Yesterday, I received a flier from the Adirondack-Hudson Chapter of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors. They're a private company with headquarters in Richardson, Texas. At one point in my lengthy career in the electrical trades, I was Chairman of their Adirondack-Hudson Chapter and I served with great pride and dedication.

I don’t know how it is that I’m still on the mailing list after having left the organization some ten years ago and after having retired several years ago, but I must admit, I enjoy getting these “Upcoming Event posters” even to this day. They remind me of a time in my life when I was deeply involved with creating electrical code training programs and circulating throughout the state of New York presenting such programs for electrical inspectors, building officials and architects to receive their required continuing education units.

Most of my instructional courses were accredited through the New York State Department of State Codes Division where I served in several positions. I held a position as “adjunct professor” for the instructing of these courses including “train the trainer” courses, as well. I also held the position as Member, Technical Subcommittee for the state’s adoption of the International Building Code with our own specific rules made a part of the code. I assisted in writing and reviewing much of the electrical sections.

But my all-time favorite position back in those days was first to be a Member, New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Board of Review. I served as a member for around 15 years and the last five or so as Chairman of the Capital District Board of Review in Albany, the states’ capital. What a personally rewarding experience working as a public servant having been appointed through then Governor, George Pataki.

Anyway, I belonged to the International Association of Electrical Inspectors for nearly 25 years and served as a member of the Executive Board for several of those years. I met so many talented individuals working in various aspects of the electrical industry.

I’m down here in Tennessee now picking my banjo and playing my fiddle and enjoying the “musical” facets of my life, yet once in a while, my “love for the electrical industry” side will show and as I reflect back to the wonderful people I’ve met along the way, well, I sure do miss them.

"Fiddle In The Middle, The Perkins Family Anthology, Five Generations" is a 3-CD compilation of fiddle tunes I just received in the mail from my dear friends, the Perkins Family.

It was recorded by engineer, Joel Hurd of North Country Public Radio in Canton, NY and mastered by my dear friend Jim Cushman at his studios in Lake Placid, NY. The graphic design was created and the CDs were manufactured and printed by Disc Makers in Pennsauken, NJ. Photography was created by Mark Kurtz Photography of Saranac Lake, NY and by Mary Winchell Warner, Photographer, of Limestone Cove, TN, formerly of Jay, NY.

There are some 85 pieces of music featured throughout the CDs, celebrating five generations of fiddle, old country, Bluegrass, rock and roll, Celtic, and classical music.

To learn more about this amazing production, please check out their website at www.perkinsmusic.net

It was a tremendous pleasure and an incredible honor to have been asked by members of the Perkins Family to be included on the CD and I shall be forever proud to have taken part.

Here's a list of musicians who were featured:
Alice Lawrence Bickford, Piano
Sarah Bleicfeld, Viola
Daniel Ezero, Electric Bass
Joseph Ezero, Double Bass, Electric Bass
Lesley Ezero, Vocals
Liam Ezero, Drums
Phyllis Ezero Perkins, Lead & Harmony Vocals, Keyboard, Piano, Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar
Leslie Lawrence, Fiddle
Paula Bickford Leonard, Lead Vocal
Donald Perkins, Fiddle, Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Francis Perkins, Caller
Joel Perkins, Fiddle, Keyboard
Lois "Aggie" Lawrence Perkins, Piano
Philip F. Perkins, Electric Bass
Alyssa Sciarrino, Cello
Fred Warner, Lead Vocals, 5-string Banjo, Acoustic Guitar

The bands "Food Stamp Ramblers" and "Inisheer" were also featured.

Food Stamp Ramblers: Phyllis Perkins Ezero, Guitar, Fiddle; Joe Ezero, Double Bass, Guitar; Don Perkins, Fiddle; Fred Warner, Guitar, Banjo

Inisheer: Steve Borst, Guitar; Phyllis Perkins Ezero, Guitar, Fiddle, Keyboards; Sue Grim, Pan Flute, Flute; Tom Minehan, Guitar, Banjo; Joel Perkins, Fiddle, Keyboards; Phil Perkins, Electric Bass; Erik Van Yserloo, Steel Drums, Percussion Instruments; and Andy Walkow and Debra Kimok.

Mary and I left the afternoon of the 3rd of October for Florida. After having traveled by cities such as Knoxville and Chatanooga, Tennessee, the evening and night of the third, we spent in a Days Inn in Gadsden, Alabama. The next morning, we drove the rest of the way to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, having passed such cities as Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama. The most traffic we encountered was actually around Knoxville both coming and going. That's a busy city to say the least.

Each day of our stay in Florida was spent at the ocean, whether on the beaches of Destin West, Fort Walton or Navarre. The weather for our entire trip was absolutely perfect; in fact not a cloud in the sky on several days. When we were not swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, we were in private swimming pools.

Mary's daughter, Ashley and her husband, Neil, were fantastic hosts and provided so very much in the way of lodging, meals, travel to destinations, etc., as did Mary's son, Seth and his girlfriend Aimee. We were so fortunate to meet many of their friends, too, and even went to an incredible county fair where we watched Mary's "kids" and others ride the scariest, daring-est rides I've ever seen! No way would I ever dare to ride some of these rides.

Mary and I will be posting many pictures of our trip throughout this website, so be sure to stop back and have a look.

Here's a great big hug and a great big Happy Birthday wish to Mary. She's spending her special day with her grown children in Florida where they both live with their significant others'. Today, we'll go to the ocean beach and spend the day basking in the 88 degree sunny weather. Later, we'll have dinner in one of the nice establishments here on the "Strip".

We are sure enjoying our time here in the "Sunshine State".

Mary and I will be heading out today for Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Her children (all grown up, now) reside and work there. We've had this trip planned for quite some time now and we're really looking forward to seeing the "Kids".

As a result, there will undoubtedly be periods of inactivity on this website as I bask in the sunlight by the pool or on the beach at the ocean.

I'm sure Mary will have many, many pictures to post when we return, so I'll have to start a new page for our "Florida Trip".

T