A MONDAY CLEANUP OF SNOW

The day began as a cold one: 9 below zero! It was a beautiful day. North Brookfield seemed to get more snow than West. I shopped at Hannaford and bought a bag of fancy bird feed.I am not giving up in attracting beautiful birds like cardinals!Was introduced to North Brookfield streaming of the basketball game. Watched the Quaboag girls defeat the NB Indians. Seton HAll plays Georgetown tomorrow at 8:30 on FS1. Difficult to get excited. Didn't even check the AP top 25 today. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

BRILLIANT SUNSHINE & SNOWS

I got up an hour earlier not knowing how I would handle being snowbound.As I ate breakfast the noise of a snowplow encouraged me. Ronnie was plowing me out. Then Josh came by to put the finishing touches allowing me to do my laundry.The world looked beautiful with drifts and blowing snow. I went about my business and called "Johnson" who had a workout with his snowblower. We agreed today wouldn't be a good day to visit. Had a pan fried hamburger for lunch. Watched Providence College defeat Marquette University in a close one.I visited Ronnie & Chrissie along with Heidi, Maddie and Evie. I learned about attracting birds and Football. The Bengals are going to the Super Bowl! Tonight I enjoyed watching 60 Minutes and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. Tonight will be clear and sub-zero by dawn. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SATURDAY BLIZZARD IN THE BROOKFIELDS

It was a quiet snowstorm to begin with. I didn't think much of it. Josh called as did I speak with "Johnson" and we agreed not to see each other today. But as the day progressed the winds picked up. The temperature was about 9 degrees.I didn't think much of it until I discovered the winds had brought a powder snow all over my car and in the breezeway. Will have to deal with it in the morning.Never in the ten years of living here have I encountered this! Even the birds had trouble finding seed and sewet!Will have to deal with laundry in the AM.Johnson to call. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

LET IT SNOW!

I have been following the hype of the storm all week from The Weather Channel to all Boston channels.I even got two calls from Georgia and Washingtonn! Maurice Barfield called from Doerun, GA and Bill Gross from Vancouver, Washington. My friends picked up the news on national channels. So now "let it snow!"It is speculative until after the fact. Did some shopping in NB and treated myself to some hamburg. Haven't bought hamburg in years and pan-fried a burger for supper.Tasted good with Lawrys seasoning salt. Visited the Kemp brothers who are working on Josh & Heidi's new kitchen.A major task indeed. No Johnson tomorrow! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SNOWSTORM OF SPECULATION

Weight 161.4lbs The hype of the forthcoming snowstorm is amazing! Living in Worcester County has us in many different opinions from The Weather Channel to Pete Bouchard to Harvey Leonard and the rest.Today was another cold one with no place to go.Did see Josh who was burning scrap flooring in a campfire. I remained in my Honda then saw Evie and Maddie inside before I left.I plan on going to Hannaford tomorrow.Must pay the VA statement of $100.00 to avoid late charges. Also, to Tony's Cleaners in Spencer... then we hunker down for the 'blizzard of '22. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

DON KENT RIP

THE DEMISE OF SETON HALL MEN'S BASKETBALL

The magic of Seton Hall has left the stage. One defeat by St. Johns was bad enough and now Marquette has taken command at the Prudential Center. The big news is the snowstorm heading our way on Saturday. Speculation runs rampant from three inches to three feet. Stay tuned! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

BIG PAPI TO HALL OF FAME!

This Tuesday saw David Ortiz elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on the first ballot!Roger Clemens wasn't so lucky! For me it was payday.I did some grocery shopping in NB at Hannaford. I increased my take of vegetables and fruit.Gotta change my diet. The big news weatherwise is a forthcoming Noreaster on Friday and Saturday. It is early but the hype will grow each day. I like the Weather Channel in giving options. Stay tuned. Governor Charlie Baker's State of the State was excellent. I am proud in living in Massachusetts! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

MY RETROSPECTIVE MONDAY

Face it I'm a historian!I have documented many of my life's callings by recording the events. I began blogging on MARCH 3, 2007.For several years my entries were posted on ON THE COMMON with the Telegram.I may have posted some 5000 entries when I struck out on my own. I have a printout of my work of some 25 pages.The topics I wrote about were about local history of people, places and events.My work included posting of digital photography.As the years go by I have been very steady in daily recording of events. Before blogging I documented my life by topics and events. I have albums on building the Birch Hill Dream House.I also have documented my military years and travels i.e Hong Kong, Vietnam and Australia, corporate years and family.I will keep writing and enjoying my life as a historian! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SUNDAY OF MORE BASKETBALL

I enjoyed watching the Providence - Butler game from Providence. The Friars won 69-62. Today wasn't quite as cold... but cold enough to remain inside. The birds provided me with entertainment... the sewet block attracts woodpeckers and some wrens.Gotta work on attracting a variety of birds like the beautiful cardinals. Saw Josh briefly on Birch Hill.Nobody else was around. Chase went bowling..Heidi worked.Will be listening to my Casey Kasem's long distance dedications. Ben and I have 4! Seton Hall vs Saint Johns tomorrow night at 9:00 PM from Walsh Gym. Stay tuned. Go Pirates! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

SETON HALL DEFEATS ST.JOHNS 66-60

Seton Hall prevailed over Saint Johns by holding their top scorers at a contest at Madison Square Garden - NYC! It was tied at half-time and the Pirates maintained the lead in the second half.Now we have another contest with the Johnnies at Walsh Gym on Monday night. Stay tuned! Today was another cold day with near zero temperatures at sunrise. I laid low much of the day.Dick Johnson came to watch the Pirates in the first half. We ate at Subway as usual.Later in the day I watched other contests and a little PBA bowling.Laundry tomorrow. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SUNNY COLD JANUARY FRIDAY

Blood glucose 85 Weight 160 lbs.It was another cold friday with the temperature at zero. I traveled to Spencer for dry cleaning then to NB to Hannaford.Josh called advising me to watch the Quaboag - Grafton game and I did. The Cougars won! With the sun beaming in I took advantage of enjoying it before it set. Ran the Allante' for a while.Big Seton HAll - St. Johns tomorrow at noon. Plan on calling Johnson with the standing invitation. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

MY THURSDAY OF FRUSTRATIONS

I tried all day to log onto the high school channel- Quaboag versus Southbridge. Every time I tried it jumped to Northbridge! Not good! I reviewed four boxes of family photos for the fourth time...bitter-sweet memories of days gone by.I'll now return these via Josh who was busy all day working on his project on Birch Hill. Next I have developed eczema on my back. It is terrible itchy with little relief.. plus my scalp has developed bumps. Too much! Colder weather is due for two days. Hopefully good things will happen tomorrow! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

NFHS AGAIN

I was successful in logging onto the basketball game from Warren. On a rerun I watched the entire game. Chase played the first half but not much in the second. Quaboag won. It was partly cloudy, windy Wednesday.Got some prescription drugs from the VA. Tomorrow I'll replenish a week's worth.Had some left-over prime rib for supper. not bad.Game shows as usual for desert. Snow is in the forecast. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

NFHS NETWORK

The Quaboag High School has a network ,NFHS, where I can watch a basketball game from the confines of my home!It takes a little patience to understand it but the "miracle" of watching Chase Potvin play in Warren is amazing.More later once I understand things better. It was a cold, clear, windy Tuesday. I traveled to Hannaford to buy things I needed like water.It seems the prices of many foodstuff ae inflated... while other stuff is reasonable.The NB Senior Center canceled tomorrow's meal without explaination.The wind blew down my Christmas lights and flag for the season. They were effective for the season. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

MY HOLIDAY MONDAY

We woke up to 3-4 inches of snow then it rained much of the day. I got the newspapers then remained home the rest of the day.My big complaint is an advancing rash on my back. It seems each winter it comes back. I have some anti-itch lotion but it drives me crazy. Don't know what the resolve will be? Clearing weather for Tuesday. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

THE BIRDS HAVE ARRIVED!

After months of waiting patiently today my sewet block and seeds brought a beautiful cardinal, blue jays,a woodpecker, wrens, a squirrel and others to my feeder. I like watching the birds! MAybe I'll attract some rare birds?This Sunday was quiet. I did see Chase and others at a campfire.The anticipation of foul weather is real. I watched the Weather Channel all day. Son Ben got snow in Charlotte. Will hear from him tomorrow, on the Martin Luther King Holiday. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A DIFFERENT JANUARY SATURDAY

Despite the extreme cold and a defeat of Seton Hall by Marquette this Saturday was good.Richard B. Johnson came by and watched part of the Seton Hall game. We ate at SUBWAY and watched more of the game.All I can say is the Pirates will take revenge at a later date. My big thing is preparing a letter to Karen S. Lynch, president of CVS/AETNA.I am intrigued by this former resident of Ware. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

QUABOAG LOSES TO BARTLETT 63-61

Tonight I listened to Cougar basketball on WARE! Josh called advising me of the game.It was nip and tuck the whole game. Chase Potvin had 10 points. Owen Stephens led the team. I think it is good to listen to local sports.Tomorrow Seton Hall plays in Milwaukee at Marquette. I am not going to speculate on the game! I'll call "Johnson" in the AM inviting him to the 12:00 tip-off. We're dealing with some stormy weather and frigid cold in the next two days.First cold then snow.Forecasts say 3-6 inches Sunday.Just what we need. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

DEPAUL DEFEATS THE HALL 96-92

I saved all my energies for tonight's game that began at 5:00 from Chicago.It was a moderate day with temperatures near 40. Much snow melted. As far as the game went Freeman-Liberty came on strong until he got injured.The Hall was down by 18, perhaps, and in the final minutes of the game the Pirates came within 2 points. I swear if they kept scoring it may have ended up in OT. But the clock won. I was encouraged by their comeback.Enough said.

ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SUPRISE CAMPFIRE IN JANUARY

The call came as a suprise. Josh called saying he was having a campfire at 4:30.."dress warmly." I did and welcomed an hour of sitting outside. He had a fire of skids keeping the blaze strong. Although there is snow on the ground we enjoyed the outdoors.As you have noticed I am having problems posting my pictures on each blog entry. I choose the picture but am unsuccesful in getting it to post. Instead all I get is a cpital letter... and I don't know what to do! Maybe it's time to call Jeff Nickerson? Tomorrow night we have Seton Hall playing DePaul at 5:00 pm.Go Pirates! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

ZERO TO BEGIN THIS TUESDAY

A bitter cold day. The wind-chill was below zero and as I headed for Hannaford my car thermometer stayed at one above! The best part of the day was brilliant sunshine all day. After getting the mail I remained inside.I had a variety of things to do.. the best was to review my vocabulary in Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Intellectuals. This reference is the best and today was my day to review. I also listened to my tablet and some good music. Spoke with Josh who met with Doctor Brian Busconi regarding some orthopedic concerns with a knee.I have limited my watching news.Silence is the best resolve. Tomorrow I go to the NB Senior Center and a macaroni & cheese lunch. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A COLD JANUARY MONDAY

Blood glucose 95 Weight 162 lbs The good news started early by getting my National Grid electric bill: $26!I then drove myself to the VA Clinic in Worcester for my podiatry appointment. I go in every 90 days.The highlight of my visit was seeing a doe in the woods behind the clinic. The doctor got excited when I pointed it out! I drove back to Sturbridge via The Mass Pike and ate at McDonald's having a hamburger, fries and a drink. I was hopeful of getting my Honda washed but the C&R Tire car wash wasn't open so I went to North Brookfield. I did paying $12. Much improved.Two new houses are going up on McCarthy Road. Seton Hall is now ranked 20.. Cold weather.. the coldest in 4 years. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A TRECHEROUS SUNDAY

It was freezing rain as I began my day to Warren.It froze to my windshield. Then as I pulled into a parking space the footing was pure ice. I got help from the owner who spread some salt making my footing good. Today was the opposite of yesterday's clear blue sky. All day long it was dismal. I remained in the house and sought some men's basketball games and didn't find any until late in the afternoon.I did have to go to Country Corner for Hood 1% No fat milk.I found the most interesting YouTube presentation of the Life of Lawrence Welk which lasted almost an hour. I watched the Patriots lose to Miami. As far as my VA appointment in Worcester at 11:30 I will wait to see how things are in the morning. Haven't gotten my mail in 3 days! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

SETON HALL DEFEATS UCONN IN OT 90-87

Dick Johnson came to the Poodle to watch the game. The Hall just didn't have it, trailing 54-45 then in the second half Kadary Richmond came alive for the Hall scoring 27 points! The Pirates are revealing themselves. Their ranking will probably be higher on Monday. Go Pirates! Another testimony to their strength on the court. Earlier in the day saw morning temperatures a little above zero. It was a "picture perfect" day after Friday's snow storm. Tomorrow's forecast is just the opposite with freezing rain.I drove to Ware to Nat Falk and picked up my trousers. Watched other Big East games. A great Saturday. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

A SNOWY FRIDAY IN THE BROOKFIELDS

The first snowstorm of the new year brought varying depths. I say we had about six inches while Dick Johnson reported a foot in Leominster.As for clearing my driveway I'm lucky. Ronnie Marchessault plowed me out and Josh cleared the rest before it freezes tonight. My big excitement will be the basketball game at noon on CBS between UCONN and Seton Hall. The game will be played at the Prudential at Newark, NJ.Stay tuned! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

FIRST MAJOR SNOW STORM OF THE NEW YEAR

We have at least 4 inches of new snow! Robert Louis Potvin

TRIPADVISOR BOBBYP 009

I discovered a website tripadvisorbobbyp009 where I used to write profiles in a variety of categories.It is filled with my photography. Check it out! Today was the opposite of yesterday. It rained most of the day and snow is forecast for Friday. I cancelled my VA pediatry appointment for Friday rescheduling for Monday. I had lunch at the NB Senior Center - beef stew and Strawberry rhubarb pie.The glow of the Seton Hall victory over Butler has me geared up for a UCONN contest. Go Pirates! Go HAll! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

SETON HALL DEFEATS BUTLER 71-56

Seton Hall prevailed over Butler! Ike was back. Awesome!

NAT FALK - HABERDASHER WARE, MASS

I bought my first plaid sportcoat from Nat Falk in 1959! I bought two pair of trousers and a blue plaid shirt today! Charlie Lask is here to help us.The store is loaded with all kind of men's clothing and attendant shoes. Open Tuesday through Saturday,

when you shop at Nat Falk you receive personal service at competitive prices! ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

SKY BLUE PINK

For a brief moment as the sun was setting the skies opened up in an array of beauty:sky blue pink! This Monday was cloudy all day. I went to Walmart in my quest for some new trousers. I employed a motorized cart and zipped all around the store. After deliberation and reviewing the many trousers available a Walmart lady suggested I go to NatFalk! Made sense.Falk was closed today. I did find an official Red Sox ball cap and a red block shirt. When I presented my gift card I was told it was for $25 not the $50 I expected! This cloudy day was very cold. Had trouble at the post office.They insist on giving me Beverly's mail for the FOURTH TIME! Not good. Josh was too busy to talk. Evie took the call. Called sister Jan. Not home. Wrote 2 letters.. one to Bill Gross the othere to Mike Hancock. Game shows were on in the New Year. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

SUNDAY IN THE NEW YEAR 2022

Blood glucose 80 Weight 162.5 lbs The weather patern has yet to change.It was another dismal day. Did laundry and shopped at Hannaford before coming home. The St. Louis U. Billikens were on tv. I enjoyed watching my alma mater win against Richmond.Ben called later. I forgot to ask him if he received the Georgia pecans? 60 Minutes had a most interesting feature on The Ritchie Brothers. It featured Jewish soldiers from WWII. The ages were 97, 98, 99. The whole program was the best seen. Thanks! Weather may bring some snow in a day or two. 34 degrees as I write. Plan on going to Ware-Walmart in the morning. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

NEW YEARS DAY 2022

It was an "inside day" for me after getting the newspaper. Saw Josh downtown where he paid me the $20 borrowed from me last night. The Rose Day parade from Pasadenia, CA was enjoyed in living color then I tuned in Vienna and Straus waltzes before the Seton Hall basketball game against Villanova. It seems The Hall are short with players not playing. I miss IKE! The Hall never gave up despite players fouling out. They gave it a good try despite the 73-67 loss.Next game is Jan. 4 against Butler. ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN