Saturday, December 31, 2016

Looking Back at the Watercooler's 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, we’re going to take a look back the the past year at Niagara’s Watercooler. Sure, we have not been around for the full year, but we have been around for most of it. And if you know us, you know that we have a lot to say...all the time. In fact, some people may say we talk too much. Well, in defiance of those people, and in support of all our wonderful readers, we’re going to go ahead a talk about our year anyway.

Friday, December 30, 2016

The Death of 2016 . . . or is it?

Many of us cannot wait for the violent and painful death of the year known as 2016. For some of us, this year will remain permanently etched in our psyche for one reason or another. For the world, this was the year that fate took our musical innovators and left us with a clown ready to assume the most important political office in the world. This was not a good year.

It's a Small World After All

It’s a small world after all. That’s not just a lyric to a Disney song. In many cases, it’s quite literally true. Take, for example, what happened to me Thursday afternoon. I was innocently trolling Facebook when I saw a post in one of the fitness groups that I belong to. A map was posted that showed the route of where one of the other members was talking a walk with his dog. I recognized the area and asked where exactly he was.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Let it Snow, Let it Snow

This week’s “Walkin’ Shoes” is kind of a hybrid between “Walkin’ Shoes” and “Reminscing.” Since it is now cold outside and there is ice and snow on the sidewalks, I have not been able to keep my morning walk routine going. I don’t like the cold, and I don’t like slipping. Instead, when I was driving into work I had some thoughts roll through my head as I looked at the bit of snow we got this morning.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The Ticketmaster Conundrum

As many of you have probably figured out, I am a huge fan of music, especially live music. I go to concerts all the time, although since the kids have been born, that number has dropped drastically. In my concert-going career from age 13 until now, I’ve probably gone to over 500 concerts. Until the last decade, I kept all my stubs in a drawer. With e-tickets and print at home options, that old tradition of saving stubs has gone by the wayside.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

For the Love of Books, Books, and More Books

For those of you who love to read my book reviews and look forward to them each Tuesday, I promise you they will be back next week. The new year will bring some changes to the Watercooler. Some will be gradual, while others will be much more drastic. Please give us a chance to show off the new Watercooler in 2017. Expect to see much more George Root in the new year -- even if I have to continuously post photos of him. In the meantime, I want to talk about the Lockport Library and my reading habits.

Monday, December 26, 2016

Twenty-Five Years, A New Engagement, and a Fantastic Future

Today marks 25 years since Wendy and I started officially dating. December 26, 1991. Not only was it her brother, Brian’s, birthday, it was the day she decided that she wanted to be exclusive with me. It has been, without a doubt, the finest twenty-five years of my life so far. Here’s to many, many more years for us.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

From Niagara's Watercooler to All Of You

From Wendy, Craig, George, and Howie, we all wish you a very Merry Christmas.

As part of a new holiday tradition that we at the Cooler would like to continue for many years to come, we present you with the full text of "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Better known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas," it was first published anonymously in 1823. It has been commonly attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, after he claimed authorship in 1837. Members of the Livingston family believe that their relative, Henry Livingston, Jr., penned the poem. In any case, the poem has long been a classic Christmas tradition. In it's entirety, ready to be read to your children, is that famous work:


Friday, December 23, 2016

I Wish It was Christmas Today

The domain of Christmas and the holidays, at least with regard to those of us at Niagara's Watercooler, belongs to George Root and Howie Balaban. They live for the holiday season, especially George. Me? Not so much. I far prefer Independence Day as my holiday of choice over Christmas. Think about it. It's warm, sunny, and easy to hang outside with some beers and friends. December in Western New York is cold. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

And To All A Good Night...

Christmas has always been a very important day to me. I know we are supposed to re-start our internal clocks on January 1, but I always looked at Christmas Day as the end of the year. Once Christmas Day was over, everything went back to square one and we started all over again. It is a cleansing, and it always feels good.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

On the Homefront: Old Traditions, New Traditions & Traditional Values

Several years ago my wife and I awoke to an elf in our house. He wore red, with some white mixed into the outfit.
Somehow, some way, he left right after Christmas.
He was contracted out to keep an eye on our home thanks to my brother-in-law and his fiance.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Another Christmas Song Faces Backlash

With less than a week to go until Christmas, another holiday song has found itself in the crosshairs of controversy. Last week, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” was updated with new lyrics after a lengthy discussion on whether the song promoted sexual assault. This time, it is “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” that is getting extra scrutiny.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Lockport Sweeps Showcase Weekend With 7-1 Victory Over Helena

Maybe the Lockport Express just needed a change of scenery. Maybe they just needed a few games to gel under new/old coach, Frank Vecchio. At any rate, the Express swept the NA3HL Showcase Weekend in Blaine, Minnesota. They completed the weekend with a 7-1 victory over the Helena Bighorns. They have now won 4 out of their last 5 games.

REMINISCING: Baby You Can Drive My Car

It was just my birthday a week and a half ago. Yes, I am celebrating my 18th birthday for the 25th time. For all you non-mathletes out there, I just turned 43. When I was 18, 43 sure seemed like it was a long way away and very old. Now that I’m here, I realize that it’s not. In fact, most of the time, I feel like I’m still 18 in many ways. My mind anyway. My body may have different ideas. Like Toby says, “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Lockport Wins 4-3 Over College Station

The Lockport Express continued their new winning ways, taking a close game, 4-3, against the College Station Spirit in Day Two action of the NA3HL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota. The Express have now won 3 out of their last 4 games after a lengthy winless streak.

A Rogue Father-Daughter Evening

Normally, I leave the parenting articles to Howie Balaban. However, it is my blog and I can write whatever I want (sorry Howie!). Plus, Howie is late (I know -- shocking!) with this week’s article, so I decided to write up a quick article about parenting.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Express Open Showcase With 5-2 Victory

The Lockport Express arrived in Blaine, Minnesota for the NA3HL Showcase ready for action, and they walked away from Game 1 with a 5-2 victory over the Glacier Nationals. The Express will play two more games this weekend before taking some time off for the holidays.

Catching Up With the Lockport Express -- Showcase Edition

The Lockport Express finally broke the long winless streak with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Jersey Shore Wildcats last Saturday evening. While the Express did fall to the Wildcats 6-3 Sunday afternoon, they showed that this team can win games, and will win games. The effort during both games was exceptional.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Wildcats Derail Express 6-3

The Jersey Shore Wildcats played a better game Sunday than they did Saturday night, and the Lockport Express continued the same strong presence that they displayed Saturday night. In the end, Jersey Shore dropped the Express 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Cornerstone Ice Arena. Lockport outshot Jersey Shore 47-36.

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Jersey Shore Wildcats 12/11/2016

Lockport Tames Wildcats 4-1

The long drought is over for the Lockport Express as they took down the visiting Jersey Shore Wildcats 4-1 in a game Saturday evening at the Cornerstone Ice Arena. Lockport dominated play from the opening faceoff, outshooting the WIldcats throughout the entirety of the game. “It was a full team effort,” said head coach, Frank Vecchio.

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Jersey Shore Wildcats

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Godspeed, John Glenn

I just read the news this morning that John Glenn was in the hospital for an undisclosed illness, but that it was not cancer despite being admitted to a cancer hospital. I think the biggest surprise for me was that John Glenn was 95. Somehow, these heroes from the golden age of spaceflight never seem to age in our minds beyond the black and white file footage shown on anniversaries or other significant dates.

Book Reviews on Temporary Hiatus

As many of my followers may have noticed recently, the number of book reviews being posted has dropped over the past three months. Sometimes, life gets in the way, and it's hard to keep reading all those books all the time. With the upcoming craziness that is associated with the holidays, it's even harder to not only read the books, but take the time to sit down and write a review.

Catching Up With the Lockport Express Week 13

The Lockport Express are back at Cornerstone Ice Arena for a pair a games this weekend before they head out to Blaine, Minnesota for the holiday showcase. The Express will face off against the Jersey Shore Wildcats Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Saturday’s game time is 8:00pm, and Sunday’s match will get underway at 2:00pm.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Scrooge Hits the Palace Stage Again

It’s a Lockport tradition that has been thirteen years in the making. And if you missed “Scrooge” this past weekend, you have no one but yourself to blame. You’ve had ample opportunity. If you haven’t seen the show for a few years, then this year, you missed something just a little bit different from the previous shows.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Southern Tier Drops Lockport 4-3

The woes for the win column for the Lockport Express continued in action Friday evening against the Southern Tier Xpress. Lockport dropped the decision 4-3 at the Cornerstone Ice Arena. It was the only game of the weekend for the Express. The streak now stands at 17.

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Southern Tier Xpress December 2, 2016

Friday, December 2, 2016

On the Homefront Vol. 13: Decorations a Reminder of Years Past

The oldest child in my house is a nonexistent teenager who only shows his face this time of year. It took him a year or two of going all out around the holidays to learn the hard way that less, sometimes, is more.
I am talking about my "inner" child, who is still relatively young when it comes to decorating the house this time of year.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Teach Your Children

The Age of Electronics has ruined my kids. I’m no Luddite, but sometimes the instant access of nearly everything has changed the way kids see the world today. It has completely changed the way they watch TV, and the way they play some games. Sometimes, it really drives me crazy.

Happy Holidays from Niagara's Watercooler!

Hey! Check out our Happy Holidays background and let us know what you think. We have decided to alter the background to reflect the season as the year moves along. We hope you guys like it!

Craig and George