Winter weather wonderment, redemption in Belmont, Paypal peeves
Genesee Valley Chorus will perform December 7 in Obi NY
By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
November did not “go into the night quietly,” but, even the snow that fell last week was in fact pretty silent. As I have said before: “Although I dread the onset of winter, as long as it’s going to be here at least give me snow to play in.” Skiers and snow-mobilers can certainly appreciate that.
Our first snow this year was just that. The picture shows the front end of my truck and the first pass with the snow brush to clean it off. The depth of the snow at that point was between 10 inches and a foot depending on whether it first landed on the warmth of the ground, or the cold steel surface of the truck.
Just as I do with mowing my lawn, I don’t like to disrupt the accumulation by walking in, or on it, prior to removing it by mowing or shoveling. When I mow the lawn I drive the tractor out of the garage onto the paved driveway and then to a spot where I can start the mowing as a complete “first pass.” When I prepare to plow the snow I shovel or sweep my way into the garage and then drive my plowing tractor out of the garage plowing a complete path, beside my vehicles all the way out to the end of the driveway. Whichever the case may be, I then continue mowing or plowing from one edge to another. I like to alternate directions or paths of mowing so I will mow traveling east and west one time, and then north and south the next time. After a few mowings I will also mow across the yard on a diagonal path.
If memory serves me properly, and that is a challenge these days, we didn’t really have any good plowing days last winter as snow wise it was a calm winter. As a matter of fact I don’t think we ever had a temperature last year that went into negative numbers. It wouldn’t break my heart if this winter mimicked last winter in that regard.
Having reported and discussing the Allegany County Route 31 closure recently, a few people think that I have an “in” with county officials and thus they ask me for updates. The latest information I have received indicates that it’s going to be at least another three weeks. If I find out anything that updates that I will publish the information on my Facebook page and, also include it in the next appropriate Wrambling.
The other morning, I glanced out our eastward facing kitchen window and noticed a beautiful sunrise. Before I could get my camera ready it had nearly disappeared. My wife then told me that I should look out the westward looking window. I followed her suggestion and what you see before you is the result. I immediately posted this on my Facebook page and have received many pleasant comments. To me, this was a “once in a lifetime” capture of the beautiful and picturesque wonders that surround us.
Today’s Wrambling title refers to “calling.” In this day and age of technology, most everyone, or at least every household, has a cell phone. Many have given up their “landline” phones. My wife uses our landline phone exclusively albeit, seldomly. It is therefore presumed that: a) everyone has a “device,” and b) that they have it with them 24-7. We all don’t or won’t. Nearly anything you do online or even from physical written or published information assumes that you ave that “device” and can access it immediately, as so many can. If you do any transaction “online” you are directed to enter the code sent to your device. I guess Kindle or other tablets are included in the “devices” category. I used my phone to capture and transmit the photos shown herein. I still use my office computer, or now more often my Kindle, but they don’t have the immediate connectivity that the phone has. I have noticed that the quality of the phone pictures is as good, or maybe even better than a camera.
Speaking of which…I have a perfectly good Kodak FinePix camera that has what I think is a minor, and fixable problem. It has to do with one of the selection buttons that you press. If anyone reading this is aware of anyone in the area that is still working on, or fixes, cameras please let me know. Sadly, in this day and age “devices” like that are “throw away” items. This camera is not. It was expensive and has the 50X Zoom that I need for pictures like that shown herein. That picture was taken on my cellphone.
I’ve had a couple of people reach out to me with flattering comments following the publication of my last Wrambling. Doris MacFarquhar, a friend since both having joined the Genesee Valley Chorus (GVC) in 1976, was one of the two. When I was President of GVC, she was its secretary, or Business officer. We worked very closely together through many exciting events especially including the invited performance of GVC to the Concord Resort in the Catskills when we were under the musical directorship of Dave Dunbar. In looking back at posts regarding the Concord I learned that they discontinued operations and closed down in 1998. They were one of the last “event places” to do so, and many others preceded that closing.
As I headed North on Rte. 19 the other day, I had plans to stop by Issacs Redemption Center to turn in a couple boxes of “30 pack” returnable cans. They were closed again so I continued North to the Crosby’s on the northern edge of Belmont to “redeem” my returnable items. Having thought about the name of those establishments, it triggered the intention of including that word among my Grammar Groans section.
By definition “Redemption” means
- “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.”
2. “the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.
I guess the naming of those facilities that accept cans and bottles for their, or your, redemption uses a little “poetic license” to apply that 2nd attribute. I don’t really feel redeemed after turning in a couple of boxes of empty beer cans. That topic conjures up a recollection of the 10 cent deposit payback from the first of the large pop bottles in the early 60’s. The 16-ounce Pepsi bottles were the first items earning that “redemption” that I recall.
Norene Ferris has asked me to give her singing group a little blurb in my Wrambling, so here goes. Norene has been the musical director for many performing singing groups, including the Genesee Valley Chorus. This is her invitation to “Join us this Sunday at 1pm for our “Colors Of Christmas” concert at Obi Community Church! This concert is completely free to attend!
Enjoy a vibrant celebration of music, joy, and community. We hope to see you there! “
The Genesee Valley Chorus has a couple of upcoming performances this month, which is the month of sharing the wonder, beauty and celebration of many related events.
One of my peeves and/or topics for my Wrant Wramblings is the nuisance and safety issue of large Semi Tractor Trailers stopped on Main Street in Wellsville. It is just as dangerous to a passing driver, as is dodging the pedestrians who enter the street, especially when not at a crosswalk. The trucks cause a real potential problem especially with the winter street driving. Coupled with shoppers or whatever folks are doing, they too come out from the sidewalk in front of the parked “semis.” I may be naïve, but I thought that there were delivery doors on the back sides of these commercial establishments. The pedestrian “fools” quite often don’t even look for on-coming traffic as they meander out into the street.
Touching again on pedestrian behavior is how people traverse a commercial establishments parking lot or even the access to the stores where you have to cross to get to your vehicle. People walking into those lots and passing by behind you are very much as at fault as are the drivers who back out of their space without looking for those who might be behind them. Frankly, I am surprised that there aren’t more accidents and injuries as there presently are.
This is a heads up for those who may use PayPal for your online purchases. BEWARE! I am in a continuing circle of fraudulent theft from my use of debit cards. Needless to say, without going into great detail, if you use PayPal, you are as vulnerable as I was and may be next to being hacked, thanks to them. I, along with Community Bank NA, am in the process of disputing many claims stemming from having used that online purchasing payment procedure.
It isn’t very much comfort, but I have learned, by mentioning my situation to others, that I am not alone in this debacle. As the saying goes: Buyer Beware.
If you have any comments, cares or concerns please feel free to reach out to me via IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com. Several people have done so lately, and it is heart-warming.
