After lunch we headed to Babylon Village and then to the end of Fire Island Avenue for another photo op. We parked by the playground where Fire Island Avenue splits into north and south and we took some pix at the mini-park, as well as the Babylon Fish and Clam Restaurant (which is thankfully still open), and then the Village Marina at the very end of Fire Island Avenue. I ended the work week on March 6th by finishing chapter 10 of Falling Upward and starting chapter 11. The book is not easy reading but I think that I am doing some of the things from the second half of life. I have to do more like not reliving past hurts. And not be a blowhard or have to prove myself. And continue to live simply. Since Eileen’s birthday is later this month we stopped at Little Shop of Shamrocks where she got herself a nice green tee shirt about Irish eyes for her birthday. I got myself a nice green sweatshirt saying “’Tis Himself” (it’s me). We also split a bag of Cadbury Dairy Buttons (a favorite of ours).
On Saturday March 7 I went to Bethpage Ballpark for the Long Island Ducks job fair. I put on dockers, a white shirt, a tie and sports jacket. It was the first time since November 1, 2019 that I had on a shirt and tie for something other than an American Legion function. When I got to the park there was a long line by the ticket windows. The hard part was waiting in the wind. But soon we went inside and waiting in a room. I filled out an application and waited. I finally got interviewed and told them, based on the application, that I am retired and interested in being an usher, ticket taker, ticker seller, or security. They told me that security would not be for me since it requires extra training (maybe firearms) and at my age, not a good fit. I told them to take that off my interest list, as now that I know what it entails, I was not interested in that department. After the interview I stopped at the firehouse for coffee and a snack and then came home to change and have lunch.
I read more of chapter 12 of Falling Upward and it looks like I have been following what Father Rohr says about being a loner – I do enjoy solitude and being by myself on occasion. Around 6 PM we headed to Mango Tango for dinner. It was kind of empty at first but when we left the parking lot had more cars. So it looks like the corona virus only scared some of the locals. On March 10th I finished the book. Chapters 12 and 13 warn us that dualistic mindsets are not the best ways to go and we should avoid them. And to enter into the second half of our lives,
I started the workweek by going to the movies at the Islip Theater. Eileen and I went to the movie to see the new Disney Pixar movie, Outward. I thought that it was interesting in that it could inspire me to go on some type of quest to do something. Also to never give up.
After lunch on the 11th Eileen and I went to the library and just before 4 we headed to East Islip Lanes and she got to bowl with her league. I promised her a Beanie Baby if she broke 100 in each game. She only managed 89 and 81 in the two games. But since her birthday is next week, we did go to Sugared Up after bowling was over. We parked at the firehouse and walked to the store. She wanted some gummi bears and some other sweets. We bought a small bag of gummi bears, a white chocolate piece in the shape of a deviled egg, and Beanie Baby #77 – a flamingo named Gilda.
For Friday the 13th I learned that several activities have been cancelled due to the Corona Virus, including my American Legion post’s St. Patrick’s Day party and Night at the Races, the March Islip Fire Department meeting, the Good Samaritan Guild Dinner for Friday the 13th, March Madness, and numerous St. Patrick’s Day parades. But on a happier note, on Friday after lunch Eileen and I went to Babylon for a walk and to grab some coffee and hot chocolate. We parked on James Street an walked to Jack Jack’s Coffee Shop on Deer Park Avenue and ordered an apple muffin, coffee, and hot chocolate – for a total of almost $11.00! A bit of sticker shock. We then walked to George Street all the way to Cooper Street and then back to the car. Like most trips, we took NY 231 home.
On π Day Eileen and I headed out to the Bed Bath & Beyond on Sunrise Highway and bought a new coffee pot and ordered a new tea kettle. Since it was a bit later than usual, we then headed to the Olympic Diner on Deer Park Avenue so we could have lunch. We each had a cup of cream of broccoli soup and shared a chicken wrap and a glass of iced tea. Eileen and I went for a walk on March 15th and I was torn between Northport, East Northport or Kings Park. In the end Kings Park won out. After we parked in the railroad parking lot, we walked around the lot and station platform, as well as the overpass, giving us some nice photo opportunities. Then we walked to a dead end street and eventually to Main Street and stopped at Long Island Toy and Hobby Shop. We have been there before. Since Eileen’s birthday is coming up, I bought her another Mahsem critter for her collection and this time she got Cattermelon. With the possible of closure of restaurants to in house dining on the horizon, we celebrated Eileen’s birthday a few days early by going to dinner on Sunday evening. We decided on H20 in East Islip. The food was good as always, and they gave us a free birthday cheesecake for Eileen.
We started the week of the 16th with a walk at Robert Moses Park’s Field 5. This boardwalk is nowhere near as long as the Jones Beach counterpart, but Robert Moses Park is closer and we did not have to contend with road work on Ocean Parkway. It was a bit windy but we did get a nice walk in with some photo ops. On the 18th we walked to the Islip post office, to the Nassau Avenue 7-11 to get a Lotto ticket, and then past the Wing School to get back home. March 19th meant happy birthday to Eileen. On her birthday we drove to Sunken Meadow State Park to walk on the boardwalk. I brought my camera as usual but too bad that she did not have her sunglasses on, since she squinted in almost every photo. After lunch and errands on the 20th we drove to the end of Fire Island Avenue South where the Village Pool is to take some photos. This time she wore her sunglasses and there was no blinking or squinting like the day before. On Saturday the 21st, we went up to East Northport so I could go down Memory Lane, as I had memories of going “into town” when I visited my aunt, uncle and cousins when they lived just outside Northport Village until 1996. So in 2020, we parked in the LIRR lot and walked along Larkfield Road, stopping at the East Northport Fire Department main house, then to St. Anthony’s Church, and even went inside. Masses and confessions are cancelled there. Then we walked back down Cheshire Place to Hewitt Square, the shopping center where back in the day I visited many of its stores. This time we visited Pat’s Market Place where I was able to get a jalapeno pepper, pita bread, and 2 rolls of toilet paper. Then we walked past the war memorial plaques and the set of baseball fields to the train station and the car. After I finished Leonard Wibberley’s Little League Family, I started to read Call them by Their True Names: American Crises (and Essays) by Rebecca Solnit. She definitely does not like trump. On Sunday I went to the firehouse for coffee and to use the computer but this time I got a chance to go to the 8:30 Mass by going to the Rockville Centre Diocese’s website. Bishop Barres celebrated it from St. Agnes Cathedral. It looks like they did more re-modeling in the sanctuary area since I was there last (2007 if I can remember).
On Tuesday the 24th Eileen and I went for a walk to the Wing School and back. I managed to get a nice picture of her in her Yankees regalia at the Veterans Memorial Triangle at the corner of Moffit Boulevard and Commack Road. The next day, March 25, I did not go to the firehouse and did not use the car at all. The only time I went out was to go for a walk to the Nassau Avenue 7-11 with Eileen to get the lotto tickets. On the 26th we went to Babylon so we could mail some items and go for a walk. The first stop was the post office before we parked on James Street by Totten Place. We then walked to Railroad Avenue and along that street to the sports fields on Carll Avenue and then over to St. Joseph’s Church. We went inside and everything was cancelled until further notice. Outside of St. Joseph’s I got to take a picture of a 1931 Model A Ford before going down Grove Place and then to our car.
Since all church services are cancelled by the Diocese due to the Corona Virus pandemic, I did go to Church on Sunday the 29th – by watching the Mass from St. Joseph’s Parish in Babylon on the computer (in Spanish). The Mass was not live but was from Saturday the 29th. I could not find a live one on the Diocese’s website.
On the 31st a nurse practitioner sent by Aetna came by the house and questioned me (with some help from Ellen) about my medical history, and also checked my blood pressure, lungs and oxygen level. They all seemed to be favorable. After she left, I had lunch and started to drink more water (which was recommended by the nurse and also Ellen). After lunch Eileen and I drove up to Sunken Meadow State Park for a walk. I brought my camera, but Eileen did not bring her sunglasses so in the two pix I took of her she is squinting. I decided not to upload any of the four photos on to Facebook but only on to Google Photos. So far, it looks like we are coping with the Corona Virus Pandemic.
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With almost everything closed thanks to the Corona Virus, activities are generally confined to walks somewhere. I started April with a visit to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum with Eileen. We decided that we needed to do more walking in places other than Islip. The grounds still had a lot of people, since the parking lots were not empty. But the mansion and anything in it was closed thanks to the pandemic. We walked to the gravel path and then took photos of the creek that runs into the Connetquot River, as well as some of the bridges that cross it. We stayed for a decent amount of time and got a good amount of exercise. The next day we did another walk in town to the Wing School (we had also gone there on the 1st before going to the arboretum) and went the usual route for most of the way, except for heading west down Wallace Street instead of James Street. April 3rd was a rainy day so there was no real walking., But so that Ellen could do food shopping in peace, Eileen and I did a fairly long drive to Port Jefferson Village, going up Route 112 to the northern terminus by the ferry terminal. But since it was raining and almost everything was closed, we did not go for a walk, but I did to get in two photos worth keeping. Her Olympus digital seems to have a delayed slash and she moved when it when off. But anyway, she then wanted to go home so we headed down route 25A to Nicolls Road to Route 347 and the Route 111 home. The timing was good because we beat Ellen home.
We did not order lunch out on Thursday so we did it on Saturday, the 4th. I contacted Oconee Diner and ordered two wraps – one for me (Greek salad) and one for the ladies (tuna salad). I only ate half of mine during Saturday’s lunch so I finished it on Sunday. Later on Sunday I checked out websites of Square Books and some other independent bookstores on the Island and other locations to see if they have anything worth getting. I finally accessed the Square Books LLC website and ordered a long sleeved tee shirt in forest green with the store’s logo and location on it, and a book titled Asphalt Gods – An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament by Vincent Mallozzi. Square Books e/mailed me to confirm the order but they have to get a copy of the book. Once they have both items, they will ship them to me.
We got a couple of walks in over the last couple of days. Besides the walk to the Wing School, on Sunday afternoon Eileen and I went for a drive to Jones Beach and then walked along the Boardwalk from Field 6 to the first concession building and back. We did manage to stay 6 feet from other people, and also take a dozen photos. And we did the same thing the next day when we did a short walk in East Islip along Montauk Highway near the Bank of America property. East Islip was quite empty, considering it was 4:30 PM. We later on went to Babylon Village and walked from the Municipal Parking Lot to the American Legion Hall and then to Main Street and back. The streets and sidewalks, and the parking lot, were fairly empty for a weekday. On Holy Thursday, April 9th, I watched The Life of Jesus on the History Channel, showing his life through the eyes of people who knew him, like Peter, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, Judas, and others. It was very interesting and moving. Commentators told us how the roots of Antisemitism and “Christ killer” came about – the Gospels were written decades after the events of Holy Week and they did not want to offend any Romans whom they were trying to convert. And then later I watched the Mets Yearbook on Sports-NY (SNY). It was a great trip down Memory Lane while watching the team's first 4 years. For an early dinner/late lunch I went during a downpour to White Cap and got a pint of New England clam chowder, a clam strips sandwich and two flounder fillet sandwiches. It came to $42.20, but we were not hungry after that. Then on Good Friday I went to the supermarket and was well armored, and later in the day I finished chapter 8 of The Greatest Ballpark Ever and saw that Branch Rickey and Walter O’Malley became co-owners, and Branch Rickey paved the way to signing Jackie Robinson.
Happy Easter. Since my parish (and all of the other Catholic churches) are closed thanks to the pandemic, I watched the Mass in Italian from St. Joseph’s Co-cathedral. After breakfast and lunch Eileen and I went for a drive to Sayville and stopped first at the ferry terminal, where we took some photos. We wanted to go by a park to get close to the Great South Bay but it was closed to cars, so no go. Then we drove to the Smith Wever American Legion Post #651 on Foster Avenue and had another photo shoot. And to get our walk in, we parked at the firehouse and walked down a deserted Main Street to the Japanese restaurant that used to be a diner and back. Naturally, we took photos of the shops and the deserted Main Street. Eileen and I did some more walks in Islip and Babylon. I am almost done with chapter 9 of The Greatest Ballpark Ever and Jackie Robinson made in debut on April 15, 1947 despite protests from some teammates.
On Thursday the 16th I went to Taco Bell and got two burritos and two tacos for Eileen and me. But I also ordered out on the 18th - I went to the Oconee Diner and got wrap sandwiches for the 3 of us. Later in the day my long sleeved tee shirt and book that I ordered from Square Books LLC two weeks ago (Asphalt Gods – An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament by Vincent Mallozzi) arrived on April 18th.
I finished Chapter 11 on The Greatest Ballpark Ever. The Dodgers keep losing the pennant or the World Series, and Branch Rickey leaves the Dodgers for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then in 1955 they won it all in October. And O'Malley was looking for ways to get a new ballpark in Brooklyn. Chapter 12 covers the 1956 and 1957 seasons where O'Malley kept looking for a new ballpark and all the deals fell through. The Dodgers' last game in Brooklyn was on September 24, 1957. Chapter 13, which I finished on April 23rd, talks about what happened after 1957 and ends with the return of baseball to Brooklyn in 2001 in the form of the Cyclones.
I actually started to read The Asphalt Gods on April 25th. The intro tells us about the author (Vincent Mallozzi) and his growing up in East Harlem on East 119th Street and playing basketball with black and other white kids. Chapter 1 talks about Holcombe Rucker, the tournament’s namesake. We learned that he was a high school dropout, WWII Army veteran, graduate of CCNY, and later on a Parks Department Director and later also a teacher. He coached basketball at St. Philips in Harlem. He met his wife Mary when he dated a friend’s girlfriend after the friend could not make the appointment. Chapter 2 goes into detail about several of the men who played at Rucker Park and how they fared. Chapter 3 is a long one and we get to meet several great hoops legends. Chapter 4 talks about more of the legends who played at Rucker Park. Julius Erving credits Rucker Park with developing his skills to make it in the pros and then in business. Chapter 5 talks about the Rucker Tournament being moved indoors, first to City College and then to Brandeis High School until 1977, and how played at the Park and in schools. In chapter 6 we learn about the Entertainers Basketball Clinic and what happened to some of the players. In chapter 7 we meet a player who would go on to play with the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Harlem Globetrotters. And by the mid 1990’s players would be paid for a game. Chapter 8 starts at the turn of the 21st century describes some of the championship teams but also that some people complained that it got too commercial at the Park. In the epilogue the author concluded that going commercial helped the Park and the EBC, thanks to sponsors. And also concluded that stories from the Park will be told for generations to come.
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So far, over the first part of May it was basically walks with Eileen to the Wing School along our usual route, and for me, I walked along Islip's Main Street from the firehouse to the Town Hall to take photos of the businesses. Some are closed for the lock down, while some are doing limited business. On May 3rd for dinner I ordered from the Oconee Diner – chicken quesadilla for me, and shrimp salad and tuna salad wraps for Ellen & Eileen. What worried me was that almost none of the staff had masks on. May 4th is the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, and after all these years I still remember the turmoil that took place at St. John's University. I ordered a book and a coffee cup from Square Books. The coffee cup has a quote from the late author James Baldwin. The book is by Lian Dolan, titled Helen of Pasadena. On May 8th, after a walk with Eileen to the Wing School, I gave our CR-V a run along Sunrise Highway, driving to Lindenhurst to take a couple of photos at the Railroad Museum on South Broadway. Then came deaths in 3’s: Little Richard died at the age of 87 (May 9th). #2 of was Jerry Stiller on the 11th at the age of 92. #3 was Pretty Things' lead singer Phil May, who passed away at the age of 75 on May 15th. The Pretty Things were one of my favorite bands while I was in high school. On the 14th after a walk along our usual route, I went for a drive to Babylon Village and walked from James Street & Totten Place to Fancy Lee and back, taking a few pix along the way. Fancy Lee is temporarily closed and Roe Roe’s Sweet Street is open, but only one person is allowed in at a time. Ellen and I learned that a family of cats lived under the overhang by our bedrooms – a mom cat and at least 4 kittens. I got to photograph one of the kittens, but the others were camera shy.
On Saturday the 16th we had our first cookout. On Monday the 18th Eileen and I had our usual walk and when we got back, I took the Accord for a drive and headed up to Kings Park by myself. The highways were kind of empty for a weekday at 5 PM as was Kings Park itself - I parked at the firehouse and walked along Church Street to St. Joseph’s Church and then along Main Street over to Renwick Avenue and finally the shopping center on Indian Head Road. The parking lot was kind of empty there as well. When I got home, I saw that my package I ordered from Square Books LLC 2 weeks ago arrived. I got a nice coffee cup, and a book to read when I finish Asphalt Gods. Sadly, actor and Los Angeles Police Officer Ken Osmond passed away on the 18th at the age of 76. On Thursday, the 21st I went to a food truck to get lunch for the 3 of us. The brick and mortar part of the restaurant (called The Blue) was damaged in a fire so they only have the outdoor seating (with social distancing) and pick up at their food truck. The sandwiches that I got for Ellen, Eileen and me were big hits. In the afternoon I went to Father Nature's and got several potted plants to put in the front of the house, as well as grass seed. The next day I helped Ellen plant most of the flowers in front of the house.
On the 23rd I started to read Helen of Pasadena. I finished the first chapter and so far, Helen Fairchild is a rich widow whose husband was killed in an accident at the Rose Bowl Parade. She has two friends who are providing some support after her loss. So far, I get the impression that Pasadena CA is a city where keep up is a big game. The next day, the 24th, I watched the Korean Mass from St. Joseph's Co-Cathedral and later on read the gospel readings in English on a website. For Memorial Day I joined the other members of the Rusy Bohm Post for ceremonies at the Maragioglio Triangle, as well as Town Hall West. The Post’s rifle detail did a nine gun salute and the Commander made a short speech, and taps was played. At each location, the flag was wised first to full staff and then lowered to half-staff. And since the Post’s ceremonies were done early, I was able to drive home and change into my fire department uniform to participate in their Memorial Day ceremonies as well. When I got to the firehouse, I said hello to some of the other members. As in prior Memorial Day services, we had the flag raising at the flagpole and then this time we marched without the band to the Islip Town Veterans Memorial Park at the main town hall. There was a short speech from our chaplain and then we were dismissed. We then walked back to the firehouse where I managed to get a cup of coffee, get credit for an motor vehicle accident call, and use the computer for a few minutes. After I came back from the fire house I changed and went to the Long Island National Cemetery and photographed the graves of my maternal grandparents, Ellen’s father’s cousin and his wife, Lt. Tim Shorten (KIA in Vietnam) and Holcombe Rucker (the man who started the Rucker Tournament and gave us the Asphalt Gods). When I came back Eileen and I went for a walk along our usual route.
On the day after Memorial Day Eileen and I went for a walk along our usual route and when I went past down the street from us, I saw fireworks debris on the grass. They were shot off on Memorial Day evening, which is NOT a day for fireworks. I posted this on Facebook and Google Photos. When we got back from our walk, I drove by myself to Patchogue to take pix around New Village and Main Street of the shops that are closed or limited in service and also photographed the low amount of traffic for a weekday. I saw that Sensationally Sweet, a favorite for Eileen and me, is closed and out of business. Most of the eateries are takeout and/or delivery. While walking through New Village (would not mind living there if I had to sell the house) I experimented with panoramas and different photo sizes and then back to the car at the Patchogue firehouse and drove home. I read chapter 2 of Helen of Pasadena and Helen learned that her late husband Merritt was having an affair with a news anchor named Roshelle Simms when he was killed. We also meet her mother in law Mitsy Fairchild who was hoping that her grandson would get into Ignatius Prep School. By chapter 3 she visits the law offices of Billy Owens who with their accountant break the news to her that thanks to bad investments and the market tanking, she is broke. Helen also learned that Merritt was going to divorce her and Marry Rochelle (aka Shelly Slusky) who was quite wealthy thanks to her company Slusky’s Wash & Dry. In chapter 4 she is working on selling the house. Helen told us how she since Aiden was an only child, she always had time for school activities but now needs a real job. She also told us how she since Aiden was an only child, she always had time for school activities, but now she needs a real job, but her prospects are not good and her super rich mother in law cannot or will not help.
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I started June with a walk with Eileen along our usual route. Elsewhere we are worried about the demonstrations around the country as a result of the police choking death in Minneapolis. I finished chapter 5 of Helen of Pasadena and she realized that her marriage soured after a visit to Mexico in 2003. In chapter 6 she goes to the Huntington Library and is hired as an assistant to a Distinguished Scholar named Dr. Patrick O’Neill who is an expert on Ancient Troy and starts the job in the next chapter. In chapter 8 she talks about the history of the Millington School and the Read-Write Fest and how she is now the chairmen of the fundraiser.
On June 3rd there were texts on www.groupme.com where several of the super patriots at my firehouse were planning for a possible violent confrontation with peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators because there they saw notices of demonstrations in Smithtown and East Islip. These patriots had to protect the Islip businesses from looting should the East Islip march spread to Islip. There was a march in Islip along Main Street/Montauk Highway from Brookwood Hall in East Islip to the Islip Town Hall and there were no altercations reported. But if these guys love guns and fighting so much, why don’t they join the auxiliary police, or the US military?
On Saturday (D-Day) morning and early afternoon I watched a show on Discovery Channel called Why We Hate. It seems that it is passed on from parents & other elders to children, can also be a fear of “us versus them”, or propaganda – demonizing the ones you hate. Since it was a Saturday, I got lunch for the 3 of us at the Oconee Diner: shrimp and tuna salad wraps for Eileen and Ellen, and grilled chicken for me. After lunch Eileen and I went for a walk. We did not go the usual route but detoured at Moffitt Boulevard to go to the 7-11 on Union Boulevard. I bought a lotto ticket for Saturday’s drawing and she got herself a Beanie Baby, #79 in her collection, a poison dart frog named Dart. While we were there it started to rain while we were at 7-11 and as we left, we walked fast as the skies started to open up. I told her that we will have to skip the Wing School so we could go up Commack Road to Tex Court and then onto our street. I finished chapter 8 in Helen of Pasadena and Helen learns that she will not fill her late husband’s seat on the Millington School’s Board of Trustees, and now will work to get the house ready for display at an open house event. In chapter 9 she is started to work with Dr. O’Neill, who has theorized that there may have been a 10th city at the Troy site and later in the day goes with Patrick to a wine bar owned by Ted Gamble and Ted joins in the conversation. She then tells Patrick that he will be speaking at Aiden’s school in a few days.
Since June 7th was a Sunday, I took the opportunity to go to the 10:30 drive in Mass at St. Mary’s West Parking Lot. The parish set up a tent at one end of the lot and we parked in the usual spaces. Even though they had microphones in the altar, we also had the chance to tune into 99.7 FM to hear what was said on the altar more clearly. There was still no communion since the Bishop still has to figure out how to make it both safe and reverent. After Mass I drove to the firehouse for coffee, the computer, and two alarm points. I also spoke with two other members about the social unrest and if it hit Islip, some of the gun nut blowhards would probably hide in their basements when shooting started. One of the guys also told me about another department member who is most likely a trump worshiper, who thanks to the socialism of the LIRR, can live in on a nice street in a fairly upscale part of Islip. In the afternoon Eileen and I did our walk along our usual route.
On June 8th I heard from the Census Bureau by e-mail having applied for work with them earlier in the year. I went to get fingerprinted on the 13th at their Melville location, bringing two forms of positive identification - my social security card and my birth certificate. The rest of the day was spent going for a walk with Eileen along our usual route, and later checking out people on www.ancestry.com whom I have known.
On Wednesday the 10th I had to go into the crawl space to turn the water on. Once I opened up the bilco doors several different types of arthropods came out and I had to sweep them away, along with cobwebs. I also had to crawl through some more cobwebs to get to the lever to turn the water on, and also sweep out the crawl space’s stairway and as the garage. After a walk along the usual route I went to Father Nature’s to buy 2 hydrangeas and three decorative grasses. Later in the day I checked out independent bookstores and added one from Louisiana and one from Upstate New York to my Facebook Likes. But for actually buying things from independent bookstores, I will stick with Square Books in Oxford, MS. After lunch on Thursday I went to the barbershop for the first time since February. The one on Main Street that I have been going to almost exclusively since August 1984 still was not opened as of Thursday, so I went to a shop on Islip Avenue and the sloppy mane was finally trimmed back.
On Friday the 12th I drove into town to visit the ATM and then Nook & Cranny, where I talked with the owner and another customer. All 3 of us are not happy with the state of the country, and also with the state of Islip Hamlet. Sunday was Flag Day so I went to the 10:30 drive in Mass at St. Mary’s and then to the American Legion Post for the Flag Day ceremonies. Since the Islip FD was at Yaphank, there was no burning of the flags in that ceremony, but three flags were retired, though. After the American Legion ceremonies I came home and changed and went to Taco Bell to get some lunch for Eileen and me. After lunch, I read chapter 10 of Helen of Pasadena and her grieving and stress has made pay less attention to her work and she has torn a page in one of the Schliemann notebooks.
On Monday the 15th Eileen and I went out for a walk along our usual route and when we passed by the Marconi Lodge, I saw that they were signing people up for their blood drive. I registered for 5 pm and just before 5 I drove to the Marconi Lodge to sign in and while I waited outside before going in to fill out the forms and get examined, next to me was a members of the East Islip AMVETS Post who was in the US Air Force Tactical Air Command (TAC) like I was from 1971 to early 1974. He was at the two bases in Arizona (Luke and Davis Monthan) and then went to Thailand. I told him about England Air Force base and we agreed that Central and Northern Louisiana are dull and boring, and that England AFB was a zero. On Bloomsday (June 16th) I headed to Chase Bank to have the balances of my mom’s estate accounts transferred to Ellen and my accounts and also put the papers that I needed for the Census Bureau back into the vault. Other stops included the post office, 7-11 for a lotto ticket, and Stop & Shop for lunch provisions and to redeem bottles. I started chapter 11 of Helen of Pasadena and she described the Ignatius School that she wants Aiden to attend.
On Wednesday the 17th I had the Accord inspected and have maintenance and picked it up the next day. After a walk along the usual route I finished chapter 11 of Helen of Pasadena and it looks like Aiden blew his interview with the Ignatius admissions officer, but does manage to help the school water polo team win. And Helen got an offer for the house. I then started chapter 12 and Patrick did his presentation about Ancient Troy to the middle school grades at Millington and it went over well. He thanked Helen and Aiden for their help. Now the other Millington moms are interested in him.
The next day, the 18th, I did pick up my Accord at Babylon Honda and it is now as good as new but the work set us back over $1,000.00. While the car is 11 years old, we don't want to buy a new car at this time. Later in the evening I went to a social meeting at the American Legion post for the first time since March. After the meeting I went downstairs to the bar for one round of Jameson Irish whiskey with ginger ale and also watched boxing on ESPN. The 19th was Happy Juneteenth. While I am not black, I can empathize with the African Americans since I am not one of the right types of white. We were limited by quotas for 41 years from entering the US because some people thought that we would not make good Americans. And 11 Italian Americans were lynched during the late 19th century in New Orleans. It does bring back to my mind the quote from Pastor Niemöller about when they went out for others and finally came for me. After lunch and a catnap I went on a walk with Eileen to our usual place and when we came home, I headed to town and went for a quick walk to Sugared Up (which is closed for remodeling) and the new pub – The Harp and Hound – which will replace Mary Dowling’s. The last stop was Nook & Cranny and I spoke with the owner and also another lady with her daughter. I got myself a small gift for me for Father’s Day – a man cave themed coffee cup. I could have bought something online but decided to give my money to someone I know. Then I decided to walk back to the firehouse to have some and use the computer. While I was in the ready room at the firehouse some engine 1 bozos came by after a golf outing and kind of took over the room. It was my cue to leave, notwithstanding that it was almost 6:30.
Saturday started with a trip to the Growers Market and at 4:30 it was the in person Mass at St. Mary’s. I also visited Town Hall parking lot where the car aficionados meet on Saturday afternoons to show off their cars and to hang out and I got to take pix of two pre-war cars: a 1938 Oldsmobile and a 1937 Plymouth. On Father’s Day I managed to get a walk in with Eileen along our usual route. We normally would have gone to a restaurant for Father’s Day but with the COVID-19 crisis, we ordered out from Babylon Burger: we opted for lobster rolls and lobster meat wraps and I naturally drove over to pick everything up. It cost us $88.07 after a $10 tip, but everything was delicious and we were not hungry afterwards. I finished chapter 12 in Helen of Pasadena. Helen and Patrick went on a nice lunch date to Laguna Beach and when they returned to Pasadena, Patrick tried to score with Helen. When Helen gets home, she was thinking about her relationship problems with men.
After breakfast on June 23rd I did some errands and then went to St. Mary’s for confession for the first time in over 3 months. I met Father outside and we spoke. The next day, I started chapter 13 in Helen of Pasadena and when she reported to work the day after her date with Patrick, she ran into her former classmate from Willamette University, Annabeth Sturges. Annabeth is her nemesis and the exact opposite of Helen. Helen dropped out of Berkeley to marry Merritt while the other one went on to finish and become a colleague of Patrick. On Thursday afternoon Ellen ordered lunch for the 3 of us from Buttermilk’s, a new chicken restaurant in East Islip. Since there is still no dining in, I drove there to pick it at around 1:35. When I got there, I had to wait about 10 minutes since they were a bit behind schedule. Waiting with me was our county legislator. The chicken from Buttermilk’s was quite good so we will go back there again in the future. I finished chapter 13 and Helen had to explain to Patrick that she dropped out of Berkeley to get married. Sarah White then comes in to tell them about a new TV program that will be produced, about archaeology, and they want Patrick as a guest.
On Thursday evening I watched Charlie Chaplin’s classic, The Great Dictator on YouTube. This video was all in French (dubbed in French and with the closed captions also in French), but I still got the gist of Charlie’s message. I also listened to videos covering The Charisma Myth. I would like to do more to get some charisma since it can be acquired - Develop presence, power and warmth. And definitely avoid people who do not have any worthwhile qualities. Saturday means the Growers Market and that where I went on the 27th. Some of the people there asked where Ellen and Eileen were. I told them that I got “elected” as the designated shopper. After lunch from Taco Bell we went for a walk but while we were walking through Greenview Village it started to drizzle which meant the walk was shortened – we turned up Commack Road to Tex Court and then home. It did start to rain after we got home so that meant we did not have to water the lawn. After the rain stopped, I headed over to St. Mary’s for the 4:30 Mass and sat at my usual seat. During the day, I read chapter 14 in Helen of Pasadena and Helen and her friends are concerned about their kids’ being admitted to their dream high schools.
On the last Sunday of June we ordered dinner from Mango Tango online, and we did enjoy our Sunday dinner at home. On Monday, Eileen and I walked to the Islip post office for our daily walk. I promised her a Beany Baby if she cooperated and after the post office, we walked to Sugared Up and Nook & Cranny, but both were closed, probably since it was Monday. So we headed to the 7-11 at Union Boulevard & Nassau Avenue where she got a tarantula spider named Hairy. After our visit to 7-11 we walked past the Wing School and then home. I read chapter 15 from Helen of Pasadena and Helen’s mother came down to Pasadena for a visit, and Aiden got accepted to Ignatius Prep.