Thursday, December 31, 2015

Wednesday

I really don't like to splurge on myself. I like to give to the ones I love and maybe I'll go as far as to the ones I like but I just loath to spend on me. I always say to myself money spent on me is a waste.

So, I can't tell how surprised I was when my lovely wife talked me into a new pair of eyeglasses. The current ones I have since about 2007 and I have no complaints about them at all. But she said I did need a new pair that look a little more modern and maybe better for my current eyesight.

I bowed to her reasoning and reluctantly agreed. We looked and we looked and we looked. Finally set on a pair of gold wire rimmed glasses. They look pretty good and I look fairly distinguished with them on.

The price was a different story. If I were a one eyed cyclops it would have cost $425 but since I was not it cost double! Unbelievable what people won't do for a woman they love! I would have never spent that kind of money on myself but thankfully, she persevered.

They were supposed to be ready for last Saturday but they were not until today. The man who runs the place profusely apologized and since we are returning costumers told us that we can come in for a free pair of glasses after the New Year. Next week we will take him up on his offer because my wife needs new reading glasses.

I know that there is no such a thing as free in this country so I am prepared to pay something but I'll fight tooth and nail for every penny to be spent.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Tuesday

We live in an apartment building on the third floor. Apartment building means that there are neighbors below us, above us and next to us. Now below us lives a couple who are a husband and wife. I think they are Russians. When we moved in we introduced ourselves and asked them to excuse us for the noise the moving would produce. They were nice and told us not to worry about it.

That was the last time they were nice to us. Ever since then they are writing letters to the Board of Directors complaining about us and of how noisy we are.

The other day the agent responsible for managing the building called and then followed it with a letter requesting us to provide floor covering to about 80% of the floor areas.

The problem this Russian paranoid shit has is that nobody lived in this apartment for about two years and they got used to the quiet. Now that there are people above them they are complaining. I responded to the call saying that if they didn't like it they could always move!

Anyway, just to appease the Board today we bought a few carpets. Will lay them down tomorrow and will see how they cover the floors. It is a shame because we really like the parquet flooring but if we can not have it then we just have to obey the house rules.

They piss me off and I will dance the csardas at midnight right over their heads.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Monday

A very good friend of ours is going on a three month cruise around South America. The ship leaves Miami then heads south, stopping at various ports along the way then circles South America and heads North stopping again at several locations. Will cross back through the Panama Canal and across the Caribbean se heads back to Miami.

Sounds simple enough but it is still three long months on a ship and three long months being away from home. I was in Europe for three weeks this Summer and when I got back to New York it felt different for a while. Can not imagine what three month absence must feel like.

Also, I can not imagine how to pack for three months. How many pairs of shorts a man take? How much underwear a woman takes? One is on a cruise ship that is not inexpensive, which day of the week is laundry day?

We gave them a photograph of us in order to remind them what we look like, just in case they might forget us. Regardless of how interesting and how much fun it will be I can not see myself going away on such a long extended voyage. Actually, I don't know anybody who ever went on such a trip. But there are always first times for everything.

Actually when you got it you flaunt it! That's the American way.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Sunday

I think the Christmas hype is finally over. Today is Sunday, two days after Christmas Day. The City is quiet but there was traffic on the roads. I guess those who went away to ease their consciousness about their rare family visits were returning to their homes so by tomorrow they can go on with their lives with a clear slate.

We had a great day. Abigail went away to be with her brother and his dog so she spent most the day with him. This mean that my wife and I were able to have some quality time. And it was top quality!

In the evening she and I went out to a good barbecue restaurant where I had some good ribs and a great Margarita. Actually we both had good Margaritas. After dinner we drove out to Manhattan Beach to pick up Abigail and bring her home.

Tomorrow she is going out to lunch with her girlfriends in the neighborhood. She is a real social butterfly. I'm afraid to ask about the Wednesday program. Actually she will be home until January 5, 2016 and I have no idea what kind of entertainments we can offer to her.

Fatherhood is ain't easy!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Boxing Day

Yesterday was Christmas Day. We spent most of the day home getting ready for the rest of our family to visit us. Around 6:30 they arrived and then we got down to some serious eating and some light drinking. We ate stuffed cabbage, beef roast and chicken. We had a good time with lots of good conversation. That is what makes a good family Christmas.

Today the celebrations are over but Christmas still lingers in the air. We decided to give Manhattan a chance so we drove in. After some heavy searching we did find street parking, not free though and started walking around.

Since we walked on Fifth Avenue we were lucky enough to see the Sach's Fifth Avenue light show. It was just awesome. Another thing that was awesome were the mass of humanity in the area. Cutting through the crowd was a real challenge. We also went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Looked real nice all lit up. People were trying very hard to take pictures and that resulted in a lot of pushing and shoving.

After the sight seeing we decided to go the Hungarian pastry shop for some sweets. They were very good. It also turned out that today is my Name Day an event that many Hungarians observe.

My wife and Abigail (my daughter) bought me two beautiful presents that really almost made me cry.

After the pastry we headed home but along the way we made one more stop. And, that was dinner in one of our favorite restaurant. The dinner was also my wife's present to me.

I am totally moved by the love I receive that I can not find simple words to describe it.

A beautiful day ended with a beautiful Family.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Friday, December 25, 2015

Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve. The whole Christmas thing is working itself up to a crescendo and in this house that is tonight. The use of this musical expression is the result of my frequent visits to the Opera. Cool, no?

It was decided by powers greater than I and that is Abigail that presents will be opened tonight and not tomorrow on Christmas Day. Her current level of anticipation is so high that I don't think she can stand another day of waiting.

So now we are over the X-mas Eve hype. We opened our presents and had a very lovely dinner. My wife made a dinner so scrumptious that words can not describe it.

The presents were breathtaking. My wife bought me things that were just plain gorgeous and Abigail also bought me very nice present. She also bought presents for her Mom and her brother. For a pain in the buttsky she can be a very loving little girl.

But naturally the center of attention was Abigail. She expressed it a long while ago that she wanted an Apple I phone 6 mobile phone and "naturally" that was what she got. She was absolutely speechless when she opened her present and found the phone inside. She naturally got other presents but the I phone is the star, for now.

She also received gifts from friends who really like her.

Now Christmas Eve is over and we can relax. Tomorrow is another day. We are expecting my wife's son and his girlfriend for dinner and more gift giving.

Thankfully we don't celebrate Boxing Day in this country.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Wednesday (Day before X-mas Eve)

It is amazing how easy to open certain accounts in this country. That may be bank account, investment portfolios, ownership of a timeshare or an apartment rental lease. The difficulty lies in changing the name of the primary owner or changing the format of the ownership.

Ownership format change all over the place. People get married, get divorced, people pass away. Every one of these have effects on certain ownerships. And that was what happened to me.

Going back to these institutions and requesting a joint ownership or an additional credit card for the spouse is a long and tedious process. I have been doing it for a few days already and each and every time it is a hassle. I am convinced they are making the process so difficult because they hope people will just give up and will not bother them any longer.

They push the Internet but the Internet sometimes is very uncooperative.

Something else.

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve. Today was the last day in school for Abigail until January 2, 2016. It also means that tomorrow morning I will not have to get up at 6:30 to wake her up. Hallelujah! I will try to be true to my tradition and attempt to stay up and watch the Midnight Mass. I like the pomp and the whole shebang.

Today I ordered new eyeglasses because my old ones were eight years old. According to the optometrist my vision didn't change at all. But he also said that I should go and see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) because I might be heading towards glaucoma. I don't have to tell anybody how much that thing scared me. So first thing Thursday morning I will make an appointment with one. With the exceptions of my cataracts I never had any problems with my eyes. That is why it scares me.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Tuesday

As Christmas is nearing Abigail's gift frenzy is increasing. She already bought all her presents to the family now she is in the process buying gifts to her classmates and friends.

Every day there is a new crisis because she forgot this one or that one. Somehow these girls have a way of finding out who will buy them and what and that means reciprocity. In her class they also did a Secret Santa thing and that meant she had buy a gift to someone she didn't originally intended to. Fortunately these are not expensive presents but every day there is a new gift crisis.

Also her interpretation of when the presents are supposed to be opened varies daily. In accordance with Hungarian costumes we usually open presents on Christmas Eve. She wants to open them the minute she sees them under the tree. Oh, yeah we do have a small tree.

She is in school now and they are supposed to have some kind of party. Actually the parties are during different periods. Tomorrow is the last day of school this year and I guess this Christmas thing will climax by that time.

I would be very curious to know if these kids know what Christmas is all about. Do they know the religious importance of it or they just care about getting presents. Actually also this applies to adults. Christmas became so commercialized that I bet many people don't even know what it is all about.

And I am sure it is not this way only in America but by now all over the world. Businesses are pushing the holydays and not the holydays are pushing the businesses.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Monday

Today was another beautiful non-wintry day. Winter supposed to start today but it did not happen. Snow only appears in the movies but not in real life. Since I love snow in any shape and form I am really getting very disappointed with Mother Nature.

Anyway, we started off doing something pretty important, don't remember what but got sidetracked and wound up doing really nothing. Do you know how satisfying it is to finish a day knowing that we didn't do anything important?

Actually something noteworthy did happen. We received a call from the building's managing agent telling us that the people who live below us were complaining that we were too noisy and about a few other things.

Granted, we do not have too much carpeting but why since we have beautiful parquet floors throughout the apartment. Anyway, this call really riled meu so I sat down and wrote an angry letter to the agent. I love to write angry letters! We mailed it earlier in the evening and I hope they get it by Wednesday.

There is this Russian family living right below us and they complain about everything. But there is no reason since we do not make any noise, we do not wear shoes inside the apartment and are rarely home during the day. They are just bitchy complainers.

I actually told the agent what these people can do with their complaints. Boy, if I want to I can be really mean on paper.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Sunday

Today is Sunday and we woke up to a crystal clear and chilly day. Temperature was barely above freezing but the weather persons assured us that by the X-mas Holidays winter will be a distant memory (for now). They are expecting 60s temperatures. Now, isn't this ridiculous? I don't know if this is caused by El Nino or El Nina or whoever else but it is still a joke.

All the beautiful Winter wears and no chance to use them.

We did some Christmas shopping yesterday but with Abigail around it is a never ending chore. Every ten minutes she remembers another friend who seems to deserve a present.

Abigail is the world's highest paid cleaning lady. She worked herself into a $42 debt and told us that she would work it off. Well, today she helped her Mom to clean house for all of thirty minutes then she informed us that her slate was clean.

So in caser anybody want to hire her take her price into consideration.

Today is just about the first time that we have really nothing to do. Had a few chores before lunch but after that it is just plain and simple relaxation. Until...

You see we ordered some photographs right after our marriage ceremony and they were ready this week. So my wife decided that this afternoon and since we have nothing to do it would be the right time to have something to do. And that something to do meant to hang a few on the wall.

Now this building have strict rule against any kind of drilling or hammering during the weekend I was a little hesitant to do it. Also the wall she picked is just about the only wall common with our neighbor. So how does one hammer in a nail silently? Didn't but at the end all pictures were hung and they all look great.

Also because I drove the two nails in I am now totally exhausted!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Boxing Day

Christmas is over and the hype is finished. Now we can all go out and buy all our original presents at half price. Actually I heard today on the radio that some people return their gifts then rebuy it at a sale price and use the extra money to buy something else. Very shmart!

Our Christmas Day went very nicely. We spent most of the day home with our family. But then at 6:30 the rest of the family arrived and that was when we started dinner. We had a few drinks, plenty of food, good conversation. That is what a nice family get together consists of.

Today, the day after Christmas or as it is also known Boxing Day we decided to give Manhattan a chance.

So, early afternoon we drove into midtown Manhattan. After some serious search we did find street parking, not free though and started to walk around. By walking on Fifth Avenue we were lucky enough to see the light show at Sach's Fifth Avenue store. It was amazing. After that we walked over to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Pretty good looking.

What really amazed me was the mass of humanity. It was solid wall to wall people. Cutting through the crowd was no easy task.. The area stores were swamped, the street vendors had lines waiting. I'm sure the mild weather also contributed to people being outside. We walked a lot and basically we had a great time.

It turned out that today is my name day which is something Hungarians do observe. My wife and Abigail (my daughter) bought me two beautiful presents.

After our City walk we went to the Hungarian pastry shop for some sweet stuff and then headed home. Well, not exactly! We stopped along the way at a very nice restaurant for a Name Day dinner and then really headed home.

A beautiful day with my beautiful family!

Saturday

They say people have no money, many, too many people are still with no jobs. Prices are going up across the board and the money is steadily losing its value. Price of gold is at rock bottom, rents and home prices are going up at a steep line.

Still people are shopping, the stores are crowded now that the Christmas holiday is coming. I know that this is temporary but there are other signs that people are spending their monies.

We were at the Opera this week and it was full. We were at a few shows in the previous weeks and most of the expensive seats were sold even if the theaters were not full.

All afternoon today we were occupied with looking to places we might visit in the future. We would love to go to Hawaii for a honeymoon and do the trip with the use of the timeshares we own. Well, that does not seem to be as simple as the salespeople were hinting at the time they sold the stuff.

We are kind of controlled by Abigail's school recesses for our travels. Would you believe that the nearest available and affordable time we found in Hawaii is for August in 2017. It seems that people who own timeshares in Hawaii really use their weeks every year and that is why there is nothing ever available.

I think from here on I will stop feeling sorry for America because it seems they are doing pretty well.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Clocks and Words.

I love timepieces and mainly clocks. Just to be fair I do have an egg timer that works with sand in an hourglass but they do not have the same effect on me as clocks have.

In this apartment we have clocks wherever one looks. Clocks on tables, in the glass cabinet, on my desk, standing on the floor and on walls.

We have an old wind up pendulum clock that I just would love to see works. But my wife says that it ding-dongs every half hour including the right time on the hour. I just can't imagine my neighbors if that clock would start chiming around four in the morning. They probably would call the cops. We have another real old wall mounted clock that is right now not showing time. This one is old so naturally it is a wind up clock. It hangs in a very centery location and I constantly look at it. My wife says we can not use it because it is extremely noisy but if I want to be up all night feel free to wind it up.

I can just see myself next Spring when all these clocks will have to be turned back an hour.

Something else.

In the course of writing this and all previous blogs I invent words. I don't think there is anything wrong with that since we "writers" or word smiths have the right to do whatever we want with the words available to us.

A few lines up I wrote the word centery. Some people might not understand what I meant for this word but I couldn't find any better expression to show where that old clock is located.

I think that us for whom English is a second language are much better equipped to use the richness of the language and its possibilities than those for whom English is their native language.

And if one speaks it with an accent more power to him.


Friday, December 18, 2015

Thursday

Today was a creepy, crapy, lousy and lazy day. Oh, I forgot to add boring.

It rained all day and it made moving around very difficult.

The Mongols grew up on horsebacks. There were no Mongols who didn't know what to do as long as a horse was involved.

Americans grow up with cars. Some Americans are even conceived in cars. So driving a car in any kind of situation should not be a problem.

It should not but it is. The minute the first raindrop falls drivers here in New York get paralyzed and forget how to drive. It is unbelievable how bad most of the New York drivers behave in rainy conditions.

We had things to do today so we were forced to move around and I say this from experience. Naturally this does not apply to me because nothing phases me as far as driving is involved. Rain or snow it doesn't matter.

Speaking of snow. I think that is a myth as the 49 cent gallon gas is. Today was December 17 and the temperature all day was in the upper 50s. White Christmas only appears in the movies. It is continuously warm and we are having our windows open all day long. We didn't have a chance to wear any of our winter clothing yet.

Not just the world is gone nuts also did the weather.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Wednesday

Today is Wednesday and for a chance we do not have any culture planned in our programs. No opera, no Broadway show. But that's ok. this is not yet withdrawal. Anyway, we had a fairly busy day.

I had a morning appointment with my urologist. He wants to see me every six months so I make him happy and let him play with my prostate. Fortunately the bull s..t lasted longer than the examination. He was very satisfied with everything and I hope things will remain the same.

Since my wife came into Manhattan with me and the doctor visit ended fairly early we decided to walk up on Fifth Avenue and do some window shopping. Boy, do I like window shopping! After Fifth Avenue we walked through 57th Street which is the diamond center of New York. We looked in all the windows and resisted all the temptation to buy up everything we liked. Those jewelers try so hard to entice everybody that stops and looks that it is getting to be funny. But we were strong.

After getting back to Queens and picking up Abigele at school we headed to another part of Queens to do some serious shopping at a Romanian butcher who sells great Hungarian products. And there we shopped!

The stuff we bought was so tempting that we decided to have cold cuts for dinner. And that was what we had.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Tuesday

Today was my semi-annual annual physical. I have this very lovely lady doctor to whom I have been going for over 25 years and that means she knows more about me than I know myself.

Since I have no problems I did not see her for about six months and that meant there was a lot of things to catch up on. As well as personal as healthwise. To tell the truth we did talk a lot but I just love to talk and there was really a lots of things that I had to tell her about. I was sorry as was her that my wife couldn't come with me because the doctor wanted to meet her but I said maybe another time.

My quick results turned out good with the exception that an electronic vein test found or might have found something that looked like an obstruction in my left leg. Since this was an electronic test the radiologist has to interpret the results. Until then I am a nervous wreck.

With all the tests and talking the appointment lasted from 12:30 until 5:30. This was one marathon session. I got home and for us the day was over.

Something else.

Right now they are just finishing the Republican Presidential debate on CNN. I tell you honestly right now this is the best entertainment on television. If none of them gets elected they should make this a traveling show and I bet they would make a lot of money.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Monday

Way back in the early days of civilization when I went to school I learned in physics that energy can not disappear but changes format. Ok, I accept this theory because it was proved to be correct by people a lot smarter than I.

But based on that old principle I have a new theory and this theory, proven correct might even win the Nobel Prize.

Lately I noticed that my dress shirt sleeves are getting shorter while my pants are getting tighter to close.

So what is the conclusion?

Matter disappearing from my arms are being transferred to my girth. A very interesting phenomena, don't you think? And they say Einstein was smart!

Something else.

Tonight we are continuing our high cultural amusements. We are going to the Metropolitan Opera to see Die Fledermous. This is the second of the series we bought tickets for. We have one more left and that is the Marriage of Figaro on January 2. Since the weather is very mild dressing up is not a problem and because we park in the underground garage under the Met we don't have to carry any overcoats.

Tomorrow I'll hum a few notes from this operetta.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Sunday

Today I have officially started the Christmas Season. Actually it started Friday night when I wrote my overseas Christmas cards. Between my wife's relations and my friends and family we put together a nice list of greeting cards. Mailed them on Saturday hoping that they will get delivered before the 25th.

We also put up our nice little X-mas tree. It is nice and when lit it cheers up the place. Not that it needs cheering up but makes it look even nicer. Slowly but surely the presents are gathering underneath it and probably on Christmas Eve they will be opened.

We follow the Hungarian and probably European costume where presents are opened on the evening of the 24th.

Today we went to a humongous shopping mall where there were wall to wall people and bought a few things for Abigail. But she knows that her "big" present will be forthcoming.

Once we got home I started writing greeting cards. For me that is a habitual annual experience. Out of the 30-35 I wrote ten so far but my back started to hurt so I stopped. The problem is that I can not just write a few words of greetings I have to write long letters to everybody. This time evn more so since so much good happened to my life in the outgoing year.

Hungarian vacation, Las Vegas vacation, buying and moving into a new apartment, falling in love with a gorgeous woman, getting married...

The order of events is random. That was not the right order of things!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Saturday

I, again apologize but this time it was the computer's fault and not my laziness.

Anyway, I am a newlywed and newlyweds have more pressing things to do than write blogs! We live in total love and that love consumes most of my energy!

Last night (Friday night) we celebrated our first date by going out to dinner to the same place we went last year. It is a German restaurant by the name of Zum Stamtisch. We had a great time last year and we had a great time this year. Nowhere they make a real good Wiener Schnitzel as good as in a real German restaurant. And the Bavarian beer was no slouch either.

Since we immensely enjoy each other's company we had a great time.

Today we met a good friend of ours for a little lunch. This friend and I worked together for several years and that was how we became real friends. Now that he is also retired all they do is travel around the world. They just came back from a thirty day Australian trip and will be leaving shortly for a three month long South American cruise.

So we grabbed the chance that they are home and had lunch. The lunch started at 2 pm and ended around 6:30. We talked and talked and talked. Him and his wife are both very good conversationalists meaning we were never without anything to talk about.

They are really lovely people. Were happy that we got married and aside the fact that they treated us to lunch bought us a very nice wedding present.

Today is Saturday and that was our program for the day.



Thursday, December 10, 2015

Thursday

I have to apologize for not writing anything yesterday. But the cause was not problem but simply the fact that we got home too late for me to sit down and trying to write something.

You see, we went to Broadway (again) and I just couldn't hack it. It was after midnight when we got home and I just didn't have the stamina to sit down and write.

This time we saw a very nice musical by the title of An American in Paris. This was now the third Broadway show in a fairly short time. I like this frequent theater going. I think I might just become a theater critic. This way I can go even more frequently and free.

This show is a semi-classical Gershwin show. I remember the movie with Gene Kelly and the show was not far away from that. There was a lot of dancing and singing of well known tunes.

What I didn't like was that it is fanfared as a great award winning show yet, the balcony was half empty. I wonder when will these theaters learn that they are overpriced and that is why they have so many empty seats.

I really don't feel sorry when they close a show too early because of poor attendance. They all deserve it. To ask $200 for the cheapest ticket at the Lion King, just because it is popular is insane. But people go and pay this amount. Mainly the tourists though.

After the show we went to Ellen's Starlight Diner where all the servers sing show tunes and we had a great time. We went with my wife's son and his girlfriend. This was their Christmas present.

At the end we all had a great time.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Tuesday

Lately I keep falling asleep while sitting on the sofa and watching TV. That by itself is not the end of the world. What is disturbing and embarrassing is that I wake up to my own snoring.

This same thing happened just a little while ago. I'm sitting and watching the eleven o'clock news when I closed my eyes for a minute just during a commercial. I suddenly snored and that totally woke me up.

I don't know if that makes me a disgusting person or this thing is normal.

Something else.

I don't know hat makes my neighborhood so popular with the film industry but in the past two years they are filming in the area all the time. It is possible to notice because they shut down blocks and blocks for their equipment. They block off valuable parking spaces and make very difficult access to our local stores.

I guess the City is so hungry for their money that they allow these people to do whatever they want.

The interesting thing is that when they finish filming those local scenes might not even be in the film or might just last a few second.

Ah, but that is show business!

Monday, December 7, 2015

Sunday

I apologize for not writing anything yesterday but it was an extremely busy day. My wife's daughter arrived for a short visit from Florida and we spent the entire day with her and the rest of the family.

She is a lovely young lady who, I hope enjoys being in New York. we naturally had a family dinner that was pretty pleasant and between eating and talking time just went by.

Today we again had a busy day. We took our guest to see a Broadway show. It was Dames at Sea. This is a musical filled with good catchy tunes and a lots of dancing. Step dancing featured prominently in the show.

We had tickets to the front mezzanine but when we entered the theater we were told to see a particular young lady who in turn assigned us three very good orchestra seats. Who am I to argue with luck?

This is a very good way to see Broadway shows. I should be so lucky on a plane trip!

After the show we stooped by the Hungarian pastry shop for a little pastry then headed home.

I actually figured out that the show was not showing phenomenal success and rather than than have empty seats in orchestra they have empty seats upstairs on the balcony.

Wo cares as long as I get something good out of it, right?

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Friday

I spent a better part of tonight changing all or at least most of my monthly bills over to electronic payment method. I am very old fashioned. I always wrote checks and mailed them in but new my wife pointed out the errors of my ways and convinced me to change over to this new (for me at least) method.

If anybody thinks it is easy that person is wrong. I had to provide countless i.d. words, and countless passwords. It is a good thing that I really simplified this process because it is totally impossible to remember all the passwords. Now I only have to remember to have enough funds to cover all the obligations.

If they work this is a great thing. The problem is that it will make the Postal Service obsolete but hey, I can't solve all the problems of this country.

Something else.

Today is the second day of the rest of my life. I have been married for two days already and our love is holding still. I noticed that this thing didn't change me at all. I am still the same old lovable guy I always was. Nothing out of the ordinary was done today. We went about our business as usual except we are now husband and wife!

I love the sound of it.

I am writing this article a little late because the entire evening was spent with those electronic filings and additionally we were very busy investigating possible (and desirable) locations for our February honeymoon. The only observation I have is that going through timeshare and find a place is impossible. Trying to find a place and pay with money is almost impossible.

It looks like the entire country is on vacation in February.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Thursday

Wednesday night we went to see Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. I saw this show and the movie already but this sis like an opera. There is no end to how many times it can be seen.

It was a great production with a very good cast. We had good seats so we were able to enjoy it without any problems. It started at 8 and lasted until 11. After the show we went to a nice restaurant that stays open until about 4 am. We had drinks, we had dinner and by the time we got home it was well past one in the morning.

Something else.

Yesterday we went to Borough Hall near us and filed for a permit to get married. 24 hours later, today at 2:30 in the afternoon we got married! It was a civilian wedding witnessed by the son of my wife. We were lucky because the lady who officiated the ceremony was very nice and gentle. Didn't make us feel it was an assembly line affair.

When it was over I was almost moved to tears about the whole thing. About what an interesting turn my life took. Now I have a family of which I am part of. My wife loves me and I immensely love her!

What else can a man ask for?

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Tuesday

Today was a very busy and useful day for us. We did something we didn't do for quite a while. We moved furniture!

Early this morning I picked up a rented U-Haul van and took it to move furniture. Some went to storage and some came out of storage. We did this with the help of my fiancée's son and his lady friend. I swear to God people in this building are convinced that we are idiots because every few days we move boxes and furniture.

I hope one day we will be settled, the cars will be cleaned out and we can settle down to a nice and boring life. But this frequent rearranging is driving me up the wall. But I don't argue just do whatever is necessary to keep the peace.

Anyhow, I'm just a man. When man was created the feel for aesthetic was left out so I really don't know what looks good or what do not.

One good thing did come out of these frequent moves that I got to drive different size U-Haul trucks. So after toilet seat installer I can also add truck driver to my resume.

In case I want to start a new career.

Tomorrow night we are going to Broadway to see Fiddler on the Roof. I did see it already but since they are playing it want to see it again. There are not too many quality shows on Broadway that I am really interested about. So I much rather go and see a good revival.

If I miss to write tomorrow please forgive me. It was because we got home very late.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Monday

If I want a new career at this stage of my life it would be toilet seat installer. In recent days I installed toilet seats about four times. The last one went on without a hitch.

We have two bathrooms with one toilet each. We bought new seats for each. Installed them, removed them, returned them for exchange and installed the new ones. (This is what "rich" people do when they have nothing else to do.)

Actually, it was pretty funny. One of the seats was a little longer because I thought that was what we needed. In that bathroom the toilet is so close to the door that with the elongated seat it was not possible to open the bathroom door without rubbing against the seat. Back it went and now we have the correct size.

It is unbelievable how certain rooms are designed without thinking about measurements and how things should fit in. But resourcefulness always wins.

Something else.

Today just before twelve noon I gave back to the landlord the keys to the old apartment. With that a major phase of my life ended. But according to the laws of nature when something ends something else begins. And that something else is my new life. I have new family and I am looking forward to a new and beautiful future.

I was not nostalgic about the old place but still I lived there from 1962 through 2015. There were some good times and there were some bad times. I didn't shed any tears leaving since I am not dwelling on the past. The past is the past and the future is awaiting me. I am a lot more excited about our new life that we will embark on than waste time and energy on the past.

But I still walked through one more time before leaving the last time. It was ok.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Toilet Seats

I hate those goddamned Chinese who make these cheap products that we Americans buy all the time. Their work is below quality yet we still buy them because we get blinded by the price difference.

Why is this outburst? Because yesterday we bought two toilet seats in lieu of the ones we already had. Me, macho man got to install them. Did they work? Nooooo!

Why?

Because those beady eyed bastards made the nuts on the hold down screws just a tad larger but enough to make it impossible to screw the seat tightly to the base. I worked my but off trying to succeed but was not good enough. If they would pay a little more attention to what they do and observe the regulation sizes this wouldn't have happened. Now, I am on a warpath against cheap Chinese made horse manure quality products.

Toilet seats should be the easiest thing to install yet, they make it complicated and annoying with their poor quality products.

Maybe there is some truth to the saying: you get what you pay for.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Saturday

Today, as planned we spent a lots of time cleaning out my old apartment. It never seizes to amaze me how much crap a person can accumulate. I keep finding stuff I never knew I had or just why did I even have it. But we progressed to the point that there left only a few items that we must bring over to our new place. The rest either to storage or to the garbage.

After we finished the apartment labor we went to do some shopping. We needed a new small carpet and some other stuff. The carpet went ok. You see I am colorblind and I have no idea what goes with what. My fiancée is a lot better at this and I had to stick it out. At the end when she asked me if I liked a particular rug and I answered yes, she immediately knew I said that just to get it over with.

After the rug purchase we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Now this store I can get an immediate headache just by walking in. There are a few extremely boring things in life. To me vanilla is one of them. Going to Bed, Bath... is right there on the top. It is hard for me to find many things as boring as shopping for towels, bed linen or anything else that store sells. But, it is necessary to go there once in a while. And today was it. I hope we don't have to go back there for quite a while.

I used to hate stuffed cabbage or anything with cabbage. I hated the stuff so much that I got headaches whenever my Mother made them. Bed, Bath and Beyond is in the same category.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Friday

There is another thing about the Thanksgiving turkey. And it is the next day turkey. Next day is good but by the fourth day it is getting a little boring. But anyway I don't think we have that much left.

Today is Friday and this is what they call Black Friday. One of the biggest shopping days before Christmas. We had some business to take care of in Manhattan and it was a pleasure to go in by subway. The trains came on time and they were all empty. So going into Manhattan and back to sunny where we live was pretty good.

Something else.

We still didn't close up my old apartment. My rent is paid for this month but I am really not looking forward to paying any more. On that note I called the landlord and asked them if they would release me from my lease that would not expire until next August. Worst case scenario I pay rent all the way through and then do not renew the lease. Good case scenario they let me out of my obligation with a little going away present.

Fortunately for me, the second option won. Monday I am supposed to hand over the keys and in return get a little traveling money!

So, tomorrow we have to go over and do a final clean up. I lived there since 1963 and went through a lot of good times and bad times. Honestly, I will be happy to leave and start my new life in a totally new environment.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving. For those wo don't live here it does not mean anything but for us it is a big thing.

First of all we can eat turkey. Actually we can eat turkey any time during the year but during Thanksgiving it is mandatory. There is the Turkey Police that might show up at anybody's place just to check if they serve up the bird. People might think the fashion police is hard. They haven't met the terrible TP.

If they find any family not having turkey they can make them gaggle-gaggle for an hour out in public. And then they have to cook and eat a turkey.

Second, we eat all the trimmings that come with the bird. Sometimes the trimmings are more exciting than the turkey itself. I knew some people who stuffed a duck inside the turkey and prepared it that way. I guess it was called a durkey.

Then come the cakes. They come in all varieties. Pumpkin pie, all kinds of fruity pies. And there might also be some cakes.

We had a lovely dinner. My fiancée started the preparations yesterday and everything was ready by the time our guests arrived. Everybody ate well. We drank, we ate then drank more, then ate more and closed the dinner with we drank more.

I mentioned it before that the first time in my life we have an automatic dishwasher meaning we didn't have to do the dishes. What a relief.

Over all we had a great time and I hope all my friends had a nice Thanksgiving.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Wednesday

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day and that means that we will have turkey. I love turkey, at least once a year. My fiancée already started the preparations since we are expecting family here.

We plan to have turkey soup with all the gizzards then the turkey with stuffing and trimmings and at the end desert. The desert part is still a mystery. I love pumpkin pie but my fiancée will bake something additional. Her son's girl friend is a pastry chef by training and I think she will bake something special for the occasion. Can't wait for the dinner.

I usually watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or parts of it on TV and will probably do the same tomorrow. Even though it is the same every year I still like to see it. Wouldn't go there but to watch it from the warmth of my living room is ok.

Something else.

Our old friend had a 2002 Honda that he didn't drive for a very long time. He kept it in the garage where he lived so it wasn't in terrible condition. The trouble the car had that when he drove it the last time, about six months ago he left the lights on and it killed the battery. When time came to move the car to where we live now we had to call AAA for a start. Car started an was moved.

A week later when we wanted to move it because of street cleaning it was dead as a doornail. We were trying to sell it but how do one sell a car that can not move? Eventually we found someone who bought it, I think for parts and finally this morning it was moved away.

One less headache to deal with.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Tuesday

Yesterday before the Radio City Music Hall show started they made an announcement that everybody look left and smile. It was aid that they took 360 photographs of the entire audience and people can find themselves when they look. I have been trying to find that website without any success and it aggravates me to no end. This would have been such a cool thing.

Also in the show there was a scene when Santa flew into new York and it was shown in 3D. We all got special glasses and the pictures were fantastic. At one time a wild goose flew so close to me that I almost "grabbed" its beak. There was no shortage of electronic wizardry in that show.

I remember many years ago when all that was done were the Rockettes lifting their legs and the orchestra rising out of the pit in the front. Boy, times have changed.

We drove through Times Square last night. That place is amazing. It does not matter how late or cold is there are people everywhere.

Security was very noticeable. At the Radio City Music Hall's entrance they examined every person entering. This naturally created a block long line. At Times Square there were police everywhere. The presence of security personnel was overwhelming. We were kind of used to it because we saw them at the Metropolitan Opera already early last week.

It's scary world we live in where thing like these become the norm.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Monday

Tonight we went to see the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Show. I always heard that it was an extravaganza but I never saw it. Actually since they converted the Radio City Music Hall in 1979 from movie theater to a show establishment I was not there. Now that I went there I think it looked just the way I remembered it back then.

Anyway we decided to surprise Abigail with a night in the City. And man, was she ever surprised! Her eyes were wide open at what she could see. But then grown ups were the same way.

The place is enormous yet it was not crowded. We sat on the balcony first row. Our seats were comfortable with plenty of legroom.

The show in one word was spectacular. It was an hour and a half of music and dancing. Dancing was performed by the Rockettes. I enjoyed the entirety because it was mindless and entertaining.

We were able to find streetparking and walked to the theater. Fifth Avenue an Rockefeller Center are already have plenty of Christmas decoration. This way by the time we got to the show we were already filled with the Christmas spirit.

Than after the show when we had dinner we filled ourselves with a little more spirit.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Timeshare

Years ago I fell for the timeshare sales gimmick. I was made to believe that timeshare is God's gift to the vacationer. To a certain extent it is but on the long run it is a pain in the neck.

If one wants to visit the same resort every single year for forty years, timeshare is perfect. One's place and time of year is assured. Don't have to worry about reservations and availability.

I visited the same place for over ten times and I have to admit I loved it. But going to another place is an entire different story.

When I bought my current timeshare I was told that the company I purchased from has over 6,000 resorts in over one hundred countries. Sounds good, right?

This year we went to a different location and for next year we are trying to find another than the usual resort. It is unbelievable how difficult it is to find a decent resort in this country that has availability. We really don't want much. Sun, water and a nice place. Interestingly, nothing is available in the timeframe we would like to go.

This unavailability stretches from Hawaii through California across the country. So, I am kind of fed up with timeshares.

And being "true" to my principles, while we were in Las Vegas I bought a timeshare for my fiancé as a wedding present. This was a beautiful place and it was impossible to resist it. I am impatiently waiting for the time when we can go and stay at our new place in LV. It is really nice. That's the only excuse I really have.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Saturday

Here in New York the weather is beginning to be like it was in St. Maarten or in Las Vegas this Summer. Day after day nothing but sunshine. Today is no exception. There is not a cloud on the sky, the temperature is pretty mild. There is heat in the apartment because it is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit but we have all the windows open.

We have absolutely no plans to do anything today just to be with each other. The apartment is large and spacious permitting us a lot of privacy and because of that I just love to stay home. We have some very large and comfortable sofas and just love to cuddle up in each other's arms and just sit around and talk.

Our elderly friend doesn't bother us too much and Abigail loves her privacy, too. She goes into her room and we don't see her for hours. That gives us plenty of grown up time!

It is difficult to comprehend that next Thursday is already Thanksgiving. Time went so fast that it is unbelievable.. We plan to have a nice family dinner in our house. In addition to our little family of four we also expect my fiancée's son and his girlfriend. That will make six.

We already have the turkey and all that go with it. Hopefully it will turn out nice. Since now we possess one of technology's great invention a dishwasher hopefully none of us will have to spend too much time doing dishes.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Friday

Today is Friday and the do list in this household never ends. Since we saw this apartment in the Summer the first time there were things that were impossible to check. One of those things was the heat.

Once the heating season started and the temperature dropped we realized that in two of our rooms the radiators didn't work. I can't fix these things besides it was not my responsibility. So, w called the building super who came up this morning and hopefully fixed it. Hopefully they will work.

These supers are funny people. If one doesn't "appreciate" their help they just kind of forget to show up. So, I make sure they like me by "appreciating" their helpfulness. Now just before Christmas they are even more helpful than the rest of the year.

One of the things we have to handle is our friend's car. He has a 13 year old car that does not run. He is not in any condition to drive and we already have two cars. Selling it is almost impossible so now we are trying to get rid of it by donating it to a charity that will take it away. Currently the car is in the street and with alternate parking rules and since it can not be moved it does nothing but might collect tickets.

Something else.

Yesterday I already mentioned the immense responsibility I am entrusted with by selecting a suitable high school for Abigail. The thing is that no matter what we chose it will not be good by her standards. However, later on she will question us that why did we listen to her since she is only a child!

There are many thing to consider in this choosing thing. One is how good the school is, other what programs the school has to offer. Another thing is the racial composition of the school. Not sounding racist but that is a very important factor. One does not want their child to be in a total minority because that might effect her for the rest of her life.

New York City makes every school sound very attractive but there is a private website that grades schools and provides a lot more useful information that people like us can rely on.

Most of the good schools are very competitive. Getting in is not easy but we are hoping for good outcomes.

I'm sure I'll write more about this in the future as boring as it might be to some but hey, life is just a bowl of cherries!




Friday, November 20, 2015

Life as we know it.

I guess we are back in our previous routines. Today we practically didn't do anything. In the morning a few household chores and in the afternoon laundry. Since we are now four people living under one roof laundry is not a small task. Neither is taking out the garbage.

Since this is an apartment house we have something that is called the garbage chute. I swear I spend so much time out around that garbage chute that we are on first name bases already. Laundry is a different animal because we always did it together and we are still doing it the same way. Garbage on the other hand is my duty. I keep saying it that it is a man's job.

I am continuously going through lists after lists for address change. I never realized how complicated that process is and how many places need to be notified. I am not just doing it for myself I am also doing it for my friend so the job is double hard.

Some websites allow you to do it very simple some make it very difficult. But so far I prevailed.

My next serious assignment is more parental than anything I am used to. We are supposed to select high school for Abigail. New York City made it very simple. They sent a very thick book (abt. a million pages) with all the New York City high schools listed and we are supposed to use that to help in the selection.

Some schools are very competitive while some are not. Abigail has some ideas where she would like to go but us being the "smarter and more experienced ones" will make the final decision. And that has to be done by the end of next week.

Also Thanksgiving is a week away and that needs a lot of work. So, life is rolling along its merry way in this household.

As I said it before: never a dull moment!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Stuff

It is unbelievable how much stuff a person can accumulate in years and not really be aware of it. I always just put stuff aside, on shelves, on top of each other, in folders, in bags. Never paid any attention to much what it really was.

But now that the time came to move everything I had to reevaluate my stuff and decide what to throw out and what to keep. There are mementos and there are mementos. I decided to throw out the majority of the stuff and keep all the letters I received from my parents since leaving Hungary. We used to correspond weekly and that went on for twenty years. You can imagine how many letters that make up. But I insisted on keeping those and nothing else. And a few of my old school things that my Mother kept. This does not sound much but believe me it still is add up a considerable quantity.

I think we eventually will reorganize the storage items and will be able to reduce that inventory to an absolute minimum. I hate to think what would have happened if we bought a house. Houses come with garages and other funny spaces and they all just cry out for attention. Attention meaning store stuff in me, please.

It is a funny thing with old mementos. We keep telling ourselves that one day we will sit down and look through all those old family photographs we keep throughout the years. Sadly, that time never comes. There is always something else to do. But as everyone do this I am no exception. I keep saying that one day I'll take out those old photographs and explain those funny looking people in them.

Right now we still have stuff in my old apartment and in the storage. We really don't know what we will do with them but by the end of the month something will have to be done.

And this is easier said than done.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Opera

In the middle of our moving struggle when we were dirty, sweaty and tired one day the caterpillars became butterflies. We changed to nice, clean clothes and went to Manhattan to Carnegie Hall to see a show by a supposedly well known (in Europe) artist who went by the name of Havasi.

It was a very well organized concert with a large Hungarian orchestra, choir and singers. Even though it was a Hungarian artist it was surprising how many people were there. The place was actually full.

Havasi is a piano virtuoso and composer who made the show very entertaining. Bottom line, we had a great time.

To continue our cultural caravan last night we went to the Metropolitan Opera. This was our first visit there in this season. We saw a new production of Rigoletto. What made this production interesting that instead of happening in the sixteenth century Mantua it happened in the 1960s Las Vegas. The music remained the same, the characters remained the same just the time changed.

I have to admit it was interesting and entertaining. Happening in Las Vegas there was even a topless dancer in the show.

We had good seats and we immensely enjoyed the evening.

The opera started at 7:30 and lasted until almost eleven o'clock. After that we went to dinner to a very nice American restaurant where we ate good food and drank good drinks.

After this we drove home which happened to be a joy since there were no traffic and that was the end of a beautiful evening.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Son

I mentioned earlier that my fiancée has a son who used to live in Florida. Well, a little while ago he decided he had enough of palm trees and sunshine and would move back to New York.

So he did. He packed up his belongings, hired a truck packed everything in it and drove it up to here. Since his mother and I were already sharing our lives under one roof he was lucky enough to be able to move into her apartment. That was the reason we had to relocate some of her belongings in order to make room for his.

He is a very resourceful and strong young man but we still helped with the unpacking/packing and moving. I have to admit it was a lot of work but at the end it was worth it. His apartment looks nice, our apartment looks nice and stuff we couldn't use were placed in storage.

Now back to the son. I am very glad that he is here near us. First of all he is a very nice and charming young man. Second, he is a computer "genius". At least in my eyes. There is nothing that he can not fix with the computer. And that puts my mind at ease.

In the past every time something didn't work I got panicky since I just don't understand the workings of a computer. I know how to turn it on and how to turn it off. Having someone like him nearby makes life easier.

He is also very handy. We decided to do the entire move by ourselves and honestly, we couldn't have done it without him. He was helpful, resourceful, strong and helped in every phase of the move.

When he came up to New York he started to look for work with all the major electronic companies (Apple, AT&T, T Mobile) and very quickly received offers from every one. Right now he is weighing his options which one to accept. Whichever he accepts I'm sure will be a good decision.

Him going to work will be our loss because it was good having him here with us and helping out.

If this happens I might have to start to do some work myself.

Monday, November 16, 2015

I'm Back


My last entry was on October 9 and today is November 15 and Sunday. Over a month went past and a lots of things happened to us. Nothing bad, all exhilaratingly good.

I took one of the biggest steps in my life and that step took a very long time. This last month was the finishing touch and believe it or not we are still not finished.

We bought a large new home for us and we are living there already. Writing it down it really looks simple but it was anything but. Some of my friends moved several times in their lifetimes as well as bought new homes, too. For me at least this was the first and hopefully the last time.

The purchase itself took forever. Maybe it was the normal course of events but we were impatient and to us it just never ended. It was like watching grass grow. Finally on October 27 we closed the deal and on November 2 we spent our first night in our new home.

I can not begin to say how excited I am about this entire thing. The is large and comfortable place. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is in a very good location in a nice building. Both of our cars have parking meaning that we don't have to worry about street parking.

We have three bedrooms because our elderly friend decided to live with us. He is in weak health, very frail but expressed his desire that he wanted to live with us. Having no family and absolutely no friends there was nothing else we could have done but honor his desire and take him in.

That was why our move or moves were so difficult. We had to consolidate three apartments into one and believe me that was not easy.

My fiancée's son moved up from Florida and is now living in her apartment. The apartment that used to be our weekend hideaway. Some of her furniture is here and some are in storage. The same also happened to my stuff. Some are here while some are in storage.

We figured out that since we started a new life we should start with new furniture. So, we bought brand new furniture for our bedroom and living room. I must say everything looks just fantastic.

I am very excited about this whole thing because I never ever lived in such a spacious and beautiful place before. I am also surrounded by a loving family which includes my fiancée, Abigail and our friend.

The bottom line is that there is never a dull moment in this household and that is fine with me.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Thursday

I really don't have much to write about. Our life goes on very quietly. In the morning Abigail goes off to school then the rest of the day is ours until Her Majesty returns home. That happens around 2:30 in the afternoon.

When I went to school after I got home my Mother wouldn't let me get up from my homeworks until I was all done. Then I could go and play or go out and be with my friends.

This is a source of constant arguments between her and me because she plays first or see her friends first or gets on Skype and this way homework doesn't get finished until about ten in the evening.

But as I understand this is the American way and it is very difficult arguing with that. I don't want to be somebody who constantly says that in my days it was this way or that way.

I am just quietly convinced that our way was superior to the American system.

Something else.

We are getting ready for the arrival of the son my fiancée from Florida. He is moving up here to start his life fresh. They are leaving on Saturday and hoping to arrive sometimes Sunday. He will be driving a small rental truck with all their furniture and that will surely slow down their travel. But we will impatiently be waiting for their arrival.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Wednesday

Today lacking anything useful to do we decided to look for furniture. I emphasize, it was just for the fun of it since we both have perfect furnitures.

Anyway we visited Raymour & Flanigan and Macy's in Queens and picked out very similar items. Being a young couple we naturally concentrated on bedroom furniture. Being both European we really liked the heavy wood furnitures both stores were offering.

We selected a platform bed, two dressers one with mirror and a night table. In addition at Macy's we also found a beautiful leather inlaid antique looking desk. We talked to a salesman and emphasized that we were just looking.

I am terrified of just looking. Every time I'm just looking I wind up buying the stuff. That was the case with most of my cars.

We priced both stores and at the end it turned out that we can get the Raymour & Flanigan stuff for about half the price Macy's was charging for theirs. And both stores have now the Columbus Day sale in force.

I'm coming to the conclusion that Macy's is not inexpensive at all. I think in the future I will curtail my purchases there.

It is a big problem that while it is easy to donate or get rid of used clothing, furniture is another issue. Charitable organizations are very selective of what do they accept. Whatever happened to the "beggars can not be choosers" saying?

I really liked the furniture we saw and if we could get rid of our current inventory I wouldn't think twice about getting new ones.

The new bedroom really looked very exciting!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Hurka Day

Sometimes one can find a gem in a most unbelievable place. All what is needed is diligent search or knowing where to look or just somebody who knows where to go. Today we went to a small Polish store in a part of Queens that I would never go to look for such store.

This store sells good cold cuts and most of all hurka. For the ones who don't know what that is, this is a liver sausage that is just wonderful. The store is not a butcher shop but does sell meat products along with all kinds of Polish delicacies.

We are having hurka for dinner and right now I am sitting here salivating for just the smell of it. The trouble is that there is no lo-cal hurka. And the damned thing is so gooood!

By now we already had dinner. And the hurka was fantastic. If I put some weight on because of it, who cares it is worth it.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Monday

Yesterday we went to shop at Macy's. We had the need to buy a few jeans and in my humble opinion Macy's was the best store to do it. I have a bunch of coupons that Macy's sends out to its cardholders. These discount cards offer 10% to 20% off the total price. Except that there are a bunch of exceptions and it happens always that when I want to buy something it is an exception.

The same thing happened to us yesterday. We bought a bunch of jeans and it turned out that all but one were exceptions. Out of an over $100 total we only got something like $5 and something off.

I was really pissed and when we got home I wrote Macy's an angry letter about their sleazy practices. So, if tomorrow the price of their stock drops you know that it was the result of my criticism.

But overall, the jeans were nice.

Something else.

Today it was a really nice late summery day. It was pretty warm, the sun was out all day and I was thinking beach all day long. Early in the morning we had heat in the apartment because in New York when the temperature drops below 55 degrees F, they must provide heat.

We really live a very quiet life in these days. Abigail goes to school every day, my fiancée's son is preparing to move up to New York and a few other things that are going on but nothing exciting.

If something exciting would happen I probably would drop dead from excitement.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Sunday

I already mentioned that my son of my fiancée was visiting with us last week. While he was here he bought my fiancée and me a brand new telephone. I mean one phone each, that is two telephones.

These phones are Samsung Galaxy Note 3 models. Mine is a beautiful instrument. Huge it is true. It is 2 1/2" x 6" big. It can also be used as a weapon if the necessity arises. The good thing about its size is that it is easy on my eyes. The bad thing about its size is that there are too much information in it and I have to learn all these new things.

My older phone was a LG brand and for me it was also a state of the art. I had it for almost two years and still didn't learn much about its use. This one is miles above the first one and I hope I will be able to learn how to make the most of this gadget.

It is amazing how technology is advancing in leaps and bounds. If I tell young people that the first telephone my parents had in Hungary was a black unit with a numerical rotary dial on it they would look at me if I came from the Moon.

Actually, the same type of phone was what I had in the beginning and when the Princess model came out we all thought wow, that was modern! This how old we are!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Saturday

There are friends and there are friends. The good and honest friends stay for live, support you through the ups and downs of life and are very honest. The other type of friends are the ones who eventually become acquaintances and eventually one doesn't want to have anything to do with them.

This second group has its own agenda and their agenda does not match yours. They really don't care about the person's happiness as long as the person does what they think is right. In my world this second group consist of dried out old women who have nothing else to do but gossip about me and worry about my well being. My well being naturally is in accordance with their prescription.

I am writing this because people that I used to know are still occupied with my life. They can not accept that I can fall in love and eventually (hopefully soon) marry the woman I love. They still think that their pathetic existence is the best. It might be if all they want to do is just wait for the end.

They are sticking their noses where they don't belong and I hope it will get stuck there one day. Where were these "good friends" when things were not that good? When I was alone and lonely? Nowhere, that's where they were.

My good friends are all on my side and are honestly happy for me that I found a new life on the side of a woman who loves me and I love, too.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Friday

So here is the story. I missed two days of writing because we were having two extremely busy days. We were very occupied from the crack of dawn until late night.

As I noted earlier the son of my fiancé was visiting from Florida. They drove up in about a day and a half and stayed until this morning. As of this writing they are on their way back South and they are somewhere in North Carolina.

He was pursuing some job opportunities and that was the cause of the trip. Hopefully all his interviews were successful and we will see what the future brings.

He is a very nice and likeable young man who knows everything there is to know about computers and cell phones. Who doesn't want somebody in the family who is a computer genius? I can use him much more than if he were a pharmacist or a proctologist. Anyway, him and I get along very well. Naturally while they were here, that means him and his girlfriend, we took care of them. His mother cooked his favorite meals and I enjoyed the benefits of that.

This was a typical example that no matter how old a child is he or she still remains the mother's baby. My fiancée hovered over him, was very protective of him, balled him out if he didn't behave, fed him and cried when he got into his car to leave and drive back to Florida.

Overall it was a very moving experience and honestly I am looking forward of their moving to New York because this way we hopefully will have a nice big family around us.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Tuesday

Today after a marathon drive from Florida my fiancé's son finally arrived in New York.

The funny thing was that we were at home waiting for their call when we found out that he was almost at exit 13 of the New Jersey Turnpike. From there he had to drive through Staten Island, the Verrazano Bridge and the Belt Parkway to Manhattan Beach. Not a short drive and it was rush hour.

So, we figured we have plenty of time to get to Manhattan Beach from our place. We didn't count on that we would get caught in rush hour traffic, too. Anyway we were half way there when he called saying that he was there at the address already. That was very funny.

We finally got there and had a very pleasant and emotional reunion. This guy used to live in New York so this was not a strange world for him. He remembered the places, he remembered the apartment. It was more like a homecoming.

We honestly hope that his job interview(s) go well and he will decide to move back to the Big Apple. It would be nice to have the majority of the family in one place.

As far as I am concerned I never had a large family and being surrounded by one does sound strangely inviting. The sad thing is that I am getting this gift at this late stage of my life.

But hey, que sera sera!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Monday

Today is Monday and a new week is beginning. It promises to be anything but restful. My fiancé's son and his girlfriend are driving up from Florida for a short visit. They are supposed to arrive sometimes Tuesday afternoon. We don't know when, it depends on their driving stamina and traffic. We will naturally be very glad to see them and spend time with them.

Unfortunately, there is also school for Abigail and her schedule governs. But we will make the most of it. He is a very nice and personable young man and I am looking forward seeing him in our court. I saw him in Florida three times so far and I always enjoyed our get togethers.

He is also a computer genius and his look see at my computer is always welcome.

Today, after realizing the we both need to do some exercise in order to shed some of our excess pounds, we went to Planet Fitness where I have a membership and signed up my fiancée. Now that we are both members all we need is the time to get in the car and do some exercise. I think we plan to start next Monday!

After we picked up Abigail from school we took her home and did some errands. Later in the evening we did our weekly laundry in our building's laundry room.

It wasn't an exiting day but we were together all day and I really don't care what we do as long as we are doing it together!

Monday, September 28, 2015

Sunday

We lately got used to watch late night Hungarian movies on YouTube. Because of the extensive library there are plenty to watch and most of the time by the time it is over we realize how late it is. But we are doing it diligently. Today again, we didn't get up until about noon and then started the day.

It was Sunday today and the first time the weather was really Fall like. Cloudy and chilly. Tonight we had a chance to see a moon eclipse. It was really interesting to see the Earth's shadow on the Moon.

I came to the sad conclusion that I am overweight and underappreciated. I guess the easy life I lead brought me to the overweight status. We really live in a loving harmony with barely any problems. Eat regularly and do not much outside of doing nothing. So we just decided that we would resume attending a gym. Exercise can do wanders to one's figure.

Tonight I received a preliminary lesson in fatherhood. Abigail had to do a school project for Monday. Now remember, it is Sunday night and it is 8:30 pm. The project included a blue balloon she had to place in a box. Give her credit, the project was done by Friday night but unfortunately the balloon deflated by midday Saturday.

So around 8:30 tonight she announced that she had no blue balloon and she must have one because the project was due on Monday. So, what does a good father do? I bitched and moaned only because it felt good but got my car keys and we went out to hunt for blue balloons.

Thanks for Sunday store openings we were successful and found our target without much searching. Now, Abigail is happy and I feel good too.



Sunday, September 27, 2015

Saturday

Today is Saturday and we had a really late start for the day. Last night, almost this morning we started to watch a Hungarian movie on Youtube. "Unfortunately' it was a very good movie and it was almost two hours long. Several times we made an effort to stop and go to bed but we just couldn't. So by the time it was over it was well over three in the morning.

As a result we didn't get up until about noon today. But it was worth it. We both enjoyed it a lot.

I said it before, Youtube is a great invention. Anything and everything can be found on it. And it is free!

Anyway next time we won't start to watch something that late because it is just stupid.

So, around one o'clock in the afternoon we had our breakfast than went to Long Island for some shopping. Lately for several weeks the weather has been holding out and every weekend actually during the weeks too we have been having real summery days. Just because of that I didn't give up wearing my shorts. I might wind up to be a lone hold out on shorts wearing.

But there is another reason. One day this week I wanted to wear jeans. I have four jeans and unfortunately three of those would not close at the waist. I think I am still growing that is why my clothes suddenly don't fit.

It is the good and love filled life that I live that contributes to my well being. I love every minute of it!

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Friday

Today Abigail bought some balloons for a school project. She took a few out of the package and was using them for recreational purposes. That means that my fiancé and her are playing volley ball in the middle of the living room. It annoys the heck out of me but then I am outnumbered two to one. So, I just have to bear it.

By the sound of it they're having a great time playing.

I will have to get used to this because I always will be outnumbered two to one. So what a prospective (step)father to do? Take his lumps and smile. And be glad for whatever good fortune life throws at him.

Abigail is 13 and a quarter years old. She just started the eight grade and we are heaving heated arguments about what high school she wants to go to. She doesn't take it seriously enough but soon we all have to make some choices and they have to be recorded.

It is without a doubt that we want what is the best for her even she doesn't realize it. We also want a school that is not on the other side of the universe since she will have to be driven at least in the first two years.

Her mom and I have some ideas and we plan to visit open houses for those schools. True to form Abigail is against all of our choices and she has some thoughts where she would like to go but not all of them are practical.

When the time came my parents chose the school I went and in hindsight it was a very wise choice.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Thursday

A very interesting thing happened today. Not to me but to my fiancé's son who lives in Florida. He called his mom and told her that this morning he received a UPS delivery of a letter. The letter contained a check made out to his name for the amount of $1895 and issued by Citibank.

There was no explanation attached and he asked his mom if she knew what that money was. She didn't have any idea and he didn't have any idea. So, he called Citibank.
The bank told him not to deposit the money.

According to the bank this is a new type of scam where they send money to people and when the check is deposited the scammers can get access to the bank account, ss number and every other sensitive and personal information.

Now this message is to the world. Whenever anybody get a check like this and no matter how inviting and attractive it looks do not deposit it!

Something else.

Today we went out to Manhattan Beach to my fiancé's apartment. She used to have Verizon TV and internet service but recently she cancelled it. Verizon sent a box in which she had to return some items that belong to Verizon. That was what we were putting together.

Verizon sent a list of what needed to be returned. I wished they would have spoken English. I had to call Verizon to find out what really needed to be returned. They make these lists for ordinary people but the descriptions are very high tech.

They all assume that the world speak their language. And when you don't they treat you like an idiot.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Post Fast

We had a beautiful dinner last night and that prepared us for a day of fasting today. We ate a lot and tried not to think of food all day long.

And it worked. We broke our fast at 6:50 at night. For me it was a personal best. In previous years I always stopped between 3 and 5 pm. But today we were busy, we had thing to do and by the time we got home it was almost 7 pm.

We had our dinner around 8 o'clock but I got so used to not eating that I said we should continue just for losing weight. It didn't work, we had dinner.

Now I am a new man. Not a sinner anymore, pure as the driven snow!

Something else.

Tomorrow is a Muslim holiday called Eid al-Adha. Actually it is tomorrow and Friday. This means that alternate side parking is suspended and streets will not be cleaned. It also means that New York City public schools are closed on the first day.

I never heard of this holiday and since I am a curious person I looked it up in Wikipedia, my bible.

It seems that it is very important Muslim holiday that is celebrated worldwide. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God's command, before God then intervened, through his angel Gabriel and informed him that his sacrifice has already been accepted.

This is all very nice but my question is why the Jews don't celebrate it? They celebrate every single thing under the sun that happened back in that time.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Yom Kippur

Today is Yom Kippur eve. It is not a happy holiday it is the Day of Atonement. On this day good Jews do not eat all day long. This is the way along with many hours of praying to atone for their sins accumulated since the previous year.

Since last year everybody's slate was washed clean the atonement is for the current year.

Anyway, since I am in this country I have been observing it in my own way. I am atoning for my sins and for the sins of all my loved ones. It might have not been written exactly this way in the Good Books but that is the way I do it.

We had a lovely diner with all the necessary pieces and I am ready to face the next many hours without food and liquid. Actually as soon as I feel a headache coming on the fast is over.

Jews are atoning for their sins. But last year we already atoned for our "current" sins. This means we only have to ask for forgiveness for the 2015 sins? Those shouldn't be too many for fasting an entire day.

At least not for me!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Fish

Why do the more religious Jews pray at the water?

That is a question that was puzzling me in the last week or so. We were out on Manhattan Beach a few times and I couldn't help but see orthodox families standing by the water or rather the protective handrail and pray. After praying they were throwing bread into the water like feeding the fish.

Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn is around Sheapshead Bay and that means there is a lots of water to be found there. Just before Rosh Hashanah I saw really large crowd praying. Yesterday it was Sunday and we saw people here and there praying and throwing bread into the water.

Funnily, some people threw matzos in the water. They think these are Jewish fish who only eat kosher?

Anyway, this waterside praying looked very interesting and until now I couldn't figure out what purpose it served. I'm sure sooner or later I'll figure it out because I am really very bright!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Shirt

Here is a very interesting consumer information.

I bought a beautiful white shirt at Century21 in the middle of July with the plan that I will wear it at our wedding in Las Vegas. Unfortunately the wedding didn't take place at that timeframe and the shirt was not worn. So, the other day I tried the shirt on and lo and behold it did not fit.

I am living a very relaxed life, meaning that I am putting on weight. Putting on weight also meant that I could not button the shirt in my midriff. Following that sad event we decided to return the shirt and exchange it for a larger size that will look good on me at our New York nuptials.

So, yesterday (Saturday) we went to Century21 and tried to do the thing. I bought the shirt 49 days ago and the store has a 45 day return limit. The blond ditz at the service counter told us there was nothing she could do because this was over the deadline and her manager was not allowing any exceptions.

I used all my charms trying to explain that this was an even exchange but to no avail end eventually as far as they were concerned I was stuck with a shirt that would not reach through my girth.

I was really pissed and on our way out I saw a man in a suit walking around doing absolutely nothing but with a nametag on his jacket. I asked him if he was some kind of a manager. It turned out he was the general manager of the store. I told him my problem and he listened and told me to wait. Went to the service desk and when he returned he told me they would make a one time exception!

Hallelujah, I prevailed!

The essence of this is that never believe what the little people tell you. Go to the top and you will prevail!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Saturday

Today is Saturday and I can't say it was a quiet day. We decided that by trying to organize our humongous volumes of paper we should buy some kind of cabinet and place the stuff there in some kind of order. I am all game for order because I admit that I'm a extremely bright individual, filing or set up files is not one of my strong point.

So two days ago we bought a cabinet that looked very nice and commanding on the floor in the store. Naturally, it came in a flat box and the assembly remained to be our problem.

I always hated to put together these pre drilled, pre prepared furniture. There was always problem putting them together. Holes missing, holes didn't match with each other and other problems.

Well, today was no exception either. We worked on that damn thing for about three hours before it was finished. But before we finished it we sweated blood.

First, the pieces are heavy so handling them was not easy. Second, I didn't have all the necessary tools, I had to borrow some from the building superintendent.

Third and the worst thing was that many of the pre drilled holes were not drilled deep enough meaning we had to drill these holes in order to have the screws fit. Those damn Chinese who fabricate this stuff are just too lazy to do their jobs correctly. I'm sure this is done purposely to annoy the Americans! They probably get a directive from their government. We think hacking computer systems is bad. Try to insert screws in half drilled holes. Now that is bad!

But now that this thing is done it looks good and I am very proud of our collective effort putting it together. Regardless of the Chinese sabotage, American/Hungarian ingenuity conquered it all.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Friday

I had a great disappointment today. I always thought that I was genius but today I realized that I was not. Yesterdays heroics with Abigale's math homework didn't work out too good. For her I mean not for me.

There were two possibilities.

One, that I didn't advise her correctly and some of the examples were not solved the right way.

The other one, and I am inclined to believe that one is that the math teacher is an idiot who does not know math, has a bad home life and takes it out on the kids.

Unfortunately I came across a few of these types during my school career who never understood my high level problem solving. But anyway, I got through all my schools with fairly good grades.

Today is Friday and we had a pretty busy day. Started with taking Abigail to school. After we had breakfast then went to a store because I had to exchange some shirts that my fiancé bought me but were not the right size. That took some time.

In the afternoon we had to pick her up from school and then went home. At home we were busy doing paperwork that took more time than we anticipated it. There now the days is gone!

But it's all right, tomorrow is another day and we can start all over again.



Friday, September 18, 2015

Math

Today is Thursday and right now it is past eleven o'clock at night. This is when I finally got to sit down and begin to writes lines. I or rather we had a busy day. Actually lately we are having many busy days.

Things are just happening around us that we really do not have much control about and those just eat up our times. It is a good thing that we have nothing to do this way we can keep ourselves occupied with the other stuff.

But tonight was tough.

It was tough because, against my better judgement I decided to help Abigail with her eighth grade math homework. All my life I worked with numbers meaning I can do calculations and whatever is necessary. But I do and did not understand most of the terminology there fore it was hard for me to determine what the questions were.

I learned basic math in Hungary and the American way is totally strange to me. Primarily the simple multiplications and divisions. We did it so simple and the Americans complicated it so much that I can just not understand it at all. Fortunately in my line of work it didn't matter how the stuff was calculated as long as the correct results were achieved.

So, I struggled and struggled but heroically stood my place. At the end I was totally exhausted and was glad when she said she could take it from here on.

The problem is that these kids are very opinionated. I was trying to explain something that I was confident that I knew and we got into an argument because I said it differently than the teacher explained it. So what does a good stepfather does? Keeps quiet and agrees with the kid. If he or she gets a bad grade that is his/her problem, right?

Sitting there and watching her and trying to help her made me think back when my Father was sitting with me and was trying to help me with my homework. I was about 14-15 years of age and had some problem with math. He must have been in the same boat as I was today. He was an engineer who worked with numbers all his life. But understanding school assignments is a totally different animal.

I can now just imagine how frustrated he must have been that after a long day at work he had to sit with me and help. But he did it and I was very grateful for his help.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

5776

This Tuesday was Rosh Hashanah the first day of the Jewish New Year. In the Jewish calendar it started the year 5776. In accordance with custom the night before, meaning Monday we had a lovely family dinner.

My fiancee cooked Sunday and Monday and prepared a beautiful table with all the traditional stuff. I had many Rosh Hashanah dinners but this the best. With candles, honey, nuts and fruits, challah and soup and main course the dinner was just great.

I bought my favorite wine: Manischewitz Raspberry Wine. I bought a bottle of real vintage, last Wednesday's. Can't help it, I love that stuff.

Tuesday and Wednesday we celebrated the holiday by not doing anything as it commands in the good book. Wait a minute! It seems we celebrate every day because we don't really do anything on other days either.

Rosh Hashanah is a school holiday in New York City. Schools are closed for two days. And one more day for Yom Kippur. It is unbelievable, school started on last Wednesday, went on for four days then off. It will be closed for two more days next week. One for Yom Kippur and the next day is some kind of Muslim holiday. New York schools are equal opportunity educational institutions!

I never had that good back in Hungary when I went to school. But there we didn't have any Chinese, Indian or Muslim students. We had Stalin's birthday, Lenin's birthday and similar stupid holidays. We didn't question it, we were glad when we didn't have to go to school.

Anyway, good country America!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Florida

I don't know if there was any blog published on Tuesday morning but if there was none I apologize. I wrote most of these previous ones at one or two sittings and scheduled them to be released daily. I think somewhere I lost the count of days and that might have been the reason for my shortcoming.

Mea culpa! I'll try not to have this happen again.

I think I wrote enough about our Las Vegas trip. If I missed anything, no big deal. The stuff that left us with good memories were all listed, so the rest maybe next time.

Now back to the quiet life! Or not.

We got home from LV on Saturday, rested on Sunday and Monday afternoon we embarked on a whirlwind trip to Florida. School starting in New York we had to go down an collect Abigail who was spending her Summer with her siblings there.

So we left on Monday night, got there Tuesday afternoon, spent a few hours there then turned around and drove back to New York with Abigail. We got home Wednesday evening.

It was an exhilarating trip and the only person who was totally unhappy was Abigail. Shed a wonderful time down there and was not looking forward to coming back to New York. She cried and crie almost all the way to home.

But kids are very resilient creatures. This happened two weeks ago and all the heartbreak is forgotten. Now school is open the friends are here and Florida is a distant memory.



Monday, September 14, 2015

The City

Las Vegas is an interesting city. At least in my eyes.

Like every city in this country it has an uptown and a downtown.

In New York and the way I am used to it if a city is laid out in the north-south direction uptown is north and downtown is south. And the numbering goes from downtown to uptown.

Not in Las Vegas.

There uptown is in the south end of the city and downtown is at the north end of the city. The numbering on the Strip follows this layout. So when people were talking about Downtown Las Vegas they were talking about the north end of the city where Fremont Street was.

Very confusing.

Something else.

We walked in the Trump Hotel and just as fast walked out of it. In my opinion it reflects Donald Trump. Colorless, no charm, strictly business. Even though it is visible from everywhere on the Strip there is absolutely no reason to go there unless somebody stays there.

Something else.

I drove all over the city and found driving very easy. I found the drivers very accommodating to whatever faux pas I did while driving. Like unexpected u-turns, sudden lane changes or very slow driving because of looking at the sights.

Also the streets and avenues are wide with good visibility, intersections are well marked meaning that getting lost is not easy. Although I did get lost a few times but eventually always found our way back.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Side Trips

When one is in Las Vegas not to se the Grand Canyon is a crime. We prepaid a trip while still in New York and it went down without a hitch.

The bus picked us up at our hotel at 6:20 am (yes 6:20 am!) took us to a central location where we boarded our Grand Canyon destined bus. The trip was long but we stopped for breakfast and a buffet lunch and when we got to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon it made the long trip worthwhile.

This was a sight that words can not describe. The weather was great, clear skies with good visibility. What we saw, what nature created is something that is unimaginable, it must be seen to believe it. It is unfortunate that I am colorblind and was not really able to appreciate the colors but I am sure they were there. That was what I as told.

We walked around the perimeter and interestingly at every turn one sees the view from different angles.

I think we spent about three hours at the Canyon then headed back home. Along the way we stopped on the shoulders for a minute to get a peek from the highway at the lit up Hoover Dam. It was an awesome sight.

We were dropped off at our hotel by 9:30 and in bed by midnight. It was a long, very eventful, tiring but pleasant day.

Next thing.

The next trip outside of LV we took on our own. We decided to drive over to the Hoover Dam. Actually, while it is outside of the City in the middle of a total wilderness it is only about a forty-five minute drive and a pleasant one, too.

The Hoover Dam is using the Colorado River to generate electricity. It is a technical marvel how they were able to carve that thing out of rocks and build it in such a short time, about three years.

(The Second Avenue Subway in Manhattan is being built for several years now with no end in sight and with better technology than they had in the 1930s.)

The dam itself is divided between Nevada and Arizona and we walked back and forth between the two states. We walked the entire sight and saw what there was to see from high up and from down low.

These two sights left us with such impressions that it is very hard to put them to words.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

September 11

Today is September 11, the fourteenth anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center. And, as every year before there was a remembrance at the site where the two Towers stood.

I was in Tower Two on that fateful day and thanks to my Guardian Angel I got out without a scratch. Sadly though, thirteen of my colleagues were not so lucky. They lost their lives right there and then.

It was a very sad day for all of us that we will always remember. We will remember the events before, during and after. We remember the friends we lost whose lives were cut short by some idiotic political machine.

But...

We gathered our remaining forces and went back to work in about three weeks and tried to continue life as normal as possible. We got new offices, we had work and with the exception of a few people we all went back to our duties and responsibilities.

Ok, every September 11 we had a few minutes of remembrance in the office of the past events and about our lost friends.

But not the magnitude the victims' families are forcing the government to make each and every year.

I resent the hullaballoo they are making Downtown with the reading of the names. Some people can not pronounce the names on their lists. Why put such idiots up there? I can not imagine more frustration of a family than hearing their loved ones' names mispronounced. Not to give that small respect to the person than say his or her name correctly is a straightforward insult.

I guess the victims' families are so well organized that no government official dares to say no to them meaning this circus will go on and on until eternity or until one politician will have the guts to say finally that no! No more ceremonies but just maybe a quiet remembrance.

Its time to let go and let the world go on, on its own path toward some kind of normalcy.