Official Minutes – HVBS Meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

  1. Transported by Deliberator on a cool, rainy morning, the HVBS Upstaters arrived at a very respectable 11:17 AM for our meeting. Geronimo, who evidently has his trip time finely tuned, showed up at 11:27. Entering the Hoffman House, we were warmly greeted by our hostess Ginny, sitting at the bar. PC Wiz thanked her for the prompt reply to his e-mail verifying their Spring opening. The table arrangements were done by host Pat Bradley who turned us over to HVBS Official Waitress Erin (who had been busy elsewhere). She took our first of the session orders for liquid refreshment: Deliberator and Shadow opting for cabernets, PC Wiz a merlot, and Geronimo settling for a Killian's (Erin confirming that it would be RED).
  2. Geronimo chortled that Governor Paterson had a one-day honeymoon, referring to the marital infidelities he had brought up in a press conference. Deliberator ascribed the problem to a lack of commitment by the "baby boomers". PC Wiz noted that there were stories about more recent peccadilloes (showing members a copy of the NY Post editorial cartoon showing Paterson in bed with six women in the "Days Hotel") and that he disliked Paterson's blaming his wife (revenge for her actions) for his transgressions. Members observed that next in line is Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R). Wow! Shadow quipped that our leaders should be 80 or older to hold office. At this point, Geronimo mentioned that he had some jokes and Shadow thought it a good moment to hear one. The jokes were so good that Shadow later asked Geronimo for his print-out.
  3. Official Waitress Erin brought our lunches and mentioned that her oldest daughter is visiting Spain and that her younger daughter went to Italy last year. PC Wiz marveled at how the young generation travels all over the world these days (not so in our generation). Deliberator raised the agenda item concerning Shadow's grandson Alex's graduation ceremony. Shadow, Grandmother Shirley and PC Wiz are going to Virginia to attend Alex's ascent to the ninth grade; time does fly and he is now as tall as his mother. Geronimo and Associate Member Kay's son and daughter-in-law Chaco are expecting a son in late May or early June. Deliberator's grandson Mark is doing quite well at Dunkin Donuts except that increased competition from the Five Corners Dunkin has affected his sales somewhat. Both he and Ryan (the Gahan brothers, according to the papers) had recent bowling successes; very proud of total game scores of 816 for Ryan and 817 for Mark. Congratulations!
  4. Shadow mentioned that he is having blood work performed for cholesterol levels and informed us that he has to use double the dose of generic Zocor (simvastatin), 20 mg. compared to 10 mg. of Lipitor. Deliberator, taking the same simvastatin, confirmed Shadow's information. PC Wiz informed members that, for the second year in a row, he had to install his sump pump; his neighborhood has many homes pumping. Deliberator confirmed that the water table is very high and that he has some seepage. Geronimo firmly stated that, three being an important number in the Greek Orthodox Church, he is convinced that problems occur in threes. His furnace, leaking water, had to be repaired and his car bent a wheel. PC Wiz said this is quite common with the cast aluminum wheels; bumping a curb being enough to bend them. PC Wiz made Geronimo a DVD of his and Kay's California trip and it would stop playing in the middle of the disk (also a similar problem with one of the Netflix disks). Son Dan, Geronimo's technical consultant, advised him to buy a new DVD player - which solved both problems! Shadow told Geronimo he is looking at a job for the Hyde Park Water Authority whose water tank is leaking. Geronimo used to be on the Authority's board.
  5. It being income tax season, Shadow informed us that NY State will no longer mail estimated tax forms: we will have to download and print them ourselves or file electronically (payments deducted from checking accounts or credit cards). He will print the forms and pay by check, PC Wiz stated he will use the electronic payment. Geronimo asked what people without computers will do. Deliberator said he knows many elderly who do not have them. PC Wiz suggested that they could use library computers. For the Federal Form Shadow told us his preparer files the forms electronically and prints out a voucher for him to send with a check, easy and fast.
  6. HVBS members reviewed the spectacular recent season of the NY Giants. Shadow has purchased the Giant DVD with highlights of the season and great interviews. PC Wiz, who borrowed the DVD, highly praised the disk - great editing, beautiful clear pictures of the plays, a truly superb production! Geronimo said he made a toast in a phone conversation at the Superbowl Giant win. Bringing up the end-of-game hand-shake, Deliberator stated that Belicheck seemed half-hearted to him. PC Wiz noted the expression on Belicheck's face - very bitter at losing the "perfect" season. Shadow remarked that people are comparing Tiger Woods chances of a perfect year to the 1972 Miami Dolphins (winning 14 regular season games, 2 playoffs and the Superbowl). Geronimo, who is looking forward to the baseball season, thought it unlikely that Woods could accomplish that considering the vagaries and difficulties of the game.
  7. In reply to PC Wiz's question as to whether he had an HD television, Geronimo said he did and mentioned the clear picture. He particularly enjoyed HD Theater on the Discovery Channel exploring the beautiful photography of Ansel Adams. PC Wiz, living up to his moniker, told him that his HD TV displays 1080 lines on the screen while the old TV's displayed 525 lines - resulting in a photographic quality. PC Wiz informed the members that Shadow was considering the purchase of a new car; his Dodge is now 8 years old and requires new tires and brake pads (and likely rotors). Son Randy thinks his Dad should purchase a BMW! (Dan also owns a BMW). Not likely. Shadow expostulated on his dislike of the current styling in the new cars. Geronimo thought the purchase of a new car by Shadow a grand patriotic move to keep the economy going. Deliberator, looking into the future as probably his last new vehicle, thought a Buick Lucerne (that "floating ride") might be in the cards, or "maybe never". PC Wiz quipped "Maybe a BMW" but Deliberator demurred - definitely a Buick.
  8. Which brought up the topic of the "Economic Stimulus" payment. Shadow protested the cost of the two notifications IRS will send us and threatened to return the money. HVBS members didn't take the threat seriously and will accept the government's (borrowed money) generosity. Shadow and PC Wiz did a skit on Windex being a cure-all which was completely lost on Geronimo. When reminded of the girl's father in the movie "My big fat Greek Wedding" we all had a good laugh. Geronimo maintains the portrayal of Greek family life in the movie is accurate.
  9. Official Waitress Erin arrived to take dessert orders. Everyone had coffee; PC Wiz (volunteered by members to Erin) ordered the "Bailey's" cheesecake and (surprise) Shadow had the apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream (Erin said she would bring extra spoons). HVBS Official Scheduler Deliberator proposed Wednesday April 30, 2008 for our next meeting. With no opposition, it was adopted. The meeting was adjourned.

Thanks to Deliberator and Geronimo for their comments.

HVBS Official Scribe Laureate PC Wiz

March 27, 2008