Veteran’s breakfast, technology frustrations, and of course grammar groaning
By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
As the song goes 🎶”Just call my name, I’ll be there…”
Once again, the Allegany County veterans, and a guest of theirs will be honored by the “We Are Dwyer Strong” organization with a free breakfast. This February 15th event will be held in the Student Leadership Center on the SUNY Alfred State College, Alfred campus. As a lead into my next topic I will advise that clicking on the “Q Code” symbol in the illustration, will take you to the event for the prior registration which will register your intended attendance.
As noted in an earlier Wellsville Sun article, the event participation is explained thus.
“To be eligible for participation, you only need to have served in the military, any branch, and have a DD214 (or equivalent) from your service. Whether one day or fifty years, service counts and makes you eligible for participation.
All of our programing is free for our advertised audience, Veterans Only, Veterans plus one, or Veterans & Family. Activities are not ‘first come first serve’, our goal is to ensure everyone has a chance to go to a scheduled activity. Requesting a seat does not guarantee participation in all activities.”
OK! I shall Wramble on…
It is common now to be advised that; “For additional information or details you can access it on your Smart phone, Tablet or Device.” For some reason hearing or seeing the words of that statement is like my hearing and feeling the fingernails scratching across the “black board.” I realize that is a generational comment as few under 60 years old would have experienced that. “White Boards” if still used in a classroom, offered a wider range of “colorful” writing opportunities with special “odorless, erasable,” marker pens. I have mentioned this before, but I found the “old style” of the instructor writing on “the board” in front of the classroom was the most effective way of teaching and learning. From a student’s standpoint, if they (we) heard it, saw it written, and copied it in the hand lettered/written notes, the knowledge had more opportunity for it to cling to the walls of memory.
I happen to have a “Smart Phone,” but am smart enough to keep it in my pocket until needed to make or receive a call. I do not carry it in my hand, nor look at it while not watching or seeing what is directly in front of me. I do 99% of my communication via my laptop, when I am sitting and paying attention to the “task at hand.”
As I write this, once again I was duped into clicking on the wrong “X” to close an unwanted article that appeared on my laptop. Clicking the wrong “close” X it leads you to a “warning that an unexpected Virus program has invaded your “device.”
The only way out at that (this) time is pressing and holding “ctrl, alt, delete” which gives you the option to exit or restart. What a pain. You would think that I would learn but leaving my laptop to go make a fresh batch of coffee takes my mind away from what I was doing and allows the invasion of my “device.”
I will add one additional comment to the above topic. When knowingly attempting to download an “app” you are often prompted to check your device for the delivered “Access code.” At that time, I have to set my laptop aside and pick up my tablet or phone to retrieve the “six character code,” only to have it “time out” or disappear from my phone faster than I can visualize and copy it. My most recent experience with this came about when I was attempting to access the Bonnies game which was to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. I now regret having done so as the Bonnies were “shellacked” by Loyola University. Anyway, before getting to the “sign in” I had to enter a prompted code by sending or phone texting a Roku emailing address. My TV is a Roku Smart TV which isn’t very smart, or is actually smarter than I am.
Having just used that sentence starting word “Anyway,” I had intended to again mention the customary use by people starting a sentence or comment with the word “So” or “Ummm.” Their comment often would also end with “Ya know,” or “Y’all” if by a southern QVC host. I do apologize for anyone offended or insulted by having mentioned that ‘habit.” I was not disparaging or insulting you on purpose. I have had some of those habits and force myself to learn my way away from using them.
My word of the week is once again a newly created term and is Smellfull. That came to me the other day as I was noticing an odor created by the starting up of the space heater in our downstairs Family Room. Upon startup there is a slight odor of burnt gas. Fear not, it, and the accompanying odorless Carbon Monoxide (CO) is not a problem as the size of the room is well above the recommended size that dictates outside venting. Getting back on track the word smellfull came into my head much the way “beautiful, or plentiful” might. Those suffixes (or suff-i) are common, so I just add full as a suffix to smell. I hope this topic does not trigger any such reactions as you read it, or have read it already, or plan to read it. (Repetition of term intended).
As I was traveling home from Olean the other day on about my 3rd or 4th trip there last week, I was trying to recall something from memory. As I was in the process of recalling, I rolled my eyes up and to the left as if trying to search within my brain. Having then considered that phenomena, it brought to mind (again looking up and left) that experienced police investigators watch a person being interviewed, “grilled” or questioned for the unconscious habit. They call “the Tell,” which is an indicator to them that their answer or comment is or was a lie. I take it as an example of trying to “look back” into my memory.
I have often mentioned that competitor “rag” the Olean Times Herald as it still is a daily (when published) read for me. Lately as I view the sports page to check for upcoming events or reported past events I have noticed in the column reporting world wide and local events listed in categories such as “Men’s Basketball” (for college and above) and Girls Basketball (at high school events level). Allegany County “Boys” information is seldom listed. I wonder why?
The Wiser Jinx continues. Being a denture wearer I no longer have to concern myself with tooth cavities but am very conscious of my breath so use mouthwash and brush my tongue to rid it of the bacteria that causes bad breath. Or at least that’s my rationale. The Jinx part rears its ugly head as it is impossible to purchase my flavor of choice anymore. Although having disappeared from the local stores, for awhile I had been able to find, and order it, thanks to Amazon and Ebay. Even those sources have now dried up. Wondering why, my research revealed that it was “not a popular enough product” sales wise so they discontinued it. I had wondered if it was due to a “color added chemical” as ruled unsafe by the National health agencies. Nope! Just the Wiser Jinx at work. I don’t care for the “minty” flavors so have recently found and ordered two bottles of the Cinnamon flavored mouthwash.
The Genesee Valley Chorus, (GVC) and I, later, will be announcing the 2025 Lenten Series concert to be held on March 23rd at one of the local churches and maybe at one or two locations not quite as local for Wellsville/Scio area residents, as we have received some requests.
Another friend, or relative of a friend, Richard (Dick) Carney, has recently passed away. Having grown up in Nile, NY, Bev (Dave Newton) and her father Art Carney were very good friends of mine in my youth. I didn’t know, or recall having known Dick, but in reading his obituary that was previously published Feb. 4th, I was mesmerized. Craig Braack, another GVC member, mentioned that obituary while chatting during a break at Tuesday’s GVC rehearsal. He commented on the depth and quality of the obituary, which I had noticed previously in the Sun, but hadn’t read. This morning, before starting this writing, I took the time to read the obituary. My “writing hat” is off to whomever it was that put that obituary together. It may have seemed a little long at first glance, but the read was very enlightening, especially for me, having known many of those mentioned beforehand. I sincerely offer my sympathies and condolences to the family. Reaching out to Bev, she noted that; “Dick Carney passed recently and yes, he was my uncle. The youngest of 14 and the last of the original Carney clan. He was a great guy and lived a very long life.” That obituary, to me, read almost like a “Who’s Who in Friendship, NY.”
On a related side note I mentioned to Craig that I had already written a draft of my own obituary, and he looked at me like I was “off my rocker.” I explained that I probably wouldn’t come close to that Carney obituary, but there were things I wanted re-counted of my past. BTW, I do need to do a re-write of mine to update it. I don’t anticipate the immediate need but now that I’m pursuing my 8th decade on this planet, I need to plan ahead. I still haven’t achieved my retirement goal of having collected enough of my Social Security payments to compensate for my deceased mother’s Social Security payments, never having been collected by her upon her passing at the age of 62 years old.
Once again, I close with a thank you to all who read my Wramblings with the hope that my writings will reflect something from our relationships, and/or for those who might be interested or curious about those things which I wonder about. To wonder, is a wonder.
If you would like to pass on any comments, cares or concerns, or to offer up a topic for research please feel free to email me at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com. If not an emailer and you have my number, you may call. me. Many of you may “have my number,” but not necessarily my phone number.
