Sweet Lou

Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson

I was given the nickname by my fellow correction officers in 1988. Every officer gets an AKA. By 2016 I was wearing an official name tag engraved with my work name as Sweet Lou. Everyone referred to me as Sweet Lou, from the Superintendent on down, even the inmates. Unfortunately, the inmates added the F-bomb to the front of it. I retired in July of 2020 with 32 years of service.

Unplanned visit to Radio City Music Hall for the NFL Draft in 2007. My late wife was having surgery at North Presbyterian in NYC. I was pacing the hall during her surgical procedure, wearing my old Bills hat as usual. (I wear a Bills hat every day) While pacing, the Doctor's limo driver waved to me to get my attention, then said; "Hey!" "I wanna show you something!" "And don't worry we got lots of time!" I followed him to the car and he said to hop in and that this would only take a minute. He pulled up In front of the Radio City Hall and he gave me a Doctor's pass on a lanyard. He said "You got a half hour kid!" "Be back here in 30!" Ushers opened the door and I walked in with just a nod. I have always described the experience as enchanting. I just followed the noise, because I actually thought I was lost. During the announcement of a draft pick the whole place would go silent, then a moment later the place would erupt in loud Boooing. The Commissioner was the one being boooed I think. It was a collection of fans from 32 different teams and there was no fighting; just shaking hands, talking, hugging, eating and drinking beer. I kept an eye on the time and when it was time to go I was actually questioned by an unknown fan who said "Doc., Ya leaving already?" Gotta go was my reply and I kept walking. My head was spinning all the way back to North Pres. I couldn't believe what I just did and what I went through. Long story short: Her cancer came back ten years later. It was aggressive and it took her quickly. "You gotta build some memories kid!" Was the last advice given. Weird thing is, I was 49 at the time. I'm 65 now and still building the memories.

Worked in the state prison system for 32 years, so I missed a lot of everything over the years. (Retired in 2020) I watched the Bills first Superbowl and missed the other three. (Didn't miss much from what I heard) I raced and was on a pit crew for a lot of off-road events in September and October, missing even more games. However; I was in attendance at the greatest comeback game of all time and I, along with the others, who stuck around for the second half yelled like absolute heathens. I couldn't talk for a week. I ended up with laryngitis that turned into bronchitis. That following Friday I was hanging out with my best friend who was a giants fan and she got sick from being around me. She was not happy. So busy now days, I listen to the games on the radio more than I get to watch them on TV.

It kinda does work like that. Refrigerator Perry was clearly not a RB in Chicago! But he handled the assignment quite well, when asked to do so.

Taylor GS Mini (acoustic with on-board electronics)

My wife and I are going to see Bryan Adams on June 13, @ Key Bank Arena. Can’t believe no one has mentioned this one. He puts on a great show and his voice is still the same.

Could Brown be switched to another role perhaps? Possible TE? or maybe DT?

IMO these guys didn't deserve roster spots due to their built-in, lame ass, constant excuses! Trent Edwards (I don't understand why I check down on almost every play, I gotta look at the tape!) Rob Johnson (I don't understand why they blitz on almost every play, but I'm getting sacked an awlful lot!) EJ Manuel (I don't understand the playbook, can you draw it in the dirt? According to my GM, I have big hands and I have that "It" factor)

I had a dream about Otis during Friday nights rem sleep. I considered it a birthday gift this morning because I turned 65 today; however, I've been celebrating since yesterday. I dreamt that we were all in a coffee shop (All the posters of TBD and me of course) and Otis was talking to us about the good ole days. It seemed so real, then so disappointing when I awoke to go pee.

For the next game, there is a party around the ball and you're all invited!

Simply the best - Tina Turner

A place in the Dallas Fort Worth area called "Dugg Burger" The top bun was baked on a mold, I assume? It was hollowed out and that's where you put all your desired condiments. You ordered your burger at the front of the line and they gave you a tray with this bun that was bigger than a saucer. when you got to the end of the condiment buffet line they had your burger ready, and it was cooked to your desire. The best tasting burger I've ever had. I went to Dallas in June of 2018 to help a friend pack. She was moving back to Upstate NY. Before I got off the plane the pilot reminded us over the PA to drink plenty of fluids today and brace yourselves because it's already 109 degrees outside. I exited the plane through the tunnel, met up with her, grabbed my luggage and then we exited the terminal. And the suffering commenced. I saw absolutely no one outside while we packed this truck-trailer. It took me four days. When we were done packing I was gifted a guided tour through AT&T stadium. Staff were the greatest and they treated me very well, even wearing my Bills hat. Unfortunately it looks like a friggin UFO on the outside. Hospitality was second to none every where we went. What made me stand out was the fact that I was unarmed, a NY accent according to them! And an old filthy, sweaty Bills hat that screamed I was a tourist. I was invited into the selling and closing of her home and I had no legal reason at all to be in there, but they insisted. They had rules about securing your weapon while visiting their establishment as well, but I didn't have one to secure so I gave them my ID instead. After the closing, we hit the road. She was wearing a heavy sweatshirt and shivering at our last rest stop in western NY. Made it back to Elmira in 23-1/2 hours and we've been together ever since? (Hmmm) We got married in Dec. 2018. If we ever go back to visit, I'm getting that burger again!

Yes.

An acquaintance of my family: Henry Reese 1912 - 2012 (military veteran) elected to get the "flu shot" at a regular, healthy Doctor's visit. When the medical staff exited the treatment room, I tried to talk him out of it by telling him that I have never gotten the flu shot and I thought that it wasn't a good idea considering his age - and til this day, I have never gotten the flu. I'm almost 65. When the doctor returned to the treatment room Henry asked him what he thought about the "flu shot" His reply: "The elderly are such high risk." "I highly advise you to get it." "You should get it." And he got it. Henry died the following night! I always provided the transportation for Henry regardless of the reasoning and always without charge. He lived alone with his two dogs and had two vehicles, but I drove him every where he needed to be, including to vote. I mowed his lawn and did minor repairs on his home and never asked for nothing. he had no next of kin that I was aware of. At the cemetery I received the American flag that was draped over his coffin, from the servicemen after the 21 gun salute. I was a mess. So, my advice for your elderly loved one. Say No to the flu shot.

Some of us do not have all the answers John and you might know who we are. We are the one's who remain silent while we gather all the evidence. When it's time, we weigh all the evidence; then we make a decision based on the evidence. Reasons to speculate on your post vary, but it's what people do. It's entertainment, although it should remain civil. The angry posters here that get under your skin, see something in you that they truly dislike about themselves. What that dislike is, I am not certain. I do not know them. However, you are close to the team, the coaches, the players and the every day employees who work at the stadium. As a fan of the team and being on the outside looking in, some of them may just be envious of your position and they voice their ire to sooth their own discontent. So don't leave because of a few angry posters.

Prison nickname that I was labeled with, after a long and humorous prank was exposed. Retired in 2020 after 32 years of working in corrections.

No need to "J" I was well paid for the verbal abuse I heard and received. The only problem is I learned the language and can speak it fluently if need be.

Hey Maw! I'm not defending him, the topic, or the question, but the crap ass, well paying job you ask about is prison. A place where you can get your feelings hurt a thousand times a day. the same place I retired from after 32 years of consecutive service.

September 1991, it was a Sunday, don't remember the actual date, it might of been the last Sunday in September, but I lost control and went over the handlebars on a steep downhill, during an off-road motorcycle race. After the crash, I knew I was ***** up. Out of frustration I removed my Bell Helmet and threw it with my left arm. Right arm was dislocated and broken. I was raised to my feet by a fellow racer then escorted off the track to an ambulance nearby. I was taken to a trauma center somewhere in Cattaraugus County. From there I ended up at ECMC, but don't remember how I got there. I was told later that I was air lifted. I do remember them cutting off all my gear at ECMC, including my boots. I remember bitching about being naked and remember them bitching about the whereabouts of my helmet and who removed it. I told them "I DID!" They set someone to retrieve it after I described what it looked like. From there; a complete blank until I heard the voice of a nurse sitting beside me in a chair while I was laying in bed, at ECMC. She was a very pretty girl who told me you have to stay awake. She also told me that I was an "#######" downstairs and you're naked because you had minor, manipulative surgery, so you gotta learn to relax. I was actually embarrassed by her scolding. The last thing she told me was: "Concussions ruin people, so try to remember who you used to be." There was a bills game on the TV but I don't remember the details because I had a hallucination, which I had to describe to the nurse and I still remember it to this day. I vomited only once. After I got home I had an EEG (brain activity stuff) and some muscle and joint therapy later on. I completely recovered with no side effects, but I think the whole experience was directly related to my divorce five months later on February 8, 1992. I have a great wife and a great marriage now. We originally met in 1993 and became the best of friends, then we got married in 2018. So; the concussion was the best thing that ever happened to me, but I wouldn't want to go through it again, nor would I wish it on anyone.

If the stadium deal is already set in stone, then why are they waiting another year to break ground?

March of 1993. (63.8 mile trip) Driving from Moravia, NY to Elmira, NY In 3 feet of snow. (It was ugly) Had a limited 1990 Chevy S-10, 4-wheel drive with a moderate lift kit and sneakers by Uni-Royal. They were Laredo’s. On Route 13 South of Ithaca, at the Newfield hill I have a little momentum so I hammer it into the passing lane and with all 4 tires spinning and gripping I pass a tractor trailer on the way up the hill. The tractor wheels were spinning but he wasn’t moving. Being aggressive paid off because I made it to the top, where I appropriately and defiantly flip-off my former Driver’s Ed. teacher from high school, who always touted defensive driving and failed me because I disagreed with his full time logic. Sooooo! Summer School Driver’s Ed. with a different teacher at a different school, then roughly 17 years later I finally get the ultimate test. I make it home safely, as an offensive driver, about 3 hours ahead of my closest co-worker, who were driving defensively. Go figure! Now we’re all retired and at parties the 1993 trip home becomes another memory where my former co-workers get to call me careless over and over again. (While laughing of course) and I always get to correct them with another “C” word. CONFIDENCE.

I saw Jeff Healey in concert in 1993. When he played the Star Spangled Banner on a guitar with his feet, we not only blew the roof off the place, but we all witnessed an artist who was truly in a league all by himself. It’s difficult to signal out one of these artist’s from the rest, so I’m casting a vote for each of them. They have all brought something fond and special to our hearts and to the musical generation as a whole.

Fan since 1974 My best memory: I was at the Bills / Oilers greatest come back game and instead of getting a t-shirt, I got Laryngitis. (Go figure) 5 days later, I was still in bad shape, but I thought I was good enough to meet up with a beautiful young woman that I was trying to court. She caught a terrible cold just from being to close to me while we talked. She wasn’t happy. 25 years later I got another chance to talk to her and I didn’t waste the opportunity. We got married in December of 2018.

The question should be rephrased to “Where” would you rather be? not “Who” would you rather be?