I realized one thing. I can not make a career on setting up computers!
It is one o'clock in the afternoon that I am writing this and I have been sitting on this damn thing since 10 in the morning and I just got to the point where I was able to find this blog site.
Yesterday in the store the sales guy said to me there was nothing to setting this thing up. Maybe this is nothing for him but I am sweating blood doing it. I already wanted to call in the kid next door for help but he was off in kindergarten.
I am so afraid of this "machine" that I can not tell. I'm afraid that I press something wrong and screw up everything I did so far. But I am sure that at the end it will all work fine. I just wish I were at the end already.
It was so easy when I still worked. Just called the IT technician and I just sat there while she did all the work. Now, I am sitting here and watching myself work.
I hope at the end I will be amazed at my resourcefulness when all these parts will come together and the computer will work as it should.
This is all for today, gotta run and keep working.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Computer
Tuesday around 1 PM FedEx delivered my supposedly repaired Toshiba tablet. Time will tell how good it will work and for how long.
The final bill wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, only $265. The bill was nickel and dimed to death so it was hard to determined where was the larger expense. This way I really can not go back to Toshiba and complain. But maybe I will still do just to make myself feel better.
Now the time will come for me to make a little bigger purchase. I need to buy a new computer. This one, the one I am writing this on is really acting up.
We bought this in 2006 December and in the computer world it is ancient. I think computers age a lot faster than dogs.
They say one dog year is the same as bout seven people year. In a computer's life span one year must be one year equalling fifteen (15) years. So, my laptop is now walking on crutches!
I thought I would buy an "all-in-one" computer. They come in larger screen, need less space on my desk and some of them also have touch screen control.
I was at Best Buy yesterday looking around and talking to a salesman. Talking to a computer salesman who is about one third of my age is a frightening experience. He is using words I have no clue about. He is telling me information that I do not understand.
I don't even know what to ask without sounding like an imbecile. I want to know how to turn it on and how to turn it off, where to plug it in and what color it comes. Don't talk to me about gigabyte, memory card, virtual horseshit etc.
But just like my new shoes I'll somehow going to get it done.
P.s. If I don't write tomorrow there is a very good reason for it. I bought a new computer today and I will try to set it up but there is no guaranty it will work.
The final bill wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, only $265. The bill was nickel and dimed to death so it was hard to determined where was the larger expense. This way I really can not go back to Toshiba and complain. But maybe I will still do just to make myself feel better.
Now the time will come for me to make a little bigger purchase. I need to buy a new computer. This one, the one I am writing this on is really acting up.
We bought this in 2006 December and in the computer world it is ancient. I think computers age a lot faster than dogs.
They say one dog year is the same as bout seven people year. In a computer's life span one year must be one year equalling fifteen (15) years. So, my laptop is now walking on crutches!
I thought I would buy an "all-in-one" computer. They come in larger screen, need less space on my desk and some of them also have touch screen control.
I was at Best Buy yesterday looking around and talking to a salesman. Talking to a computer salesman who is about one third of my age is a frightening experience. He is using words I have no clue about. He is telling me information that I do not understand.
I don't even know what to ask without sounding like an imbecile. I want to know how to turn it on and how to turn it off, where to plug it in and what color it comes. Don't talk to me about gigabyte, memory card, virtual horseshit etc.
But just like my new shoes I'll somehow going to get it done.
P.s. If I don't write tomorrow there is a very good reason for it. I bought a new computer today and I will try to set it up but there is no guaranty it will work.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Shoes
Monday was a major milestone in my life. As I mentioned earlier I needed to buy a new pair of shoes. Well, Monday was the day. I bought one!
I act like a kid but I have never ever bought anything major to myself before without any of my spouses or friends present.
Once when I was about eighteen years old I bought myself a pair of slacks in Budapest. That was after I argued with my Mother that I was old enough to go out and buy something without my Her being there.
So I went to this large clothing store and bought a very nice pair of slacks. I thought they were nice! My Mother took one look at them and told me that we were immediately going to take them back. It seemed that since I was color blind I bought some horrendous combination of colors. And this little event followed me through my life, being afraid to buy anything where color was involved because my color blindness is still around.
Today I selected two different pairs of shoes and asked a couple which one they liked the most. Trusting them I chose accordingly. very grown uppy, right ?
I was really so nervous, actually not nervous but apprehensive when I bought them that I developed a headache. But since I had coupons I made a good deal and that kind of soothed my headache.
I realized that this is a good way to meet women. Act the helpless person and hopefully women will like to help out this helpless man. I'll see how that works out.
My next clothing purchase will be new sneakers.he ones I have I bought about six or seven years ago and use them exclusively for the gym. They are made so well that they just don't wear out. And unless there is something wrong with them I am not replacing them.
Well, hallelujah, I finally found some cracks in the material. Now I am in the market for new sneakers. That won't be easy either because there are so many different types and colors that I really don't know which ones I like. And yesterday I looked over at least 35 pairs.
I hope there will be a nice woman to help this poor man out!
I act like a kid but I have never ever bought anything major to myself before without any of my spouses or friends present.
Once when I was about eighteen years old I bought myself a pair of slacks in Budapest. That was after I argued with my Mother that I was old enough to go out and buy something without my Her being there.
So I went to this large clothing store and bought a very nice pair of slacks. I thought they were nice! My Mother took one look at them and told me that we were immediately going to take them back. It seemed that since I was color blind I bought some horrendous combination of colors. And this little event followed me through my life, being afraid to buy anything where color was involved because my color blindness is still around.
Today I selected two different pairs of shoes and asked a couple which one they liked the most. Trusting them I chose accordingly. very grown uppy, right ?
I was really so nervous, actually not nervous but apprehensive when I bought them that I developed a headache. But since I had coupons I made a good deal and that kind of soothed my headache.
I realized that this is a good way to meet women. Act the helpless person and hopefully women will like to help out this helpless man. I'll see how that works out.
My next clothing purchase will be new sneakers.he ones I have I bought about six or seven years ago and use them exclusively for the gym. They are made so well that they just don't wear out. And unless there is something wrong with them I am not replacing them.
Well, hallelujah, I finally found some cracks in the material. Now I am in the market for new sneakers. That won't be easy either because there are so many different types and colors that I really don't know which ones I like. And yesterday I looked over at least 35 pairs.
I hope there will be a nice woman to help this poor man out!
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Trifle Things
I hate to buy anything just because it looks good. That's a woman's things. My Wife looked at stuff in the stores and if She liked them She bought them. Only asked afterwards "do I really need this?".
I like to wear things until they wear off because this way I feel I got my money's worth. This does not mean I wear ancient, outdated stuff.
You can imagine my great pleasure when I noticed the other day that the sole on one of my favorite shoes cracked in half. I took them to my shoemaker who very honestly told me it was not worth fixing it.
So now I can go out and buy myself a new pair of shoes. This will be a justified purchase for sure and I hope the new ones will last as long as their predecessors did.
Something else.
A few weeks ago my two year old, not inexpensive Toshiba tablet gave up working as well as it should. So I sent it off to Toshiba for repair. The warranty expired long time ago meaning I was about to pay for everything. Just to diagnose the problem is $125. Cheaper to go to the doctor!
After a week they called me and told me it needed a new battery, cost $290 (the $125 is included). I said OK. I waited a week because the part had to be shipped from Japan(?). Finally, last week they called me again saying they just got the part and now they would put the tablet through a thorough check then ship it out to me.
Then came another call telling me that the memory board was defective and needed to be replaced. Now I'm up to $390 already. But the sucker that I am I said it was OK, again. I guess they had the part because later Friday I received an e-mail that the tablet was shipped out and I should get it by Tuesday.
The bottom line is do not buy Toshiba because their stuff sucks and they do not stand by their product. Once I will get my tablet back I will write to them an angry letter about this. Even if I don't get anything back at least it will make me feel good.
This is the same thing as cursing out somebody through the closed car window. Hopefully the other person can not hear it but it still feels good!
I like to wear things until they wear off because this way I feel I got my money's worth. This does not mean I wear ancient, outdated stuff.
You can imagine my great pleasure when I noticed the other day that the sole on one of my favorite shoes cracked in half. I took them to my shoemaker who very honestly told me it was not worth fixing it.
So now I can go out and buy myself a new pair of shoes. This will be a justified purchase for sure and I hope the new ones will last as long as their predecessors did.
Something else.
A few weeks ago my two year old, not inexpensive Toshiba tablet gave up working as well as it should. So I sent it off to Toshiba for repair. The warranty expired long time ago meaning I was about to pay for everything. Just to diagnose the problem is $125. Cheaper to go to the doctor!
After a week they called me and told me it needed a new battery, cost $290 (the $125 is included). I said OK. I waited a week because the part had to be shipped from Japan(?). Finally, last week they called me again saying they just got the part and now they would put the tablet through a thorough check then ship it out to me.
Then came another call telling me that the memory board was defective and needed to be replaced. Now I'm up to $390 already. But the sucker that I am I said it was OK, again. I guess they had the part because later Friday I received an e-mail that the tablet was shipped out and I should get it by Tuesday.
The bottom line is do not buy Toshiba because their stuff sucks and they do not stand by their product. Once I will get my tablet back I will write to them an angry letter about this. Even if I don't get anything back at least it will make me feel good.
This is the same thing as cursing out somebody through the closed car window. Hopefully the other person can not hear it but it still feels good!
Monday, October 27, 2014
Courtesy
Courtesy is a funny thing. Most of the people have no idea about that at all. Here is an example.
If and when I travel I always rent a car. When I drive wherever I am I try to fit in to the local environment and follow their driving customs. Take St. Maarten for example.
Most of the people drive there, the roads are narrow and there are marked and unmarked intersections. When one tries to enter into a main(er) road one has to wait until someone slows down or stops to permit entry. Now here in the States the car would run out its warranty before somebody would do that, but down there before long some driver (not American) will slow down and waive to you to enter the mainstream of traffic.
Behaviour like that is so encouraging that I picked up on it and did it down there and then I tried to hold on to it and continued doing it here back home. But then I realized, why? Nobody gave a damn about my courteous behavior so I just went back to the good old accepted ways. Cut off cars, don't let anybody ahead of me and just drive like everybody else. This way I fit in!
Sorry to say but I found that women drivers in general are more discourteous than men drivers. And amongst men blue collar drivers are more courteous than others. A man in a pick up truck will more likely let me in the line ahead of him than a white collar man or a woman. A woman will surely close up ranks rather than let somebody ahead of her.
Now why is that? I wonder if anybody ever done such a survey. If they did they were probably afraid to publish it because of the gender backlash.
I really don't care, I can take a gender backlash any day!
Here is another car related subject that really has nothing to do with driving.
One day I was driving on a NY parkway when in the lane next to me there was an open top sports car. I think it was either a Ferrari or a Maserati or one of those super expensive sport cars. There was nothing wrong with it, I admired it until the bloke past me. Then I saw it had a MD licence plate. MD means doctor, a physician in New York State. Now this surprised me because the doctors I know or I see on the roads don't go around flaunting how well they do.
Doctors usually drive good, reliable cars but not super expensive, show off cars. I can not say it was unethical but certainly in my mind it was not the right thing to do. If he was that well off maybe his second car should have been this sports car.
I used to know a doctor who could have afforded a very expensive automobile but decided to drive a good, reliable, not expensive car instead, saying that if his patients saw the expensive car in his driveway they would have been frightened off. Now for me that was the right attitude.
If and when I travel I always rent a car. When I drive wherever I am I try to fit in to the local environment and follow their driving customs. Take St. Maarten for example.
Most of the people drive there, the roads are narrow and there are marked and unmarked intersections. When one tries to enter into a main(er) road one has to wait until someone slows down or stops to permit entry. Now here in the States the car would run out its warranty before somebody would do that, but down there before long some driver (not American) will slow down and waive to you to enter the mainstream of traffic.
Behaviour like that is so encouraging that I picked up on it and did it down there and then I tried to hold on to it and continued doing it here back home. But then I realized, why? Nobody gave a damn about my courteous behavior so I just went back to the good old accepted ways. Cut off cars, don't let anybody ahead of me and just drive like everybody else. This way I fit in!
Sorry to say but I found that women drivers in general are more discourteous than men drivers. And amongst men blue collar drivers are more courteous than others. A man in a pick up truck will more likely let me in the line ahead of him than a white collar man or a woman. A woman will surely close up ranks rather than let somebody ahead of her.
Now why is that? I wonder if anybody ever done such a survey. If they did they were probably afraid to publish it because of the gender backlash.
I really don't care, I can take a gender backlash any day!
Here is another car related subject that really has nothing to do with driving.
One day I was driving on a NY parkway when in the lane next to me there was an open top sports car. I think it was either a Ferrari or a Maserati or one of those super expensive sport cars. There was nothing wrong with it, I admired it until the bloke past me. Then I saw it had a MD licence plate. MD means doctor, a physician in New York State. Now this surprised me because the doctors I know or I see on the roads don't go around flaunting how well they do.
Doctors usually drive good, reliable cars but not super expensive, show off cars. I can not say it was unethical but certainly in my mind it was not the right thing to do. If he was that well off maybe his second car should have been this sports car.
I used to know a doctor who could have afforded a very expensive automobile but decided to drive a good, reliable, not expensive car instead, saying that if his patients saw the expensive car in his driveway they would have been frightened off. Now for me that was the right attitude.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
400
There is a movie on TV with the title 300. It's about 300 Spartans who fight an enemy against overwhelming odds and naturally they all die at the end of the movie.
The title of today's blog is 400. That is not about 400 warriors fighting against the enemy but it means that today is the 400th edition of this blog since I decided started to write it.
I am truly amazed by my accomplishment! This is a respectable amount of nonsense I was able to conjure up and write about. Too bad I can't make a living out of it.
But since life goes on every single day there is no lack of subjects big and small to write about. Sometimes I have to think hard to find something of interest but mostly it is easy.
I try very hard not to insult anybody but if somebody happens to take what I write personally I apologize because I assure you it was unintentional.
October 13, 2009 was the day the first blog was written. Life looked a lot more promising at that time than it turned out to be. OK, we were both unemployed but since we were also retired life was not that bad. We both had hopes for an easy and nice life ahead of us. Little we knew what was waiting in the wings!
But things happened and life continued to go on and as hard it is sometimes I still want to continue writing this. Sometimes just to vent my feelings even if nobody reads it.
In conclusion I wholeheartedly accept my congratulations to me on this small amount of achievement.
The title of today's blog is 400. That is not about 400 warriors fighting against the enemy but it means that today is the 400th edition of this blog since I decided started to write it.
I am truly amazed by my accomplishment! This is a respectable amount of nonsense I was able to conjure up and write about. Too bad I can't make a living out of it.
But since life goes on every single day there is no lack of subjects big and small to write about. Sometimes I have to think hard to find something of interest but mostly it is easy.
I try very hard not to insult anybody but if somebody happens to take what I write personally I apologize because I assure you it was unintentional.
October 13, 2009 was the day the first blog was written. Life looked a lot more promising at that time than it turned out to be. OK, we were both unemployed but since we were also retired life was not that bad. We both had hopes for an easy and nice life ahead of us. Little we knew what was waiting in the wings!
But things happened and life continued to go on and as hard it is sometimes I still want to continue writing this. Sometimes just to vent my feelings even if nobody reads it.
In conclusion I wholeheartedly accept my congratulations to me on this small amount of achievement.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Wednesday
Even though it is Friday that I am writing this I have to mention past Wednesday.
On that afternoon I went back Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the monthly bereavement meeting. The last time I was there was in July and I really missed it.
I was not able to attend because of the busy Summer schedule that included my visitors and me being away. But missing these sessions was not a traumatic experience however, going back again made me feel really good.
I was received like the prodigal son who just returned home. Some of the people thought that I was done with these sessions since they didn't remember that I told them in July that I would skip the next two months.
There were familiar faces as well as some new people. Tragedy unfortunately does not take a breather meaning there will never be a shortage of people who lose loved ones and need some kind of counseling, a shoulder to cry on or just open up and talk.
Even though people lose loved ones all the time it is interesting to observe how few of them admit that they do need some kind of an outlet for their emotions. An outlet that no friend or family can provide. An outlet where crying is not to be ashamed of. Such atmosphere can only be provided by people who are in the same ballpark. By people who go through the same pain and suffering.
This is a warm and very respectable environment where nobody have to hold back anything. Some people lost their loved ones over a year ago and still come. It does not mean that they still didn't heal it just means that they want to talk about their pains that really never go away.
On that note I am looking forward to the next get together.
On that afternoon I went back Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the monthly bereavement meeting. The last time I was there was in July and I really missed it.
I was not able to attend because of the busy Summer schedule that included my visitors and me being away. But missing these sessions was not a traumatic experience however, going back again made me feel really good.
I was received like the prodigal son who just returned home. Some of the people thought that I was done with these sessions since they didn't remember that I told them in July that I would skip the next two months.
There were familiar faces as well as some new people. Tragedy unfortunately does not take a breather meaning there will never be a shortage of people who lose loved ones and need some kind of counseling, a shoulder to cry on or just open up and talk.
Even though people lose loved ones all the time it is interesting to observe how few of them admit that they do need some kind of an outlet for their emotions. An outlet that no friend or family can provide. An outlet where crying is not to be ashamed of. Such atmosphere can only be provided by people who are in the same ballpark. By people who go through the same pain and suffering.
This is a warm and very respectable environment where nobody have to hold back anything. Some people lost their loved ones over a year ago and still come. It does not mean that they still didn't heal it just means that they want to talk about their pains that really never go away.
On that note I am looking forward to the next get together.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
October 23
Fifty eight years ago on this date my life changed forever. That was when the Hungarians decided they had enough and rose up in a revolt against the current communist regime and the Soviet Union.
I was a university student almost twenty years old and really didn't know which end was up. And honestly I didn't care much either.
My fist ten priorities in life at the time were girls, girls and girls. I was not politically active either for or against what was going on. As long as I had a girlfriend I was happy.
When I got to the university on the morning of the 23rd we were told that there would be no classes today because today we were marching. That seemed like a good idea to me even though I had no clue why we were marching for. Now as we all know, this march took up almost the entire day and eventually ended in a full blown revolution.
But while the Hungarians were making history I was very preoccupied with something else. My girlfriend and later my first wife's birthday was to be on the next day. My plan was to buy her a present on the 23rd but the revolution kind of screwed that up. All day I was wandering how and when would I be able to buy her a present.
You can see the magnitude of my dilemma, you can see that I was a very serious person. But my problem was eventually solved and I settled in to a life of "leisure" since the university didn't open thus I had really nothing to do.
Three months later I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. I left Hungary and nine months later (on Halloween) I arrived in New York with my then girlfriend who a month later became my wife.
We started to make a life for ourselves in this strange world. One can not imagine the difficulties of a new life in a world where everything is strange including and mainly the language. After trying different jobs we both found our niche in life and settled in "normal" jobs.
We persevered and assimilated ourselves into this society.
The rest my life is another story. There is not enough space here to write down everything that happened but the importance of Today is the original cause why things turned out the way they did.
One can never know the ifs of life. What if October 23 didn't happen, what if I never left Hungary, what if I didn't come to the US, what if I never met my second wife, what if, what if.
This can drive a person totally crazy therefore just accept what fate throws in ones way.
I was a university student almost twenty years old and really didn't know which end was up. And honestly I didn't care much either.
My fist ten priorities in life at the time were girls, girls and girls. I was not politically active either for or against what was going on. As long as I had a girlfriend I was happy.
When I got to the university on the morning of the 23rd we were told that there would be no classes today because today we were marching. That seemed like a good idea to me even though I had no clue why we were marching for. Now as we all know, this march took up almost the entire day and eventually ended in a full blown revolution.
But while the Hungarians were making history I was very preoccupied with something else. My girlfriend and later my first wife's birthday was to be on the next day. My plan was to buy her a present on the 23rd but the revolution kind of screwed that up. All day I was wandering how and when would I be able to buy her a present.
You can see the magnitude of my dilemma, you can see that I was a very serious person. But my problem was eventually solved and I settled in to a life of "leisure" since the university didn't open thus I had really nothing to do.
Three months later I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. I left Hungary and nine months later (on Halloween) I arrived in New York with my then girlfriend who a month later became my wife.
We started to make a life for ourselves in this strange world. One can not imagine the difficulties of a new life in a world where everything is strange including and mainly the language. After trying different jobs we both found our niche in life and settled in "normal" jobs.
We persevered and assimilated ourselves into this society.
The rest my life is another story. There is not enough space here to write down everything that happened but the importance of Today is the original cause why things turned out the way they did.
One can never know the ifs of life. What if October 23 didn't happen, what if I never left Hungary, what if I didn't come to the US, what if I never met my second wife, what if, what if.
This can drive a person totally crazy therefore just accept what fate throws in ones way.
Life As I know It
Now that my life is slowly going back to normal (meaning dull and uninteresting) I realized that I have so much to do that I really can not imagine how I am going to deal with it.
While the weather was nice and Summery I always said to myself if it was sunny and warm I was heading to the beach. But that has changed now, boring Autumn is here with shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures and generally crappy weather.
Meaning, there is not much to do outdoors and that leaves things to do indoors.
And that is supposed to give the opportunity and time to put myself and my house in order.
For myself it means doctors' visits. Thankfully there is not much wrong with me but before my health insurance coverage changes by the first of the year I have to get my checkups. Some is overdue, some will be on time. And hopefully neither will require further visits.
Up until now i always said to myself when I thought of things to do that maybe next Monday, maybe next week. But this is now the next Monday and next week. Can not keep postponing certain obligations for ever even if they are heartbreaking.
I think getting rid of the fur coats was the first step in that direction.
Like I mentioned before yesterday we celebrated my friend's twenty fifth birthday. What a great event!. She has her entire life front of her and hopefully it will be a very long and happy life. I am glad for her and wish her all the good things in life.
On the other front I am tasked to take care of things from another person whose life is no more. Whose life was been taken away by a terrible illness.
These two things are at the extreme end of the spectrum of life. This is where happy meets unhappy in my mind and in my heart.
But I have to control my emotions and keep them under control.
For one, I am genuinely happy for my young friend. She is full of zest and go and that's the way young people should be.
On the other hand I am very apprehensive of the tasks that lie ahead of me because in some way they represent closure. And I do not want closure.
Not just yet!
For me, I am still waiting by the door!
While the weather was nice and Summery I always said to myself if it was sunny and warm I was heading to the beach. But that has changed now, boring Autumn is here with shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures and generally crappy weather.
Meaning, there is not much to do outdoors and that leaves things to do indoors.
And that is supposed to give the opportunity and time to put myself and my house in order.
For myself it means doctors' visits. Thankfully there is not much wrong with me but before my health insurance coverage changes by the first of the year I have to get my checkups. Some is overdue, some will be on time. And hopefully neither will require further visits.
Up until now i always said to myself when I thought of things to do that maybe next Monday, maybe next week. But this is now the next Monday and next week. Can not keep postponing certain obligations for ever even if they are heartbreaking.
I think getting rid of the fur coats was the first step in that direction.
Like I mentioned before yesterday we celebrated my friend's twenty fifth birthday. What a great event!. She has her entire life front of her and hopefully it will be a very long and happy life. I am glad for her and wish her all the good things in life.
On the other front I am tasked to take care of things from another person whose life is no more. Whose life was been taken away by a terrible illness.
These two things are at the extreme end of the spectrum of life. This is where happy meets unhappy in my mind and in my heart.
But I have to control my emotions and keep them under control.
For one, I am genuinely happy for my young friend. She is full of zest and go and that's the way young people should be.
On the other hand I am very apprehensive of the tasks that lie ahead of me because in some way they represent closure. And I do not want closure.
Not just yet!
For me, I am still waiting by the door!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Twenty Five
It should be against the law to be twenty five years old!
It is such a beautiful age that thinking back now it is only a vague memory of the time I was at that age.
My friend's daughter is twenty five years old today and looking from my vantage point she has everything going for her.
First of all she is young, then beautiful, then smart, then healthy and then she has a good job. What else can one young lady ask for in these times.
She is at the age when she is not a total grown up, yet she is not a child anymore. She has her entire life ahead of her with all the happiness and disappointments and a life where she can be whatever she wants to be.
She is a very cool thinker. She knows what she wants out of life and I am sure she is going to succeed getting it.
When I stretch my memory and rorce myself to think back of my life at that age, what a difference!
When I was twenty five years old I was in this country for four years already and trying to make a life for ourselves. I was learning the language, working full time and going to school at night.
Since I never had any feel for business I was slated to work for salary and as such was always trying to find a employment with good compensations.
Actually, I didn't do too bad on that front because I stayed for forty years at my last place of employment.
Now what would have I done differently at age twenty five? Probably nothing. Maybe if conditions were different but as they were I couldn't do anything else.
My wife and I were alone in this country. I had some distant relatives but we couldn't have asked them to support us while we studied. And for what end? Life would have probably turned out the same anyway.
I am really not sorry for the life I had so far. Well, I am extremely sorry for the loss I suffered nine months ago but other that I don't think I would have changed anything in my past life.
Maybe to get to know my Wife sooner!
It is such a beautiful age that thinking back now it is only a vague memory of the time I was at that age.
My friend's daughter is twenty five years old today and looking from my vantage point she has everything going for her.
First of all she is young, then beautiful, then smart, then healthy and then she has a good job. What else can one young lady ask for in these times.
She is at the age when she is not a total grown up, yet she is not a child anymore. She has her entire life ahead of her with all the happiness and disappointments and a life where she can be whatever she wants to be.
She is a very cool thinker. She knows what she wants out of life and I am sure she is going to succeed getting it.
When I stretch my memory and rorce myself to think back of my life at that age, what a difference!
When I was twenty five years old I was in this country for four years already and trying to make a life for ourselves. I was learning the language, working full time and going to school at night.
Since I never had any feel for business I was slated to work for salary and as such was always trying to find a employment with good compensations.
Actually, I didn't do too bad on that front because I stayed for forty years at my last place of employment.
Now what would have I done differently at age twenty five? Probably nothing. Maybe if conditions were different but as they were I couldn't do anything else.
My wife and I were alone in this country. I had some distant relatives but we couldn't have asked them to support us while we studied. And for what end? Life would have probably turned out the same anyway.
I am really not sorry for the life I had so far. Well, I am extremely sorry for the loss I suffered nine months ago but other that I don't think I would have changed anything in my past life.
Maybe to get to know my Wife sooner!
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Modern Life
I keep telling myself that I am up to snuff with most of the things in life. I don't dwell in the future, I try to think modern, I don't crucify people for their acts or believes (except Facebook).
I have an HD television, I have a laptop computer and a tablet and I also have a fairly latest cell phone. Now what else is missing from my life?
Well, I don't volunteer for paperless billings. Every bill I receive each month (and I do get plenty) asks if I wish to change over to electronic and paperless billing where I will "only" have to give them my bank account number and they will take care of the rest.
Not in my lifetime, Bucky!
Unless it is absolutely necessary like my health insurance premiums I will only permit electronic deposits but no withdrawals.
Now that I leased a new car, the company I have to forward the payments to is after me to do the monthly payment electronically. The mobil telephone company, the car insurance company and my utility company are after me to do the payments electronically.
Every time I listen to the news all I hear is identity theft or computer hacking and stealing account numbers. I'll be damned if I will send my bank account numbers to all these companies and thus have it plastered all over the Internet.
I am really concerned about protecting my privacy and my money. Who else will protect it if not me?
The other thing is that I am kind of old fashioned. I like (not really) to write checks and send them out in the mail.
And I also like to receive mail even if only bills. But think about it for a moment. If everybody would do their bill paying electronically how many people would be out of jobs.
First the timber men because there would be less trees needed for paper, then the printers who print the bills, then the mail carriers and the stamp sellers and finally the people who open the envelopes and log in what was paid and by who.
So as you can see if I keep paying by check I am really helping the economy.
Obama should be proud of me!
I have an HD television, I have a laptop computer and a tablet and I also have a fairly latest cell phone. Now what else is missing from my life?
Well, I don't volunteer for paperless billings. Every bill I receive each month (and I do get plenty) asks if I wish to change over to electronic and paperless billing where I will "only" have to give them my bank account number and they will take care of the rest.
Not in my lifetime, Bucky!
Unless it is absolutely necessary like my health insurance premiums I will only permit electronic deposits but no withdrawals.
Now that I leased a new car, the company I have to forward the payments to is after me to do the monthly payment electronically. The mobil telephone company, the car insurance company and my utility company are after me to do the payments electronically.
Every time I listen to the news all I hear is identity theft or computer hacking and stealing account numbers. I'll be damned if I will send my bank account numbers to all these companies and thus have it plastered all over the Internet.
I am really concerned about protecting my privacy and my money. Who else will protect it if not me?
The other thing is that I am kind of old fashioned. I like (not really) to write checks and send them out in the mail.
And I also like to receive mail even if only bills. But think about it for a moment. If everybody would do their bill paying electronically how many people would be out of jobs.
First the timber men because there would be less trees needed for paper, then the printers who print the bills, then the mail carriers and the stamp sellers and finally the people who open the envelopes and log in what was paid and by who.
So as you can see if I keep paying by check I am really helping the economy.
Obama should be proud of me!
Monday, October 20, 2014
Tight Pants
This is about food now. You have to understand that at this stage of my life food is one of the very few bright spots remaining. This does not mean that eating takes up most of my time but thinking about good food is permissible and not fattening.
Actually a few days ago I had a very dramatic encounter. I was trying to put on a pair of jeans and could not. I could nor believe that the pants did not fit me, was not able to close them at the waist. It shook me up so much that I immediately decided to go on an even stronger diet that I am on already.
This was unusual for me because generally all my clothing fit me season after season since I try to maintain my size. But now this changed and that is not very good. The trouble is that it is extremely easy to put weight on but very, very difficult to shed them.
I go to the gym, I check what I eat, try to stay away from junkie but tasty stuff yet, the weight still comes on.
For me the most difficult thing is to resist temptation when I go to the supermarket. Everything look good, everything is waiting for me to buy them. But I when I hear my Wife's voice "do you really need that stuff" I just keep on walking down the aisles.
I know I mentioned it before that I have very good friend whom I know for at least fifty years. I eat at her house twice a week. She cooks very good and tries not to overfeed me. On Saturdays after our supermarket adventures we usually go out to a restaurant where again I do not overstuff myself. Rest of the week I eat at home.
She usually makes food for me to take home or I prepare something for myself but everything is done sensibly mainly because I don't know how to cook and I don't want complications. But I eat my veggies and eat fruits. Meaning that I am trying to stay healthy.
When I was away in the Caribbean this Summer I did eat well, yet no weight was gained. Very likely because of the physical activities a beachside vacation entails in. Also I had to pull my stomach in all the time since I was with a very attractive young lady. Now that Summer is over and the season of hibernation starting things are changing.
One of the problems is that every time I feel like eating something that I should not I find an excuse for why is it OK at this particular time.
Next year I plan to go to Budapest. Now that will involve heavy duty eating there, I hope! I will have to start a real diet before otherwise I will not fit into the seat on the plane on the way back.
I was in Budapest in 2000 with my cousin and that was a two week eating orgy. Morning, noon and night and in between pastry shop stops. Interestingly I didn't gain an ounce, and believe me that's official. My Wife weighted me at leaving and at arriving. And the reason for not getting fat was that we walked enormous distances every single day in the city.
Hopefully that's what we will be doing again because than we can eat with clear conscience.
Actually a few days ago I had a very dramatic encounter. I was trying to put on a pair of jeans and could not. I could nor believe that the pants did not fit me, was not able to close them at the waist. It shook me up so much that I immediately decided to go on an even stronger diet that I am on already.
This was unusual for me because generally all my clothing fit me season after season since I try to maintain my size. But now this changed and that is not very good. The trouble is that it is extremely easy to put weight on but very, very difficult to shed them.
I go to the gym, I check what I eat, try to stay away from junkie but tasty stuff yet, the weight still comes on.
For me the most difficult thing is to resist temptation when I go to the supermarket. Everything look good, everything is waiting for me to buy them. But I when I hear my Wife's voice "do you really need that stuff" I just keep on walking down the aisles.
I know I mentioned it before that I have very good friend whom I know for at least fifty years. I eat at her house twice a week. She cooks very good and tries not to overfeed me. On Saturdays after our supermarket adventures we usually go out to a restaurant where again I do not overstuff myself. Rest of the week I eat at home.
She usually makes food for me to take home or I prepare something for myself but everything is done sensibly mainly because I don't know how to cook and I don't want complications. But I eat my veggies and eat fruits. Meaning that I am trying to stay healthy.
When I was away in the Caribbean this Summer I did eat well, yet no weight was gained. Very likely because of the physical activities a beachside vacation entails in. Also I had to pull my stomach in all the time since I was with a very attractive young lady. Now that Summer is over and the season of hibernation starting things are changing.
One of the problems is that every time I feel like eating something that I should not I find an excuse for why is it OK at this particular time.
Next year I plan to go to Budapest. Now that will involve heavy duty eating there, I hope! I will have to start a real diet before otherwise I will not fit into the seat on the plane on the way back.
I was in Budapest in 2000 with my cousin and that was a two week eating orgy. Morning, noon and night and in between pastry shop stops. Interestingly I didn't gain an ounce, and believe me that's official. My Wife weighted me at leaving and at arriving. And the reason for not getting fat was that we walked enormous distances every single day in the city.
Hopefully that's what we will be doing again because than we can eat with clear conscience.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Wiener Schnitzel
Religion is a very funny thing. I mean funny in the way it drives people to their believes.
Today there was an article on the Internet that was supposed to be from New York Magazine where a Hasidim, ultra orthodox woman changed her life and as a start ate a hamburger.
She waited for lightning to strike or the earth opening up and swallowing her. Naturally, neither happened.
But this reminded me to a similar real life story witnessed by me.
My Wife and I were in a Hungarian restaurant where at the table next to us sat a woman with her son. They had to be from Israel because both of them were reading Hebrew newspapers.
Anyway she ordered wiener schnitzel. Now the original wiener schnitzel supposed to be breaded veal cutlet but since the price of veal is high many restaurants substitute the veal with pork. And this restaurant trying not to be outdone did the same.
She started eating and after about the third or fourth bite called over the waitress and inquired if the meat was veal or pork.
She was told that it was pork. Well, she started to make a big thing about by saying that the menu didn't say that. Actually the menu only said breaded cutlet in a form of explanation after Wiener Schnitzel. But she kept on and on.
After she turned over to us, I guess after seeing my nose she realized that we might be from the same tribe, and kept saying what is going to happen to her now that she ate pork.
I enlightened her that she ate the pork at least five minutes ago and if lightening didn't strike her until now she was probably all right.
I didn't know if this information did any good but at least it shut her up, because I really got sick of her complaining and whining. I also told her that I was sure she inadvertently did eat pork already in her life so don't make such a big deal out of this.
People can be so sanctimonious its disgusting.
Today there was an article on the Internet that was supposed to be from New York Magazine where a Hasidim, ultra orthodox woman changed her life and as a start ate a hamburger.
She waited for lightning to strike or the earth opening up and swallowing her. Naturally, neither happened.
But this reminded me to a similar real life story witnessed by me.
My Wife and I were in a Hungarian restaurant where at the table next to us sat a woman with her son. They had to be from Israel because both of them were reading Hebrew newspapers.
Anyway she ordered wiener schnitzel. Now the original wiener schnitzel supposed to be breaded veal cutlet but since the price of veal is high many restaurants substitute the veal with pork. And this restaurant trying not to be outdone did the same.
She started eating and after about the third or fourth bite called over the waitress and inquired if the meat was veal or pork.
She was told that it was pork. Well, she started to make a big thing about by saying that the menu didn't say that. Actually the menu only said breaded cutlet in a form of explanation after Wiener Schnitzel. But she kept on and on.
After she turned over to us, I guess after seeing my nose she realized that we might be from the same tribe, and kept saying what is going to happen to her now that she ate pork.
I enlightened her that she ate the pork at least five minutes ago and if lightening didn't strike her until now she was probably all right.
I didn't know if this information did any good but at least it shut her up, because I really got sick of her complaining and whining. I also told her that I was sure she inadvertently did eat pork already in her life so don't make such a big deal out of this.
People can be so sanctimonious its disgusting.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Friday
Today is Friday and really nothing exciting happened, so far. No calls from the Lottery people that I have won a major prize, no call from my car dealer informing me that they decided to give me the new car for nothing and they'll reimburse me for the money I laid out.
The only good thing was that the stock market went up 263 points. That's a lot compering to the previous days when it went down like a skydiver.
The other event was that I had my telephone call from the health insurance expert and we agreed on my continuing insurance coverages. The lady was very nice, appeared knowledgeable and made some seemingly wise suggestions.
The funny thing is that my new insurance is sliced up more than a birthday cake.
While in the past and currently all my coverages were from the same company this new one is cut up to three pieces. I really have no problem with that.
My only condition was that being a loyal patient I didn't want to go to an HMO where one is required to go to a clinic and will not know what doctor will he be treated by. I want to continue to be able to go to doctors who really know me and whom I have been visiting for over twenty-five years. Familiarity is very important to me.
So, we agreed and at the end it looked like my projected premiums will be about a $100 less than what I am currently paying.
Isn't this a great country?
The only good thing was that the stock market went up 263 points. That's a lot compering to the previous days when it went down like a skydiver.
The other event was that I had my telephone call from the health insurance expert and we agreed on my continuing insurance coverages. The lady was very nice, appeared knowledgeable and made some seemingly wise suggestions.
The funny thing is that my new insurance is sliced up more than a birthday cake.
While in the past and currently all my coverages were from the same company this new one is cut up to three pieces. I really have no problem with that.
My only condition was that being a loyal patient I didn't want to go to an HMO where one is required to go to a clinic and will not know what doctor will he be treated by. I want to continue to be able to go to doctors who really know me and whom I have been visiting for over twenty-five years. Familiarity is very important to me.
So, we agreed and at the end it looked like my projected premiums will be about a $100 less than what I am currently paying.
Isn't this a great country?
Friday, October 17, 2014
Thursday
As the title says today is Thursday and that means it is cleaning day. For years Thursday was the day we cleaned house and I am keeping that tradition.
There is absolutely no reason why it is on Thursday except that maybe it is the middle of the week but it will do for the time being. Actually Thursday is not cast in stone it can be Wednesday or no day, depending on my plans.
But since my social calendar is pretty empty Thursday will suffice.
Actually, I don't mind doing my chores. It is a good feeling to be in a clean environment, not that I am rolling in dirt but clean is good.
And another thing. Cleaning house is absolutely not a feminine thing. Yesterday I went to the gym for a little workout but today's "workout" was a lot harder and more intense. Right now that I am finished every bone in my body hurt. Even bones I didn't know I had hurt.
So house cleaning is a good exercise and as such can be considered a macho thing. At least in my book.
I try to do the work as honestly as possible knowing if I don't do it there is (unfortunately) nobody else who will pick up the pieces. But at the end I am pretty satisfied. Until next week!
I am here alone. The windows are shut, no people come and go yet, it is unbelievable how much dirt accumulates in a week. There is dust on the furniture and on the floor. Does that mean there is dust in the air, too? Because if there is then I must be breathing all that in.
Since I am so good at this thing maybe I'll rent myself out as a cleaning nonlady?
There is absolutely no reason why it is on Thursday except that maybe it is the middle of the week but it will do for the time being. Actually Thursday is not cast in stone it can be Wednesday or no day, depending on my plans.
But since my social calendar is pretty empty Thursday will suffice.
Actually, I don't mind doing my chores. It is a good feeling to be in a clean environment, not that I am rolling in dirt but clean is good.
And another thing. Cleaning house is absolutely not a feminine thing. Yesterday I went to the gym for a little workout but today's "workout" was a lot harder and more intense. Right now that I am finished every bone in my body hurt. Even bones I didn't know I had hurt.
So house cleaning is a good exercise and as such can be considered a macho thing. At least in my book.
I try to do the work as honestly as possible knowing if I don't do it there is (unfortunately) nobody else who will pick up the pieces. But at the end I am pretty satisfied. Until next week!
I am here alone. The windows are shut, no people come and go yet, it is unbelievable how much dirt accumulates in a week. There is dust on the furniture and on the floor. Does that mean there is dust in the air, too? Because if there is then I must be breathing all that in.
Since I am so good at this thing maybe I'll rent myself out as a cleaning nonlady?
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Health Insurance
About a week ago I received a notice from the company I retired from that my medical insurance coverage will be discontinued as of January 1, 2015.
To be a little more explanatory, I am receiving retiree coverage (a supplemental coverage) through my former employer but I pay the monthly premiums. Probably what I pay is a group rate and thus less than an individual policy. The company decides what insurance company will be used and usually that is the same for employees and retirees. So far that was never any problem.
In the past 47 years that I was affiliated with the company I didn't have to do any thinking on this subject, all decisions were made by my employer. And as far as I was concerned that was good!
Now that is changing and that is not that good.
Suddenly I am finding myself out in the cold and that scares me. I am sure it was a business decision from the company's side but they are making it sound like it is for our benefit and we will fare better this way.
BULL ..IT!
There are several thousand retired employees from this company and they all have to go out and search for health coverage.
In this country there is no trouble or problem that somebody would not profit from it. My company hired an outfit that supposed to help us, individually, with the transition. I am having an appointment with an advisor for a telephone conference on Friday morning. At that time the person on the other end will tell me what she thinks I should do, what insurances are available for me.
Thanking Fate I am doing all right at this time. But at this age I should not be surprised if problems arise. If I didn't have health insurance I would be on the street after my Wife's long illness.
The way the stock market is behaving I'll be on the street anyway but that's another story.
I still think that is a dirty trick the company is doing. They are practically telling their current employees that once they get old and retire the company will not care about them any longer.
And the sad thing is they can get away with whatever policy changes they want to do.
Nice country, America!
To be a little more explanatory, I am receiving retiree coverage (a supplemental coverage) through my former employer but I pay the monthly premiums. Probably what I pay is a group rate and thus less than an individual policy. The company decides what insurance company will be used and usually that is the same for employees and retirees. So far that was never any problem.
In the past 47 years that I was affiliated with the company I didn't have to do any thinking on this subject, all decisions were made by my employer. And as far as I was concerned that was good!
Now that is changing and that is not that good.
Suddenly I am finding myself out in the cold and that scares me. I am sure it was a business decision from the company's side but they are making it sound like it is for our benefit and we will fare better this way.
BULL ..IT!
There are several thousand retired employees from this company and they all have to go out and search for health coverage.
In this country there is no trouble or problem that somebody would not profit from it. My company hired an outfit that supposed to help us, individually, with the transition. I am having an appointment with an advisor for a telephone conference on Friday morning. At that time the person on the other end will tell me what she thinks I should do, what insurances are available for me.
Thanking Fate I am doing all right at this time. But at this age I should not be surprised if problems arise. If I didn't have health insurance I would be on the street after my Wife's long illness.
The way the stock market is behaving I'll be on the street anyway but that's another story.
I still think that is a dirty trick the company is doing. They are practically telling their current employees that once they get old and retire the company will not care about them any longer.
And the sad thing is they can get away with whatever policy changes they want to do.
Nice country, America!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Tuesday
Today I had a very interesting day. It started with me getting up at seven in the morning. Now there is nothing unusual in getting up at seven but when one is retired and have no significant plan for any day, waking up kind of just happens. So a forced seven a.m. wake up buzz from the alarm clock is not the most welcome sound in my house.
I had to get up that early because my friend and I planned to drive into Manhattan and wanted to get there before the real riffraff get in. By riffraff I mean tourists and other visitors.
The plan was to see some furriers in the fur district.
When my wife passed away She left me a mink coat and a rabbit lined rain coat. Both of these coats were purchased years ago but were kept in excellent condition. Now, what was I going to do with these coats? I had nobody I could give these to and there was no reason to keep them hanging in the closet.
They were not sentimental items that I was about to hang on to. She didn't even like the mink coat.
While She was here we already talked about selling them but when other problems rose their heads the subject was pushed aside.
But now was the time. It is extremely interesting that when one talks to these furriers they convince you that what you have is really worth just a shade above nothing and they do you a favor by taking them off your hands. On the other hand when one buys the item it is the most valuable fur in the world one could possibly possess.
I called three places that advertise buying fur. Two told me they were worth "bupkes" while the third offered to give me a generous appraiser if I donate them to charity through them.
I had sleepless nights over these three generous offers. Couldn't make up my mind about which to chose. Finally after carefully weighing my options I chose "bubkes" offer no. 1.
So I got a check and now I don't know what to do with all that money!
My friend received a similar "too good to refuse" offer and she also took advantage of the easy money.
After these strenuous business dealings we went to the East Side of Manhattan to the Hungarian restaurant and celebrated our found wealth with a nice Hungarian lunch. The trouble was that after lunch was over we realized that part of that wealth was gone.
Well, easy come easy go!
I had to get up that early because my friend and I planned to drive into Manhattan and wanted to get there before the real riffraff get in. By riffraff I mean tourists and other visitors.
The plan was to see some furriers in the fur district.
When my wife passed away She left me a mink coat and a rabbit lined rain coat. Both of these coats were purchased years ago but were kept in excellent condition. Now, what was I going to do with these coats? I had nobody I could give these to and there was no reason to keep them hanging in the closet.
They were not sentimental items that I was about to hang on to. She didn't even like the mink coat.
While She was here we already talked about selling them but when other problems rose their heads the subject was pushed aside.
But now was the time. It is extremely interesting that when one talks to these furriers they convince you that what you have is really worth just a shade above nothing and they do you a favor by taking them off your hands. On the other hand when one buys the item it is the most valuable fur in the world one could possibly possess.
I called three places that advertise buying fur. Two told me they were worth "bupkes" while the third offered to give me a generous appraiser if I donate them to charity through them.
I had sleepless nights over these three generous offers. Couldn't make up my mind about which to chose. Finally after carefully weighing my options I chose "bubkes" offer no. 1.
So I got a check and now I don't know what to do with all that money!
My friend received a similar "too good to refuse" offer and she also took advantage of the easy money.
After these strenuous business dealings we went to the East Side of Manhattan to the Hungarian restaurant and celebrated our found wealth with a nice Hungarian lunch. The trouble was that after lunch was over we realized that part of that wealth was gone.
Well, easy come easy go!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
New Week
Today is Monday and the beginning of a new week. Actually this statement is totally meaningless because in my life there is absolutely no difference between the days of the week.
When one is retired each day is pretty much the same as the other. The only difference is that at certain places one might find more people on a weekend than during the week. Unless there is a large unemployment because than the weekdays become crowded, too.
I do have certain things that I do on any given day so, there is some difference. Like I do laundry every other Wednesday afternoon, cleaning my environment every Thursday, go to the gym as much a I can or feel like, go to friend's house for dinner a couple of times a week and a few other things.
But right now I have nothing planned meaning I am staying close to home. The funny thing is I like to be home. I feel safe and secure and comfy within my four or five or six walls.
This is the beginning of Fall. I hate Fall. I think it is a useless season with a lot of uncomfortable weather meaning rain. I am not a farmer and I have no grass so I am not a fan of rain.
When it rains people get wet, people forget how to drive and it becomes very inconvenient to be outdoors.
I like Winter and I love Summer. I could be perfectly satisfied with those two seasons but I guess I have to tolerate the the other two also.
That's why I like to stay home. The shorter days contribute to my lack of desire to go out so I just don't.
Anyway, today I winterized my wardrobe. Meaning I took the Summer stuff and put them in some empty drawers that, sadly, are available to me now and took my winter stuff out from the plastic bag they were in since early this year.
When we used to do this with my wife and She went through Her wardrobe She always found items She didn't want anymore. Those things went to the Salvation Army. Every year we were able to donate a few plastic bag full of not wanted clothes. I guess that's how women are.
Do you know how many pieces of my stuff I looked at and said (to myself) I didn't want this anymore? Not a single one! I guess that's how men are.
When one is retired each day is pretty much the same as the other. The only difference is that at certain places one might find more people on a weekend than during the week. Unless there is a large unemployment because than the weekdays become crowded, too.
I do have certain things that I do on any given day so, there is some difference. Like I do laundry every other Wednesday afternoon, cleaning my environment every Thursday, go to the gym as much a I can or feel like, go to friend's house for dinner a couple of times a week and a few other things.
But right now I have nothing planned meaning I am staying close to home. The funny thing is I like to be home. I feel safe and secure and comfy within my four or five or six walls.
This is the beginning of Fall. I hate Fall. I think it is a useless season with a lot of uncomfortable weather meaning rain. I am not a farmer and I have no grass so I am not a fan of rain.
When it rains people get wet, people forget how to drive and it becomes very inconvenient to be outdoors.
I like Winter and I love Summer. I could be perfectly satisfied with those two seasons but I guess I have to tolerate the the other two also.
That's why I like to stay home. The shorter days contribute to my lack of desire to go out so I just don't.
Anyway, today I winterized my wardrobe. Meaning I took the Summer stuff and put them in some empty drawers that, sadly, are available to me now and took my winter stuff out from the plastic bag they were in since early this year.
When we used to do this with my wife and She went through Her wardrobe She always found items She didn't want anymore. Those things went to the Salvation Army. Every year we were able to donate a few plastic bag full of not wanted clothes. I guess that's how women are.
Do you know how many pieces of my stuff I looked at and said (to myself) I didn't want this anymore? Not a single one! I guess that's how men are.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Music
I like music as much as the next guy. But there is music and there is screaming that in my book is not music.
If I can not remember the tune or the lyrics I just don't care to listen to it. This probably show my age and do sound like an old fogy but maybe that's what I am.
Anyway this takes me back to traveling.
It seems that no matter where I go there is nothing but American music. In Hungary they were playing American Music. In St. Maarten and ST. Martin (Dutch and French) they were playing American music.
I find foreign radio stations on the Internet and what are they playing? American music!
Other countries have no music of their own?
We went to a nice French restaurant in St. Martin where they weren't to keen speaking English and there was this musician playing and singing for the dinner crowd. And what was he singing? American songs!
He was pretty close to our table and when he finished I asked him how come he didn't sing a solitary French number.
The guy was British who lived on the island for a great many years. He told me that there were two reasons:
One - he didn't speak French and thus he didn't know any French songs, and
Two - the public preferred the American songs more than the French ones.
I used to go to another very French place where their musician played Louis Armstrong numbers all evening.
Whatever happened to nice music other than American?
I am required to show my passport every step of the way so I know I am out of the country, yet I feel like I never left home when it comes to music. This is totally wrong as far as I am concerned.
If I can not remember the tune or the lyrics I just don't care to listen to it. This probably show my age and do sound like an old fogy but maybe that's what I am.
Anyway this takes me back to traveling.
It seems that no matter where I go there is nothing but American music. In Hungary they were playing American Music. In St. Maarten and ST. Martin (Dutch and French) they were playing American music.
I find foreign radio stations on the Internet and what are they playing? American music!
Other countries have no music of their own?
We went to a nice French restaurant in St. Martin where they weren't to keen speaking English and there was this musician playing and singing for the dinner crowd. And what was he singing? American songs!
He was pretty close to our table and when he finished I asked him how come he didn't sing a solitary French number.
The guy was British who lived on the island for a great many years. He told me that there were two reasons:
One - he didn't speak French and thus he didn't know any French songs, and
Two - the public preferred the American songs more than the French ones.
I used to go to another very French place where their musician played Louis Armstrong numbers all evening.
Whatever happened to nice music other than American?
I am required to show my passport every step of the way so I know I am out of the country, yet I feel like I never left home when it comes to music. This is totally wrong as far as I am concerned.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Birthday
Today is my wife's birthday. It is not a sad occasion because I am eternally grateful to Fate that I had the chance to meet Her and spend a great part of my life with Her.
It is a day of celebration. The celebration of Her life that to me meant everything in this world.
It was over thirty-five years we spent together and that was really the biggest part of my life.
Not a day goes by, not an hour goes by that I do not think of Her. I am alone but not lonely. She is with me every minute of every day.
Everything I do and everything I learned of life is because of Her. She and I made a good couple (I think). We loved each other regardless of our faults and shortcomings. We criticized and forgave and that is what love is all about. And that love is staying with me, surrounding me in my home.
I always believe that regardless of such catastrophe as losing the love of one's life, life goes on, the sun will rise up the next day. So, I am trying to carry on with my life as close to normal as possible. But She is in my heart and Her memory will live in me as long as I am alive.
Last year at this time we were in the hospital. She was there on Her birthday. She developed high fever in the morning and we had to go to Urgent Care. I clearly remember that when She was released a few hours later She was joking with the nurses telling them smilingly that "today is my birthday". Naturally they all wished Her the best. What a way to celebrate!
That was when troubles were starting when things were beginning to go downhill. We never realized then how little time She had left in this world, how little time we had remaining to spend together.
But we showed our love until the last minute, until Her last breath of air.
So today I will think of the good memories, of the love we shared!
It is a day of celebration. The celebration of Her life that to me meant everything in this world.
It was over thirty-five years we spent together and that was really the biggest part of my life.
Not a day goes by, not an hour goes by that I do not think of Her. I am alone but not lonely. She is with me every minute of every day.
Everything I do and everything I learned of life is because of Her. She and I made a good couple (I think). We loved each other regardless of our faults and shortcomings. We criticized and forgave and that is what love is all about. And that love is staying with me, surrounding me in my home.
I always believe that regardless of such catastrophe as losing the love of one's life, life goes on, the sun will rise up the next day. So, I am trying to carry on with my life as close to normal as possible. But She is in my heart and Her memory will live in me as long as I am alive.
Last year at this time we were in the hospital. She was there on Her birthday. She developed high fever in the morning and we had to go to Urgent Care. I clearly remember that when She was released a few hours later She was joking with the nurses telling them smilingly that "today is my birthday". Naturally they all wished Her the best. What a way to celebrate!
That was when troubles were starting when things were beginning to go downhill. We never realized then how little time She had left in this world, how little time we had remaining to spend together.
But we showed our love until the last minute, until Her last breath of air.
So today I will think of the good memories, of the love we shared!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Movie
Thursday night I watched an old movie on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) until about 12 am. Bad choice because after it I watched another one until 2 a.m. and when it was over I couldn't fall a sleep for over an hour. But actually they were both worth it, the first movie was really great.
It was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1947 with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison . This was a love story that spanned almost a lifetime.
For those who don't know the story this is a synopsis.
Mrs. Muir is a young widow who moves into a beachside house that is haunted by a previous owner, a sea captain. The ghost is only visible to her and they develop a good relationship that results in her falling in love with him, and slowly he is falling in love with her.
However, realizing that their relationship is not viable the ghost disappears from the house never to appear again.
After a disappointing love affair with another man she withdraws into her home and lives the rest of her life alone, hopelessly waiting for the sea captain to reappear.
At the end of the movie she is aged, gray and tired. She sits in a large chair drinking her warm milk when her heart stops. In that instant the sea captain reappears reaches out his hand towards her and the soul of the young, beautiful woman she was then rises from the chair and the lovers walk away arm in arm finally together.
This last scene was so moving that I got really teary eyed watching it. Why something like this happens only in the movies?
It was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1947 with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison . This was a love story that spanned almost a lifetime.
For those who don't know the story this is a synopsis.
Mrs. Muir is a young widow who moves into a beachside house that is haunted by a previous owner, a sea captain. The ghost is only visible to her and they develop a good relationship that results in her falling in love with him, and slowly he is falling in love with her.
However, realizing that their relationship is not viable the ghost disappears from the house never to appear again.
After a disappointing love affair with another man she withdraws into her home and lives the rest of her life alone, hopelessly waiting for the sea captain to reappear.
At the end of the movie she is aged, gray and tired. She sits in a large chair drinking her warm milk when her heart stops. In that instant the sea captain reappears reaches out his hand towards her and the soul of the young, beautiful woman she was then rises from the chair and the lovers walk away arm in arm finally together.
This last scene was so moving that I got really teary eyed watching it. Why something like this happens only in the movies?
Friday, October 10, 2014
Museums
I love to go to museums but in the past several years I had no chance to visit any of the great New York museums. The reason for that was that my wife had a great problem walking because of a torn meniscus in Her knee. So we didn't go.
But in the past few weeks because I had these visitors I had the opportunity to visit four great museums.
The first was the Cloisters. This museum is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is in Uptown Manhattan on a hillside, overlooking the Hudson River with fabulous views and is built in the style of medieval architecture. The building was was very interesting, but its contents less so. For me, anyway.
The museum's contents are mainly religious art from the Middle Ages. And I was not in the mood at all for looking at any kind of art glorifying religion. But did my best and went through.
After this one I visited the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadow Park where the two New York World's Fairs were held. This is a very nice building that used to be an ice skating rink but it did not have much to show as far as a museum. One of the few really interesting thing was a small scale panoramic view of New York City with its five boroughs. As far as I know it is as accurate as possible. I even found the street and the house I live in.
Aside from this the museum also has memorabilia from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. Since I worked on the construction of the 1964 Fair the later one was more interesting to me.
After the Queens Museum I visited the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in Midtown Manhattan (not on the same day). Now this was a little more interesting. I admit I am not much of a fan of the very modern art (like a bicycle wheel hanging from the ceiling) but thankfully I did see plenty of beautiful paintings from very famous artists. Therefore this visit was really worth it.
I also had the chance to go to the Guggenheim Museum on another day which due to the building is a treat by itself. Unfortunately the spiral terrace was closed due to some alteration work but we still had the chance to see a lot of beautiful art pieces.
Now, after being in four museums I think I fulfilled my quota for a while. My mind is so filled with culture now that it has to take a break now.
Maybe when I go to Europe next year I'll have a chance to soak up a little more culture.
But in the past few weeks because I had these visitors I had the opportunity to visit four great museums.
The first was the Cloisters. This museum is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is in Uptown Manhattan on a hillside, overlooking the Hudson River with fabulous views and is built in the style of medieval architecture. The building was was very interesting, but its contents less so. For me, anyway.
The museum's contents are mainly religious art from the Middle Ages. And I was not in the mood at all for looking at any kind of art glorifying religion. But did my best and went through.
After this one I visited the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadow Park where the two New York World's Fairs were held. This is a very nice building that used to be an ice skating rink but it did not have much to show as far as a museum. One of the few really interesting thing was a small scale panoramic view of New York City with its five boroughs. As far as I know it is as accurate as possible. I even found the street and the house I live in.
Aside from this the museum also has memorabilia from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. Since I worked on the construction of the 1964 Fair the later one was more interesting to me.
After the Queens Museum I visited the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in Midtown Manhattan (not on the same day). Now this was a little more interesting. I admit I am not much of a fan of the very modern art (like a bicycle wheel hanging from the ceiling) but thankfully I did see plenty of beautiful paintings from very famous artists. Therefore this visit was really worth it.
I also had the chance to go to the Guggenheim Museum on another day which due to the building is a treat by itself. Unfortunately the spiral terrace was closed due to some alteration work but we still had the chance to see a lot of beautiful art pieces.
Now, after being in four museums I think I fulfilled my quota for a while. My mind is so filled with culture now that it has to take a break now.
Maybe when I go to Europe next year I'll have a chance to soak up a little more culture.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
New Car
A major new member came into my very small family (of one).
On September 19 of this year I took possession of a new car. My previous car (2012) was a lease which was due to expire in December but I got the bug, went to look at the newer models and wound up leasing a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe right there and then.
It is two months early but Hyundai had a program where they forgive the last two months if one leases a new car from them.
I love my new car. It is an SUV, it is mineral gray (whatever that is) and it has enough gadgets to keep me busy learning them for a long time. Probably won't need or use them ever but they are still in the car.
Actually, all I wanted was leather seats and a moon roof. But in order to get these I had to purchase three options for over seven thousand dollars because the things I wanted were in the last option. The first two options have stuff that are totally useless for me. But, this the way one buys a new car now a days.
What I did get for "free" were front and rear bumper guards that the dealer installed by mistake. They were slated for another car but I guess they can not handle more than one new car a day. Anyway, I call these rhino guards. If I ever come across a rhinoceros in New York I am well protected. Actually, not me but the car.
The car drives well, it is very comfortable and looks good inside and out. My friends like it and that's all I care about.
On September 19 of this year I took possession of a new car. My previous car (2012) was a lease which was due to expire in December but I got the bug, went to look at the newer models and wound up leasing a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe right there and then.
It is two months early but Hyundai had a program where they forgive the last two months if one leases a new car from them.
I love my new car. It is an SUV, it is mineral gray (whatever that is) and it has enough gadgets to keep me busy learning them for a long time. Probably won't need or use them ever but they are still in the car.
Actually, all I wanted was leather seats and a moon roof. But in order to get these I had to purchase three options for over seven thousand dollars because the things I wanted were in the last option. The first two options have stuff that are totally useless for me. But, this the way one buys a new car now a days.
What I did get for "free" were front and rear bumper guards that the dealer installed by mistake. They were slated for another car but I guess they can not handle more than one new car a day. Anyway, I call these rhino guards. If I ever come across a rhinoceros in New York I am well protected. Actually, not me but the car.
The car drives well, it is very comfortable and looks good inside and out. My friends like it and that's all I care about.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
I am not on Facebook, I don't know what Facebook is, I don't know what Facebook does and I don't know how Facebook works.
And, honestly I really don't even care. I have lived this long without Facebook and very likely I can go on for a while longer without that knowledge.
I have absolutely no intention to let the world know who I am, where I am, what I am eating, what I am doing, what my interests are or just what I am thinking.
But it seems that the world is going crazy with Facebook and its offshoots. Some people honestly believe that a humongous number of their "friends" do nothing but waiting with abated breath about their escapades.
These people who are waiting it seems have nothing better to do with their lives and are nothing but just plain nosey in my opinion. Either they are jealous or they just want to see the newest events in order they may criticize it.
As far as I am concerned it is nobody's frigging business where I am, what I am doing, what I am drinking and what my meals look like.
The etiquette of the Facebook and cell phones is another story.
Some people are so engrossed in their constant messaging that they really don't pay any attention to their surroundings, companions and or environment. They think if five minutes is skipped without reporting the world will come to an end.
This may be a shock to them, it will not! Life will go on totally undisturbed.
I have seen people, families or friends sitting in restaurants around tables and every single one had a phone in his and her hands and were diligently working on them probably reporting to the world about their current events.
I really believe old fashioned conversation went out of style. People got so used to texting to each other that if they ever met they wouldn't know what to say. Probably instead of talking they would just text while standing next to one another.
I don't use Facebook, I don't text (unless absolutely necessary) and don't use the cell phone while I'm driving. There is no emergency in my life that can not wait until I reach safe harbor. What did we do in the "old" days?
Bad news always found us and good news, well whenever it found us it was welcomed. And the world survived this communication gap very well.
But this is the price of progress. We just going to have to get used to it, I guess.
Now ain't this a crazy world we live in?
And, honestly I really don't even care. I have lived this long without Facebook and very likely I can go on for a while longer without that knowledge.
I have absolutely no intention to let the world know who I am, where I am, what I am eating, what I am doing, what my interests are or just what I am thinking.
But it seems that the world is going crazy with Facebook and its offshoots. Some people honestly believe that a humongous number of their "friends" do nothing but waiting with abated breath about their escapades.
These people who are waiting it seems have nothing better to do with their lives and are nothing but just plain nosey in my opinion. Either they are jealous or they just want to see the newest events in order they may criticize it.
As far as I am concerned it is nobody's frigging business where I am, what I am doing, what I am drinking and what my meals look like.
The etiquette of the Facebook and cell phones is another story.
Some people are so engrossed in their constant messaging that they really don't pay any attention to their surroundings, companions and or environment. They think if five minutes is skipped without reporting the world will come to an end.
This may be a shock to them, it will not! Life will go on totally undisturbed.
I have seen people, families or friends sitting in restaurants around tables and every single one had a phone in his and her hands and were diligently working on them probably reporting to the world about their current events.
I really believe old fashioned conversation went out of style. People got so used to texting to each other that if they ever met they wouldn't know what to say. Probably instead of talking they would just text while standing next to one another.
I don't use Facebook, I don't text (unless absolutely necessary) and don't use the cell phone while I'm driving. There is no emergency in my life that can not wait until I reach safe harbor. What did we do in the "old" days?
Bad news always found us and good news, well whenever it found us it was welcomed. And the world survived this communication gap very well.
But this is the price of progress. We just going to have to get used to it, I guess.
Now ain't this a crazy world we live in?
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
St. Maarten
The time on St. Maarten was great!
Our trip was uneventful thanks to Jet Blue's efficiency. Non-stop, on time, comfortable seats, reasonable price and no lost luggage.
Our rental car was waiting for us at the airport and then on to the resort. Our unit was ready which did not happen too frequently and after unpacking we headed into the arms of the warm and calm Caribbean Sea.
On our first night we went to dinner with a very lovely family that I know for years. The place is famous for its ribs and that was exactly what I had. All I can say, it was worth waiting a year!
I met a lot of my friends there who were very-very nice, loving and understanding towards me. They all missed my wife whom they saw last year at this time but since they all were aware of how ill She was they had accepted what happened.
During our two weeks there we had a lot of French food accompanied with escargot (snails) or frogs legs, that I both love as appetizers. We also had our share of Caribbean lobster that I happen to like a lot more than Main Lobster.
We did a lot of sightseeing on the island and sampled the local drinks. Oh, did we ever!
As everybody know I am Hungarian and so was my guest. Through her we found a bunch of Hungarians living and working on the island. I found that very interesting that for a small country no matter where one goes one can always find Hungarians.
As a matter of fact we found out that one of the "Frenchest" French restaurant was owned by a Hungarian family.
The fact that the weather was perfect probably had something to do with us having fun and a great time.
A couple of times we went out to the airport. Princess Juliana Airport is one of the most difficult airport to land and there are several videos on YouTube showing it. The planes come in so low from over the water that one can almost touch them. For this reason the area is always crowded with thrill seekers. Naturally we joined them.
Not to bore anybody, but I have to add that towards the end of our two weeks we went out on a sunset cruise (somebody won it on the raffle and gave it to us, it was a two-for-one deal). It started out very nice. It was very interesting to see the shoreline from a boat. The weather cooperated, it was a good crowd on the ship (it was a two-masted pirate ship that used the sails instead of the engine) and the drinks kept coming.
The problem was that as the sun started to set clouds started to come and at the end we had to imagine what the sunset might had looked. The other problem was that on the way back to port we got into a real storm with thunder and lightning and real wind. They lowered the sails, turned on the engines and hightailed it back to the docks. In the meantime it started to rain and this was a real tropical downpour. We all got really soaked and that was not for the drinking.
But I still enjoyed it.
But two weeks went by and at the end we had to come home. The flight home was just as uneventful as going down.
Vacation was over and there is only 351 days until next year's.
Our trip was uneventful thanks to Jet Blue's efficiency. Non-stop, on time, comfortable seats, reasonable price and no lost luggage.
Our rental car was waiting for us at the airport and then on to the resort. Our unit was ready which did not happen too frequently and after unpacking we headed into the arms of the warm and calm Caribbean Sea.
On our first night we went to dinner with a very lovely family that I know for years. The place is famous for its ribs and that was exactly what I had. All I can say, it was worth waiting a year!
I met a lot of my friends there who were very-very nice, loving and understanding towards me. They all missed my wife whom they saw last year at this time but since they all were aware of how ill She was they had accepted what happened.
During our two weeks there we had a lot of French food accompanied with escargot (snails) or frogs legs, that I both love as appetizers. We also had our share of Caribbean lobster that I happen to like a lot more than Main Lobster.
We did a lot of sightseeing on the island and sampled the local drinks. Oh, did we ever!
As everybody know I am Hungarian and so was my guest. Through her we found a bunch of Hungarians living and working on the island. I found that very interesting that for a small country no matter where one goes one can always find Hungarians.
As a matter of fact we found out that one of the "Frenchest" French restaurant was owned by a Hungarian family.
The fact that the weather was perfect probably had something to do with us having fun and a great time.
A couple of times we went out to the airport. Princess Juliana Airport is one of the most difficult airport to land and there are several videos on YouTube showing it. The planes come in so low from over the water that one can almost touch them. For this reason the area is always crowded with thrill seekers. Naturally we joined them.
Not to bore anybody, but I have to add that towards the end of our two weeks we went out on a sunset cruise (somebody won it on the raffle and gave it to us, it was a two-for-one deal). It started out very nice. It was very interesting to see the shoreline from a boat. The weather cooperated, it was a good crowd on the ship (it was a two-masted pirate ship that used the sails instead of the engine) and the drinks kept coming.
The problem was that as the sun started to set clouds started to come and at the end we had to imagine what the sunset might had looked. The other problem was that on the way back to port we got into a real storm with thunder and lightning and real wind. They lowered the sails, turned on the engines and hightailed it back to the docks. In the meantime it started to rain and this was a real tropical downpour. We all got really soaked and that was not for the drinking.
But I still enjoyed it.
But two weeks went by and at the end we had to come home. The flight home was just as uneventful as going down.
Vacation was over and there is only 351 days until next year's.
Monday, October 6, 2014
I'm Back
As the title implies, I am back. I apologize for not returning on September 14 but when one has nothing important to do it takes up a lot of time.
As I mentioned previously I was having a guest from the Old Country but that now needs to be adjusted because I had two guests from the Old Country. I am so hospitable that even I am surprised at myself.
Both guests were very pleasant ladies, they brightened up my days and it was a pleasure to play the jolly host to them.
One of them accompanied me to St. Maarten where I could have or would have not gone by myself. This way I hope we both had a great time. Saw my friends and really enjoyed the tropical surroundings since the weather totally cooperated. Two lovely weeks in the company of a lovely person were spent there with sun, the sea, drinking and eating. What else a person needs on vacation?
My first guest stayed on for another two weeks exploring New York and when I did accompany her I found interesting areas I didn't realize existed. It is true that visitors know the city or even the country better than us who happened to live here.
My second guest who is a very longtime friend came to New York for only four days but those days were spent very pleasantly. We visited museums, did some shopping and ate good stuff.
Now I am trying to put my life back to its original track. Hook up with friends I neglected during the Summer, do things that must be done because they will not be done by themselves, start to lose weight (seriously) because things are getting out of control. Slowly I find that certain clothings that usually fit me are now dangereously on the tight side.
That's the price of good living one has to pay!
As I mentioned previously I was having a guest from the Old Country but that now needs to be adjusted because I had two guests from the Old Country. I am so hospitable that even I am surprised at myself.
Both guests were very pleasant ladies, they brightened up my days and it was a pleasure to play the jolly host to them.
One of them accompanied me to St. Maarten where I could have or would have not gone by myself. This way I hope we both had a great time. Saw my friends and really enjoyed the tropical surroundings since the weather totally cooperated. Two lovely weeks in the company of a lovely person were spent there with sun, the sea, drinking and eating. What else a person needs on vacation?
My first guest stayed on for another two weeks exploring New York and when I did accompany her I found interesting areas I didn't realize existed. It is true that visitors know the city or even the country better than us who happened to live here.
My second guest who is a very longtime friend came to New York for only four days but those days were spent very pleasantly. We visited museums, did some shopping and ate good stuff.
Now I am trying to put my life back to its original track. Hook up with friends I neglected during the Summer, do things that must be done because they will not be done by themselves, start to lose weight (seriously) because things are getting out of control. Slowly I find that certain clothings that usually fit me are now dangereously on the tight side.
That's the price of good living one has to pay!
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