by Orlando C. Fernando
Diary 1998 | Diary 1999 | Diary Early 2000 | Diary Late 2000 | Diary 2001
Picture Perfect. The George Eastman House is a facinating look into the world of art in photography, technology, and architecture. A good friend and I had just taken the tour there this past Saturday. It is one of the last "oohs-aaahs" in Rochester that I had not seen yet (next to the Art Gallery) since I first moved here in Jan '95. George Eastman, millionaire and founder of Kodak, had built an empire out of his own home as well as his company. As a perfectionist, he had designed and constantly re-evaluated every aspect of his house to make the living room, dining areas, game room, studies, and gardens, something that had the admiration of many of his friends, family members, and associates. A truly social individual, he had donated over $100 million to charities. His major photography accomplishments was to take the photo capturing techniques at the time and alter them to be produced on better paper and in color. He also contributed to various motion picture technologies (cinematography). Despite the management troubles and layoffs that go on with modern day Kodak, you cannot help but be awed at the teams, ideas, and equipment that made such an outstanding photographic company shine.
Aside from the guided tours of Eastman's home and browses through the camera/technology exhibits, there are galleries of thousands of b/w & color photography over the years, dating back to the 1800's. There is also a camera/animation "playroom" for all ages where you can learn and experiment with old photography & cinematography equipment.
We stayed there for 3 hours and it was FAR too inadequate to take in everything. It's worth about 2 whole day's visit just to take a relaxed pace through the museum. Frequent movies (old and new) in their two cinemas as well as constant rotations of certain exhibits keep people (as will my friend & I) back for more.
Toronto's Neighbor. Took a database training class in late July over the northern border in Canada, in the city of Mississauga. It is located just west of Toronto, and from its coastline, you can easily see the Toronto skyline along the eastern Lake Ontario coast and even make out the CN Tower. On the western coastline end of Mississauga is a paved Waterfront trail to take a brief bike, skate, or stroll by. If you head east on Lakeshore Road, you come to a harbor area which has a seafood restaurant with outdoor patios and sidewalks also for biking, skating, and strolling. One can easily stay at the Holiday Inn I stayed at and drive less than 15 min. into Toronto for the day and return.
Saint Memoirs. I have also picnicked with some very good Canadian family friends of mine up to the north region of Ontario at Midland. Overlooking the Wye River on the north there is Sainte-Marie. The Martyrs' Shrine here is a church of pilgrimmage famous for Jesuit missionary work in the early 17th century in the Huron Indian territory. Several Canadian pioneers were martyred in the area, so it's a highly revered haven of saints.
Rolling to the Falls Revisited. Our Rochester In-line Skate Club had another annual envigorous but enjoyable skate on Niagara-on-the-Lake on Aug 8. Starting at Lake George, we took the long riverside path towards the main falls, passing Brock's Monument, the Queenston-Lewisboro border bridge, Floral Clock, Butterfly Conservatory/Botannical Gardens, Whirlpool Cable Car Ride, Whirlpool Bridge, and finally the Rainbow Bridge. My coverage was about 15 miles (including part of the way back), with a minor lower leg cramp and mild blisters to account for. One of us, even through a nasty fall, did the entire round trip on 8 wheels. Unfortunately, I didn't partake in the peach buying at the bountiful fruit stands throughout the trip and I've regretted it. They're some of the softest, sweetest peaches around!
In the Heat of the Night. The heat waves and high humidities of June reached all the way north to Rochester. No one was safe! The humidity, coupled with torrential but brief thunderstorms and haze galore made for some unpleasant weeks in the past month. Northern Florida, however, had the worst to suffer with the quick brush fires all around the area. Fortunately, in speaking with a Floridian on the internet, the fires have finally been contained.
Speed Line. I have now switched to a cable modem service for my computer. It's a fast means of transmitting data over the cable to your PC! Much faster than a traditional telephone modem. Definitely a service to have if you don't mind the $$ (it's about $20 more/month than a telephone modem ISP, $30 more/month if you don't already have cable TV). Read about them in my FAQ.
Speed 2. The latest buzz around Rochester in the papers is that we will have a new ferry to travel from Charlotte (the north end of Rochester) across Lake Ontario to Toronto. It should save about 2 of the 3.5-4 hour trip by car to there. It is estimated to be about $20 without a car and not too much higher for car transport. It will be a new fun way for us Rochesterians to catch the CN Tower or see the Science Center for a day trip and still return home in time for "The Simpsons". ;)
Downtown Funk. Us Xeroids had ate and danced up a storm Saturday night at the Hyatt in downtown Rochester. My co-workers/managers and I were rockin' on their impressively generous dance floor, celebrating Xerox employer anniversaries from 20 to nearly 50 years with the company. 4000+ Xerox employers to be exact. You'd be amazed what you can do the cha-cha and swing to. I was! Live entertainment was provided by "Nick and the Nice Guys," a very popular variety band in Rochester and around the nation- playing everything from "The Twist" to "Summer Nights" (from "Grease" for those of you born after the 70's) to "Tubthumping". You know, "Nick..." kinda has a Ray Conniff thing goin' with them. They rotate secondary players (guitar, sax, etc.) while keeping a core group. In their history, they've gone through about 50+ band members!
El Niño es el Grande. Rochester has apparently been getting major effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Just at the start of April we gain summerlike weather for a whole week, then the temperatures don't drop down by that much (low 50's) and we generally enjoy slightly cold to mild weather for the rest of the month. Our beachs, parks, and canal paths are littered with walkers, joggers, skaters, bikers, and strollers. Temperatures pick up again in spurts through May, much to the continued joy of Rochesterians. Then just last week things turn to the chills again (nights in the high 30's/40's?). Spring has been the total inverse of past years, in which Rochester keeps in an ice pack through just after Easter, with light jacket weather at best. Now it seems temps are picking up again to steady summerlike weather that's here to stay. (Knock on wood.)
Captain Jack. Apparently on Memorial weekend, a party of four thought that boozing it up on a boat in the early morning was a thrilling idea. You could almost say the foam went straight through their heads. On that early Monday morning, they crashed at high speeds into the west side of the long pier on Charlotte beach. I recall one in guarded condition, the rest in critical condition. And these are 30 year olds, come on guys, grow up!
Roll With a Mission. The 2nd annual downtown "Knock Aids for a Loop" on May 17 has been another great success. Thousands of us skaters were on the inner loop (a short expressway that circles downtown Rochester which is fed in by I-490). Our little group, the Rochester In-Line Skate Club, did 5 enduring laps in about 2.5 hours! Much warmer than last year's. The skate raised over $3000 for the Community Health Network. CHN helps provide comprehensive medical services for HIV/AIDS patients. Already our calendars are marked for skate #3 on May 16 99!
Copyright 1998 by Orlando C. Fernando. This page is for personal use only. It may be openly distributed for non-profit in wholeor part, but authorship must be credited.