Back Again

 Well I have been gone for quite a while but I am back. Not that  I have not been busy. Been doing alot of old man thinking. So I will be seeing you soon.So be seeing you

Goodby Sir Roger Moore...Bond & Templar

 Today the third man to play 007 in the movies and play Simon Templar on Television died. I have written a few blogs on Bond and Templar so I  thought I would write a short few more words.. He lived a long life , an interesting life. Whether he was a member of The Mavericks or Bond he was an old fashion movie star. He did work for UNICEF using his star power for good.  Though he was not able to revive The Saint {one of last projects}. He dies as a man who was part of a rich & interesting era now gone by still influential. So goodby Sir Roger. RIP

Thinking About 1967 in 2017

 I have been really busy the last couple of months.....Traveling around North Carolina , Blue Ridge Parkway , Asheville , a  good size VW car show in N.C. Working on my health etc. Anyway , I am searching a road in my hometown {South Schodack Road}. Doing some research there and planning a dig. But as a side event I am going back 50yrs to 1967. It started with a lecture on CSPAN TV from a panel of historians and one archeologist discussing the year. This was in January of this year. As I dwell in that old era perhaps that year has more to it than I would have thought. Done a couple of interviews so far and a little basic googling. By the end of the year I will see if it is worth a blog or two. I know what your thinking......what the hell kind of life does he live. Oh by the way in Asheville I finally gave into a long held temptation.....with my history / archeology hobby. I bought an Indiana Jones hat. So I guess I go on these quests to make myself worthy of  THE HAT. Be Seeing You.

Goodby GM.'s Opel Subsidary in Europe

Last week GM closed a deal to sell their Opel Division in Europe. Well as some readers may know during the 60's and 70's Opel was a brand sold in North America.  For a few short yrs the brand really did give the VW imports a run for their money in our market.  For those that are to young to remember they were a line of cars from a basic small  Kadet to a Opel GT sports car.  They had a fastback , station wagon and a sedan called an Opel Rallye which was the car I wanted as a young man. I have a poster of one in my home office. It is derived from an ad in 1967 , the year they introduced  the model.  It talks about the more powerful engine , 24% more horsepower. Dual carbs and exhaust.Steel belted radials. Rally lights which  really functioned as fog lights. They said the cockpit  was worthy of a "fine road machine". The price in 1967......2,192 dollars. She was the kind of semi sport car that didn't look so hot but  could move and handle quite well especially on the back roads  of my hometown of Schodack NY. 
 My mother owned the basic Kadet , that she drove to work when she was the Town Clerk. in the 60's and early 70's. She would not buy a VW Beetle even though she loved them because of WW1 and WW2 and the brands association with one Adolf Hitler. It was a boxy little car that had a very small engine but was fun to drive....really. My friend Ron Kunicki loved to drive it. One late summer long weekend we drove it all the way to SUNY Fredonia dropping off people to college along the way.
 Perhaps at a car show you might see one but from talking to some people that owned one they have fond memories associated with that car brand. One Robin Zimmer with her Opel station wagon related to me how she used to love passing big trucks on gradients with it. It probably brought out the wild woman in her as she was the quiet type in high school LOL. So anyway , fond memories aside it was an important section of automotive history. Decently priced cars , that were overall the reliable second family car or starter car of my generation. I thought it deserved  a bit  of a send off from me. Who owned one and enjoyed it. Goodby GM's Opel and thanks.

Secret Masonic Lodge NYS Capitol

 I am not really a conspiracy kind of guy. I don't see world domination groups in various corners of the world. However , I do know of a semi Masonic order that was located near the State Capitol  Bld in Albany New York. I suppose I should tell you first how I know this......well I had an uncle {now long dead} who was in the NYS Assembly in the 1960's.. He told me about it in the 1980's shortly before his death. He came from Rensselear County in upstate NY. Recently I interviewed a former higher up member of the NYS Secretary of States Dept. Reluctantly , he told me about it. So here is what I know.
 It was started during the Alfred E. Smith era  when he was Governor in the teens and twenties. It is rumored he was himself a member. It was located away from the Capitol in a private club an example being The Fort Orange Club. Members included elected state political figures members of the Governor's office and various other state dept. One had to go through  what they called a {service}. One pledged silence , brotherhood  and what they referred to as  { civic cooperation}. One was "tapped"  for membership by a mysterious person only referred to as "The Butler".  Membership I was told by my uncle was highly selective. It costs 500.00 dollars in 1962 to join. The most important element for one to be chosen was the ability to keep ones mouth shut about your membership. What was discussed in the lodge was usually NYS business , politics ,  deals.
 So.....now you know what I know.....by the way I doubt it still exists to be honest. Though it is not something one can easily inquire about. Animo non Astutia

Small Pet Graveyard Castleton NY 12033

 Castleton NY is a small village in the upstate region. It has seen better days. The manufacturing is gone , the main street business district is all but disappeared. It is now a bedroom community. In better times a great house was built on a street called Green Avenue.....somewhat mansion like. Next to it is a seniors development called Castle Hill built on old Hudson farm property. Between them is the remnant of an old bridle path used as recently as the mid 1970's by one of the previously owners the Lindy family. They also had a ski rope tow in the back wooded area. As a young kid I walked that area and set off to confirm an old memory. About 100 or so feet from the street I discovered the remnants of an old pet graveyard. Started in the early 1930's by a couple who lived there untill the early sixties. They would use old pieces of 2 by 4's as grave markers. Much has disappeared over the years and grown over. But with careful searching I found the location. The marker I found and examined was I believe was a dog named Shep that died in 1946 as was stated on the marker. Took time to clean it off and read it. Since been returned. To create this I presume that those dog owners truely loved their pets and visited . A memorial I believe built with love and concern and a ration of grief. People do love their pets. Rediscovered for a moment as it all returns to dust and ashes.RIP.

A Son's Promise To His Father Post 2016 Election

 My Father was a lifelong resident of the Town of Schodack NY 12033. He was in local politics for 40 straight years in elected office. 20 yrs as Supt. of Highways , 20 as Town Supervisor. He was a Republican. His brother was a State Assemblyman and State Senator and his wife was a 3 term Town Clerk.
 At the odd age of 54 he had a son from his 43 yr old wife. He began to drive a school bus for the Schodack Central School part time to make ends meet.  Local Pols were not paid much back then. So you see I was raised in a very Republican home.
Many years later in Maple Hill High School. I was told a story by an English / History teacher at Maple Hill High School that in 1928 a large KKK rally was held in our town to protest the run for President by our then Govenor Alfred E. Smith. The Klan was a powerful force in America back then. Smith lost , Hoover won. My father reluctantly agreed to discuss it with me......afterall .....that story had gotten buried , rarely if ever brought up. I had never heard about it. None of my friends had. He told me that many people were terrified , the few Jewish families were very fearful. He knew all of them because they were all Freemasons. The few black families in some cases fled for a time. A couple never returned. They held a night bon fire   preached their hate. The Catholic families kept their lights off in their houses that night. Terror gripped many people who were not"the right kind of American" My father and a couple of other Town officials walked the streets in order to main order and hopefully hold down the fear. You seehe knew many of the people who participated in the rally. My Father referred to them as ignorant. He spent the next election proclaiming a fact he was proud of.....I am of the party of Lincoln. A phrase one does not hear anymore.
 A couple of years later he lay dying at Albany Medical Center. He was then 74. He called me to his by side because he was worried about his son's future. You see I was a child of my times , he thought me quite radical. He asked me to keep a level head and to not stray to far from a sensible middle path in life. We also discussed our difficult relationship with our ages being so radically apart. He said "well you were a hell of surprise but I did the best I could." I paused and said thank you father. I looked at him and I said I promised to stay on the level path.
 Now Donald Trump is President elect. He has just selected  a man I and millions of others consider a White Separatist and Brightbart bigot. his name Steve Bannon. Donald has also referred to many minorities in what I consider racist ways.
 Father I kept my promise to you. Donald Trump  does not have my support as you did not support the KKK.
 You may wonder why I wrote this. Well an old high school friend  on facebook requested to me that I express what I feel. She feels Facebook has gotten way out of control with all the hate. So Kathy Meyer this blog is dedicated to you and thank you for your friendship. Now you know where I stand.