Healthy Influence Blog

Melanie and I traveled to Buffalo, NY for our first visit to that fair city.  We were there to speak and consult at Canisius College, as hosted by our colleague, Dr. Melissa Wanzer.  We had a great time on the trip.  Here’s why.

We stayed at Beaufleuve Bed and Breakfast.  By the turn of circumstance and chance that occurs with a long and varied life, it happens that Beaufleuve is owned and operated by a former university colleague, Rik Witaker, and his wife, Ramona.  Rik worked at the University of Central Missouri in the late 70s when Melanie and I were there.  Small world, right?

Beaufleuve is a gorgeous restored Victorian home.  Rik and Ramona have spent the past 20 years bringing it to life and their love and attention shows.  Melanie and I both offer our highest recommendation for Beaufleuve.  Rik and Ramona provide a great experience and if you’re in Buffalo, consider them.  Just look at the main staircase.

On the second floor landing Rik and Ramona created a small service space with drinks and snacks to serve the public area that all upstairs bedrooms use.  They had one of those fast serve coffee machines as I demonstrate here.

Our room was fabulous with plenty of space and a private bathroom.  Our Canisius hosts had left a large goodie box of treats to greet us upon arrival.  Melanie lofts a bottle and provides a fetching model for the sofa in our room.

The first night we ate at the Left Bank restaurant just a few blocks from our B&B.  (Buffalo is quite easy to drive and we had great weather for our visit; everyone kept remarking upon it and quickly adding that while it is usually cold in Buffalo, It’s Not That Bad.)  The Left Bank was a nice place with lots of exposed brick and large windows.  Here’s the obligatory Martini shot.

We did work on this trip.  Melanie and I each spoke with several groups of undergrad and grad students on a variety of topics and we met with faculty and the college Dean, Dr. Leonid Khinkis, to discuss program development.  We also did an appearance together which is extremely rare for us.  We both think that we are the smartest person in the room and don’t tend to share nicely.  Plus, whenever I get next to Melanie I want to kiss and hug her which is not exactly the most appropriate professional response.  She is my Babe of the Western World and is hard to resist.  You’d think that after 30 years of marriage my ardor for her might dim, if only from age, but you’d be wrong.  I soldier on as in this shot.

Looks like I’m ducking a thrown shoe, doesn’t it?  It’s hard to get a static shot of me speaking because I tend to move a lot.  Part of it is just good practice and the other part is being a moving target.

Melissa also had us over for dinner at her place with her family, Steve, Claire, and Ella.  We had a stupendous good time just laughing and being silly.  We brought gifts which Melissa and Ella model here.

Melissa is a very high HO and so is the youngest, Ella.  And Steve and Claire don’t take a back seat, so we had a great time playing a fun card game where Ella slayed us all with her Crazy Eyes.  She also inflates her face.

It’s not easy being a consultant.