Monday

Today I had a very busy day. Mainly because I hate to shop, I hate it with a passion. Even if it for me. Actually, I much rather shop for somebody else than me.

It is not because I am cheap, because I am. But I just hate to spend money on mundane things and for myself.

Now, what created this outbreak?

I decided that I need new pajamas. And since I am going away at the end of this week this seemed as good a time as any. Otherwise it would have been postponed forever.

So today my friend and I went hunting for pajamas. Since Macy's keeps sending these discount cards and I have loads of them Macy's seemed like a good candidate.

There is a Macy's store not far from me and that was our first stop.

One would think that a big company like Macy's would have a huge selection of men's pajamas. One would think wrong! What they had was so piss poor that they should be ashamed of it. It seems that Ralph Loren cornered the pajamas market because that was all they carried and that was also in very limited supply and not very good quality.

But Ralph Loren doesn't care as long as the money keeps coming in.

We had to go to two different Macy's store to finally find three men's short pajamas.

My conclusion is that Macy's only carries glamorous items. Men's pajamas are not glamorous enough so they are not carried. Shame on them.

But at least their prices were not too bad and in addition to it since I complained the nice salesman gave 50% off on one of the pieces. Plus my 20% coupon so I didn't do too badly.

But what is upsetting is that I was forced to go around to different stores looking for such an everyday item.

As they say all's well that ends well!

Other thing.

As I mentioned yesterday this will be the last writing for a while. I have guest coming from the other side of the ocean who will stay here until the middle of September. During that time we will be going to St. Maarten on this coming Saturday and returning on the 30th of August.

Since I plan to be busy with the beach, sun and good French food I don't think I will have time left to write.

I should return to this blog probably on September 14.

Until then Have Good Summer You All!

Sunday

Today I had a very busy day. Never left the house but still every bone in my body hurts. It is not an unpleasant hurt but still a hurt.

It is the result of a very diligent house cleaning. As I indicated on several occasions Thursday is my main cleaning day. But this week because of that driving course it was postponed and the postponement was for today.

It didn't matter since I usually have nothing to do on Sundays anyway so this time I did.

Work went well even though I stretched it out because I interrupted it several times for no reasons at all. But at the end it is all done.

Due to my excessively rich social calendar for the near future this was probably the last cleaning until the middle of September. But in all honesty, I will not miss it.

I will also take a vacation from writing this blog because I will not waste good beach time on writing the blog. I will write tomorrow the last time then return to it after September 13.

So that is my plan for now.

Saturday

My current car is a lease. This is my sixth or seventh car that I have been leasing.

It might not be the best or the brightest financial decision from my part but I like the fact that every three year I can get a new latest model automobile.

The last car I owned was mine for about twelve or thirteen years. Even though the upkeep of these lease cars is my responsibility, since none of them were kept for over three years the troubles are very limited. And most of them covered by their warranties.

Currently I drive a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. I like the Hyundai and I like SUVs.

My present lease expires in December of this year. That means by that by that time I will have to decide if I want to keep this car or go on and lease another one. Given my age the next car would probably be my last car.

Thanks to the computer age all the car dealers in my area seem to know that my lease is expiring because I keep receiving invitations to visit their showrooms. They also promise to pick up my remaining payments, just get a new car.

My current problem is that I want a 2015 model year car. While many models already have the 2015 out, some even advertise the 2016, the Hyundai Santa Fe do not have the 2015 in their showrooms.

And, I am very hesitant to get a 2014 because it might happen that two weeks after I get mine the 2015s come out. Well, it is my money and I should spend it whatever way I see it fit, right?

So, I'll just wait. It supposed to come out before year's end. And the leasing company told me yesterday that I can keep the car a month or two after my lease is up if I am waiting for the new model.

Now, aren't they nice?

Friday

Last Saturday the first group of my friends went to St. Maarten. The second group, another family left today and at this writing they are hopefully there and enjoying the sun and surf.

The third and largest group is going tomorrow and by this time tomorrow they are all drinking the second or third rum punch.

I'll hopefully close this migration of humanity next Saturday. Now I am getting nervous. Before I'll know it time will be here and I constantly worry about not forgetting something.

I am not such a savvy traveler who can just grab a suitcase, stuff some things in it and go. I always worry about what did I forget.

One time I forgot to bring my cell phone charger to the island. It was a good thing that there was a Radio Shack nearby so I could buy one.

At two other occasions I forgot to pack my pajamas. Once in Hungary and once on the island. Each time we had to go out and look for a "pajama store". Luckily -for me- we found one.

A very good friend of mine who travels four or five times a year and should know what to take by heart still prepares a checklist and uses that for packing.

I just go through it in my mind and hope that I'll remember everything that is important.

Leaving from home is the difficult part because that's when I always wonder what did I forget. Coming back is easy. All the drawers must be empty and then it's O.K.

Unless major shopping is done because then one realizes that stuff don't fit as well as it did earlier.

So, what is to be learned from this? Don't shop!

Thursday

Today was a very long and tiring day.

Today I finally took the AARP offered Defensive Driving Course. Now I am a certified defensive driver.

I took the course in one shot. That meant from 9 in the morning until about 3:30 in the afternoon with two short breaks.

It was a good turnout but looking around in the room I realized that some of the participants started driving with Henry Ford.

The session was long and boring. This is not a subject that could be very exciting. And the bottom line is that no matter how well and safely we all drive, many of the accidents are caused by others. And, there is nothing we can do about that to prevent it. Except don't drive, don't get in a car.

It is very interesting to see how stupid questions older people can ask. People who are driving for ever don't know the first thing about certain rules of the road.

When I looked around in the room I remarked to my friend that some of these people's licenses should be taken away instead of taking this course.

But the bottom line is money. In all honesty this course will not change anybody's driving habits. All it will do is to reduce the insurance premium by 10%. And some people admitted very honestly that that was only reason they were there.

There were times when I almost fell off the chair that by the way was so uncomfortable that had I been interrogated I would have admitted to anything.

I almost fell off the chair because after a few hours I got so sleepy that I was barely able to stay awake.

But heroically I pulled through and now done for the next three years. Can't wait for my discount!

Wednesday

If I would have a lot of money, and I mean really a lot I would probably spend it on frivolous things. Things that would make my life easier and more comfortable and more entertaining. And I would make sure that the need never arises when there is a want for money. I also think that most of the people, at least the ones I know think the same way.

Some of my friends would leave their "fortunes" to their grandchildren since their children are grown and have established careers.

But the ones without natural heirs would make sure that their capital is sufficient for a worry free, comfortable life for the duration.

All this said, thanks for the wealthy who are willing to part with their money.

I keep receiving a monthly publication from Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC) that I find very informative and interesting.

Informative because they go into deep details about what they do on the front of cancer research and interesting because I always find some write up about a doctor we came across.

I just received the most recent issue and read it from cover to cover and came to a question.

Where would medical science be without the contributions of the wealthy?

One major contributor just gave a 100 million dollars to MSKCC, another a "measly three million, another ten million dollars. All earmarked for specific research or education.

And MSKCC is not alone, I also received a similar publication from North Shore University Hospital where they mentioned similar contributions.

And this is happening across the country probably in every or most hospitals where wealthy individuals establish funds or endowments with their money.

Since the government is not doing a dammed thing about helping these institutions they must rely on charity in any shape or form.

I know all these contributions are tax breaks for the wealthy but still as much as I don't like them I am still very grateful for their contributions.

I'm glad I am living in a capitalist country. Can you imagine if this were a poor country?

Tuesday

Today is Tuesday and as it turned ot it was a fantastically beautiful day. Weatherwise I mean!

After several days of really crappy weather today turned out to be a dream. Naturally, since all my chores were completed I headed to the beach.

I guess because of the weather the place was more crowded than usual for a week day but I still found a place far from the maddening crowd.

The water was the best this season. It was warmish, silky and very pleasant. It was low tide which means one had to walk out pretty far from the shore for the water to reach at least chest high. I dunked myself in about three or four times.

Just before three o'clock I went in the last time figuring I'll dry out then head home. But I met somebody in the water whom I got to know a few weeks before and we started talking. And we talked and talked and then talked some more.

By the time I came out of the water it was four thirty and my fingers were all wrinkled like a prune. This is what we do in St. Maarten so I took this as my dress rehearsal.

And they say women talk. This was two guys and I didn't do all the talking! But it was interesting and informative.

So by the time I got home it was 5:30 in the afternoon. Boy, how time flies when we have fun.

Actually this was probably the last time I went to the beach this season because the next five weeks I'll be very busy and probably after being in St. Maarten for two weeks we will not feel like going to the beach again.

That's it, in New York Summer is over for me. But I'll still wear my shorts.

Monday

Today is my Mother's birthday. She was born one hundred and ten years ago. It is plainly unbelievable how time flies.

She passed away in 1978 but I remember Her if I had seen Her just yesterday. It is funny how I can not picture Her aging. She is in my heart and in my memory just as I saw Her the last time. I can not imagine what She would look like today. Actually if She were her She would make the Guinness book of World Records by being 110 years old and still living.

There comes a point in life when no matter how much we miss our parents we have to realize that thinking realistically they could not be here with us anymore.

So, we just have to believe that they are at peace and in a better place. An also watching over us.

My Grandfather was born in 1870 and my Grandmother was born in 1883. I had the pleasure to know them both. They both lived a long life. I didn't say happy life because they both went through World War I, WW II and the Holocaust, the Hungarian Revolution but they both survived these calamities and died of natural causes.

Both of my Grandparents started their lives in the second half of the 1800s but by the time I knew them they were pretty much up on all current technologies. They were not old fuddy-duddies stuck in the old times by any means.

If I think back that I knew my Grandparents who were born in the 19th Century and I lived through the 20th Century and we are now in the 21st Century it is really amazing.

When my Mother was born there was no such a thing as airplanes. I guess at that time only birds flew. Yet, without any complaints in the middle 1960s She got an a jet and flew out of Budapest and came to New York to visit me.

Never thought what a culture shock that must have been to Her. But actually, She really enjoyed it.

Sunday

Today I had brunch with my broinlaw and my sisinlaw in Manhattan. It was a good brunch and it would have been better if it were not in Manhattan.

Going in was great, coming home was great. Finding parking in Midtown where we originally wanted to go was a disaster. It was so bad that we decided to go back to the Upper East Side and have brunch there. What a difference!

Parking there was a joy, the restaurant was great, the atmosphere was good. So overall we had a good time.

My broinlaw is nice. We get together every few weeks for a Sunday brunch. We used to meet during the week but now that he is happily working we are restricted to Sundays. That's fine with me because I usually have nothing planned for Sundays.

I like to stay in and that way I don't have to fight the weekend drivers. I go out during the week when the pros are on the roads. In reality, not much different.

Both types drive like maniacs.

This coming Thursday I ave a defensive driving course scheduled. The last one was cancelled. I don't think we need to know defensive driving. The way people drive we should know offensive driving instead.

After I finish this course I'll let you know how it changed my driving habits.

Oh by the way, today Mother Nature was not that good to her faithfuls either. Maybe by tomorrow when they all go back to work she will be nicer to the senior citizens and unemployed.

Saturday

Mother Nature doesn't like the working people! People work all week long and they hope, no they expect the weekends to be nice. Most of them really don't care about the weather during the week but they are counting on the nice Saturdays and Sundays.

Yesterday evening it started to rain. It rained through the night and most of this morning. When it finally stopped it remained overcast and unseasonably cool. That blew away most of the outdoor plans.

But by six o'clock in the late afternoon the sun started to show its face and the weather really improved.

Now if that is not a rotten break I don't know what is. The only hope is that by Sunday things might get better.

Something else.

I hate those drivers who venture out to an expressway or parkway and then drive way below the speed limit. There should be minimum speeds posted just as there are speed limits and driving below the speed limit should be just as much of a violation as speeding is.

Getting around these slow pokes is very dangerous. If they don't want to drive fast why do they get on a fast road? And, they are not always old people. They could be young or beginning drivers or just people who don't like to drive fast.

For my money, hell with them stay home then but don't slow us down just because they do not know how to drive.

The other day I went visit a friend in another state and not in a metropolitan area. Nothing but local roads, no traffic, fairly low speed limit but still a joy to drive.

Until...

This local yokel goes out for the paper or milk or whatever and he uses the wind to drive his car. I'm in the rush to meet my friend but does he care? No! He keeps driving at the horse and buggy speed.

What a world we live in.

Friday

Time is flying by so fast it is unbelievable. Today it is already August first. More than half a year went by and before we realize it this year will be over.

In the 1960s I worked on various construction projects including the Flushing World's Fair. There I had a superintendent who was in charge of that particular construction job.

When we talked about scheduling certain aspects of the project he always said around the 10th of any particular month that for all practical purposes that month was already over.

That's what comes to my mind when I think of how fast time goes by. Seven months down five more to go and then we change the date. Just when I got used to write 2014.

Not that I am so fond of this particular year. I have no reason to be happy about it. Nothing good happened to me only sadness. Actually, now that I wrote this, the sooner this year is over the better.

In any person's life regardless how long that person lives there are years that are good and there are years that are terrible. And us being humans we probably remember most of it even if it is better to forget those.

I lived a great many years until now and I am no different. I will not list the good and the bad but I do know that I had years I would rather forget or I would rather they never happened. And the number of those years are more than I can count on one hand.

But that's life. Very few people are handed a guarantee that their life will be nothing less than wonderful. And, maybe that would be kind of boring.

Pain and suffering and heartache is part of living even if we think we would be better off without them. Maybe those things make us appreciate life joys a little more.

This is the end of my philosophy session!

Thursday

Just to ease the suspense about my tires. This morning after the indicator light still showed low tire pressure I checked every tire and found the pressure in some lower than it should be. So, I went to a neighborhood gas station where there is free air available and filled all four tires to capacity. And after that the light went off and hopefully will stay off.

Who need this excitement, right?

Something else.

One of my good friends is leaving for St. Maarten this coming Saturday. Another and the rest of the gang leave next Saturday and humble me is planning to leave the Saturday after that. For me that's only two weeks away. How time flies.

St. Maarten airport should leave the red carpet on for these Saturdays because we will be arriving in a row.

The friends who are leaving now are going a week early hoping to get some quiet time before the rest arrive. Then at the same time, same flight we are going their family is coming down for a week.

I know who they are but never met them. I asked how many and what is their names so I might recognize them at the airport here in New York. So, she sends me three photographs where these people are on. I still don't know their names.

But I printed them out and plan to walk around the airport with the pictures in my hand attempting to identify them. They will probably think that I am some kind of bounty hunter looking for his catch.

But I think they have a picture of me too so we are destined to bump into each other.

Having only two weeks left before my trip I am slowly getting excited. First because of the trip and second the packing.

Even though I packed my things all the time I never had to decide what to take. Mi Wife always decided for me what shorts and shirts to take. Now that responsibility falls right on me.

And it weighs very heavily on me, I hate that kind of responsibility.