Bob the Cicada

I was stuck in traffic on 9D on Friday due to a problem on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.  Cicadas were flying from tree to tree crossing the road in front of me.  Later, at my daughter's house about a mile away, one landed on a chair and moved to the table.

 

My son-in-law, a graduate of Paul Smith's College in New York, picked it up and let it rest on his hand.  He opined that the bug might be tired.  Then, he let my 12 year old granddaughter hold it.  She named him Bob.  After taking a rest, Bob flew off.

 

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Cicadas

About ten days ago, I was driving north on 9D near Fishkill NY.   As I passed the Stonykill Farm, I heard this strange sound....similar to the sound made by a bicycle when a card is attached to the spokes of the wheel.  I asked my son-in-law, who is very knowledgeable about such things, if that was the sound of the Cicadas.  He said he didn't think it was.  The Cicada is a very ugly bug (about 1 to 2 inches in length) that lives in the ground.  There are different species, but this one is called the "periodical Cicada."  That is because it only surfaces once every seventeen years.  It looks for a mate.   The female deposits her eggs in a groove in a tree branch.  When the egg hatches, the tiny bug frees itself from the groove and falls to the ground.  It burrows in search of a food source and stays there approximately seventeen years.  Then, it starts the same cycle again.

About four days later, we were at St. Mary's Church in Fishkill, which is situated about two or three miles east of the farm.  When we got out of the car, my son-in-law heard the same sound (now louder) and commented that it was probably the Cicadas.  My granddaughter stated that it sounded like a car alarm.  A few days later, in Lagrangeville which is northeast of Beacon and Fishkill, you could hear the same sound, estimated to be 7Khz.  It reminded me of a sound you would hear in the Southeastern section of the country.  This past Saturday, I drove south on Route 9 into Cold Spring.  This area is more heavily forested.  The nose was very loud and occasionally a flying Cicada would hit the windshield or roof of the car.  Eerie....

I noticed after a few days that I just got used to the noise.  It must be like what a person who has tinnitus experiences.  In a few weeks, the noise will subside and life will go on.

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Congratulations to the Post Office

Yesterday, I was at the Wappingers Falls NY Post Office to mail Father's Day cards.  A couple ahead of me on line was unfamiliar with sending a gift through the mail.  As they told this to the clerk, he explained Express Mail or Priority Mail and told them the price of each service.  Then, the clerk showed the couple how the box was reversible, that is, one side was to be used for Express Mail and the reverse side for Priority Mail.  I don't know how long they have been doing this, but what a great idea.  This one cost-saving change cut down the amount of boxes needed to provide to the public.  I hope the employee who suggested this was given a promotion.  We need more people who think like this in our Post Office.  Also, the clerk displayed the epitome of customer service.  In light of my  complaints about this organization, I am happy to share these positive notes.  In my opinion, this is evidence of the Post Office getting it right.  Congratulations.

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Why Try?

One day this past week, I was driving on Route 9 through Fishkill NY when I noticed the license plate of a car in the left lane.  It was a New York plate with the words Why Try (I've changed the letters a little.)  Immediately, I felt pity for the owner of that car.  What a sad outlook on life.

This week, I was invited to different "Honors" nights for the Beacon, NY school children.  Rombout Middle School had their special night on Wednesday.  While I have not been able to ascertain the total class size of each level, the sixth and seventh grades seemed to have over 100 children each on either the Honor Roll (over 85% grade average), High Honors (over 90% grade average) or the Principal's Honor Roll (over 95% grade average).

On Thursday evening, the Senior Class Awards were held at Beacon High School.  There were 48 seniors listed as being on the Honor Roll (over 85% grade average), 42 students on the High Honor Roll (over 90%), and 15 seniors on the Principal's Honor Roll (over 95%).  Sixty-nine seniors were given scholarship awards.  My grandson was among these winners.  I know that he has been very diligent in pursuing both academic and athletic excellence.  In fact, the Principal announced that 68% of graduating seniors were involved in sports.  The total amount of graduating seniors is around 275.

I'm happy to see that these children, future adult citizens of these United States don't have a "Why Try" attitude.  Congratulations to these students,their supportive parents and their teachers.

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Memorial Day

This morning I attended the American Legion's Memorial (Beacon NY) in honor of the United States Service Men and Women, and our Veterans.  The speakers read the names of all the residents who gave their lives to preserve our freedoms.  Also, they honored the Veterans in attendance.  Wreaths were placed in front of the Memorial and flowers were placed at Fishkill Creek.  This was a morning well spent.

Thank you to all our present Service Men and Women, and our Veterans.  This includes my eldest grandson who is a new United States Marine.  We appreciate your service to our Country.  Because of your commitment, we continue to live free.  God bless you all!

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Mexicali Blue

Here in New York, we've had several days of rain.  I was happy to see that today the weather was changing.  As this weather pattern moved on, we experienced a very cold wind.  The temperature was 63 degrees.  The wind was 24 mph, gusting to 35 mph. My daughter and I and the two youngest children in the family, attended a surprise birthday party for a long-time dear friend at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.  Most of the people had winter jackets on, in the end of May.

I don't consider cold weather my friend, thus living in San Diego, CA.  After an hour, we left and took the children to McDonald's in Wappingers Falls.  I walked a few stores over to a mexican restaurant named Mexicali Blue in the small complex.  It was so cold, I ordered the Black Bean soup to go so I could join the rest of the family at McDonald's.  The soup was good.  It had spices that hit the back of my throat.  The staff was very friendly.  The restaurant, clean and inviting, serves Southwestern and California-style food.  I would return for a taco or burrito.

Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to rise to 73 degrees, more to my liking.

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Mother's Day

My Mother's Day celebration started with lunch on Saturday at Cosimo's on Delafield Street in Poughkeepsie, NY.  My three New York daughters and I enjoyed a delicious meal.  We started with Wood fired Crab and Artichoke fondue with Brick-oven Foccacia and Caprese.  Absolutely delicious.
Then we ordered sandwiches.  I had the Steak Sizzler, which was Rosemary scented Rib-eye with peppers, Gorgonzola and crispy onions.  Since I had the appetizer, I opened half the sandwich and enjoyed the steak, etc. and brought the other half home for one of my grandsons.  When I returned to my Beacon daughter's home, this grandson had returned from reffing a soccer game so he relished the half sandwich.  When I checked the online menu, I discovered that this restaurant has a "small plate" offering.  I probably would have  enjoyed something from that menu instead of the larger lunch.  Perhaps another time.

On Sunday, after Mass in Fishkill, I joined two daughters, their families as wells as one of my son-in-law's parents (very good friends) at the Bull and Budha Restaurant on Main Street in Poughkeepsie for their Mother's Day Brunch.  My appetizer was a crab and avocado salad.  It was so good that I decided to ask my son-in-law who is a Chef Instructor at the Culinary School at the Art Institute in San Diego to make it for my birthday.  The entree was skirt steak with a corn and edame mixture on the side.  There were two choices for dessert, a chocolate lava cake with pistachio and coconut filling, and the Chef's cheesecake.  I chose the Chef's cheesecake (his own recipe).  This will be another request for my son-in-law.

A lot of eating for one weekend, though I actually eat only a small portion of each course.  I recommend both restaurants, which I consider upscale.

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