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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.