Wednesday morning: Sunny in the North Country . . .

1.Yes, the posts are few and for between, even though I am spending at least as much time -- if not more -- in front of the computer. I spent a chunk of yesterday revamping my resume -- with help from a number of friends. I also got some application letters out, did some writing for Short Pours, my beer blog, and starting firming up my assignments for the state public schools boys' basketball tournament this weekend. I will be spending this Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- and the same three days next week as well -- at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Should be good.

2. I keep wanting to take a trip to New York City. Now I discover that one of the things you can do is learn how to drive a Zamboni.

How utterly cool!

Could that be a legitimate training expense for my job search.

3. There will be little acknowledgment of St. Patrick's Day here in the Liamverse. My grandmother Donovan came from Ireland, so I am as Irish as I am Italian (and more Portuguese than anything else). Drinking to try to get stupid-drunk is not one of my hobbies, so I won't be going out tonight. Same for New Year's Eve.

4. There is some good news for same-sex marriage in the story about Hiram Monserrate failing to win his New York State Senate seat back.

New York Times

Mr. Montserrate, who was expelled from the State Senate after being convicted of assaulting his companion, was handily defeated on Tuesday by José R. Peralta in a special election in Queens for Mr. Monserrate’s former seat.

José R. Peralta celebrated winning the special election for a Senate seat with his son Matthew Peralta on Tuesday night in Queens.

The victory was not unexpected given the level of organized Democratic support for Mr. Peralta, an assemblyman from Queens. Mr. Peralta also had a huge financial advantage over Mr. Monserrate, who ran as an independent and tried to persuade voters to give him another chance to represent them in Albany.

Still, the election followed a fierce, if brief, campaign in which a debate over same-sex marriage,  which Mr. Peralta favors and Mr. Monserrate opposes, often overshadowed discussions on issues that are vital to many of the largely Hispanic district’s working-class and immigrant residents, like affordable health care and school overcrowding.

5. Forty-five minutes of everything you want to know about Boudica from the BBC.

6. You've got one day left to join the Liamverse competition for the NCAA men's basketball tournament. You have until Saturday morning to join the competition in the NCAA women's tournament as well.

7. I wonder if they make Don Cherry's jacket in a 52 Lumpy.



 Yes, you have to register for the New York Times site, but shouldn't you be reading it anyway?

"To Absent Friends"

Since there will be a lot of toasting going on this afternoon and having, here's a quick thought.

Here in the Liamverse, the first toast of any session is "To Absent Friends."

And you may remember, that during her reign, alethea_eastrid asked that we always raise a toast at feast "To Abset Friends." 

So, if you would, please take a moment today to think of those who we can no longer drink with or around.

Maybe they be in our cups, freshly remember'd.

Here's to absent friends, especially Morguhn, Ternon and Mikal.