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Election Days

Albany mayor

Many voters in New York State have election days in May and June. On May 20, there will be the Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election in most geographies. The polling places may or may not be at the location of the general election.

In the city of Albany, there is also the Albany Public Library budget and selection of two library trustees. You’ll find a lot of information here. “The proposed 2025-2026 tax levy of $8,257,997 reflects a 5% increase over last year’s operating budget tax levy. The increase is under this year’s New York State tax cap for APL.” Yes, I’m supporting the budget. There were a few years in the past decade when no increase was requested, and I thought it was shortsighted at the time.

The five candidates, listed in ballot order, are:
(1) Aidan Hennessey of Grand St., 12202
(2) Christina Wiggins of State St., 12203
(3) Shaniqua Jackson of Patroon Creek Blvd., 12206
(4) Michele Greenblatt of South Main Ave., 12208
(5) Rachael Vonada of Mountainview Ave., 12208

The trustee forum can be watched using the above link. I attended the May 6 event and have my preferences.

I’ve seen the earlier printed material for Christina Wiggins when she was running for both the Common Council (the city council) and the library trustee. Even though she didn’t make it on the Common Council ballot, I thought the move showed incredible hubris. Moreover, her “No to the property tax increase” – does she mean the school district, the library, or both? – I disagree with.

Michele Greenblatt’s recent Facebook posts display a mixed bag on freedom of expression.

This leaves three. Rachael Vonada had the most support in the room. A library insider is a fan, so YES. Aiden Hennessey’s responses were fine, but Shaniqua Jackson’s seemed more thoughtful, so I’ll likely vote for her.

Albany mayor

Someone asked me in October 2024 about my assessment of candidates for Albany’s next mayor. At the time, Corey Ellis had not entered the race, but he has since.

I wrote that by March, I’d know who I supported in the Democratic primary, tantamount to an election. One person I know well is strong on the “outsider.” I have read that he is “in the pocket of out-of-state, right-wing capital.” But I’ve also heard that this characterization was a smear campaign by one of his opponents, the one I don’t particularly like, so I don’t know what to think.

To date, none of them have filled out a Ballotpedia survey.

Here’s a WRGB debate from April 30. One of my acquaintances rightly complained about the mayoral candidates’ answers about parking downtown. “One chided about getting parking tickets while they live within a mile, another said we can’t grow the city without more parking.” But studies find that, compared to other cities, real estate eaten up by parking vehicles in Albany is not out of the ordinary. I still haven’t decided.

I know even less about other races, such as the city auditor contest. So, I’m open to persuasion. That primary election is Tuesday, June 24.

Pain in the left Achilles

“Stop doing activities that stress your tendon”

I’ve mentioned a pain in my left Achilles. I went to my podiatrist, who referred me to an imaging place, where I got an ultrasound. When I went back to my podiatrist, he assumed that I had a tear but was pleased that it was only a pull.

From the Mayo Clinic: “Achilles tendinitis is an injury of the Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon. It can be caused by using it too much or too hard without enough rest, called overuse. Or it can develop without a clear cause.” This is the situation I’m in. I didn’t do anything that would have obviously aggravated it.

“The Achilles tendon is the band of tissue that joins calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone.” It hurts when I walk.

My podiatrist suggested rest, and then after a couple of weeks, physical therapy. The Cleveland Clinic notes:

Nonsurgical Achilles tendinitis treatments include the RICE method:

Rest: Stop doing activities that stress your tendon. Switch to low-impact activities, such as swimming, that put less stress on your Achilles tendon.
Ice: Put ice on your tendon for up to 20 minutes, as needed throughout the day.
Compression: Compress, or put pressure on, your tendon using an athletic wrap or surgical tape.
Elevation: To reduce swelling, lie down and raise your foot on pillows so it’s above your heart.

Goody, goody. Lately, I’ve often used my cane, not just on uneven surfaces. It’s instrumental in getting off buses and down the stairs; down is harder than up. I’ll probably use an Uber more often in the near term.

Because of a found letter

very good grandma

I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother-in-law, Joyce, recently, in part because of a found letter. She has moved twice in the last five years, which has to be disruptive. In April 2020, her husband Richard died; a little over a year later, she moved to a senior living center near Albany.

Then, in March 2025, she moved to another location in the Albany metro area. She had to shed a lot of items, so after her last move, a whole bunch of her stuff ended up in our living room.

We came across a letter she had written to the widow of her late son John from March 2004. She must have made a copy or printed it twice, which I found charming. I did something like that in the ’70s and ’80s, using carbon paper.

The letter was very newsy. She mentioned that my wife was due with our child in short order. The twins had turned three, and the other granddaughter, MP, was a tad younger, but they were all thriving. I recall that she was a very good grandma.

When MP became the first of her granddaughters to get married in April, my MIL was invited. But it would have been an onerous trip. My wife and I took 7 1/2 hours to travel from Albany to southern Pennsylvania.

Two weekends later, the bride and her new husband came to visit grandma, and it wasn’t one perfunctory visit. They saw her four times in two days, which made Joyce very happy. She was also thrilled that the young couple could use some of the furniture that won’t fit in her new space, as she desires to keep the items in the family.

Photograph

Here’s a picture of Joyce’s four granddaughters, probably taken by my late FIL in 2006 or so, and embossed on a handful of mugs. Everyone in the family seems to love this photo. Interestingly, the shortest is now the tallest, and vice versa.

Happy Mother’s Day to Joyce, Carol, Leslie, Marcia, Tracy, Leanne and all of you moms out there.

Sunday Stealing — Bathroom Break

Can This Marriage Be Saved?

The Bathroom Break meme of Sunday Stealing is unusual. “First, we’re stealing from a blogging couple: Jeff and Charli Lee. You don’t see married boggers every day. Second, they appear to have come up with this idea themselves. No theft involved! Let’s see how it goes.”

The Bathroom Meme

1. Do you shampoo once or lather, rinse, and repeat?

Once. There just isn’t that much hair to shampoo.

2. Do you use conditioner a) daily, b) when you need it, c) never?

When I think of it, which is about once a month, if it happens to be in the shower.

3. What’s your shaving cream preference: foam or gel?

Neither. I haven’t shaved in decades, and back then, I don’t recall anything except foam. I initially grew a beard out of preference and the pain of ingrown facial hairs. It’s also because my vitiligo is strong on my lower face.

4. Is your toothbrush manual or electric?

Electric. Apparently, I don’t do it well enough for the manual brush, according to my dental hygienist.

5. Dental floss, soft picks, neither, or both?

Soft picks.

6. Do you use mouthwash a) daily, b) when you need it, c) never?

Roughly daily.

Bathroom mags

7. Are there magazines in your bathroom?

Yes, but there would be more if it didn’t irritate my wife. I grew up reading magazines in the bathroom, mostly Reader’s Digest and The Ladies Home Journal, specifically the Can This Marriage Be Saved column. Here’s a 2014 piece from Huff Post berating said column.

8. Is there bar soap or liquid soap on your bathroom sink?

Liquid and bar. I use the former.

9. What kind of soap is in your shower?

Liquid and bar. I use the latter, but I like that hotels use refillable body wash dispensers.

10. Now for the most important question: Does the toilet paper drape over or under?

As the Dave Clark Five sang, Over and Over.

Incidentally, the picture above is from our 2015 bathroom renovation, which I wrote about here.

The 1945 #1 hits

Les Brown, Bing Crosby, Harry James

Here are the 1945 #1 hits, when World War II finally ended. Because there were multiple charts, there were 73 weeks of recordings. I recognize many songs, though I hadn’t been born yet.

Rum and Coca-Cola – Andrews Sisters (Decca), 10 weeks at #1, gold record

Till The End Of Time – Perry Como, the orchestra conducted by Russell Case (Victor), 10 weeks at #1, gold record. Based on Chopin’s Polonaise.

Sentimental Journey – Les Brown and his orchestra with Doris Day (Columbia), nine weeks at #1. gold record

On The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe – Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and his orchestra (Capitol), eight weeks at #1. From the MGM picture Harvey Girls.

My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time – Les Brown and his orchestra with Doris Day, (Columbia), seven weeks at #1, from In Society.

There! I Said It Again – Vaughn Monroe, his orchestra, and the Norton Sisters (Victor), six weeks at #1, gold record. The song went to #1, covered by Bobby Vinton, early in 1964; the next #1 was I Want To Hold Your Hand by some British Invasion group.

I Can’t Begin To Tell You – Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro at the piano (Decca), six weeks at #1, gold record

A very goofy song

Chickery Chick – Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye with Nancy Norman, Billy Williams, and the Kaye Choir (Victor), four weeks at #1

It’s Been A Long, Long Time – Harry James and his orchestra with Kitty Kallen (Columbia), three weeks at #1. Written by Sammy Kahn and Jule Styne

I’m Beginning To See The Light – Harry James and his orchestra with Kitty Kallen (Columbia), 2 weeks at #1—Co-written by Duke Ellington, James, and two others.

Ac-Cent-Tch-Ate The Positive – Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers, orchestra conducted by Paul Weston (Capitol), two weeks at #1. Written by Mercer-Harold Arlen, from the film Here Come The Waves

It’s Been A Long, Long Time – Bing Crosby with Les Paul and his trio (Decca), two weeks at #1. Written by Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn

White Christmas – Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers, orchestra conducted by John Scott Trotter (Decca), two weeks at #1. This is the 1942 version which was #1 for 11 weeks that year and a week in 1946. After that, the 1947 version predominated in recordings and airplay.

Candy – Johnny Mercer with Jo Stafford, the Pied Pipers, and Paul Weston and his orchestra (Capitol)

Dream – The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and his orchestra (Capitol). Written by Johnny Mercer