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Odds & Split Ends
1. Many readers may recall Al Ryan, a native Rouses Pointer, who brought the Florida Nationals amateur baseball team to the North Country for several summers. He recently sent me an e-mail informing me of a "Clinton County chatroom" on the web. Al hopes it will provide an interesting meeting place to refresh memories and get reacquainted with old friends. It was created only about a week ago, but has already provided some interesting topics. It can be found at www.starchat.net/connect.htm. It may take a little searching initially, but look for clinton-county-ny to get to the right room. Good luck and I may see you there. Maybe Al will even comment here and clarify.
2. Recently while enjoying a cold beverage and a bag of salt and pepper potato chips, I was joined by longtime friend John Pelkey. John had spent the day working on his new home on Cumberland Head and figured he deserved a cold beverage, too. I told him about this blog and how one of his old favorite stops, the Korina, had been mentioned. John might be the only one in the world who knows where the name "Korina" came from. Before I spill the beans, does anyone know that trivia question?
3. My search for a photograph of the grandstand at the old Bailey Avenue baseball diamond has ended without success. Nothing in the Press Republican archives and even Ed Lavigne, who was the public-address announcer from that grandstand for many years, was unable to find a photo.
4. One of my neighbors brought me a little bottle of British Sterling men's cologne. Boy, did that bring back the memories. That was one of my high school favorites, not that it lured many ladies my way. But it was my "smell good" of choice when I headed out for a high school dance. The same neighbor told me that his older brother loved Canoe, which I don't recall. My dad's choice was Old Spice. I remember Hai-Karate. According to the commercials, you had to fight the girls off with a little dose of that stuff. Yah, right! I bought a case of that in college. Went home alone every night! I had a frat brother who used Polo, one of the most dangerous colognes going. Too much of that and you announce your arrival before you are even in the front door. One of the popular new colognes for men is Tag. I've tried it. I think it works!
5. Some people have asked about one of my first blogs titled "A Tale of a Tail" (Dec 13, 2005). My endeavor to grow a ponytail has been frustrating. I thought that all you do is not get a haircut for a few months and then slap a rubber band around the extra growth and you have a ponytail. Not so easy. Something most guys don't know about is split ends. When my hairdresser (I can't believe I said that!) saw my hair a few weeks ago, she said that some of it had to be cut because of split ends. So off came some of the hair that seemed to take months to grow. Also, my so-called ponytail still curls up like fourth-grade girl's ponytail. It's been almost a year in the making and I still don't have the ponytail I want. Some people have told me to "just give up, Foxy!" For now I'm taking the advice of my closest advisor, and she says, "Don't cut it, Foxy!"
6. I'm back at work this week. Working everyday, I mean. After a year and a month of retirement from teaching, I'm back at Stafford Middle School as a substitute teacher in the English department. That means setting the alarm clock at bedtime. That means falling asleep before the musical guests on Letterman. That means showering at 7am. That means no nine-o'clock in the morning breakfast. That means no one-in-the-afternoon nap. That means no hanging out at the post office talking with friends. Life sure is different when you have to work!
Comments
Tried to get the Clinton County chat room...no luck. wonder if someone you know could help. Thanks for your great blogs, Foxy..
(Foxy's note: Hopefully, Al Ryan will read this and send me an e-mail, requesting your e-mail address. He should be able to help you, Ray!)
Posted by: Ray Ducatte | October 20, 2006 12:07 PM
as predicted "old timer" was an old spice man...but I 've found another canoe man from the sixies and says he can't believe you don't remember canoe! Mr J Carr vividly recalls in the mid to late sixties that none of you actually bought cologne, you all just stopped by meyer's drug store and bellied up to the sample counter before heading out on the town...
Personally I preferred Brut. On sort of the same line I seem to recall during the period of British Sterling , Canoe, English Leather...most of you (especially Bullet and Flukie) loaded up with the "Butch Wax"! I think alot of the 60's high school and legion players used it for 2 reasons..their hair and more importantly to doctor up their pitches....
now that was some nasty stuff...remember it???
Posted by: the carver | October 20, 2006 8:39 AM
Hi Mike
Good to see your blog and to hear you will try to get into the chatroom. I look forward to it.
That other International Basketball League team was Montpelier, Vt----by the way.
One other thing. If u run across anyone who might have Jim Brannigan's E-Mail addy, try and swipe it for me. I had it. We used to correspond but--it somehow got purged from my files. I have a feeling he might be interested in the chatroom if he knew about it.
Kindest regards
Al (DOD2243)
Ps. The room is off to a good start and Foxy's blog has really helped. Thanks once again Foxy
al
Posted by: al | October 20, 2006 12:24 AM
Put the T-Tops in the trunk, pop a Conway Twitty in the 8-track and enjoy the scent of English Leather coming from the driver's side - and the rest as they say...is history! Oh yeah -those were the days my friend!
(Foxy's note: Sweet memories, huh?)
Posted by: diane | October 19, 2006 9:49 PM
Al:
Good to see that you still remember the North Country. I am sure you remember the good old days of our International Basketball League with Ottawa, Montreal, the Rouses Point Rangers (your team) McMartin Motors and I believe it was St. Johnsbury or St. Albans, Vermont that had the other team.
There were some very talented players and a truly competitive league. Good time was had by all.
Many of us remember how you continually brought your Florida baseball teams to the North Country and regularly kicked butt. Great competition for our kids and lots of good memories.
Being technologically challanged as I am I hope to check you out at this new site, I will probably need Foxy's help and that no doubt will cost me a Bloody Mary at Bobby's.
Have a great day.
(Foxy's note: I'll be glad to help you, Mike, but it might take three or four computer counseling-bloody mary sessions to give you all the information needed!)
Posted by: Mike Mannix | October 19, 2006 9:30 AM
I am sure that over the years I have tried many different types of after-shave. Being a teacher I would receive numerous types at Christmas. English Leather, Canoe and Avon being the most popular. I would box up most of these and share them with my father and brothers. Also had enough left over for a few friends. For over 20 years we never had to buy one single sample of after-shave. I myself was and still am an "Old Spice" man. From the time I was 16 to the present it served me well. I do remember a female friend talking me into using "Musk" but that was short lived as I retreated back to the Old Spice. As an aside I'm glad that you had the good fortune to run into John Pelkey. It was always nice and enjoyable to sit and chat with him over a few cold ones. I was a friend of his brother Joe. John was much younger than we were but was a good student and learned well. I think he did his internship at the Korina.
Posted by: The Old Timer | October 19, 2006 8:48 AM
Welcome back into the working world with the rest of us working stiffs. What happens when the Series starts late or goes into extra innings, does the substitute get a substitute?
Posted by: Chris Heckard | October 19, 2006 8:33 AM
Al & Foxy, Thanks for the info on the chatroom. Looking forward to seeing both of you in there, and maybe meet some old and new friends!! Foxy, thanks for the trip down memory lane in the cologne department at the old Kings Department Store!!
Posted by: Steve | October 19, 2006 7:06 AM
Hi Foxy
thank you for mentioning the new clinton-county-ny chatroom.
We are getting some interesting folks and it's a great way to renew old North Country acquaintances and meet current residents as well.
There are several methods people use to gain access to the room in Starchat.
I am told downloading starpirch, registering (it's free) and then filing the room with favorites for easy access may be the best way to go.
It is also webtv friendly. Easiest way on webtv may be to go chat on one's home page, click on chat at top of page and then select Starchat when offered chat service options. Then, just follow the instructions.
I look forward to perhaps seeing you in the room and would love to see a number of your regular bloggers as well. We could all exchange some interesting Plattsburgh area stories - in real time, I am sure.
Thanks again & keep up the good work here on your blog.
By the way. If anyone is having trouble accessing, they may feel free to E-mail me at dod2243@webtv.net.
Thanks again.
Al (DOD2243)
Posted by: Al | October 18, 2006 6:00 PM
Foxy, I have never smelled "Tag" but, the old traditional, "English Leather" still works for some guys and "Black Suede" is a winner,too. I'll look for you on the site you mentioned. Most importantly, as you're rolling out of bed before daylight, just remember that the kids that will have you as a substitute that day will be better off because of it.
(Foxy's note: Kathy, thanks! I'll think of that tomorrow at 6am!)
Posted by: Kathy | October 18, 2006 5:41 PM