November 9, 2022 Gathering Ground Report; Photo Gallery

 GATHERING GROUND REPORT - NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Chet Biernat, Dave O'Leary, Norm Lapointe, Jerry Kimble, Fred Goff, Dave Ewbank

We Almost didn't fit on one table but thanks to our wait staff, we did some adjustments and subtly acquired a few more chairs and setups and we were off to breakfast.   Dave Ewbank was sitting at the table when Chet and I arrived.   He was already eating his breakfast accompanied by his special sauce of course.   Norm followed and Bill and Fred and Dave O.  Yes, we did fit at one table...

 

Dave E gave us a blow by blow list of events over the  past 9 months with knees being replaced, removed, replaced with temp knee and then the last knee.   Antibiotics were an important part of Dave getting to this table today,   Thank You Selman Abraham Waksman who is the father of antibiotics and he was a Ukrainian, another reason to be sending arms to that country!

 

Bill brought up transplanting IRIS bulbs, he was not sure when but had gotten advice to wait till spring  With a little research, the best would be to do the work in the fall.   It would give the bulbs more chance to develop roots which in turn would allow more flowers next year.

Fred is getting ready to get back  into the pilot's seat after a two year absence.   This is going to require both the plane and the pilot to go though some tests and inspection.   All part of our safety rules for flying.   Keeps the planes up in the air instead of in your backyard, nose first.  BFR seems to be the acronym covering many of the "get back to flying" requirements.

Bill had a chance to practice picking up his Harley.   It wasn't scheduled but sometimes SH___ happens!!

Norm reminisced about the time he was an RV'r and one of his buddies had a 5th wheel.   The 5th wheel trailers attach in the back of the pickup with a large post and the last time his buddy attached, seems like one of the locking pins was not in place!   So.... as the pickup truck took off, the very large 5th wheel RV didn't move and proceeded to fall onto the back of the pickup damaging the back end and of course the front of the 5th wheel.  Norm's RV days had a list of these issues, mostly his own.

Your Scribe

Jerry 

"What you get when your scribe is a carpenter" (anonymously submitted photo)

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PHOTO GALLERY

Thanks to Larry Quillen for sending this link of the aftermath of Hurricane Nicole which hit Florida on November 10 - CLICK HERE or on the photograph: 

October 12, 2022 Gathering Ground; Brian Michalewicz; Photo Gallery

 GATHERING GROUND REPORT - OCTOBER 12, 2022

A beautiful fall day got five to the table for this month's breakfast.   Chet, Norm, Bill, Bart and Jerry.   All enjoyed a bountiful breakfast and endless coffee.   Decaf was also brought to the table for the caffeine sensitive crowd.

(No one remembered to take pictures, so we dug up some file photos, lest you forget what these gentlemen look like) 

Bart, Bill, Norm

Jerry, Bill, Chet, Norm

Norm brought up the fact as he was commuting from his home in Springfield area to Windsor Locks this morning, a few motor cycles passed him on this rather chilly morning.   Bill brought up the memories of his motorcycle rental experience he had in the Las Vegas area.   After traveling north into Utah, his overnight stay found him in 19 degree weather to start the next day's journey back to Las Vegas.  Renting by the day mandated that he return his rental sooner than later else, an additional day would be added to his rental fee.   So, off he goes with no gloves and only a few light layers on him to keep the morning cool (stated as 19 degree F) from stealing the heat from his appendages.   The mountains and the views zipped by.  Of course, the inevitable morning pit stop a few hours later, found that even though his mind was willing to relieve his full bladder, his hands would not cooperate with the job of handling his zipper!  I think this story has been posted before, but seens to fit again with Norm's intro. 

Got a note from Tim O about his daughter running the Maine Marathon. Finishing 42 overall in this grueling long run.   Almost a 7 minute mile average over the 26.219 miles!!    Qualify for Boston and New York, Yikes, that would mean she can get a chance to "enjoy" this pace again...  Remember those glory days!!

Lots of talk about our visits to medical docs, dentists and eye docs about knees, dental implants, bad backs, hearing aids, cataracts, and a few others that I can spell.

I did get a chance to talk to Dave E. about his knee replacement path.  He was scheduled for the second knee the day before our 2nd Weds breakfast and as odds have gone for Dave that Didn't work.   He rapid tested positive for Covid two days before his scheduled surgery.  Conversation today after he was administered the better test was negative but of course his surgery was postponed.   Dave had the misfortune of having his new knee becoming infected.  

More surgery, months of doc visits and months of antibiotics and now on the brink of getting a chance to start over, a false positive on the Covid.   I want to get this over, was Dave a couple of times on the phone.

Your Scribe

Jerry 

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 BRIAN MICHALEWICZ

Most of you no doubt remember Eileen Michalewicz, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 97.  Sadly, the following obituary appeared in the Hartford Courant just last week about the passing of her son Brian: CLICK HERE                                                         

                                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 PHOTO GALLERY

Looking ahead to the bleakness of November, here are some memories of the colors of October:

September 14, 2022 Gathering Ground; Florida & Ian

GATHERING GROUND REPORT - SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Norm, Chet and Bill gathered at the Gathering Ground Restaurant for Breakfast and conversation.  (No pictures available of the event)

Jerry Kimble was missing, but was in a better place – the Canadian Rockies with his wife Laura. They drove there pulling their big camper behind Jerry's truck. The vacation is planed to last at least a month.  Good for them.  (I'm jealous) . There is a vacation Blog: CLICK HERE (Note: not sure if the link works for everyone or if you have to be part of a group)

One of conversations was the Pros and Cons of Mini-split heating/cooling systems.  They are getting very popular , but require ugly registers on the walls of the objective rooms.  Norm has central air (of course) , Chet as the mini system and likes it, and I have a window air conditioner. (Just enough).

With an expected rise in the price of  heating fuels this winter, we discussed “Free Wood”.  (No such thing!). Norm and Chet  have no need, but I (and  Jerry) are always looking for it. My neighbor had a maple tree taken down last week and I made 5 or 6 trips with my trailer for the wood. Now it needs splitting and stacking. That's the part that makes it Not Free.

We also talked about  new cars. Norm is investigating a electric car – a Tesla.

He's not jumping into this right now, but doing research.  Chet has a beautiful mini-van. The seats have been folded down since he bought it 5 years ago!

My 200,000 mile Explorer is in the shop having its transmission rebuilt. It's a lot cheaper than buying a new car.

We also talked about the UTC  (RTC) education program.  They have tightened it up a bit.  (No  more flying lessons!) and the degree has to have something that benefits the corporation. Chet commented that when he received his degree, UTC paid off his mortgage. That was a good deal.

I also mentioned that I was playing for the ELKS Golf league championship the next day.  I choked and lost big time.  Back to the driving range.

You substitute scribbler,

  Bill

FLORIDA & IAN

We hope that those of you residing in Florida managed to avoid and/or survive Hurricane Ian unscathed.   Sharing an email from Florida resident Hank McWay:

"We dodged a very big bullet with Ian. It was definitely was heading up the Gulf coast, in our direction (Hernando County) but then, thankfully for us, its turn east began much sooner than predicted earlier. The devastation in the Naples/Ft. Myers area is like a war zone. Cat 4 Hurricane, major storm surge, and rain rates of 7-8 inches per hour can cause that. So why am I giving you this report? It has to do with the name of the storm, Ian.

Not a very common name, in my life I’ve known one. It was at Hamilton Standard, back in the mid-60s and we sat not far apart. Ian too was a systems analyst, but he had a calling, from the road. He left technology and took to the road in an 18 wheeler. If I recall, both he and his wife teamed up. Who was it?

Ian MacGregor Hay. Does anyone else remember him?

This might be a topic for the next “News.”

Hank"

August 10, 2022 Gathering Ground

  GATHERING GROUND REPORT - AUGUST 10, 2022

     

Bill Wills, Chet Biernat, Jo-Ann Smith, Norm Lapointe

A two table group formed at the Gathering Ground Restaurant.   Chet was first in the parking lot and both Jerry and Chet entered and picked out the table for the morning.  Norm followed shortly with Bill and Dave and Jo joining the table of six.   Breakfast was again, a treat and a feast for all.

Dave left before the camera's came out so he did not make the pics enclosed.   Dave did bring a small stash of his good golf balls to be shared by both Jerry and Bill.   Bill made mention that these are not the one's I'd play over water.

Jo shared many stories of her trip with husband Jim over the last year and a bit on the AT.  It was obvious that one of the stats, the one about burning 5500 calories a day, had an obvious effect on Jo's physical appearance.   See the REI facts about the AT hiker statistics HERE.

Bill had just read a book about a blind hiker's story hiking the AT!!  Amazing for sure...

Today, there was again a shortage of wait staff at the Gathering Ground.   Our waitress was the only one in the restaurant.   Yet, she did a yeoman's job to keep us happy with coffee and food but she didn't have much time for the "small talk" in between the trips around the two rooms she was serving.

This for Tim.   The waitress was ready to take all of our orders and went around the table counter clockwise.  Bill was at 12 o'clock and she started at 11.   When she got to 3, she stated: and last but not least for the end of the orders.   Between 3 and Bill at 12 was Chet at 1:30.   So again, Bill turns invisible, the story of his whole life....  Tim can't count on two hands and two feet the number of times this has happened to Bill no matter what group he is hanging around. Skipped being asked for a drink at the Steak Club and dozens of other places with wait staff with Bill blinders.....

Chet's good son, Father Wayne, has won several awards as Pastor in the Longmeadow area of Springfield.  That must be a very "Proud Dad" feeling for Chet.   HERE is Father Wayne for the readers.

Scribe Jerry, Bill, Chet, Norm

This month, the topic of medical issues was more in line with dental with Jerry getting a new crown for one of his molars and Bill getting two implants.

The crown was one stop shopping, with a two hour appointment the bad tooth was prepared and then the image (CAD) was sent to the backroom where the CEREC machine mills and delivers an almost perfect fitting new tooth!  Look HERE for this milling machine

That's all the news from today's breakfast meeting, Soon to end this one week heat spell in the north east.   It wasn't just hot, the humidity was higher than the actual temperature numbers... or so it seemed.

Your Scribe.

Jerry

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DOTTIE LOU & THE BEAR 

Dottie Lou Duncan had an unwelcome visitor in her backyard last week; her Facebook posting says it all:

A closer look at the thief walking away with the goods:

  

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PHOTO GALLERY 

H & M Grinder Shop, Now Hiring! (Photo credit: Jerry Kimble)

A C-130H with the new Hamiton Sunstrand NP2000 propellers. From Flickr by Jeff Stoermer.

 The NP2000 will replace the old HS 54H60 four-blade propeller system for the C-130. It is designed to provide a higher level of performance, reduce noise both inside and outside the aircraft and improve reliability. (Courtesy of Larry Quillen)

Stowaway grasshopper on my windshield in West Hartford Connecticut. 
He hung on for a couple of miles and finally flew off after I stopped the car (Chris)

July 13, 2022 Gathering Ground

  GATHERING GROUND REPORT - JULY 13, 2022

Chet Biernat, Dave O'Leary, Jerry Kimble, Bart Nixon

This month, the three of the earlier attendees just happened to arrive right at 7:30.   Good to greet Chet and Norm in the parking lot and quickly proceed to our fav table in the Gathering Ground Restaurant.  Soon after Dave, Bill and Bart joined the table to enjoy another "more than ample" breakfast.  

Some of the old dishes have dropped off the menu but with a modest prodding from Bart and then from Chet, there orders were taken, along with some details to the waitress on ingredient.   Soon after the order, there requests arrived back almost bigger than life to sit at our table for the two to enjoy.

Bart got the THREE PIGS, a breakfast sandwich with cheddar, egg(2) and three layers of pig.   Bacon, sausage and ham.  Yep, didn't look like it would fit even in my mouth.   Chet ordered an WESTERN with home fries.  The plate was not visible through the layers on top. There side of the table was very quiet for a long time.

Bill Wills, Bart, Chet, Dave

Little more talk about the LIV golf league, some opinions were shared about the players and why they might switch to this new league.   Something about hundreds of millions of dollars, something that we could all relate to. 

Pros and cons of biker helmets.  Seems like Mass needs a helmet and both Connecticut and Florida can ride without.   We had one rider, Bill, he always rides with a helmet but he did try without once and found it wasn't quite what he expected.   Of course he also took off his windshield which allowed him to inhale more than a couple of bugs, so I guess that would add to the experience in a not so positive way.   This was followed by the discussion of knowing several riders who were no longer with us..

Harley Davidson is pursuing the go-fast bike market with a very nice redesigned Sportster version of there old offering.  New engine, new design, water cooled and very fast.   Just in case you were not looking at Harley.  Click HERE for a look.

Couple of new knee joints at the table.   Seems like the thing to do, either a knee or a hip.   Looks like it's in the plan form most of us.

Jeff Bezos has contracted for the second largest super-yacht in the world.  It is nearing completion but its path to launch has been taken away with local protesting against a plan to temporarily remove a bridge in its launch path.  Read article HERE. 

A few days previous to this breakfast meeting, Bart, Bill and Jerry enjoyed nine at Copper Hill Golf Club.  Weather was perfect, the course was well kept and it was good to catch up on some of the latest happenings in our scope of lives.   It was even better when Bill stated after the first hole that he forgot to grab a score card..

Jerry found a grocery store newspaper weekly specials advertisement that was shared at the table as an old  picture frame was taken apart.   

Jerry's 1978 Newspaper 

Bill, after a few months of fun, declared the shed in the back of Judy's yard to be complete.  It was built during the highest lumber prices ever but what can you do when you have made a promise and gotten an approval on design.  So,  If you ever stop at Judys place in Glastonbury, ask for a tour of the new addition.  The latest touches are led candles in the windows and soon to be added flower boxes. 

Bill's Latest Project - A Shed for Judy's Backyard

Your Scribe, 

Jerry 

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PHOTO GALLERY 

Hal's Birthday:

Hal and grandsons

Just some of the many well-wishes

Jo-Ann & Jim: 

Thursday, July 14: first distant view of Mt. Katahdin 

"Attempted summit Tuesday 7/19 - weather was rainy and unpredictable.  Got to here - winds were 60+ mph above tree line.  No one could stand up, couldn't see 30 feet; had to climb down"

The next day: summit!!!

June 8, 2022 Gathering Ground

 GATHERING GROUND REPORT - JUNE 8, 2022

Jerry, Bill, Chet

The drive to the Gathering Ground Restaurant took me past Building 1A and the main building with large lettering on top: Collins Aerospace.  As I continued along Schoephoester Rd to check out the cars in Parking lot this moring, not many but I was only a little past 7AM.   The way back it appeared to be about 50% capacity.   Remember the day when the HSD President stated that walking for the far parking lot beyond building 2 was a good thing?

Chet, Norm, Bill and Jerry met for a great breakfast and some catchup conversations about the latest happenings in the lives of.

Bill, Chet, Norm

The shed in the back of Judy's yard is ready for shingles.  Bill and Jerry will take care of that within the next week.   Bill has been gifted two windows complements of Tim O.  Tim had given the windows to Jerry a couple of years ago when they didn't pass inspection for his new garage.  They were regular glass windows when the location they had been installed needed tempered glass.  So, Tim spent twice for these beauties....now Bill saysThanks!

Norm reported that Brunelle Marina in South Hadley has been refurbished into a very nice place to visit and have lunch or dinner.   They have hired a chef worth a trip to sample the various dishes prepared.

A little survey found universal agreement that most breakfast places have significantly raised prices in the past year.  Even for a modest breakfast the $10 breakfast and tip can no longer be found.   Gathering ground seems to be the exception for right now.

Gas prices, Diesel prices!  My son texted that gas on Nantucket Island just hit $6.   Hopefully this news still shocks people by the time this is read in July.

Bill, after enjoying a burger and Coke for lunch at a local golf course, laid down a $10 bill.   The waitress walked up and stated....Is that my tip??   Then she added, because the charge for just the burger and Coke was $15 !

Golf with the LIV, seems like some big names are joining the LIV and leaving the PGA,  Here is why, CLICK HERE.

Chet relayed that the Dave Carpenter funeral was held last week and Chet provided Dave's burial location at the Veterans Cemetery in Agawam.   The location at the cemetery is Section 8, Isle K,  #952. 

Your Scribe

Jerry

The Neighbors: "The weekly engineer's table has been about the same size as our HSD table for the past couple of months" ~ Jerry

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JO-ANN'S A/T JOURNEY:

A few more pictures from Jo-Ann and Jim's Mt. Washington experience:

The view from inside the Lakes of the Clouds hut

Still smiling, but hanging on against the wind!

An update this past weekend, in Jo-Ann's own words:

"After we finished doing the AT Thru the White Mountains, we figured we would catch s as little break - how wrong !

This is the Mahoosuc Notch.  It was about 80 degrees when we entered- but in the boulders it was about 60!  The crevasses below us were filled with ice and snow. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT MAHOOSUC

The next day we climbed over Baldpate West and Baldpate East. The wind was tremendous. The still photograph is our group heading up - into the clouds. The video is of me trying to stand up on the other side." 

 

And yet one more update as of yesterday (Tuesday July 5):

" Looking at the canoe crossing of the Kennebec this Friday - then we start the 100 mile wilderness and then Mt Katahdin, hopefully around the 18-20th!"

 Jo-Ann and Jim, good luck in the last few weeks of your journey! 

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FROM OUR READERS:

Hi Chris,

I enjoy "The News from the Hole" very much and send a copy up to my sister Ruth every month.  (Chris's note: Ruth Penfield was my business customer at MassMutual; small world!)

This photo was in the Hartford Courant and shows Hamilton Buildings 1 and 1A. Thought you might include it.

I have very fond memories of trying to keep you all happy with IBM Hardware and Software offerings.

The Article: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-viz-bradley-international-summer-travel-20220607-j7cjsbbllzcjnm3jsep3rnvtgi-story.html

All is well in beautiful Venice Florida!

 See Ya!  

~ Dwight Penfield  

May 11 2022 Gathering Ground

  GATHERING GROUND REPORT - MAY 11, 2022

Men in Blue:
Dave O'Leary, Jerry Kimble, Tim O'Connor, Bill Wills, Dave Ewbank,
with Chet Biernat in foreground

Warming weather has brought a few more to the table on this sunny day with Chet, Tim, Dave O, Dave E, Bill Norm and Jerry.   New wait staff greeted us and kept us full of coffee while we caught up on the latest news.   The Staff has changed several times but the food remains ample and at the right price.

Tim, with an early drive from New Hampshire, showed about 8AM as most were already at the table.   He quickly announced that his drivers license was renewed and he just wanted to test it out with a trip to Connecticut..

Of course, the Mass Pike was a bit of a traffic challenge on the way for Tim.  Norm piped-in with the fact that his wedding date coincided with the finish of the Mass Pike.   I couldn't remember the date as it was too early to hear such a low number ..... but sometime last century. [Editor's note for those who need to know: the Mass Pike was completed in February 1965 - see LINK]

Bill is about halfway complete with his next large project,a 10x20 shed located in the back of Judy's yard.   I helped Bill move the old shed, the starter shed that gets delivered and within the first month, after the lawn mower and all of the yard implements are placed inside, it has reached it's capacity.   So should be the last shed....but, we'll see.

Tim, Bill, Dave E, Chet, Norm Lapointe, Dave O

Some small talk about data centers in Vietnam (yes, Tim and BIll and Chet all got their taste of IT back then.   Wiring boards, punch cards, 7010 autocoder...stuff you can find in the history books...

There was a story relayed by TIm about automatic rifles and explosives strategically located in his data center in case.   And one time an M16 was seen with a magazine still inserted located in this data center.  Of course the commanding officer found it and firmly instructed the owner to disarm this weapon.   A slip of the finger found the small mainframe wounded and in need of the local CE.  Wonder what rank this poor marksman found himself demoted to.

Tim, caught all of us on his kids' doings in their various life's Journey.  His youngest has a great job in finance at the Pratt facility in Burwick Maine.  Click HERE for an overview of the P & W plant.

That's all for this month

Your Scribe

Jerry

April 13 2022 Gathering Ground

  GATHERING GROUND REPORT - APRIL 13, 2022

To paraphrase Billy Joel: "It's 8 o'clock on a Wednesday; the regular crowd rushes in":
Norm Lapointe, Dave O'Leary, Bill Wills, Chet Biernat 

The morning started with warmer weather and a small crew forming at the normal table at the Gathering Ground.   Chet, Norm, Dave O, BIll and Jerry enjoyed another bountiful and tasty meal to start the day.

Dave was again giving Bill some tips on Bill's recent "bucket of balls" disaster.   When the explanation of where the ball landed on almost every swing got Dave's attention, he quietly slipped some sage words of body parts positioning to Bill.   I know Bill was close enough to hear these sage words, so next month a report on Bill's game will show if Bill was successful in applying the techniques.

Scottie Scheffler was extraordinarily on his game again at the 2022 Masters!

Norm introduced pushups to the group and he does 15 SLOW pushups every day.   Followed by a few other exercises that keep him fit and trim.  The trick to get the most out of each pushup is to do a slow up and down, that way your muscles are working hard on both the uip and the down motion and the good news is that you don't have to do as many to get the benefit of many more.

A new camper in the Kimble family has introduced a new concept in mobile entertainment for this new unit.   

Little nugget if you have an RV and want to watch TV off the Wifi network.  To watch with phone or tablet, use Chromecast instead of Firestick, Roku or other casting devices.  All others have to be on a Wifi network to work.   With Chromecast, you can be in a National Park in the boondocks and turn on Guest mode in the Chromecast so that the phone or tablet connects directly to the Chromecast device on your TV for watching downloaded shows or through the mobile network of your wireless carrier to watch with YouTubeTV or SLingTV or one of the non cable providers.

Bill is building another shed in Connecticut, just starting this week and he found the price of a 2x4 is $8, up 100% from 2 years ago.

 ~ Jerry

Chet, Jerry Kimble, Norm, Dave

PHOTO GALLERY

BDL insígnia at the new parking and rental car garage.  This view is at the end of route 20 as you are entering Schoephoester road. ~ Jerry

Following photos submitted by Larry Quillen:

Grumman J-2 Duck at The Fame Museum, California, by Stewart Robotham on Flickr.

B-17 at the Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run Airport, Michigan. Photo by Bruce Bertz on Flickr.

March 9, 2022 Gathering Ground

 GATHERING GROUND REPORT - MARCH 9, 2022

Welcoming party: Bill, Norm, Chet

Norm, Bill and Chet were already seated at our table at the Gathering Ground restaurant in Windsor Locks, I thought I was a little early but realized my failure to set my alarm 30 minutes earlier than normal so I was almost 30 minutes late!   But it's good to be here and enjoy the stories and good coffee.

Norm!

Somehow house windows was a topic as Norm talked about how the assisted living place he is staying had to replace their triple windows because they were so heavy the residents of the home had a very hard time opening and closing the windows.  Obviously the triple glass was added and the counter balance component of the window was never changed.   So when the Triples were replaced by double panes the hassle of opening and closing was significantly reduced.

Bill is in the design and estimating phase of building a new shed.  a 10x20 structure will have a raw material cost of approx $4000 Dollars.   Yes,lumber is down from it's all time high from last year but up significantly from the average over the last 10 years.  Just price a 2x4 at Home Depot!!

Chet is adding an addition to his home, his 10x12 addition will be using 2x12 joists and rafters.   This will hold up to the next hit by most known asteroids and comets!!

Jerry helped a friend install the latest Internet ISP from Elon Musk, the STARLINK service.   What is shipped is a dish and a tower.  The dish goes outside in clear view of sky, a cable connects the dish to the tower(located inside the house) and your smart device has the Starlink app that configures and controls the new service.  It took about 20 minutes to set up, which included naming the router and creating a private password.

The First Speed Test showed about 20MB of thoughput.   After about five minutes with the dish searching the sky for the best satelite, the speedtest topped out at 200mb.   About $100 per month but not in every neighborhood at this time.   More details on the Starlink Web site HERE

Watch out for emails from HR block, Turbo tax, etc with billing notifications that are only Spam.   The entire table has seen these Scam emails here at Tax time.

Chet with returning ski travelers Jerry and Bill

Bill and Jerry were fresh back from a week of out west skiing.  The experience was blue sky delicious.   On the way back I noticed that the Denver Airport had a strong 5G Cell service.   Odd, because of all of the fighting between the FAA and FCC.  But here was a very strong 5G signal as we watched planes taxi, take off and land.   I gave it a quick Speedtest and found several tests to be over 1000MB !!  

Spring was in the air this AM but as I'm writing these notes, we are 30 degrees and seeing 2 inches of white on the ground....ah spring in Connecticutt!!

Your Scribe.

Jerry

Granby, CT, March 9: Still in winter's grip