Reading thousands of books, gas prices, scanner chatter, and headed to the Bonnies game
By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
Until a 25-year interruption of my “reading for enjoyment” interests, from 1983 until 2008, when my reading was limited to technical books related to my teaching subjects of Manufacturing, Automated Manufacturing, or Engineering Technology, I was a reading junky. My mother belonged to the Doubleday Book Club and received fiction novels on a monthly basis. I got hooked on such authors as Frank Slaughter, Frank Yerby, and many others. As I’ve written before I now have resumed “reading for enjoyment” only. Soon after I started communicating via Facebook and updating my reading exploits publicly, I decided to create a group so that we could share our reading enjoyment and experience, with the motive being to get opinions and recommendations regarding new or continuing author’s works. As a “catch term” I decided to give that group of same interest sharing individuals a name and so came up with F.A.M.E., which is an acronym for “Fiction, Action, Mystery, Enjoyment,” which describes the reading desires of those who join. I advertised the group and invited readers to participate and share their reading pleasure with us. At the time, and still, the group is classified as public on Facebook so that anyone can see the reading suggestions passed among group members.
After resuming my passion for reading featuring authors like Slaughter and Yerby after 2008, I picked back up on the writings of those authors until I had exhausted the library supply of their works. My list of the writings of current authors, even now most of whom have either passed away, or aren’t publishing fast enough to keep up with my reading thirst, are recorded on an Excel spreadsheet covering 8 pages, 8-1/2 X 14, double sided paper, using a small #9 size text. At last count I had read around 3000 books since 2008. My recent favorites, in no particular order, include C.J. Box, Harlan Coben, James Patterson, Stuart Woods, John Grisham, Lee Child, David Baldacci, Robert Parker, John Sanford, Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Archer Mayor, and many, many more.
I would offer one note of warning, however. Many of the author’s have a little “romance” written into their story lines and even a little risqué drama or “salty” language. Stuart Woods was at one time near the top of the list of my favorites. Now he seems to be on a publishing blitz pumping out books at a break-neck pace. His more recent writing style has slipped into too much smuttiness.
The Genesee Valley Chorus wrapped up this seasons singing activities with the December 15th Winter/Holiday Season concert held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. A very appreciative audience, reportedly of about 125 participants, later expressed their enjoyment and pleasure with comments or notes of appreciation. A very common theme of the plaudits was that of the “energy” and visible personal enjoyment exhibited by the chorus members. Chorus Director Matthew Purks-Morris and President Alison Dickinson have announced that the 2025 Choral season will resume activities with the first rehearsal being Tuesday night, January 7th at Grace United Church on North Main St. in Wellsville commencing at 6:30. New members are always welcome. I will also publish another announcement and invitation to join after the first of the year.
On a personal note, to the many who like to sing, but are reluctant or hesitant to join us because you may not feel qualified “musically,” you already are qualified if you enjoy singing. You don’t have to be trained or of professional quality. When I joined in the first fledgling year of the chorus’ existence in 1976 I had absolutely no knowledge of formal choral singing. My only previously informal singing experience came from loving singing and doing a little harmony singing as a young teen, with the Allegany Ridge Runners Country-Western band performing at the Inavale Grange Hall. I was initially there as their drummer but couldn’t help singing some harmony as I innately picked up on that from listening to that particular musical genre on the radio Saturday mornings as my mother had the radio station tuned to about the only type of music that was listened to.
I only have two types of TV viewing other than an occasional pick-up of the TV news on CNN or MSNBC. My viewing is pretty much limited to the exploits of the Buffalo Bills, and the St. Bonaventure Bonnies basketball team. I am pleased to announce that they are both doing very well this year. I hope this streak continues. Most of the Bonnies games are broadcast on the ESPN+ Network, which, unfortunately, I have to subscribe to separately as an add-on to my Spectrum program availability. When I first subscribed to that last year I was only paying an extra $5.99/Month. The cost has skyrocketed this year and is now compounded by the fact that my TV viewing in the Family Room is tied in with a Roku TV, and their version of ESPN+ is substantially more expensive as it is tied in with other “specialty” programming options like Hulu.
As an unexpected treat this year, I am going to be able to see the Bonnies live this weekend for a second personal viewing. They will be playing against Niagara University, a former Little Three foe (Now Big Four…which hasn’t caught on), thanks to the Allegany County Veteran’s Dwyer Program.
Sitting here looking out the window, the only sign of winter is a light snow ground covering of 3-4 inches depth. So far this winter we here in southwestern Allegany County have had very little snow, and with temperatures cycling between sub-freezing and almost balmy 50’s what we get doesn’t last. As I recall, we had the same type of winter last year. I like to play in, or with, the snow by shoveling or plowing it. With the last snowfall the paved driveway had retained enough heat that the snowfall and follow up sleet melted upon contact.
Scanner calls lately seem to oscillate between the numerous “domestic calls” that at one time were handled less publicly and the way too many elderly falls. I just shake my head when I hear a call to emergency dispatch regarding a “9 year old out of control.” My personal feelings are a mix of compassion and confusion. Weather related “vehicle off the road” calls are expected as people don’t seem to realize that after two hours of freezing rain, the roads are going to be slippery. You can’t go around the corner driving county route 31 at the top of “East Hill” past route 31A, headed toward Friendship going 60 miles per hour. That open field on the right is like a car magnet. I passed one “off the road” situation yesterday on my second weekly trip to Olean on that same road (Route 31) and slowed in response to the flashing red and blue lights as you start up what is locally known as Ramsey’s Hill. There was a truck pulled off the road on the opposite lane side, an emergency response vehicle on my side, and a car off the road in the field, well off the road. The tracks that were in line with the vehicles’ resting place went through a ditch area and out into the field 30 or 40 feet. What was puzzling to me was that the road was already going up the hill which should have minimized the distance. I’m sure there was an explanation, but it escapes me.
Speaking of my Olean trip, I am still confusalled by the discrepancy in the gasoline prices between here and Cattaraugus County. The Olean station prices are still in the high $3.20’s and $3.30’s range while here in Scio and most of Allegany County they are in the teens of the $3.00 range. The reservation where I typically get my gas at the 5₵ off price on Wednesdays was at $3.14, only 3₵ lower than the $3.17, non-reduced price in Scio. Friendship seemed to be splitting the difference being in the $3.25 range.
I will approach the end of this Wrambling with one sad note and then some others. I recently read the obituary of Ralph Vaughn here in the Wellsville Sun. I have known Ralph for many years but hadn’t seen him recently. When I was doing my large volume of Industrial Training classes in the area, Ralph was the training coordinator for Dresser-Rand and was responsible for setting up their employee training programs. Unlike many of the “Coordinator’s” I worked with, Ralph was savvy enough to realize that given the specific needs of a particular segment of his employees and advising me of the same. With my similar training experience, I knew how to develop training that would satisfy their needs. Every training program I did was different and designed based on the company and employee needs. Unfortunately, the perception of the needs advised by the company, didn’t always match the specific needs of the employees to do the job that was expected of them.
Ralph would sit down with me and go over what the company needed, and I would develop the training outline based on their needs. Once I had submitted my plans and outline to him, and he in turn to the company, and obtained their approval, Ralph would give me the go ahead and then not intrude or interfere with the program, as some others from other company’s often did.
RIP Ralph! It was my pleasure to know you, to work with you, and now, for the fond memories of you 💕.
Many readers have recently commented to me about my poetry, as much of the latest writings get published along with my Wrambling’s. A few years ago I published a book of all of the poems written up to that date. I donated a copy of the book to the David A. Howe Public Library in Wellsville and the Friendship Free Library in Friendship, to be available for public use. If you should have the urge or are interested in any of my former poems, they are available there. I almost have enough new and current poems now written to come up with a second publication. In any event my sign-off signature says it all.
Thank you for reading, and for reaching out to me as so many have. I can be reached via email at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com for those wanting to reach out for comments, cares, concerns and especially corrections, about my writing or the subjects I write about.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, or best wishes, for whatever belief you may hold at this Christian most joyous season.
