July the 7th, a day that will live in infamy. This is our duplicate bridge day
and Jan and I have concluded that our game is deteriorating. We were beaten soundly
by players who should have been easy prey.
Arriving home from this discouraging experience, I found that the stock market had taken another tumble.
Off we went to our weekly trivia game at the Burlap Barrel. We usually stop on the way for a McDonalds sandwich. I hate the drive in windows so got out and ordered
at the counter. Leaving the premises I stumbled and fell heavily on my right side.
I lay there stunned for a moment and somehow managed to get to my feet and stagger to the car. I had Jan drive me home and since then have spent the most painful time of my life. I usually tough it out but this was too much. I went to my doctor and all he did was put me on painkillers and said I would be better each day for the next 4 or 5(!) weeks.
On another subject, have you heard enough about that Jackson freak ? Are people crazy or what?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
HATS
Prior to JFK almost all men wore hats. They were called fedoras. Why they wore them I can not imagine. JFK killed the hat industry. He famously refused to wear one, to his eternal credit.
The military have always worn some sort of headgear. The US Army at one time had neat, rectangular shaped caps that opened up and fit snugly on ones head.
General Sha-----(I can't recall the idiots name )decreed that henceforth the army would wear berets. He must have admired the French military so now US troops look like French troops. Interestingly, the idiot berets were purchase from China at $5.00
each. Ten million were ordered.
Some officious bureaucrats decided, some years ago, that we must wear protective headgear when riding bicycles. The result----We see perfectly competent riders decked out in what is, perhaps, the most ridiculous, repulsive things on their heads. If I still rode a bike I would either quit riding or become a scofflaw and do without the helmet.
The nanny state is still in action.
The military have always worn some sort of headgear. The US Army at one time had neat, rectangular shaped caps that opened up and fit snugly on ones head.
General Sha-----(I can't recall the idiots name )decreed that henceforth the army would wear berets. He must have admired the French military so now US troops look like French troops. Interestingly, the idiot berets were purchase from China at $5.00
each. Ten million were ordered.
Some officious bureaucrats decided, some years ago, that we must wear protective headgear when riding bicycles. The result----We see perfectly competent riders decked out in what is, perhaps, the most ridiculous, repulsive things on their heads. If I still rode a bike I would either quit riding or become a scofflaw and do without the helmet.
The nanny state is still in action.
Friday, June 19, 2009
UTTER FRUSTRATION
My dear old computer quit functioning last week. I did a moderately intelligent
thing. I called a geek. Abdul arrived the other day as he said he would and , indeed, the computer now works. The problem is, at his recommendation I was switched from
ATT to Comcast which Abdul assured me, was much faster and greatly superior. He was
partly right, It is faster. The problem is, I am finding it difficult to find anything . I did finally
locate my huge address list but it isn't compatible with comcast. Worse yet, my e-mail
is now different. Here it is . tomsc2@comcast.net. I would greatly appreciate anyone who
happens to read this to send me a message.
I suspect that it might be possible to transfer all the addresses to the new system. I await
the arrival of a friendly and free geek to show me how. Meanwhile, I guess I must e-mail everyone with the new data.
Almost as bad, I have not been able to access my Merrill Lynch stuff at all. I fear it mat have disappeared. It will take me some time to reconstruct it but I can't find any way to do so. HELP ,
HELP !
The good news, my boggle game is still there.
thing. I called a geek. Abdul arrived the other day as he said he would and , indeed, the computer now works. The problem is, at his recommendation I was switched from
ATT to Comcast which Abdul assured me, was much faster and greatly superior. He was
partly right, It is faster. The problem is, I am finding it difficult to find anything . I did finally
locate my huge address list but it isn't compatible with comcast. Worse yet, my e-mail
is now different. Here it is . tomsc2@comcast.net. I would greatly appreciate anyone who
happens to read this to send me a message.
I suspect that it might be possible to transfer all the addresses to the new system. I await
the arrival of a friendly and free geek to show me how. Meanwhile, I guess I must e-mail everyone with the new data.
Almost as bad, I have not been able to access my Merrill Lynch stuff at all. I fear it mat have disappeared. It will take me some time to reconstruct it but I can't find any way to do so. HELP ,
HELP !
The good news, my boggle game is still there.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
NOSTALGIA
We were lucky enough to run across a program of big bands of the early 20Th century
on public television . We were blessed during that time with a bunch of wonderful Jewish song writers and lyricists who gave us all the oldies that we love. The bands were wonderful, the vocalists superb, the lyrics meaningful. We spent several hours of listening pleasure.
Unfortunately, public TV has a bad habit of interrupting the good programs with tedious
solicitations for contributions. That's why clickers were invented. We clicked away to CBS
which was running the Tony awards noncommittally. What a bore ! The costumes were elaborate and the singing was delivered with great gusto but not one note was or will be memorable. In short, the music was borderline lousy. I understand that people pay big bucks to see these productions. There must be some better way to spend the $100+ which we understand it costs to get in.
I forgot to mention that the oldie bands often played muted trunpets which no one seems to do anymore. It softens the brassy sound and should be revived.
on public television . We were blessed during that time with a bunch of wonderful Jewish song writers and lyricists who gave us all the oldies that we love. The bands were wonderful, the vocalists superb, the lyrics meaningful. We spent several hours of listening pleasure.
Unfortunately, public TV has a bad habit of interrupting the good programs with tedious
solicitations for contributions. That's why clickers were invented. We clicked away to CBS
which was running the Tony awards noncommittally. What a bore ! The costumes were elaborate and the singing was delivered with great gusto but not one note was or will be memorable. In short, the music was borderline lousy. I understand that people pay big bucks to see these productions. There must be some better way to spend the $100+ which we understand it costs to get in.
I forgot to mention that the oldie bands often played muted trunpets which no one seems to do anymore. It softens the brassy sound and should be revived.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
NEW TERRACE
The last month or so has been traumatic. A low bidder fly be night person put in the new terrace so badly that we had to have it replaced. This involved getting the old concrete out and pouring the new. It turned out so badly that both Jan and I were disgusted. Meanwhile, the fly by night collected his modest charge and disappeared.
With much help from some of the kids ,a competent person was hired to redo the whole thing.
Once again the concrete was removed and new concrete poured the way it should have been the first time. A beautiful mottled ocher color was incorporated right into the concrete and a pattern was put in while the concrete was still fresh. Turned out great.
We threw a small neighborhood party last night and inaugurated it. Once again, we are sleeping at night without having to worry about such things.
Speaking of incompetent people, my newly contracted tax preparers finally finished my 2008 tax return. They had no clue about how to handle some of the items on my return. I think they did a poor job but at least I finally got something off to the dear old IRS.
I also got a nasty note from the afore mentioned IRS about my 2007 return. I have turned this problem over to a CPA who seems to know what he is doing.
We will be off the North Carolina in about twenty days. Many of my vast readership may join us there.
With much help from some of the kids ,a competent person was hired to redo the whole thing.
Once again the concrete was removed and new concrete poured the way it should have been the first time. A beautiful mottled ocher color was incorporated right into the concrete and a pattern was put in while the concrete was still fresh. Turned out great.
We threw a small neighborhood party last night and inaugurated it. Once again, we are sleeping at night without having to worry about such things.
Speaking of incompetent people, my newly contracted tax preparers finally finished my 2008 tax return. They had no clue about how to handle some of the items on my return. I think they did a poor job but at least I finally got something off to the dear old IRS.
I also got a nasty note from the afore mentioned IRS about my 2007 return. I have turned this problem over to a CPA who seems to know what he is doing.
We will be off the North Carolina in about twenty days. Many of my vast readership may join us there.
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