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)