GATHERING GROUND REPORT - JANUARY 10, 2024
Seems like the January thaw has been with us for three weeks and more rain than a fish can use. Speaking of rain, did you know that trees do not stop drinking the rain water, so every time it rains they take on more, ie, they must always be thirsty. This tidbit from a certified Arborist when I had a few trees trimmed at the house.
Chet, Bill, Norm and I filled a booth for four. JoAnn did add five to the population but we could not move to a table because there was only one wait staff. When is this labor shortage going to end??
Norm reported he is on the committee to oversee the Building and Grounds support at his +55 Condo. Repair work, Contracts for contractors for snow, landscaping, stuff like that.
Bill brought in one of his end-grain cutting boards (No one at the table thought they would subject this board to a knife!). It had several different wood species in a pattern that is GORGEOUS! See pic below. JoAnn was the Very Happy recipient of this beauty!!
Jerry made a statement that his son was restoring a fiberglass boat and the paint was almost $500 a gallon. Bill quipped that the oil used on the end grain cutting board was $800 a gallon. Good news a little goes a long way and he only buys a half pint at a time.
Bill and Norm reminisced about the times they spent on the Florida to Connecticut train. THe good old days when they not only had a bar car(and still do today) but also a dining car with linen napkins and real silverware. Now a thing of the past.
Walter Conkite was brought up when the topic of news was discussed. When news was news and was presented in a fair and Non-hyper shocking way. Norm did have the privilege of sitting near him on one of his plane rides.
Bill and Jerry did run into Ron Gantkin (our finance rep for many years) at Okemo Ski area. He and his wife moved to that area after retirement and now it seems Ron's objective is to ski, at least a little bit every day. Some of these ski days this year, the snow would be pretty gnarly.
And yes, we did spot a plumber at the counter.....
Editor's disclaimer: I take no credit or blame for the pictures submitted by our scribes :-)
Your Scribe
-- Jerry
