The Last Week of September; some Ebbs & Flows

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.

You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

I feel like this is the beginning,
Though I've loved you for a million years,
And if I thought our love was ending,
I'd find myself drowning in my own tears

You are the sunshine of my life,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

You must have known that I was lonely,
Because you came to my rescue,
And I know that this must be heaven,
How could so much love be inside of you?

You are the sunshine of my life, yeah,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

[Background] Love has joined us,
Love has joined us,
Let's think sweet love Stevie Wonder

Had a bit of a disappointment handed to me this week. Because of the result of a civil service test I had taken back in May, a test that I had scored 68 out of 70 correct~~~to which NYS Civil Service scored me as 100, I was canvassed for a F/T clerical position at the E H Butler Library, at Buffalo State College. To say the least~~~I thought I had died and went to heaven being presented this opportunity. I mean, on and off~~~I have 'lived' at this library for the last two years!!

I followed all the protocol. I got the Canvass Letter into their HR Department on time. I followed that up with a phone call. And then I followed that up with a Thank You card. Scoring 100, and being handicapped and in a scooter apparently still doesn't cut the mustard. Apparently the HR Department at Buffalo State College, only interviewed scorers in the 115 to 110 percentile range. These had to have been individuals that scored well and had veterans credits additionally placed unto their score. Full-time, location, familiarity with facility~~~and some of the library staff~~~had made-to-order written all over it. Can only hope and pray that the Good Lord has another avenue for me to pursue. But this was a tough pill to swallow.

Had a pretty interesting Wednesday. I mean~~~like at one point, I'm out in Lakeview NY, in the early AM, and I have Blaine Wegrzynowski calling me on the cell-phone to see if I'm near a computer so I can do a Dialing-for-Dollars kind of thing to go after tickets for upcoming theatrical performances in the area. No doubt, I had to pass on that!!! I was in Lake View NY participating in a function that we at The Belle Center and the Portal Program have been awaiting for a long time now. Below is an essay summation that I had prepared for our weekly meeting.

The 6th Annual WNY~~~Construction Career Days

With the caption~~~We Built This City...You Can Too!.
This 2-day event was a resounding success. Even the threat of rain, on the Wednesday activity, or the steady rain of Thursday, would not put a damper on any of the program elements.

Spread out over many many acres of tents, causeways, and excavation & grading sites, there was something substantive to sink your teeth into, EVERYWHERE!!!

The event took place September 29 & 30, 2010 at~~~~ The I U O E Local #17 Training Facility, Lakeview NY 14085.

Under the auspices of James A. Smolinski Jr., Administrative Manager of The Local 17, and several key operatives; to mention a few, Gary Bernardo, Field Coordinator of The N Y S Laborers Union, John Sullivan and Kelly M. Andolino-Perry of the ECC Recruitment Office, the theme of this extravaganza is substantive work-world-readiness.

Through the generosity of organized labor, its various classroom structures and hands-on entry-level apprenticeship training programs, adults of any gender, race, or economic and social status can enjoy a middle-class life-style by pursuing a career in the trades and vocations.

Every trade and vocation was represented. Each one had their Dedicated Area~~~where they were allowed to demonstrate their purpose and significance. And certainly, the tents and lean-to coverings, helped!! The trades such as the electricians, surveyors, millwrights, carpenters, welders, painters, pipe-fitters, roofers, masons, plumbers, iron-workers, heavy equipment operators, sheet metal workers, drywall installers, steelworkers, road pavers, concrete finishers, boilermakers, plasterers, elevator/escalator constructors, truck drivers, and others who work hard everyday building America, with good pay~~~and good benefits, were represented. As a fair footnote, I should also add that the Associated Builders & Contractors; WNY Regional Office, Empire State Chapter was present as well. This organization provides the same classroom/hands-on training apparatus, on a merit-shop(non-union) basis. They strive to put forth the same success-stories for the candidates that pass through their doors, as well.

The Belle Center and the Portal Program participated on Wednesday. The chaperons that attended were Michael Szymanski, The Director of the Portal Program, and Lou Marconi, Operations Specialist, and The Portal Program's strong voice advocating the purpose and significance of trade & vocational careers.

The Portal Program candidates that participated in this treasure-trove of possibilities, was Paula Lizarondo, Colleena Crespo, William Goldstein, Rashad Younger, Chaz Casterline, and Ricardo Perez.

What was especially prideful and powerful was watching some of our Portal Program members, actually stepping-up-to-the-plate, and~~~with instructors present~~~actually operating some of the equipment. William and Rashad did some excavating~~~with some actual tracked/bucket earth-moving-equipment. Chaz and Ricardo tried their welding skills on a virtual-reality viewing/scoring monitor. And the 'visual' that made my day, was observing our Paula Lizarondo climb into a Crane that was anchored with the out-legs. With the encouragement of the near-by instructor, Paula is yawing the crane-turret to the left; thence to the right, with the confidence of a skilled tactician. With just as much ease, she is raising and lowering the crane boom, and hook & payload.

Image doing that for $35.00/hour, plus benefits!!

So I get back to The Belle Center, to catch my breath~~~just so I can get ready to enjoy a Wednesday evening at Malone's Restaurant in Kenmore NY with some very very good friends that I have come to know from my grade-school and high-school days. Had to get some residual matters tucked away, but I was able to get to Malone's~~~on time!!! It was pretty interesting, actually. We had put this together because an old friend from my grade-school/high schools days, Bob Marzullo, was up from Florida, visiting Family. And of course around the family, Bobby wanted to catch up with what was going on with his friends, as well. Certainly, with Bobby now retired, the conversations and perspectives got to be very interesting and animated. Twelve people altogether, showed up. Some of the regulars included Norb Warnes, Joe Barrile, Susan McKnight, and Maria Mulder Herberger~~~while we even had some newcomers that included Cathedral Grade School/Cardinal Dougherty High Schooler, Michael Pagano.

On Saturday, we will be attending Duff's on Sheridan Dr & Millersport Hwy. If one is going to be in Buffalo and taking in the Restaurant scene, at some point one has to do a 'Wing' Thing!!! So Saturday we will come together, over chicken wings!! Should be as much fun as it always is; especially if we end up closing up Duff's. Like we did Malone's.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise