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COLUMNS: Slices
of Life
Do you get weary from all the hundreds of decisions you have to make? What to wear, what to eat, where to shop, whether or not to change jobs, how best to discipline your children? It goes on and on. Some days I wish an authoritarian voice from on high would just tell me what to do. (Do I need a husband, maybe? I remember that they’re good at that.) Right now I’m driving myself crazy, and everybody else around me, as I decide what color to paint the guest bedroom that I’m re-decorating. I actually thought I had it figured out, and then I took the paint chip to match it with the new flooring, and I was appalled at how bad they looked together. So it was back to the drawing board. I still haven’t made a decision. In the meantime I painted the ceiling, mop-boards, door casings, etc. Oh my aching neck and knees! Now the next question is, does the ceiling really need another coat of paint? But the color of the room is a big decision that will soon be made out of necessity because I’m getting so tired of having the upstairs torn apart, and wall to wall furniture in the hall and my bedroom. To say nothing of the new springs and mattress that have been in my living room for more weeks than I care to talk about. And when I get all this done, I will still be left with the question of what to cook for supper every night. Mrs. Morris has it made. She never has to make the choice between Mariner’s Catch or Prime Chicken Filets. And she doesn’t need to think about how much she will eat. Whatever is put in front of her she devours. The leftover Halloween candy was a big dilemma. Just one miniature Hershey bar can’t be too detrimental to my weight and health. But what about two – or more! Once that taste is in my mouth it’s hard to stop. I finally solved that problem by giving the leftovers to someone who has more willpower than I. I have this wonderful book called, "The War of Art", that’s all about resistance. It was as if this man knew me personally and was writing just to address my problems. But he says he’s writing to share his years of experience with resistance ruining his life, so that other people will recognize this characteristic in themselves and not let their lives pass them by. He contends that we sabotage ourselves with all the reasons we can’t or shouldn’t get started or keep at a project. His assessment of resistance is that it never goes away and everyday we have to confront and outwit it. His solution is a schedule that he sticks to religiously, even when resistance is telling him why he shouldn’t be working now. He describes his wasted years and partially finished projects, his failed marriage, living in his truck, and more; all because he couldn’t make the decision to dig into his work. How well I understand that he’s saying. If I have a project staring me in the face, it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, it can literally paralyze me. Resistance then comes in the forms of eating, sleeping, talking on the phone, sending and checking e-mails, or driving places I don’t need to go to buy things I don’t need to buy. Life would be nice without the last-minute feverish completion of projects; like all those things I was going to make through the year for the upcoming Christmas Department Store. Christmas presents would be bought and shipped without the price of next-day postage. And the color of paint would be chosen long before the projects started. Ah, yes. Wouldn’t that be nice? ARARAT: Warren R. Corey, of Tirzah, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hattie Stone, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1903. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army and served three years, being wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks. FRIENDSVILLE: A new Palace Queen furnace has been placed in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church by Cooley & Son of Montrose. BRANDT: By order of the Trustee in Bankruptcy the 650,000 bricks at the Brandt Clay Product company's plant are being finished. This will be of material benefit to the creditors. It is expected that the plant will eventually renew operations. BRIDGEWATER TWP. [Post Pond Road]: An artificial lake of surprising beauty has been made on Charles J. Post's farm in East Bridgewater, a short distance below Fordham's pond. The lake is set in the valley above the Lehigh Valley trestle, in plain view of the road, and with its background of evergreen and deciduous trees, the lofty hills beyond and its water of crystal-like clearness, forms a scene seldom seen even in this beautiful section. Mr. Post will place boats upon it and doubtless commence the propagation of fish in its depths sometime in the future. HALLSTEAD: Timothy Carter, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Carter, was killed on the railroad near Tobyhanna, Monroe county, Saturday night at about eleven o'clock. The remains were taken to Hallstead the following morning. It is not known whether he was injured by being struck by an engine or in falling from a train. Carter was employed by the Lackawanna Co. as one of the bridge building gang and was at work near the place where he was injured. He was born in New Milford about 21 years ago. His parents, a brother and one sister survive. SUSQUEHANNA: Atty. W. A. Skinner has been appointed by Judge Archbald, of the United States Court for the Middle District, as United States commissioner for this district. The appointment was unsought for by Mr. Skinner, which makes the honor bestowed upon him even greater, as it is simply the merited recognition of his ability. While one of the youngest members of the legal profession in the county, he is possessed of all the qualities, which go to make up a lawyer of the highest rank, and there are none who will question the wisdom of Judge Archbald's choice. [William A. Skinner was the father of B. F. Skinner, noted Harvard psychologist.] MONTROSE BRANCH of the Lehigh Valley RR: The change from the narrow gauge to the wide gauge on the Montrose branch of the Lehigh Valley is bringing about already noticeable improvements in the business along the line. While the narrow gauge was in existence the very towns through which it passed seemed to correspond in size to the diminutive railroad; but now that is over and the towns are possessed of a certain inexplicable air of importance. We used to see the little red cars scattered along the track inscribed similar to this, "Montrose Railway No. 12," and now the huge cars of the New York Central, the Lehigh Valley and many hitherto unheard of railroads adorn the sidetracks--a condition undreamed of five, yes three years ago. We don't think there are any of us who realize the effect the standard gauge railroad will have on the trade conditions of these towns. Verily, there are many who will have ample reason to be thankful on our annual national day of thanksgiving. BEECH GROVE [Auburn Twp]: Mesdames C. E. and J. O. Fuller attended a quilting at the home of Libbie Grose, Friday. The quilt was pieced by the children and old neighbors of her mother, and was a surprise present to her--she being in a helpless condition from a stroke of paralysis. AND: At Auburn Corners Stanley Hibbard is at least an inch taller--it's a new boy born Nov. 12th. Also, at Auburn Corners, the Methodists are preparing to fix up the church tower and put in a new bell. HOP BOTTOM: The Ladies Aid of the Universalist church will serve a dinner on Thanksgiving day in the new transept. A delicious chicken pie dinner will be served for 25 cents. Ice cream 10 cents. Aprons will be sold at reasonable prices. HARFORD: J. C. Tanner, who has been the representative for the firm of Parker, Rose & Clinton, in hardware, for a number of years, on account of poor health, will leave the road the first of the year. SOUTH GIBSON: A. U. Barnes, lumber merchant of Gelatt, cast his first vote for Gen. Taylor in 1848, attaining his majority the day previous. Mr. Barnes has never missed a November election since--a period of 55 years; he is hale and hearty at 76, always been a Republican, and one of our best citizens. NEW MILFORD: Stone men have experienced bad weather for their business during the past week. The fall on the whole has been favorable, however, and there is not a great deal to complain about. The new quarry opened by the Shields' Stone Co., on F. T. Wellman's farm, is working better than was expected of it without more work being done. GLENWOOD, Lenox Twp.: Ad. Chandler has purchased a kennel of fat hounds and expects to rid the town of the fox nuisance, they having had too many chicken suppers to please the farmers. AND: George Hunt has sent the second consignment of furs to New York. This place seems to be a Klondike for the lucky trapper. AND: The busiest man in town is G. M. Bennett--sawing lumber, grinding buckwheat, hauling coal, running the store and post-office; but he is equal to the emergency. UNIONDALE: A very pretty wedding was that on the evening of Nov. 2nd, at the Tinker homestead, when Miss Agnes M. Tinker and John A. Smith were united in marriage by Rev. G. R. Merrill, of the Presbyterian church. The wedding march was played by Prof. A. P. Thomas of Carbondale. About 70 guests from different places were in attendance. The presents were numerous and valuable. Amid a shower of rice Mr. and Mrs. Smith left on a southbound train for Philadelphia and other places. They will make their home in Alabama, where Mr. Smith is engaged in business. NEWS BRIEF: Every housewife will be glad to know that she can obtain a new book of original receipts by Mrs. Helen Armstrong without cost. Mrs. Armstrong's high reputation as a cooking expert and teacher of domestic sciences makes her receipts highly prized by every woman who desires to get the best results in her kitchen. This book is issued primarily to familiarize housewives with some of the many uses of Karo Corn Syrup. In writing for the book address Corn Products Co., New York or Chicago. CONGRATULATIONS, Roberta Kelly – I have no way of knowing, but it seems to unofficial reports, that our very own Roberta Kelly was the top vote getter among the four commissioner candidates, with a total of 5,639 votes; Loomis 5,246; Warren 3,589; Shelly 3,448. The possibility of three women serving as commissioners must wait for another election. As it is now, Kelly and Loomis are Republicans. Warren is the Democrat. This sure was great news, that our own Roberta Kelly was the top vote-getter. The former Susquehanna mayor evidently got great support from Susquehanna, Oakland and Lanesboro and the surrounding areas. The commissioner race candidates should be complimented. They ran a clean race (compared to the commissioner race in Scranton) and no negative ads were seen. STARRUCCA BORO Council – Four-year terms were won by Helen Haynes, 46 votes; Pete Downton, 45 votes; Louis Gurske, 42 votes, all Republicans. One two-year term was won by Paul Everett, 52 votes, a Democrat. WOULD YOU Believe it? After 4,968 votes were cast, two Democrats in Middleburg, PA wound up in a tie with 2,484 votes each. The men, to say the least, were speechless. Only one will be seated after an official count. Does ONE vote count? You better believe it. SMART BOY – To mother: I thought Santa lived at the North Pole! Then why are all of my toys made in China? "WRONG LANE" Paul – Paul Britten, longtime French/Spanish teacher at the Community High School, and a resident of Thompson, PA, may have set a "record of sorts." Paul, a left handed bowler, on the evening of November 3 at the Riverside Lanes, was team bowling on lanes 5 and 6. Feeling real chipper after getting a strike on lane 6, he was preparing to "mow them down" on lane 5. As he was going down the approach, he was "like struggling with the ball" and as it left his hand, it (the ball) did not land on lane 5, but went through the air and landed in the right-hand gutter of lane 4, forcing the lane 4 bowler to pull up short, fearing Paul’s ball would him. But everything turned out OK. Paul’s ball continued down the gutter, came back to Paul. Was Paul embarrassed? No way. As he picked up his ball, lofted down lane 5 and got 9 pins to the roar of the bowlers. (Paul remarked to me that he couldn’t get his (bleep) thumb out of the ball.) A HOT HAND – Brenda Muiter, a member of the P. J. O’hare bowling team, a couple of weeks ago bowled a 700-plus. On November 2, at Riverside Lanes bowled a 702 series on games of 225, 222 and 255. She is (prior to the 702) averaging 191. CONGRESS "Gets More Money" – After Congress voted to give us (S.S.) 2.1% raise – take away $7.90 for Medicare – we will have a little left. But Congress, according to the national news have given themselves a 15% raise, by linking it to its automatic cost of living expenses. They now get $154,000 a year. Next year they will get $158,000, a raise of $4,000. How nice. They gave us Social Security – after deductions – $106.80 (estimated) for the next year. They can give the war effort $87 billion dollars. Can you just imagine what a few billion of that would do to help the poor, the destitute and other needy people survive. But no, our president must bring Iraq to its knees. It seems that Iraq is standing up straight and will be for a long time. Just a couple of weeks ago, 15 of our people were shot down in a helicopter. It will continue, whether we give Bush $87 billion or $100 billion. AMERICAN LEGION Champs – The Rochester, Minnesota A’s captured the 77th American Legion Baseball World Series crown August 26 at Bartlesville, OK. The A’s defeated Cherryville, NC, 5-2 in front of 2,900 fans to cap a 52-5 season. Chris Mason was named the tournament MVP after his record performance. He struck out 69 batters in 42 innings. Mason also batted .465 with three home runs and nine RBI’s. DRUG PLAN "Not For All" – How much help will older Americans get if the new drug prescription law is passed? Not much. Not much, that is, if your income is over $13,500. Also it will depend how much your medical bills are annually. "THEY" Are At It Again – The scam artists, that is. They are targeting people 60 years of age and older. They will give you a big line over the phone telling you "how easy it is" to win a million dollars by sending them $10, $20, $30 or even $50. Don’t do it! If it’s that easy why don’t the scam artists get the million for themselves? Remember, most of the time nothing is free. If you are in doubt, confide in your family members or close friends. AMERICAN LEGION Post 86 Officers American Legion Unit – Commander, Peter Janicelli; Vice Commanders, Joseph Bucci and Louis Parrillo; Adjutant, Scott Darling; Finance Officer, Jesse Gow; Trustees, Thomas Hurley, Ernie Grausgruber, Charles Aliano; Members at Large, Mark Tarbox, William Jenkins. Auxiliary Unit – President, Mary Gow; Vice Presidents, Anna Napolitano, Gail Hanrahan; Secretary, Kristen Grausgruber; Treasurer, Rachel Adornato. Sons of Legion – Commander, Matt Frailey; Vice Commanders, Chris Norris, James Sellitto; Adjutant, Britt Cresse; Finance Officer, Bill Deakin; Chaplain, Clifton Branning; Sgt. of Arms, Artie Trynoski; Historian, Rich Norris. A REMINDER – Have you ordered your ‘Centennial book? Better hurry. This will be the last printing. Call (570) 853–4729. A LAUGH OR TWO COMMON SENSE – It seems that common sense would prevent a lot of divorces. Yes, and a lot of marriages. TOO MUCH ADVICE – The lawyer seemed confident he could win a good divorce for his female client. Don’t worry, the lawyer told her. We’ll tell the judge how he swept you off your feet with his kindness, loving making, giving you a good home, never hit you and he is rich. Hold on, said the wife, if he has been that good, I don’t want a divorce. CALL ME LATER – Doctor to patient: I’ll have you know that I have been practicing medicine for ten years. Patient said: Call me when you get done practicing and decide to get serious. I COME FOR THE JOB – Said the young man to the manager. What are your credentials? I graduated from Harvard. I graduated from Yale. I was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Best Liked and youngest man in history to write a book on business. Great, said the manager. Do you have any bad points? Just one, said the young man, I’m the world’s biggest liar. SHE’S NOT FOR ME – Sir, the young man said, your daughter said she loves me and wants to marry me. You have my permission, the father said. I don’t want your permission, the young man said. I asking you to maker her leave me alone. There is still some confusion about the election, so until I hear the official count, I will wait to report it. Robert and Ruth Lunt, Penn Hill, hosted a dinner meeting of the Starrucca history group at their home on Tuesday night. On December 14, a Sunday afternoon, the history group will have a Christmas party in the Community Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. for the community. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served. The senior citizens met on Wednesday, November 12 with seventeen present, who enjoyed a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner. We were disappointed that our speaker was unable to come, because of a family emergency. We hope everything turns out well, and we’ll settle on another date for her to speak to us. Our next meeting will be Thursday, December 11, when we will share a Christmas party with the Bag Ladies. Twenty-seven Christmas shoe boxes were made up and sent to New Milford. I correspond with a Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Trumansburg, NY, who are part-time missionaries to Bosnia, and in their last newsletter told how delighted the children were at an orphanage when they opened their Christmas shoe boxes. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes gladly accept vegetable and flower seeds to take with them, and they tell how grateful the people are. So if you have any leftover seeds, get them to me and I will send them out to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. Norma and David Glover visited Barb and Roger Glover Sunday afternoon, and had a look at their new motor home. Susan Corrigan and Michael Searls visited the Corrigans over the weekend. I had a nice surprise Sunday when some cousins, Paul and Linda Hopkins, Rileyville, PA, called on me. We had a great time catching up on family doings. Cheerio! Along
the Way...With P. Jay
Last Thursday morning I was up bright and early, eager to get started on all the writing I had to get done and realizing there was such little time to do it and still meet my deadline. My first project was the municipal election wrap up. I like to get the hardest jobs out of the way first and I knew this one was going to take plenty of time what with all the typing it entailed. I had just started on Apolacon Township when the computer just quietly but very obviously died. I mean the screen got blacker than a chunk of Anthracite Coal, the keyboard would not work and my stomach felt like it did when Momma would approach me with a tablespoon of castor oil. My friends, if there is one thing a writer never gets used to, its deadlines. When the boss tells you he wants your copy no later than Noon on Friday, he’s really telling you to have it in his hands by 9 a.m. You see, he figures by picking the Noon hour, his staff will reward him by getting the copy to him a few hours ahead of time. Gotta keep the boss happy don’tcha know. Anyhow, there I was with hours of writing to be done and no way of doing it. Ah, but then I remembered my extended warranty so I called Gateway via their 800 number and in a few minutes I was chatting with a real live technician. At first I thought "is he real or is it Memorex?" But when he sneezed and it set my eardrum to vibrating, I knew I had me a live one. I explained my dilemma to him and he said "wella lettuce see what we canna do for you." He had sort of an Italonese accent and, of course, being Italian myself, I was able to understand about every third or fourth word he said. In between, I said a lot of Momma-mias and a few other Italian phrases that used to get me a mouth full of soap when I was a kid. Under his guidance, I managed to remove the computer from its coffin and try a few ideas he had. I removed little obber-gobbers here and there and reinstalled them; pulled out belts and put them back in place; and did just about everything but mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Nothing worked. "Well," said the Man from Gateway, "I guess you gonna have to take it to-a your nearest Gate-a-way store and let thema fix it." He gave me the phone number of the store in Dickson City and hung up leaving me to put the computer back together. I called Gate-a-way, uh Gateway, in Dickson City and I was told to bring the computer in and expect it to be tied up for eight to ten weeks. Could I get a loaner while they were trying to breathe life into my computer? Nope. But I could get priority treatment for a meager $60. Priority treatment? Yep, they would move me up the ladder over others who are waiting if I was willing to pay for this preferential treatment. I wasn’t. I told them I have 59 days left on my warranty and I expected the computer to be fixed for nothing. That went over like a lead balloon. I still had my old 286 upstairs, so I decided to hook it up and get to my writing. Finding the 286, the monitor and the keyboard was kind of easy. Finding the cables to hook them up – another matter. After a couple of hours of searching, I assembled what I needed and proceeded to put the 286 together. I was removing the Gateway from the computer desk when the lights in the house flickered. The kitchen light came back on but the lamp atop the hutch of the computer desk did not. I pulled the plug out and reinstated it, only because that was one of the things my Italonese friend had me do with the Gateway. I got the same results – nothing. I removed the bulb and put in a new one. Nothing. And then it dawned on me. They say things happen in threes and so far I had a dead computer and a dead lamp. Couple of Quickies Congratulations to Paula Mack who was recently appointed Susquehanna County’s first female chief deputy sheriff. Don’t say where you heard this, but soon there will be a father, mother and son working for the county. They just come and go in the assessment office. Two of the finest, Gerry Lathrom and Don Hawkins are leaving. Gerry is retiring and I am told that Don has accepted a position with Andre & Son. Best of everything to both of you. It seems that while in High School, a new trial occurs nearly everyday. Elk Lake High School is definitely not an exception. Trust me, I would know, seeing as how I am a Junior there. As students, we are constantly being overlooked. I suppose the feeling of the world around us is that our problems are minor and that given time, will disappear. Now, sure, sometimes that is true, but what a lot of people do not understand is that we are under enormous amounts of stress, mainly from not only school, but from our social lives, sports, and any other activity we choose to participate in as well. The reason people do not understand what we are going through is probably because they are not involved directly with our lives, which gives room to stereotype us. That is nobody’s fault, but because of it, the students’ opinions and ideas are almost always getting disregarded. So, this column is our chance to let the community around us know what’s going on in our lives. Because, believe it or not, there are things going on that some people couldn’t even begin to dream. Not everything that goes on in our lives is a difficult trial, but I believe that even those days need light brought onto them in order for those around us to realize what exactly happens in our daily life. The students’ ideas and points of views could amaze you. They could inspire you. And the happenings of our days could enrage you, or even make you laugh. Either way, here’s your chance to get an inside look into our high school days, into what (exactly) we go through.
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