Catharsis

Paul A. Burdette, 95, of Elkview went home to be with the Lord on March 20, 2008 at home after a long illness. He has joined the Lord, his wife, Mary Bell and his son, David in his eternal home.
He was the former owner and manager of Ashmore Optical which closed in April 2007. He worked as an optician in the Charleston area for over 75 years. He started his optician apprenticeship with American Optical, and later worked for Mr. Cotton at Cotton Optical. He started at Ashmore Optical after WWII with O.L. Ashmore who promoted him to the position of dispensing optician. In 1957, he purchased Ashmore Optical Co. and retained the name of the company. He was a long term member of the Guild of Opticians and took great pride in his work. He enjoyed many of his customers over the years and always looked forward to solving their optical needs with the help of his beloved employees, who had all worked with him for the last 30 years.
During the summers, he looked forward to his weekends waterskiing and boating on the Kanawha River with family and friends. His leisure time was otherwise spent mowing his lawn astride his Power King mower and working outside. He was also an avid reader when weather would not permit him the luxury of being outside.
He served in the Navy as Chief Petty Officer on a destroyer during WWII and crossed the Atlantic 42 times during his term of duty. He was a member of Charleston Baptist Temple where he enjoyed many a church weekend retreat and the special Sunday School classes.
He was born July 26, 1912 as son of Braden B. Burdette and Grace Young Burdette. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Bell Trent Burdette, and his son, David Kenneth Burdette.
Left to cherish his memory are his two daughters, Kay Ellen Burdette Frank of Cleveland, OH and Kirtha Bell Burdette Day of Elkview ; his brother, Kenneth Russell Burdette of Charleston; his son in law, Michael Robert Frank, of Cleveland, OH and his daughter in law, Charlotte J. Rose Burdette of Elkview. He is mourned by his grandsons, Shawn C. Burdette and wife Emma of Willington, CT, Chad A. Burdette of Ravina, NY and Seth A. Burdette of Irwin, PA and his granddaughters, Jessica K. Day Mason of Frederick MD, and Valerie R. Day of Elkview and many nieces and nephews.

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On Thurday evening, March 20 my grandfather passed away, he was 95 (almost 96) years young. While it came as no surprise since his health had taken a down turn, it still hurts to see a member of the family go. The thing that makes it worse was that being so far away that I didn't get to see him as much as I used to since moving to New York. Before moving to New York I lived with him during the time I spent between finishing graduate degrees.

The past week for me was a very exhausting and draining one physically, emotionally and mentally. After talking with my aunt the night he passed away the arrangements had not yet been made but were going to take place after Easter. Thinking I would have at least Monday to make my plans to attend the services so I dropped my suit which I had just had altered off at the dry cleaners Friday morning with the intention of picking it up Monday before I left to go to WV. I was 2/3 the way to my older brothers house later that day (to have Easter dinner with his in-laws) my mother called and said "What's your plans" to which I replied ...going to Conn. She then proceeded to tell me that the visitation was Monday and the funeral Tuesday. Not knowing what my brothers plans were at that time I continued to Conn. as planned.

I ended up leaving Boston at 1:45 pm on Sunday after having Easter lunch, drove back over to Albany got to the house at 4pm picked up my suit which my landlord got from the cleaners for me and then left the house at 4:30pm drove all the way to Morgantown, WV arriving at my friends place at 12:30 am. I did not get to sleep until almost 2am that night because my brain was still driving. The whole trip took me through seven states and I only stopped for gas 3 times. I finally got home Monday about 1pm and was still tired from the night before. I finally returned

My grandfather was an amazing and wonderful man. He finally retired at the age of 94 last year when the decision was made to close the optical shop. Words are not enough and I don't have enough space to write all the memories that I had with my grandfather. While I am sad to that he is no longer with us I do know that he lived a full life and is now reunited with his wife and son(my dad) in heaven. While I never got to "say goodbye" in his last days I am sure he knew that he was loved by both firends and family and that he touched us all during his time with us.

Can't think of a Snappy Title...Oh Well!!!

So I am so FREAKING glad February is over...

First ...the most eviliest(now a word) "holiday" happened (Valentine's day)
I spent the second week with the freaking flu...so glad to be breathing w/ both nostrils again
Spent the 2oth doing my what seems to be annual trip to the ER with a severe migraine. The EMT's came to the office and took me out on a stretcher and was in the ER till ~6:30 pm.

mmm drugs....

Let's just say it has been a big hit to my training and attempt to lose weight ...


I am in favor of global warming after the last big snow we had... driving home was a nerve racking experience on the 26th .... did a 270 slide but luckily did not hit anything or damage my car...

Did my taxes...getting $1200 federal back and a whopping $9 back from the great state of NY
add that to my upcoming tax rebate and State worker / PEF union increase/ cost of living increase and I can have a lot of singles..( strip club anyone??...I kidd!).

My landlord gave me her old dryer so all I have to do now is get the new venting duct to go down the friggin hole...

so those are the current highlights of my ever exciting life..

-c

So it has been awhile since I updated:

-Became a certified SPIN instructor & sub at the Y
-Been doing the Triathlon Club training
-got bookshelves

other than that my life continues to suck

-c

Tis' the Season....

...To be Tacky that is. There are only a few things that really put me out of the holiday spirit and yes I guess I am a Scrooge, Grinch, or whatever you want to call it. One thing that really turns me off is the fact that even before Halloween was here this year, I walked into a store and what did I hear...Christmas music. Don't get me wrong there is a time for Christmas music but 2 months away is not that time. Now I can avoid Christmas music in stores easily...it is called shopping on the Internet. This way I don't have to deal with crazy people, traffic, and just plain stupidity. Now I can avoid all these things if I try hard enough, but avoiding the most annoying thing about this time of year is a bit harder. I am talking about people that hove no sense of taste when it comes to decorating the outside of their houses and lawns. Now this can be tastefully done with a few lights or what not but there are some people that have no shame. I am talking about those who have littered their lawns with those abominations known as those INFLATABLE things. Whoever invented these things needs to be shot...many times. When they first came out they were just stationary and now they move...what's next? They make sound? ugh!

Now it wouldn't be so bad but almost everyone who has these in the yard don't have just one but a whole slew of them which makes it much worse. This picture was taken in my neighborhood...these people are lucky I don't own a pellet gun because the temptation for target practice is certainly there. The only people worse then people who put them up at Christmas are those who perpetuate this abomination for every holiday throughout the year. SOme people just have too much money and free time.

IN OTHER NEWS...

MY duplex is actually starting to look like someone lives there. In addition to the couch I got this summer I got a table this weekend at an auction for only $66.
I also put up the painting I brought back with me from home after Thanksgiving...
It was in my grandfather's office and when they closed the place I called dibs on the it because it has always been one of my favorites, plus it is the WV capitol building.
Also in Jan. I am going to become certified to teach Spinning Classes at the YMCA which should not only be fun but also means I will not have to pay a membership fee.

Well as of this post, the 100th post, my Blog is now 2 years old. I would write more but not very many people read it and nothing exciting usually happens which would warrant a blog post.

anyway...

-c

Thanksgiving "Adventure"

So I am sitting here at my friends place in Morgantown, WV, it is Tuesday and I was planning on being at work today. I left Albany the Saturday before Thanksgiving to come to WV. I spent Saturday -Tuesday in Morgantown and then was home until Sunday. My original plan was to drive back u to Morgantown on Sunday, spend the night and leave Monday morning and go back to Albany. Well Sunday as I was driving the ABS light on the car came on and started to ride shakily. So I pulled off the road and turned the car off and figured I could make it to the next exit...I got less then 10 feet. Luckily I was able to get off the road again and sat in the car for over an hour waiting for the tow truck and flinching everytime a tractor trailer went by on the road. Finally the tow truck came and I had him take it to the Ford Dealership where I have had work done before when I was going to WVU.

the damage:
Need the following...
Right and Left wheel barring
Left Rear ABS signal
Left and Right Spindal
Rear Brake shoes
Front pads

=688 + tax

hopefully it will be done this afternoon. Not to mention I have the G.I. Joe USS Flagg, a painting and other stuff in the car. I had a friend pick me up Sunday after the car was dropped off and as we were leaving the lot we were stopped by some cops and I got to play 20 questions as to why we were on the lot when the place was closed. FUN FUN. SO I have spent hte last day and a half in my friends apartment. I have made it through the first and most of the second season of X-Files along with doing what work I can when I can get an internet connection...

Hopefully the car will be done today but not sure if I will leave tonight or wait andleave early tomorrow.

-c

I Like Cereal

And now another "EXCITING" view into my life:

So every now and then PRICE CHOPPER, one of the grocery chains of the Northeast, has sales on Kellogg's cereal. Last February was the first time that I actually found out about this 'event.' I eat cereal at my desk every morning when I get into work. Back in Feb. one of my coworkers informed me that Price Chopper was having 1/2 on Kellogg's brand cereal and I should take advantage of the opportunity. So I decided that I would and probably ended up spending close to $50 on All Bran .

mmmm....All Bran....

Well a few weeks ago they had the sale again and I took full advantage of it again. Unlike last time I decided to diversify my cereal haul. So after spending close to $100 (which really was like $50) I am good on cereal for awhile.


The All Bran is still left over from last time...but still good date-wise.

See the excitement never stops...

-c

And So It Has Come To This....

So it's been awhile since I made an actual post here that was actual worth reading. This has been due to a combination of things: wifi troubles at home, being gone on weekends, a lack of anything that is too exciting , continued wrist issues, and just simple not wanting to share.

Labor Day weekend was fun. Spent it in NH with some friends ...what happens in NH, stays in NH

Also went down to Reading, PA for comic book thing and got to meet alot of people and got to be apart of a podcast recording.

Artist Mike Norton

Last weekend, my friends from Boston, my brother, and a friend from WV came up and we went to the WVU-Syracuse football game.


So those few things have been the high points of the past month or so. Also spent the week before the football game over in Boston helping my friends reroofing their house which left me exhausted, sore and sunburned but I enjoyed it. Other then these things I have basically spent my time working, listening to my new Sirius radio (love the Howard Stern show) and proving that I have absolutely no life what-s0-ever by wasting my time play The Sims out of sheer boredom. I still go to the gym but since my wrist is still giving me trouble (have to have it MRI'ed) so I have not been able to workout as much and have continued to put on weight. While I have a few things planned the next couple weekends my life continues to be boring and full of a whole lot of nothing,

Burning Bridges

Ever just come to a point where you just want to start burning bridges (not literally)?

Physical Torture

It has been 2 weeks since my last post...I was traveling last weekend so I did not get a chance to post, not that a lot happened that would be considered blog worthy.

Since my last post I have been going to physical (torture) therapy for 2 weeks now. I am almost certain the guy who has been working with me did a stint at Guantanamo or the Abu Ghrab prison. The first time I went in he took measurements of my range of motion and said that they were normal for someone who had been immobilized for 2 months and said I should get full range of motion back. The other sessions have been him manipulating my wrist and me trying not to slug him so he will stop. So far the most painful session was the last one. I was in training all day and had to take notes so my wrist and hand were already sore from that then I had to go to PT right afterwards. It has been so bad I have had to rehab from the rehab at Chili's across the road. I still have a limited range of motion but can make a fist and give a "thumbs up" which I couldn't do before, have trouble carrying heavy things, and still favor my left side.

Other than that things have slowly gotten back to the way they were before... with the exception that my insomnia has decided to return. I don't know if this is due to rolling over on my arm at night, being used to drugging myself with pain meds, or lack of exercising. Speaking of which I have started doing the cycling classes again even though my wrist hurts doing it and I am way out of shape.

I have also decided to start looking for furniture for my place. As much as I would like to be a minimalist I guess on the rare occasion that someone might come over they might like to sit some place other than the floor.

Pretty much things just keep chugging along in the boring, monotonous pattern that they have been following with little indication that things are going to change anytime soon.

-c