Official Minutes – HVBS Meeting on Wednesday, August 25, 2004

  1. On a cloudy morning, PC Wiz guided the Northern Bedrock of HVBS to the Raccoon Saloon in Marlboro, NY at the appointed opening time of 11:30 AM. Fortuitously parking on the street in front of the saloon, members entered the premises and were escorted to our reserved table overlooking the Hudson River by our Official Waitress Stacy. At 11:42 AM Geronimo, our Southern Mainstay, made a grand entrance. Geronimo beneficently purchased the first round of grog due to the major distance traveled by the contingent, displaying a $20 bill from his pocket to applause. The toast was made to Shadow because of his perseverance in promoting our trip to honor the Town of Marlboro.
  2. Stacy informed us that she was looking for employment related to her graduation; a Masters Degree in business administration from Marist College. Members wished her Good Luck. Geronimo revealed that he had house-guests from Oregon. Son Dan, accompanied by his wife Chaco, is in the area looking for employment. Geronimo indicated that he is "polite but not timid", having placed a list of house regulations in his computer. Shadow asked when Geronimo would begin charging rent; Geronimo will instead accept items on his list of projects. He then indicated how fortunate it was that a half-bath had been installed or they would have been "shit-out-of-luck" with so many people. Members laughed uproariously at the impromptu joke! Deliberator then mentioned his own list of fifteen rules for grandson Mark who has taken up residence in the basement. The first three, most important, are observed while the remaining are a work in progress.
  3. On the choice of meeting places, Geronimo noted that his Outlook program didn't have a definition of "venue" as used by PC Wiz. It is noted that the possibility of a Saratoga meeting was not discussed, although Geronimo had a plan in mind (this issue will be on the October agenda). Deliberator correctly noted that the word is a legal term concerning trials - PC Wiz stands corrected even though, in a sense, our meetings may be a "trial" for our host. Since it is presently assumed Geronimo won't go North of Kingston, Deliberator decided he will not drive South of Kingston. Deliberator proposed that the place of rendezvous should be the choice of the designated Northern driver. Shadow proposed Coppola's in Poughkeepsie as a possibility. Deliberator, our next driver, selected Roudigan's where the decision can be made for the site of our November meeting.
  4. Shadow reported on the recent visit by son Russell and grandson Alex to the Vogt Villa during which, on the invitation of Russell's neighbor Mike McClave, they and PC Wiz toured the CSX railroad hump yard and repair facilities in Selkirk. In the yard tower the yardmaster allowed Alex to route two trains across the yard, one actually through a tunnel under the tower, using his computer commands. PC Wiz brought up the agenda item concerning Geronimo's diet, started upon his return from Cape Cod. Geronimo reported that his diet is "kaput", that his primary objective was not to extend life but to enjoy it. PC Wiz empathized that dieting is very difficult. Shadow remarked that Russ looks really well and is still on his modified "low-carb" diet.
  5. In our Tech Update section Deliberator affirmed that he is well satisfied with his DSL service. Shadow related a recent fiasco trying to send a fax message with his computer. With PC Wiz's help, they not only did not succeed in sending the fax but also managed to disable the modem - now no Internet and no fax! Luckily, Associate Member Shirley, managed to re-install the modem drivers, activating both the Internet and fax! Geronimo related that, with the help of his consultant Dan, he has installed a wi-fi (wireless radio network connection) to his computer router: no wire connections for the Internet up to 300 feet. A puzzling problem is occasionally having to reboot the computer to use e-mail.
  6. In our Political Pot discussion, Shadow stated that the "political nonsense can drive you nuts". He said we have three choices at the polling booth - not voting, Kerry or Bush. It was pointed out that there is actually a fourth; Ralph Nader. In any event, Shadow stated unanimously that there would no longer be any Heinz catsup in his house because of Teresa Kerry's support of radical leftist groups (including George Soros) by the Heinz foundation. PC Wiz noted that the Raccoon Saloon luckily offered "home made" catsup for the sweet potato (and regular) fries. Deliberator suggested it would help the Republican ticket to replace Vice President Cheney with Senator McCain. Geronimo and Shadow thought it unlikely (and Senator McCain has rejected the notion).
  7. Kevin, one of the owners of the Raccoon Saloon, dropped by our table to welcome our group and we had a pleasant chat. At Deliberator's question as to whether we were being too raucous, Kevin said no, it was OK, "not too much Hell". HVBS members attention then turned to sports and the Summer Olympics in Greece. The construction was late but, as Geronimo observed, it is a Greek characteristic to procrastinate but be finished on time. A major topic was the gold that was awarded to Hamm and disputed by the Koreans. Shadow opined that Hamm should give back the medal, instead of a second being awarded, as a matter of honor and principle. It was noted that the protest was not made in the proper time although the cause was that the judging of these events has become too subjective, similar to ice skating. The judges claimed 4 pauses on the parallel bars rather than the objective 3 pauses! Deliberator was pleased that the Greeks were doing such a good job. Concerning basketball, Geronimo thought the athletes, going directly from High School to the NBA at huge salaries, lost the humility they needed to play the game. In the mean time, the men's basketball did not win the gold while the U.S. women won another consecutive gold.
  8. Shadow expounded on his historic decision to break with NASCAR because he doesn't like the direction they are taking. Answering Deliberator's question, Shadow explained the new points system for the Nextel championship (and the huge financial reward for the winner). Under the new arbitrary rules, only the "top ten" points winners will compete in the final 10 race run for the championship (with all other teams eliminated) with points starting over again with 10 for first, 9 for second, etc. In baseball, Deliberator was concerned with the coming six game series with Boston. Although they are presently leading, they have to play well enough to "get to Rivera" to close the game. HVBS members commiserated over the Tiger Woods slump; according to Geronimo, Dan considered Woods "a legend" for two years. Deliberator noted the slump started with his "girl on the side" (wife).
  9. With three desserts (Shadow's appetizing three-berry pie!) and a round of coffee the ball passed to the HVBS Official Scheduler, Deliberator, to propose the location and date for our next session. Since it is his turn to chauffeur our group, Deliberator emphatically announced the location as Roudigan's in Kingston on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 with a back-up date of October 13. Members ratified the location and October 6 (with Shadow noting that when he drove in November, it would be to a different locale). This memorable meeting then adjourned.

 

Thanks to Geronimo and Deliberator for comments.

HVBS Official Scribe Laureate PC Wiz

September 2, 2004