1. On a pleasant, cool morning Shadow drove the Upstate Upstart contingent to an early 11:15 AM arrival at Roudigan's. Geronimo was already parked designating earlier arrival when we approached but suspicions were aroused when he re-positioned the Acura. Evidently it was pretty much of a draw. HVBS members greeted each other and we entered the premises where we were promptly greeted by our Official Waitress, Jessica. Jessica, holding two jobs in addition to her studies, was congratulated on being on the Dean's List. Jessica was asked where she planned to continue her education - most likely SUNY New Paltz or SUNY Albany. Deliberator suggested SUNY Binghamton for her probable major in medicine or pharmacy. It will most likely be Albany - a "party" school but with good standards.
2. HVBS members selected their opening beverages - three red wines and the usual Diet Pepsi for Geronimo. The opening topic on everyone's minds was the dismal performance of the New York Yankees. Shadow opined that, most likely, the return to Yankee dominance would take years as it did in the 1990's slump. Geronimo pointed out that they have no adequate farm teams for talent and we would not likely see a return "in our lifetimes". Giambi, with no "roids" is in a batting slump - sharing DH duties with Bernie Williams. Alas, there is no joy in Mudville, the Yankees are apparently in a race to the bottom of the Division. There was some speculation that after the Kentucky Derby is run and George Steinbrenner's horse Bellamy Road wins or loses, George will vent his pent-up rage on the Yankees. Members speculated that the "little guys" on the staff (base coaches) would be the first to go - with possibly Mel Stottlemyre.
3. Geronimo followed up on a recent e-mailing quoting Colorado's former governor Dick Lamm's speech on how to destroy the United States. Geronimo said he felt the country is "going down the tubes" and that, to partially respond, quite a few states have adopted "Official English" statutes. If this country becomes Balkanized it is doomed. Deliberator opined that for a culture to be unified it is essential to have a common language - in this case English and Geronimo said the U.S. is rather a "tossed salad" than a "melting pot" these days. Shadow informed the group that his Uncle Willy in Germany had passed away, HVBS members offered their condolences. On telephoning Germany, there being no answer, Shadow found an International Telephone Book on his computer and checked the address and number. Shadow later spoke to his cousin who is conversant in English - while the parents only speak German. On the Iraq situation, Shadow said that there had been a recent death threat on Saddam Hussein. Geronimo volunteered that the U.S. motive was to stabilize the Middle East by introducing a democratic government to the area. HVBS members agreed that recent events in Egypt, the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and Israeli-Palestinian agreements shows it seems to be working but it is still early in the process. Shadow and PC Wiz, being very concerned by the flood of illegal immigrants across the Mexican border, have signed a petition for our government to enforce the borders. Geronimo stated that he and Associate Member Kay have signed the petition and he has sent it to everyone on his expansive mailing list. Hopefully, something will come of it although Bush 41, Bill Clinton and Bush 43 all oppose actions to close the border to illegals.
4. Upon Shadow's inquiry on how things on the "home front" were going, Geronimo replied, "about the same" referring to his concerns about his water supply and septic system. HVBS members then returned to last meeting's fascinating topic of toilet tissue usage. PC Wiz used the least per flush - 3 "sheets", Deliberator at 4. Geronimo chimed in at 5 panels minimum while the champ Shadow weighed in at 9 with Fritzi waiting at the door for him to finish! PC Wiz advised Geronimo to have the system pumped more frequently, considering the amount of paper usage. On the subject of Geronimo's stove replacement the deed has been done. The GE stovetop could not be used since the controls interfered with the drawer under the stove. The new unit is a Thermador while the new oven is a GE, Geronimo remarking that the new oven is larger inside than the old GE probably due to improved insulation materials. In reply to an agenda item, Deliberator informed us that he has not quit AOL. Grandson Ryan has lost his AIM instant messaging service - perhaps removed by SpyBot as a spyware program. They cannot re-install AIM for an unknown reason so the AOL comes in handy, although Ryan loses his messages in AOL unlike the AIM program. Concerning the Chrysler Town & Country, Deliberator said it is performing well except for a recent problem. The speedometer stopped working and then the transmission balked in shifting. His mechanic replaced the speed sensor (a $25 item) and now all is well again. Shadow then mentioned the dash lights on his Stratus would blink off at times. It is a problem in the control stalk that has been recognized in a Chrysler bulletin. Luckily its replacement will only cost Shadow a $50 co-pay since he has an extended warranty.
5. Members had heard that Chaco was using a computer to keep in touch with her family in Japan. Deliberator was wondering how an English keyboard could be used while PC Wiz proposed they were using the latest VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol using a microphone and the PC speakers. Geronimo explained that Deliberator was correct. Chaco has learned the different sounds that the keyboard keys generate while sending the individual Japanese characters to Japan. PC Wiz gave a short report on his and Associate Member Shirley's automobile trip to Virginia. One highlight PC Wiz mentioned was going to a Mongolian buffet with Russ's family. To PC Wiz's surprise, Deliberator said he had also tried the same cuisine a few blocks from PC Wiz's home at the local Chinese buffet! Shadow is making his visit via Amtrak on May 5. He told HVBS members of his disappointment (for the second time) at not being able to travel via the new Acela from New York to Washington. It has been cancelled because of cracked brake rotors and he will have to use the premium Metro Liner instead. Geronimo requested a full report on the trip and Shadow promised to send him an e-mail from Virginia. Shadow also mentioned a trip that he and PC Wiz are taking in July to Maryland, where they will travel in the cab of a steam locomotive on a tourist line, and West Virginia, to ride on a narrow gauge railroad drawn by Shay geared steam locomotives.
6. HVBS members ordered final coffees and Official Waitress Jessica asked if anyone would like a dessert - as was her duty. No desserts were ordered and final deliberations continued. HVBS Official Scheduler Deliberator suggested dates ranging from June 15 to June 29 - schedule conflicts resolved in later e-mails resulted in a proposed date of Wednesday, June 22, 2005. The meeting was adjourned and HVBS's third meeting of 2005 entered the history books.

Thanks to Geronimo and Deliberator for pithy approvals. Since there were no changes, these Official Minutes are for the record. Your faithful scribe finds Geronimo's statement confusing: by finding the minutes "comprehensive as well as accurate" while he "can’t remember what happened yesterday let alone last week". He is in our thoughts and we are sure he will get better (we suggest a medicinal daily red wine).

HVBS Official Scribe Laureate PC Wiz

May 16, 2005