Rick Rolled: Stop It, It's Not Amusing

Will someone please tell me why anyone at any time found the act of "Rick Rolling" someone or something, having Rick Astley appear and perform, was funny, amusing or interesting?
To me, it is as dumb and unamusing as can be, one of those attempts by people trying unsuccessfully to be cool, hip or younger than they are and wrongly believe that they are doing something interesting or nutty. I'd call it an even whiter, lamer version of "Baba booeying" someone or something.
I was referred to Rick Astley's latest "unscheduled" appearance, on the Cartoon Network float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, by some people, and watched it; so freaking what?

Starting a Streak?

After defeating the Boston Bruins to end a losing streak Wednesday, 3-2, the Buffalo Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the HSBC Arena. Having just ended a painful losing stretch, I believe it is only fair and proper for the Sabres to start a NHL lengthy winning streak.

Back in the Work Day Groove

But at least Thanksgiving was a good day Thursday, especially when Val got out of work and arrived at her sister Tricia and brother Brad's house for dinner.
My mother Sheila joined us and others for a great Thanksgiving dinner, dessert and tons of conversation, and were got back home happily full and with leftover turkey. Ah, dark meat turkey sandwiches ...
I was out of the house a couple of other times yesterday, the first to take Walker Evans on a quite lengthy walk, with the weather basically being very accommodating. The second was a mission of mercy of sorts; I went out to buy one of the VERY few things non-food that one would actually leave the house on an exclusive mission for at about 12:30 p.m.
But it's off to work today; no, we only get one day off for Thanksgiving, and no, after working in retail for many years (sales and lower management), I don't miss not being out there on Black Friday.

Giving Thanks

This week marks 10 years since I stopped drinking and smoking, changes I never thought I'd make it through, after paying a possibly life-changing visit to the doctor and finding out I had ridiculously high blood pressure, etc.
Somehow, I stopped the booze and smoking (at that stage, close friend Tony Christiano remarked that I had been doing some "championship drinking"), and stopped eating red meat and other foods. Obviously, the changes were not that hard to make and with my brother Brian having died three years before that of an aortic aneurysm (he had high blood pressure and other ailments) at age 37 and my late father Edward having survived open-heart surgery for an aneurysm and also having high blood pressure.
In the 10 years since then, I have gotten my blood pressure under control, my cholesterol levels are good, I feel better and have lost weight. Of course, the best thing to happen to me in the last 10 years, which keeps me feeling better and makes my life much better, is falling in love with and marrying Val.
Happy Thanksgiving, kind readers.

Leave Me Alone, Vile Woman

Unlike Val, I rarely remember my dreams when I wake up, and they are only infrequently unique. Last night/this morning's dream was one of those.
Everywhere I went, at work and the store, I encountered Alaska Governor/former Republican Vice Presidential candidate/major joke and failure Sarah Palin; even when I got home, she was on the news and live at some form of debate or discussion panel. She would not stop talking and came across just as ill-informed and mean-spirited as she does in real life, and appeared and I think got booed at a dairy discussion in Wisconsin during my dream.
The horror, the horror.

Burchfield Penney: Impressive

I don't have enough time to go into detail just yet, but Val and I visited the new Burchfield Penney Art Center on the Buffalo State College campus on Elmwood Avenue Sunday during its grand opening, and we were both very impressed by the building and artwork.
The interior is very well done and a much larger, moving space than I expected, and the collection has some great work in it, although I said to Val in all honesty that, except for the Milton Rogovin area, it has much too little photography in it.

Sports Curse Still Looming

As last week's results indicate, the University of Wisconsin-Buffalo Sabres curse proceeds and took on a new twist as the Buffalo Bills now continue to lose along with the Buffalo Sabres when the University of Wisconsin football team wins.
This weekend will be very interesting; Wisconsin plays its final football game of the regular season by hosting Cal Poly Saturday, and needs to win to advance its record to 7-5 to gain any realistic bowl game consideration (and still may do no better than the Sham-Wow Bowl). This is while the Sabres play two NHL games, tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. tonight and against the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. Saturday. Saturday will be the first Sabres game Val and I will see in person in 2-3 seasons. The Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City for a 1 p.m. Sunday game.
Obviously, Val and I want to catch a Sabres' victory and want them to snap out of their schneid, but we also want Wisconsin to make it to a bowl game. Let's see how things work out this weekend.

She Did It Again

I was just reading my niece Kim's blog, Arizonawriter, and she wrote two beautiful, poignant and funny entries Tuesday. One, with striking photos, is on an evening walking with her son David, the other on vile, lying e-mails she has received from a friend (friends, actually).
Check them out when you have a chance; Kim can really write.

Weather, Schmeather

I bet it's a real surprise that I am not enjoying this early taste of winter weather; it's mid-November and I was hoping to at least slightly ease into winter instead of getting mid-December conditions before Thanksgiving.
But, of course, there are SOME people who have to ruin things and actually enjoy the snow and cold (while the cold doesn't bother me too much physically, the higher natural gas and electric bills do suck). I won't name any names, but J...e...n...n...
I refuse to break out the thermal underwear for the time being, although thermal t-shirts are fine.

A Quick Food Question

I hope some of your more adventurous, or at least knowledgeable, Buffalonians/Western New Yorkers reading this blog can help me on this food question.
Do you know where one can go to get a good order of huevos rancheros and possibly some migas? There are very few places who even atempt to make them or even advertise them around here, and the last place I ate them in Buffalo, Off the Wall on Elmwood Avenue near West Utica Street, closed early this year.
I realize that authenticity is often a question with Latin based food, and that Val and I had the most amazing huevos rancheros, migas and other Mexican American food in Austin, Texas, several years ago, but any suggestions would be vastly appreciated.

Why? Why? Why?

I am trying to figure out why I continue to follow, root for and/or "enjoy" professional sports teams from Buffalo after the Bills lost in Monday Night Football to Cleveland, 29-27, despite playing dreadfully most of the game, as Rian Lindell's 47-yard field goal attempt went, you guessed it, wide right at the end of the game.
It seems that the curse I wrote about last week contiues and grows; while the University of Wisconsin football team rallied to beat Minnesota Saturday, 35-32, the Sabres lost two NHL games over the weekend, and the Bills joined in by getting occasionally embarassed Monday night before eventually losing.
So, when does the University of Buffalo play Bowling Green in football this weekend?

Sunday Does Exist Outside of the Bills

I found more than enough to do yesterday, Sunday, with the Buffalo Bills not playing until tonight on Monday Night Football.
After helping get Val off to a baby shower, I finished breakfast, went grocery shopping (Wegmans on Amherst Street was utterly packed as it always is on an early Sunday afternoon when the Bills are not playing) as well as to the Lexington Co-Op, took Walker Evans to the Lasalle Park dog park, did laundry and raked about seven bags of leaves, clearing off the driveway and sidewalk but still leaving some lawn to do.
No doubt many of you had many of the same activities on your schedules here in Buffalo and Western New York.
Am I going to the game against the Cleveland Browns tonight? Nope; I have never neen to a Monday Night Football game and really have no wish to attend one. I attended a Thursday night game here against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1980s, and that was enough for one lifetime.

Am I Missing Something? Edition Infinity

Since I've seen it more than enough times, can someone tell me why Denis Leary, the so-called comedian, actor and recording artist, was hired to do a Ford truck commercial?
It seems that the less talent Leary has or displays, the more that he is hired/used and gets opportunities. And what it is with Ford hiring annoying people to advertise their trucks? I mean, from Toby Keith to Denis Leary?
Damn. That's all, damn.

UB Wins Football Marathon

It was great to watch the State University at Buffalo Bulls defeat Akron in four overtimes, 43-40, in NCAA football action on ESPNU last night.
Of course, things got a little dicey for UB as they lost an early lead before battling through the overtime sessions, and my suspense almost got a bit dicey. I was DVRing the game and about to start watching at about 9:30 p.m. when, while checking Facebook, I saw that a certain friend and blogger had posted the halftime score.
I had been staying away from all news and sports web sites, so this kind of temporarily irked me, but I did otherwise remain in the dark until I watched the game, or most of it, dozing off for parts of the third and fourth quarters.

Got Any Eye Toothpicks?

As budget deliberations and other assignments continue at work, I am feeling a wee bit tired, although there are some people at work definitely moreso than me.
So, that accounts for some of the crabbiness I mentioned yesterday, but I have a feeling that because I am even more tired today than yesterday so far, that between that and the many things I have to get done today that I won't have time for any Lucy Van Pelt impersonations. And yes, I should have gone to bed sooner.

Darkness on the Edge, All Over Town

I go downstairs most weekday mornings at about 6:30 a.m., following my shower, to start my coffee and the dog's food.
After we set the clocks back about a week and a half ago, obviously we got more light in the morning as the sun was now rising sooner. Well, after about 10 days, we have basically lost the hour of earlier light advantage, as it is all but completely dark on my walk downstairs again.
It's bad enough I would prefer being in bed right now regardless of light, but as it is now 6:58 a.m. I have been able to make out the skyline for the last two to three minutes, so maybe I am whining a little soon, but I don't feel like it.
It's going to be a crabby day.

At Least I Can Tell the Direction of the Wind

Since I have been shaving my head for about two or three years (and nearly shaved for about 10-15), I have been asked how different it feels, particularly when the weather gets cold.
Frankly, it doesn't feel much colder or different than it used to, not having much hair up there for a long time. I wear hats and hoods a bit more often in the rain, snow and cold (nothing to insulate the head or catch precipitation), but I barely even notice the above-mentioned wind.
Heaven knows, I don't worry about hat hair anymore, and Val's hands feel nice on my head.

How About Telling Us, City?

While I was on the computer this morning, I heard a truck making noise while stopping and doing something a door or two over on Norwood Avenue.
I looked out the window and saw the truck cleaning up leaves from the street and lawn edges on our side of the street. Unfortunately, I received no word of this work and had no leaves raked to be cleaned up.
I thought that maybe I had missed something when I spoke to our neighbor Jim Whitford this afternoon. He also mentioned the truck picking up the leaves and he, too, received no notification of this.
Nice service, people.

Veterans Day

On behalf of Val and me, proud children of veterans, we wish a restive, reflective Veterans Day to all veterans, past and present, and hope that their tours of duty end safe and happily at home.
Val is the daughter of the late Edward Patrick Dunne, a U.S. Navy Korean War veteran, and I am the son of Edward William Hosey, a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, and we both dearly miss our fathers and appreciate the service they and all veterans have given to our country.
I also directly work with at least five veterans, including two from the Vietnam War and one from the Persian Gulf War, and see their modesty and humanity every day.

The Agony of Defeat, Mostly

This past weekend in sports was almost a total washout for the Dunne-Hosey Estates.
In the NFL, the Buffalo Bills lost to the New England Patriots, 20-10, and the Green Bay Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 28-27; in the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres lost in overtime to the Atlanta Thrashers, 5-4, Friday, and dropped a 3-1 game to the Boston Bruins Saturday.
The only good sports news for us these past few days was the University of Wisconsin pounding Indiana, 55-20, and sadly, we've notice the continuation of the University of Wisconsin football team wining, Buffalo Sabres losing curse.

Let It Stop, Let It Stop, Let It Stop

I came upstairs at 9:35 p.m. after watching "Family Guy" with Val, when I observed a sight that no doubt struck fear into my heart as much as most Western New Yorkers.
As I climbed the stairs, I kind of looked outside, and thought I saw it, but I wasn't sure; I checked outside the media room window facing the street and yes, indeed, it was there. Snow, wet snow, falling kind of fast and hard and annoying the piss out of me.
I called downstairs to Val to tell her I saw snow; she told me to shut up and that she was in denial over what I said or that any snow would be falling. I then told her that it was raining outside and continued folding the last load of laundry for the night.
At the moment, the snow is not sticking to the ground because it is too warm, but it is sticking to vehicles a bit. I don't like it at all.

Won't You Be Our Neighbor?

The evening walk Val and I took Walker Evans on last night was almost doubled in length of time as we repeatedly ran into people to stop and talk.
First, it was our neighbor, Buffalo Music Hall of Fame musician Jim Whitford; next, about a block and a half away, we stopped to chat with photographer Nancy J. Parisi outside Trattoria Aroma; finally, about a block and a half after that, we again stopped to talk to musician/political activist Paul Painkiller on Elmwood Avenue.
Each time, Walker Evans started out patient, but soon broke into his impatient pace and gave us his now famous "Hey, it's my walk, let's get going" look as he leaned into my hold on the leash to convince us that we were outside for him and to tend to his needs. On the other hand, he took a good amount of petting and lavish amount of priase from Parisi without complaint.
On the whole, it was a gorgeous night outside, one that we and a lot of other people were taking advantage of with colder, wetter weather, more likely to keep us inside, on its way.

Cabinet Prognostications

The predictions for who Democratic U.S. Senator and President-Elect Barack Obama will chose to serve in his cabinet had already started, with some names expected and others surprises.
Happily, Governor Bill Richardson, my original pick for the presidential nomination, has been mentioned in several places for Secretary of State; wow, a person with international negotiating experience and with executive experience in a role to match his or her talents. I am expecting at least some support for retired General Wesley Clark for Secretary of Defense, but other names are also being bandied about.
I was surprised to hear of U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton being mentioned for Secretary of Health. Yes, she has pushed for health care for all Americans for years, but I don't remember hearing anything from her or her camp about seeking a cabinet position. Caroline Kenendy is being mentioned for the UN Ambassador post.
So, do any of you readers have any suggestions for cabinet appointments?

Holy Crap, That's My Niece

I just read an incredible blog entry about one voter's ballot being cast for Democratic U.S. Senator and President-Elect Barack Obama, discussing personal and family history and influences and how she has come to her vote, embrace it and explain it.
It was written by my niece, Kimberly Hosey, and it is just so well-written and affecting that I will read it a couple of more times before even trying to comment on it. But dang it all, it's really good, and I am humbled to be a small part of it.

YES, WE DID

I don't care how many other blog entries or news stories/editorials use this line last night, today and tomorrow, I am thrilled to have campaigned and voted for the new president-elect, Democratic U.S. Senator Barack Obama.
And yes, I had to put up with the ridiculous claims and rumors of Obama being a terrorist, radical Muslim, not being born in the U.S./ineligible to be the president, Socialist, and that there would be rioting tonight and tomorrow whether he won or lost the election, as did millions of other people, as well as Obama and his family, who no doubt went through much worse. Happily, the U.S. electorate showed that it wouldn't be defeated by fear, lies, innuendo and prejudice.
Now, Obama may not be the perfect president nor will I or anyone agree with everything he does; he is a human being, after all. But this country will be back on the right track when he is inaugurated, and I can't wait.
Neither can Val, my Chicago born and initially bred wife, who wept tears of joy in my arms last night as we heard the continued good news at Erie County Democratic Headquarters.

Go Vote (for Obama, Etc.), Tell Others

As you can imagine, I have a few things I'll be doing/volunteering for today on Election Day, so I at best will be in and out and barely getting many chances to check in here.
In fact, I will not be voting until sometime this late afternoon/early evening, and you can bet Val and I will be casting our votes for Democratic U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph Biden for president and vice president, among other candiadtes. We are certainly hoping and working hard to be able to celebrate tonight, and we urge all to go vote for the candidates of y0ur choice.

Talk of Obama

Val and I encountered several interesting instances of hopeful discussion about the possible/hopeful election of Democratic U.S. Senator Barack Obama as president this past weekend.
We ate our breakfast at the Kenmore Village Restaurant on Military Road Wednesday; Val was wearing her "Obama Biden 2008" long-sleeve t-shirt with two Obama buttons on her coat, and I had an "Obama Biden" sticker on my coat.
A bit more than halfway through breakfast, a woman about age 50-55 came from the cash register to the back area where we were seated, tapped Val's arm and said, "I saw your shirt and buttons when you came in, and I just wanted to show you this." She then lifted her purse to proudly show us the worn but easily read "Obama Biden" bumper sticker on the purse side. We had a very nice discussion on our hopes for Tuesday and responses we've received for our Obama support.
As we were running errands later that day, another woman stopped us and also noticed Val's t-shirt and buttons, and commended her for them and added that she had her t-shirt at home and that her daughter had given her a "Bird Watchers for Obama" button.
We also received several comments Sunday on our buttons, and the bumper stickers on Val's car, including one for "Obama Biden 2008" and another on "Bush's Third Term: McCain," have been gaining quite a lot of positive comments, all the way from here to Ithaca. Finally, our neighborhood, including our lawn, has sprouted lots of "Obama" and "Obama Biden" signs.
There is hope for Tuesday, but there is also still work to be done to get Barack Obama and Joseph Biden into the White House.