i fondly remember the good old days when I worked five days a week from 8 in the morning 'til 5 or later. Those were the good old days.
Now that I am retired, have no job, can sleep late and then relax the rest of the day is nothing more than a myth. It ain't happening. At east not in my life.
I mentioned it earlier that my wife's son is moving to a new apartment. Well, that is now in past tense. The move took place yesterday and today.
He found a beautiful apartment right next to a huge park in Queens and now being the end of the month the move took place already.
What was my role in it, you ask? Well, I tell.
On both days I rented a 15' long U-Haul truck that I was forced to drive. I also hired to guys to help us with the move. I picked the guys up drove the truck and the men to Brooklyn and stood by the truck while it was loaded with furniture.
Oh, the sun was shining and it was about 90 degrees.
When loaded, I drove the truck to Queens and stood by it again while it was unloaded. Since the truck wasn't large enough there was stuff left behind and today became a carbon copy of the previous day.
Anybody who thinks that standing by a truck all day is easy is totally mistaken. By the end of yesterday I was dead tired. So am I today too.
Driving a truck for the uninitiated can be nerve racking. I am a very relaxed driver but driving this "behemoth" was killing me. Fortunately I didn't need to be in any side street with double parked cars because I am sure I would have taken off their mirrors.
Thankfully the work is over and I hope no family member is planning to move in the near or far future.
Just be clear about something, becoming a truck driver is not on my long range plans.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Sunday
Today is Saturday the first day of the long weekend. The weather was wonderful all day just like it is supposed to be on a Memorial day weekend.
We didn't have anything specific program so we decided to help our son with his move to the new apartment. As it turned out the previous tenant moved out today and the apartment is now available.
So almost the entire day was spent on making plans and arrangements for the MOVE that is scheduled for tomorrow. As it turned out it was not that simple to rent a moving van on a one day notice during the Memorial Day weekend.
Since this weekend falls on the last two days of the month a lot of people who have to move take advantage of this. But at the end we prevailed and found a truck for Sunday.
At least it was promised to be available. It remains to be seen if it will be true.
We didn't have anything specific program so we decided to help our son with his move to the new apartment. As it turned out the previous tenant moved out today and the apartment is now available.
So almost the entire day was spent on making plans and arrangements for the MOVE that is scheduled for tomorrow. As it turned out it was not that simple to rent a moving van on a one day notice during the Memorial Day weekend.
Since this weekend falls on the last two days of the month a lot of people who have to move take advantage of this. But at the end we prevailed and found a truck for Sunday.
At least it was promised to be available. It remains to be seen if it will be true.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Friday
As I have mentioned it yesterday we purchased the air conditioners for the apartment. Today was the day of reckoning meaning the installation.
My wife's son came over and did all the work. End result is that they are all in their designated locations and all of them is working.
That is the short version. The long version is that he sweated blood until he set up the ones the salesman at P.C. Richards said were no problem to set up.
I came to the conclusion and given my age I should have known better that salesmen lie. They lie in a large scale. All they ever care about is to make the sale regardless of the consequences.
Yesterday when we were at the store a salesman walks up and asks if he could help. When we started to talk about air conditioners he comings over with another person and introduces him as their a/c expert.
As far as I am concerned he was as much of an expert as I am an expert of nuclear fission. All he did was sounded honest and knowledgeable just to make the sale. But it is also my fault that I believe these phony characters.
These a/cs all have an exhaust in the back through which the warm air leaves. Nobody, not even the expert told us that these a/cs need another 10" or more for the for these exhaust ducts. That was our main problem finding enough space for the new units.
But with Hungarian ingenuity my wife tackled the problems and now they are all proudly occupy their designated places.
My wife's son came over and did all the work. End result is that they are all in their designated locations and all of them is working.
That is the short version. The long version is that he sweated blood until he set up the ones the salesman at P.C. Richards said were no problem to set up.
I came to the conclusion and given my age I should have known better that salesmen lie. They lie in a large scale. All they ever care about is to make the sale regardless of the consequences.
Yesterday when we were at the store a salesman walks up and asks if he could help. When we started to talk about air conditioners he comings over with another person and introduces him as their a/c expert.
As far as I am concerned he was as much of an expert as I am an expert of nuclear fission. All he did was sounded honest and knowledgeable just to make the sale. But it is also my fault that I believe these phony characters.
These a/cs all have an exhaust in the back through which the warm air leaves. Nobody, not even the expert told us that these a/cs need another 10" or more for the for these exhaust ducts. That was our main problem finding enough space for the new units.
But with Hungarian ingenuity my wife tackled the problems and now they are all proudly occupy their designated places.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Friday
Never a dull moment! Right now we are in air conditioner search mode.
In the previous apartment I had two air conditioners but I was forced to leave them there. In that building they have sleeves through the wall for the a/c to be slipped into. In the new apartment there are no such things meaning the units have to be installed in the windows.
I hate this type because it takes an entire window out of use since the a/c is installed through it. So today we went to look around to see what is available.
To my great surprise they have upright a/cs that do not have to be installed in a window just plainly stand front of it. They all have an exhaust pipe in their backs where the hot air escapes and this will have to go through the window. Simple procedure.
The salesman swears they are quiet and very practical. Right now we are home contemplating our next steps but I think my wife will make an executive decision and we will be off to purchase.
What motivated us for such a quick move is the sudden warm temperature we are having. Yesterday it was 95 degrees high and today it s over 90 again.
In the previous apartment I had two air conditioners but I was forced to leave them there. In that building they have sleeves through the wall for the a/c to be slipped into. In the new apartment there are no such things meaning the units have to be installed in the windows.
I hate this type because it takes an entire window out of use since the a/c is installed through it. So today we went to look around to see what is available.
To my great surprise they have upright a/cs that do not have to be installed in a window just plainly stand front of it. They all have an exhaust pipe in their backs where the hot air escapes and this will have to go through the window. Simple procedure.
The salesman swears they are quiet and very practical. Right now we are home contemplating our next steps but I think my wife will make an executive decision and we will be off to purchase.
What motivated us for such a quick move is the sudden warm temperature we are having. Yesterday it was 95 degrees high and today it s over 90 again.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Wednesday
I did mention a little while ago that we were in the apartment search mode for my wife's son. His current lease is expiring at the nd of this month and he expressed his desire that he would like to move to another neighborhood.
Well, the search had been going on for a while with mixed success. It seem there are plenty apartments available but to find a suitable one is another story.
At first he wasn't sure where he would like to stay. Brooklyn or Queens. We naturally favored Queens but getting a good neighborhood is not that easy.
We almost found a gorgeous apartment but somebody beat him to the punch its some cash and they gave it away. Very unprofessional and disappointing.
But we didn't give up and continued the search and it seems that at the end we all prevailed. The young man yesterday signed a lease on a very nice apartment in a good neighborhood. Not very close to us but not at the other end of the world either.
My observation to the entire rental process is and most of the renters, brokers operate this way that they are asking more questions than I was asked when I purchased my new apartment.
The financial situation, the credit standing, the job situation, marital status, education etc. It is unbelievable how much they want to know.
There are two major real estate companies who own two large apartment house developments require 70 times the monthly rent in the bank. Why? People take one or two year leases. That is 12 or 24 months. What is the purpose of a 70 times security?
I think because earlier they got all kinds of shit people in and now they are trying to elevate the level of residents with high requirement.
God bless capitalism, Bernie Sanders looks better and better!
Well, the search had been going on for a while with mixed success. It seem there are plenty apartments available but to find a suitable one is another story.
At first he wasn't sure where he would like to stay. Brooklyn or Queens. We naturally favored Queens but getting a good neighborhood is not that easy.
We almost found a gorgeous apartment but somebody beat him to the punch its some cash and they gave it away. Very unprofessional and disappointing.
But we didn't give up and continued the search and it seems that at the end we all prevailed. The young man yesterday signed a lease on a very nice apartment in a good neighborhood. Not very close to us but not at the other end of the world either.
My observation to the entire rental process is and most of the renters, brokers operate this way that they are asking more questions than I was asked when I purchased my new apartment.
The financial situation, the credit standing, the job situation, marital status, education etc. It is unbelievable how much they want to know.
There are two major real estate companies who own two large apartment house developments require 70 times the monthly rent in the bank. Why? People take one or two year leases. That is 12 or 24 months. What is the purpose of a 70 times security?
I think because earlier they got all kinds of shit people in and now they are trying to elevate the level of residents with high requirement.
God bless capitalism, Bernie Sanders looks better and better!
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Monday/Tuesday
I have been recently making telephone calls to various official and semi official places. Places like airline, the cable company and others.
In order to transact any kind of busines even if it only takes two minutes the wait time is enormously long. It seems these places only have an single 85 year old grandmother working at a speed of a slug. And that is the costumer service.
What is even more annoying is that before I am able to find the proper party I want to talk to I must go through a list push various buttons listen to various advertisements and at the end I probably either get disconnected or wind up with the wrong party.
Week before last my cable service was out for about a day. I called the company and when I finally go through the women was trying to sell me more service for the service I was complaining about. I told her this was not the place or the time for me to get more than what I already have and am not very happy about.
We are surrounded with idiots>.
Something else.
I wrote this yesterday, Monday afternoon. Then we were busy with stuff in the evening and today my wife said to me that what happened did I forget to write? I didn't forget to write, I did forget tom publish.
So here it is a day late but just as good.
In order to transact any kind of busines even if it only takes two minutes the wait time is enormously long. It seems these places only have an single 85 year old grandmother working at a speed of a slug. And that is the costumer service.
What is even more annoying is that before I am able to find the proper party I want to talk to I must go through a list push various buttons listen to various advertisements and at the end I probably either get disconnected or wind up with the wrong party.
Week before last my cable service was out for about a day. I called the company and when I finally go through the women was trying to sell me more service for the service I was complaining about. I told her this was not the place or the time for me to get more than what I already have and am not very happy about.
We are surrounded with idiots>.
Something else.
I wrote this yesterday, Monday afternoon. Then we were busy with stuff in the evening and today my wife said to me that what happened did I forget to write? I didn't forget to write, I did forget tom publish.
So here it is a day late but just as good.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Sunday
It is very surprising, at least to me how fashion conscious a teenage girl can be. At least a thirteen year old teenage girl.
Abigail is finishing her junior high school which is called middle school. To celebrate the occasion there will be a graduation ceremony and a graduation ball. Thankfully not on the same day.
What thirteen year old kids do at a graduation ball escapes me what nevertheless it is an event that requires special dressing up.
Months ago we bought what we thought was a very nice and tasteful dress that just recently turned out to be yukee.
Now we bought another dress that is not that nice but she happen to think that it is perfect for the occasion. But one thing follow another, now she needs shoes.
The past several weeks we covered at least ten shoe stores with absolutely no success. I really don't have any idea what type of shoes she wants but I don't think she doesn't know it either. And that make shopping very difficult.
That was how we spent this afternoon. Went to buy shoes and bought everything else but shoes.
Abigail is finishing her junior high school which is called middle school. To celebrate the occasion there will be a graduation ceremony and a graduation ball. Thankfully not on the same day.
What thirteen year old kids do at a graduation ball escapes me what nevertheless it is an event that requires special dressing up.
Months ago we bought what we thought was a very nice and tasteful dress that just recently turned out to be yukee.
Now we bought another dress that is not that nice but she happen to think that it is perfect for the occasion. But one thing follow another, now she needs shoes.
The past several weeks we covered at least ten shoe stores with absolutely no success. I really don't have any idea what type of shoes she wants but I don't think she doesn't know it either. And that make shopping very difficult.
That was how we spent this afternoon. Went to buy shoes and bought everything else but shoes.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Saturday
To show my technical prowess I proudly declare that after about a half an hour of cursing and wishing all kinds of bad things on the system my wife and I finally won and was able to scan a document.
Anybody who says it is easy and kind of automatic is lying. It is not. Stuff they showed in the store when we bought this Apple thing I don't remember half of. It is easy when they do these things on a daily basis. But when a problem occurs and stuff needs to be done who the hell remember how to do it?
I guess this is how they make their money. On the service calls!
All I can say that every day is another challenge in the computer world. And I'm sick of challenges.
Anyway, today we finally scanned several pages and I'm proud of us.
The weather is lousy outside but in my heart the sun is shining. How is this for poetic ending?
Anybody who says it is easy and kind of automatic is lying. It is not. Stuff they showed in the store when we bought this Apple thing I don't remember half of. It is easy when they do these things on a daily basis. But when a problem occurs and stuff needs to be done who the hell remember how to do it?
I guess this is how they make their money. On the service calls!
All I can say that every day is another challenge in the computer world. And I'm sick of challenges.
Anyway, today we finally scanned several pages and I'm proud of us.
The weather is lousy outside but in my heart the sun is shining. How is this for poetic ending?
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday
Across the street from where we live there is the athletic field of a parochial high school. The school is also there but its building is away from us.
That was what I really liked that nobody is living across the street because of this almost city block size athletic field. It has a full 400 meter running track a n a huge grass area in the middle that has a full size baseball field.
Anyway most of the time the place is quiet, lately there is more activity there.
Since baseball season started they also started their season. The school team or tens play other schools and that brings some life to the place.
But what amazes me the most these kids' (14 to 18 years of age) commitment to the track and field sports.
Javelin throwers show up around 6:30 in the morning to practice regardless of the weather while the various runners do their trainings in the early afternoon, right after school. These trainings go on regularly and also regardless to the weather.
Looking at some of these kids they seem to be so lacking talent that I am sure they will not be able to get any kind of athletic scholarship to colleges. But they keep practicing. Interestingly even bring school holidays if practice falls within that time period they are her.
They are not noisy and do not disturb the neighborhood at all. When I went to school in Budapest we went to the City Park if we wanted to practice outside. My school never had their own athletic field.
That was what I really liked that nobody is living across the street because of this almost city block size athletic field. It has a full 400 meter running track a n a huge grass area in the middle that has a full size baseball field.
Anyway most of the time the place is quiet, lately there is more activity there.
Since baseball season started they also started their season. The school team or tens play other schools and that brings some life to the place.
But what amazes me the most these kids' (14 to 18 years of age) commitment to the track and field sports.
Javelin throwers show up around 6:30 in the morning to practice regardless of the weather while the various runners do their trainings in the early afternoon, right after school. These trainings go on regularly and also regardless to the weather.
Looking at some of these kids they seem to be so lacking talent that I am sure they will not be able to get any kind of athletic scholarship to colleges. But they keep practicing. Interestingly even bring school holidays if practice falls within that time period they are her.
They are not noisy and do not disturb the neighborhood at all. When I went to school in Budapest we went to the City Park if we wanted to practice outside. My school never had their own athletic field.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Abigail
A thirteen year old girl going on fourteen can be the menace of a household. Abigail will be fourteen in June and she possesses more knowledge than Albert Einstein.
At least that is what she makes us believe. She is extremely self opinionated, critical and knows everything better than us. I never realized that 8th graders in this country are so smart.
She also knows etiquette better than anybody. Criticizes me non-stop about how I eat. Like if I make any noise while eating she reprimands me. If I speak a little louder she reprimands me. If I don't serve her breakfast fast enough she reprimands me.
My life with her is nothing but one reprimand after another. She speaks nasty to her mother which upsets me to no end. But when she wants something she is as sweet as honey.
When she comes home from school she locks herself into her room and only comes out to eat or to demand something.
Communication between us is non existing.
As I understand this a normal teenager behavior. But I can not fathom that if this is normal why schools do not address this issue. If all parents have this problem why the educational system do not try to head it off.
She is the female version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She is sweet with her friends who are naturally all possess "superior intelligence". But at home she is a different individual.
When I was growing up and if I mouthed off front of my Mother she immediately smacked me across the mouth. I am a great believer of that kind of discipline but it appears that here a parent has no right to discipline his or her child.
It's a great country we live in where a child has more right than the parents who are raising him or her.
At least that is what she makes us believe. She is extremely self opinionated, critical and knows everything better than us. I never realized that 8th graders in this country are so smart.
She also knows etiquette better than anybody. Criticizes me non-stop about how I eat. Like if I make any noise while eating she reprimands me. If I speak a little louder she reprimands me. If I don't serve her breakfast fast enough she reprimands me.
My life with her is nothing but one reprimand after another. She speaks nasty to her mother which upsets me to no end. But when she wants something she is as sweet as honey.
When she comes home from school she locks herself into her room and only comes out to eat or to demand something.
Communication between us is non existing.
As I understand this a normal teenager behavior. But I can not fathom that if this is normal why schools do not address this issue. If all parents have this problem why the educational system do not try to head it off.
She is the female version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She is sweet with her friends who are naturally all possess "superior intelligence". But at home she is a different individual.
When I was growing up and if I mouthed off front of my Mother she immediately smacked me across the mouth. I am a great believer of that kind of discipline but it appears that here a parent has no right to discipline his or her child.
It's a great country we live in where a child has more right than the parents who are raising him or her.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wednesday
We are in apartment hunting mode. No, we are not moving, yet. Very happy with our new digs. But my wife's son is planning to move and we are naturally helping him and his girlfriend to find something suitable.
They are moving because their lease is expiring at the end of this month and the lease was on his mother's name. They live in Brooklyn right by the water and they really like the area. But unfortunately we can not find anything suitable in that area.
It is not easy for young people to rent out an apartment now a days. The financial requirements are high and the credit history requirement is also high. Without a parent as a guarantor it seems is impossible to find an acceptable place.
The other day we saw an apartment that was so bad that it was not suitable for someone who just got off the boat. When I asked if at least would they paint the apartment the answer was no, but they would give a can of paint. O.k. the rent was also low.
So, we are hunting while the time is going by. It is not there there are no places. There are apartments all over everywhere it is just that one has to satisfy all the financial requirements. And that is where the problem s.
But I am optimistic that at the end we will win and will find a nice little apartment for the young 'uns.
They are moving because their lease is expiring at the end of this month and the lease was on his mother's name. They live in Brooklyn right by the water and they really like the area. But unfortunately we can not find anything suitable in that area.
It is not easy for young people to rent out an apartment now a days. The financial requirements are high and the credit history requirement is also high. Without a parent as a guarantor it seems is impossible to find an acceptable place.
The other day we saw an apartment that was so bad that it was not suitable for someone who just got off the boat. When I asked if at least would they paint the apartment the answer was no, but they would give a can of paint. O.k. the rent was also low.
So, we are hunting while the time is going by. It is not there there are no places. There are apartments all over everywhere it is just that one has to satisfy all the financial requirements. And that is where the problem s.
But I am optimistic that at the end we will win and will find a nice little apartment for the young 'uns.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday
Speaking of boring subjects, the printer after a short showing of life this morning decided to join the Verizon workers. It went on strike.
This afternoon it just didn't react to any of our commands. I am so disgusted by this that I am ready to execute the bastard machine.
Then just to add insult to injury I woke up this morning with a cold. It is May 17 with no evidence that Spring might be lurking around the corner.
My nose is stuffed up, my head hurts, I am cold and I just feel lousy all over. I have to explain that when I have a cold, and probably it fits most men I just feel absolutely miserable. I am like a baby. I suffer not so quietly and I believe my miserable feeling supersedes everything else.
I now from experience that it all will be over in a few days but by the time I get there it is straight suffering for me.
My wife is very patient with me. She takes care of me, worries about me and makes all kinds of magic potions that supposed to cure my "serious" ailment. Time will tell.
If all else fails there is still the good old remedy: tender loving care!
This afternoon it just didn't react to any of our commands. I am so disgusted by this that I am ready to execute the bastard machine.
Then just to add insult to injury I woke up this morning with a cold. It is May 17 with no evidence that Spring might be lurking around the corner.
My nose is stuffed up, my head hurts, I am cold and I just feel lousy all over. I have to explain that when I have a cold, and probably it fits most men I just feel absolutely miserable. I am like a baby. I suffer not so quietly and I believe my miserable feeling supersedes everything else.
I now from experience that it all will be over in a few days but by the time I get there it is straight suffering for me.
My wife is very patient with me. She takes care of me, worries about me and makes all kinds of magic potions that supposed to cure my "serious" ailment. Time will tell.
If all else fails there is still the good old remedy: tender loving care!
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday
I really don't want to bore anybody but my life is being manipulated by the computer system. Since we had a service shut down on our cable system last week things just weren't the same.
My wife who understands all this a lot better than I do figured out that our modem is the likely culprit because it just did not go back to its original self.
With that belief in our possession we went to the cable company's office that is nearby and had that modem replaced. They gave us a better one and we took it home full of anticipation. Well, the damn thing didn't work.
It was taking id codes and passwords that none of us remembered. But Thanks to my wife's stubborn attitude she wouldn't let go and eventually she got 50% of the system working.
That means we have Internet on one computer, w have TV and telephone. About three other computers and my Notepad and the printer still not working with WiFi.
Tonight we hope her son will come over and decode all the stupid questions that come up when one tries to set up a system.
I will watch it with eagle eyes and I am convinced the minute he leaves the apartment I will forget everything he did.
Oh, how I love this age of technology.
My wife who understands all this a lot better than I do figured out that our modem is the likely culprit because it just did not go back to its original self.
With that belief in our possession we went to the cable company's office that is nearby and had that modem replaced. They gave us a better one and we took it home full of anticipation. Well, the damn thing didn't work.
It was taking id codes and passwords that none of us remembered. But Thanks to my wife's stubborn attitude she wouldn't let go and eventually she got 50% of the system working.
That means we have Internet on one computer, w have TV and telephone. About three other computers and my Notepad and the printer still not working with WiFi.
Tonight we hope her son will come over and decode all the stupid questions that come up when one tries to set up a system.
I will watch it with eagle eyes and I am convinced the minute he leaves the apartment I will forget everything he did.
Oh, how I love this age of technology.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Saturday/Sunday
I had to miss yesterday's writing because it turned out to be a very long day. Here is the short version.
We met a very good friend around one pm in a neighborhood diner for a little conversation. It was a good conversation but was not little. By the time we lifted our behinds off the restaurant seats it was six in the evening.
And we didn't talk about anything important. But it was a good afternoon.
When we got home we sat down at the computer hoping to do some serious work. But it turned out that our printer still was not working. I called Time Warner, our cable company and complained. The tech guy gave me a long winded explanation saying that whatever is wrong it is on our side because they are perfect.
Eventually my wife got it working but then later it died again.
Adding insult to injury, our downstairs neighbor kept up knocking on the her ceiling because w dared to talk. Around 12:30 when she knocked again I got so pissed that I stomped on the floor with all my weight.
This entire thing got me very upset. Today I wrote an angry letter to the management company reporting the bitch and asking them to curtail her.
Today we spent the better part of the afternoon looking for shoe for Abigail. In June she is having her middle school prom, she has her dress but no shoes.
This was not an easy task. We went to at least a half a dozen stores but found nothing that she liked. Her mother has the patience of a saint I just turned my mind off.
Monday is another day and the shoe hung will continue.
The printer is another story. According to the cable company it is the WiFi or lack of it is what creating the problem.
I'm so happy that my wife understands this because for me it is like reading a Chinese menu in Chinese.
We met a very good friend around one pm in a neighborhood diner for a little conversation. It was a good conversation but was not little. By the time we lifted our behinds off the restaurant seats it was six in the evening.
And we didn't talk about anything important. But it was a good afternoon.
When we got home we sat down at the computer hoping to do some serious work. But it turned out that our printer still was not working. I called Time Warner, our cable company and complained. The tech guy gave me a long winded explanation saying that whatever is wrong it is on our side because they are perfect.
Eventually my wife got it working but then later it died again.
Adding insult to injury, our downstairs neighbor kept up knocking on the her ceiling because w dared to talk. Around 12:30 when she knocked again I got so pissed that I stomped on the floor with all my weight.
This entire thing got me very upset. Today I wrote an angry letter to the management company reporting the bitch and asking them to curtail her.
Today we spent the better part of the afternoon looking for shoe for Abigail. In June she is having her middle school prom, she has her dress but no shoes.
This was not an easy task. We went to at least a half a dozen stores but found nothing that she liked. Her mother has the patience of a saint I just turned my mind off.
Monday is another day and the shoe hung will continue.
The printer is another story. According to the cable company it is the WiFi or lack of it is what creating the problem.
I'm so happy that my wife understands this because for me it is like reading a Chinese menu in Chinese.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Friday
It is past five in the afternoon and I feel like I worked all day long. I did less when I worked for a good pay.
Up at 6:30, leaving the house at 7:30 because I was taking Abigail to school. Got home and my wife and I did laundry. Around 12:30 we both went to our respective hair places to get our hair done. Mine, only a cut.
At 2:30 I went to Abigail's school and gave her $5 because she wanted to go to Starbuck. The problem with that was was that she wanted only a half an hour with her friends which was not enough for me to go home and back. So, I just parked the car and waited like the chauffeur that I am.
When I finally got home as soon as I entered the apartment my lovely wife came up with a brilliant idea. Why don't I go down (again) and bring home two pizzas.
The obeying and good husband I am I turned on my heel and left to fulfill her command. When I return I just stuck my head in the door and asked if there was anything else I should do before I make myself comfortable.
She assured me that this was it.
I'm holding my breath!
Up at 6:30, leaving the house at 7:30 because I was taking Abigail to school. Got home and my wife and I did laundry. Around 12:30 we both went to our respective hair places to get our hair done. Mine, only a cut.
At 2:30 I went to Abigail's school and gave her $5 because she wanted to go to Starbuck. The problem with that was was that she wanted only a half an hour with her friends which was not enough for me to go home and back. So, I just parked the car and waited like the chauffeur that I am.
When I finally got home as soon as I entered the apartment my lovely wife came up with a brilliant idea. Why don't I go down (again) and bring home two pizzas.
The obeying and good husband I am I turned on my heel and left to fulfill her command. When I return I just stuck my head in the door and asked if there was anything else I should do before I make myself comfortable.
She assured me that this was it.
I'm holding my breath!
Friday, May 13, 2016
Wednesday/Thursday
I am running a one-man war against technology. I know it is a losing situation but I am still running it.
I hate my computer and I hate my printer. These things have their own minds, meaning they do whatever they want.
One evening everything work just perfect the next day either the computer goes on the fritz or the printer doesn't want to print.
This time it is the printer. Night before last it worked just the way it was supposed to but by yesterday it decided it would not print any longer. The message says it is in pause. I don't know how it got there and I don't know how to "unpause"-it.
Anyway, I am sick and tired being exposed to every whims and desires of these stupid machines.
My wife naturally blames me. She says I probably pushed the wrong buttons when I was playing around. I couldn't push wrong buttons because I don't even know where the buttons are. Good ones or bad ones. Now, we are waiting for her son to come over and fix this darn thing.
But still, it is a mystery why something that works one day then sleeps ll night suddenly just don't want to work.
Life was a lot simpler in the days of the abacus!
I hate my computer and I hate my printer. These things have their own minds, meaning they do whatever they want.
One evening everything work just perfect the next day either the computer goes on the fritz or the printer doesn't want to print.
This time it is the printer. Night before last it worked just the way it was supposed to but by yesterday it decided it would not print any longer. The message says it is in pause. I don't know how it got there and I don't know how to "unpause"-it.
Anyway, I am sick and tired being exposed to every whims and desires of these stupid machines.
My wife naturally blames me. She says I probably pushed the wrong buttons when I was playing around. I couldn't push wrong buttons because I don't even know where the buttons are. Good ones or bad ones. Now, we are waiting for her son to come over and fix this darn thing.
But still, it is a mystery why something that works one day then sleeps ll night suddenly just don't want to work.
Life was a lot simpler in the days of the abacus!
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Tuesday
This morning I very proudly thought that I coined a ne English word. And that was Trumpism. I figured that whatever he preaches that is Trumpism.
This belief lasted about ten minutes until I saw on the TV that they were already using this terminology. You can imagine how heartbroken I was. Here I was discovering something new just to find that somebody beat me to it.
But don't feel sorry for me. I have another one. I call his followers Trumpistas. In Argentina they were had probably still have the Peronistas and here we now have the Trumpistas. Isn't this cool?
Something else.
Remember when I said our flights on Delta were pretty crappy between New York and Laas Vegas and back?
Well I wrote to Delta and the other day they responded and offered to every member of my traveling family a list of $50 gift card that never expire.
It is worth to complain I always believed it.
I still have another complain to write about for Las Vegas.
We received a two for one ticket coupon for a magic show which we took advantage of. The kicker was that they "forced" us to buy three $14 vouchers for the bar. My wife and I had a drink each but Abigail had a $14 glass of soda. And it was in a plastic cup.
If this is not a ripoff than I don'd know what is.
This belief lasted about ten minutes until I saw on the TV that they were already using this terminology. You can imagine how heartbroken I was. Here I was discovering something new just to find that somebody beat me to it.
But don't feel sorry for me. I have another one. I call his followers Trumpistas. In Argentina they were had probably still have the Peronistas and here we now have the Trumpistas. Isn't this cool?
Something else.
Remember when I said our flights on Delta were pretty crappy between New York and Laas Vegas and back?
Well I wrote to Delta and the other day they responded and offered to every member of my traveling family a list of $50 gift card that never expire.
It is worth to complain I always believed it.
I still have another complain to write about for Las Vegas.
We received a two for one ticket coupon for a magic show which we took advantage of. The kicker was that they "forced" us to buy three $14 vouchers for the bar. My wife and I had a drink each but Abigail had a $14 glass of soda. And it was in a plastic cup.
If this is not a ripoff than I don'd know what is.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Technology or Lack of It
Did anybody ever notice that when one needs something badly that is when things go wrong?
Well with all the advanced scientific equipment we all are surrounded when something goes missing we are like babes in the woods.
Today we needed the Internet for various important chores. So, what did happen? The entire cable network that is run by TimeWarner went down. At least at our place.
No Internet, no television and worst of all no telephone since in our house they are all bundled together. It is amazing how depressing to look forward to an evening without technology. How can we survive it?
We all kind of forgot that about 60 years ago we lived without all these advantages and did survive. So now we just panicked about the evening programs or lack of it.
I called Time Warner several times but with no result. I got disconnected, I was given wrong information, I got no help.
So we left the house in the afternoon and lo and behold by the time we got home just before 9 everything seemed to work. Maybe the system was really down or maybe we just got lucky. Who cares as long as I have my Internet back.
Well with all the advanced scientific equipment we all are surrounded when something goes missing we are like babes in the woods.
Today we needed the Internet for various important chores. So, what did happen? The entire cable network that is run by TimeWarner went down. At least at our place.
No Internet, no television and worst of all no telephone since in our house they are all bundled together. It is amazing how depressing to look forward to an evening without technology. How can we survive it?
We all kind of forgot that about 60 years ago we lived without all these advantages and did survive. So now we just panicked about the evening programs or lack of it.
I called Time Warner several times but with no result. I got disconnected, I was given wrong information, I got no help.
So we left the house in the afternoon and lo and behold by the time we got home just before 9 everything seemed to work. Maybe the system was really down or maybe we just got lucky. Who cares as long as I have my Internet back.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Mother's Day 2016
Today was and actually is Mother's Day here in the good old US of A. While the rest of the worlds celebrate it on the first Sunday of May here they have to be different. It is the second Sunday of May.
My wife has three children and each one remembered which I think was very nice. Since her son lives here in New York and Abigail lives with us two third of the family was together. And what did we do?
As most of the good Americans did today we didn't want to be different and took "good old" Mom out to a restaurant.
Surprisingly it didn't take long before we were seated and started to sample the goodies. For appetizer we all (except Abigail) had a huge Margarita. That put all of us in an exceptionally good mood. Later we all ate something but I really don't remember what. It doesn't matter I know mine was good.
Being close to a large shopping center we went there after the meal and walked around a bit while the girls bought a few things. I think they enjoyed themselves but I'm not sure about me! After the shopping "spree" we stopped in a large park to air out our heads then headed home.
I just had one request. Please do not celebrate Father's Day with me.
My wife has three children and each one remembered which I think was very nice. Since her son lives here in New York and Abigail lives with us two third of the family was together. And what did we do?
As most of the good Americans did today we didn't want to be different and took "good old" Mom out to a restaurant.
Surprisingly it didn't take long before we were seated and started to sample the goodies. For appetizer we all (except Abigail) had a huge Margarita. That put all of us in an exceptionally good mood. Later we all ate something but I really don't remember what. It doesn't matter I know mine was good.
Being close to a large shopping center we went there after the meal and walked around a bit while the girls bought a few things. I think they enjoyed themselves but I'm not sure about me! After the shopping "spree" we stopped in a large park to air out our heads then headed home.
I just had one request. Please do not celebrate Father's Day with me.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Doo Wop
Tonight my wife and I went to see a Doo Wop concert. Doc Wop is music from the 50s and 60s. Today's youngsters wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole (poles don't grow that high, maybe seven feet if he is a basketball player).
But the genre seems to be pretty popular between the advanced age groups. The theater was full and the average age was about 70. There was more gray hair and lack of hair visible than at any other place except at a AARP convention.
We enjoyed the music even though I never grew up with it but still like it. There were some groups from the olden days but with the exception of maybe one original member who owned the name the rest were new ones. But to their credits they all performed exceptionally good.
The audience was on their feet (those who could stand without asistance) a lots of times.
During the concert I came to the conclusion that old people must pee a lot. There was so much walking in and out of the auditorium during the show that it was unbelievable.
Just for the record, I didn't go out at all.
But the genre seems to be pretty popular between the advanced age groups. The theater was full and the average age was about 70. There was more gray hair and lack of hair visible than at any other place except at a AARP convention.
We enjoyed the music even though I never grew up with it but still like it. There were some groups from the olden days but with the exception of maybe one original member who owned the name the rest were new ones. But to their credits they all performed exceptionally good.
The audience was on their feet (those who could stand without asistance) a lots of times.
During the concert I came to the conclusion that old people must pee a lot. There was so much walking in and out of the auditorium during the show that it was unbelievable.
Just for the record, I didn't go out at all.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Post Las Vegs Thoughts
I am not a big complainer. If I don't like something I usually keep it to myself. But I submitted a complaint to Delta about the lousy service they provided.
I already mentioned how it was on the way to LV. On our return trip it wasn't nt better. We were on a non-stop flight to New York, the plane was totally full. Front of every seat there was a tv screen and we all anxiously waited for the inflight entertainment to begin. But it never happened.
All they said that it did not work and again we wound up doing nothing for five hours but snooze or just stare into thin air. The air is pretty thin up there, you know. It seems Delta just do not care about its passengers.
But, we did get home safely and on time.
While in LV I had the chance to go to two different casinos at two different nights. In short, I should have stayed home.
Maybe next time. But regardless of the casino I still enjoyed being there. The food was great. We ate at a couple of buffets and each was very good. We also had the chance to eat at a restaurant called the Gordon Ramsey BURGR.
Wasn't expensive (we had coupons) and it had probably the best burger I ever ate.
There were two days when the temperature went fairly high and on those days we ran to the pool. It was good finally to shed my clothing and put a swimming trunk on and go into the water. Then back to New York where the cold weather is still on. Believe it or not we still have heat in the building.
We might not even have a Summer his year.
I already mentioned how it was on the way to LV. On our return trip it wasn't nt better. We were on a non-stop flight to New York, the plane was totally full. Front of every seat there was a tv screen and we all anxiously waited for the inflight entertainment to begin. But it never happened.
All they said that it did not work and again we wound up doing nothing for five hours but snooze or just stare into thin air. The air is pretty thin up there, you know. It seems Delta just do not care about its passengers.
But, we did get home safely and on time.
While in LV I had the chance to go to two different casinos at two different nights. In short, I should have stayed home.
Maybe next time. But regardless of the casino I still enjoyed being there. The food was great. We ate at a couple of buffets and each was very good. We also had the chance to eat at a restaurant called the Gordon Ramsey BURGR.
Wasn't expensive (we had coupons) and it had probably the best burger I ever ate.
There were two days when the temperature went fairly high and on those days we ran to the pool. It was good finally to shed my clothing and put a swimming trunk on and go into the water. Then back to New York where the cold weather is still on. Believe it or not we still have heat in the building.
We might not even have a Summer his year.
Friday, May 6, 2016
More More Las Vegas
During our stay in LV we saw three shows. The first one was in the Harrah's Hotel and it was called The Million Dollar Quartett.
This was a musical about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. This was a great show we immensely enjoyed. The show was bout these old time performers and the actors portraying them were each fantastic.
The second was The Million Dollar Piano that was an Elton John concert at Caesar's Palace. I can not describe this show. It was an almost two hours of non-stop entertainment with Elton John on the stage all the time.
The tickets were expensive yet, there was a full house. Where do these people get all this money? Certainly not from winning at the casinos.
The third show was an afternoon magic show called the Mac King at the Harrah's. This as very interesting and entertaining magic show. This was the only show Abigail came with us but she really enjoyed it.
Las Vegas is full of shows but it is still hard to get tickets. People flock to these entertainment venus regardless of the price.
I wish I knew their secrets.
This was a musical about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. This was a great show we immensely enjoyed. The show was bout these old time performers and the actors portraying them were each fantastic.
The second was The Million Dollar Piano that was an Elton John concert at Caesar's Palace. I can not describe this show. It was an almost two hours of non-stop entertainment with Elton John on the stage all the time.
The tickets were expensive yet, there was a full house. Where do these people get all this money? Certainly not from winning at the casinos.
The third show was an afternoon magic show called the Mac King at the Harrah's. This as very interesting and entertaining magic show. This was the only show Abigail came with us but she really enjoyed it.
Las Vegas is full of shows but it is still hard to get tickets. People flock to these entertainment venus regardless of the price.
I wish I knew their secrets.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Las Vegas Again
Our trip to Las Vegas started with Delta Airline flights. Unfortunately we were not able to get any direct flight so we had to change plane in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Because of the timeliness of the flights this turned out to be no problem.
What was a problem that the plan on the first leg of our flight looked like an old beat up used car with chipped paint. It was some kind of Airbus model and the inside was very symplistic. There was absolutely no inflight entertainment of any kind. No music, no video. We just sat and stared into the thin air or into the seats front of us during the entire our hours.
Very annoying. Thankfully the plane for the final leg into LV was really high tech and we were not bored. (This was an American made plane!)
We rented a car and drove to our hotel and by about 8:30 pm we were all settled in.
In the following days we walked a lot, visited all the old and some of the new places and enjoyed every one of them.
Unfortunately, the weather was not the most favorable. Generally it was cool. We should have brought more arm clothing than we did but we still managed.
Our hotel has a large pool and we were able to visit twice during our stay and that was good.
Interestingly, this time the temperature didn't go much above 70 degrees Fahrenheit while in last August when we were there the first time it rarely went below 100.
As the smart people say live and learn.
What was a problem that the plan on the first leg of our flight looked like an old beat up used car with chipped paint. It was some kind of Airbus model and the inside was very symplistic. There was absolutely no inflight entertainment of any kind. No music, no video. We just sat and stared into the thin air or into the seats front of us during the entire our hours.
Very annoying. Thankfully the plane for the final leg into LV was really high tech and we were not bored. (This was an American made plane!)
We rented a car and drove to our hotel and by about 8:30 pm we were all settled in.
In the following days we walked a lot, visited all the old and some of the new places and enjoyed every one of them.
Unfortunately, the weather was not the most favorable. Generally it was cool. We should have brought more arm clothing than we did but we still managed.
Our hotel has a large pool and we were able to visit twice during our stay and that was good.
Interestingly, this time the temperature didn't go much above 70 degrees Fahrenheit while in last August when we were there the first time it rarely went below 100.
As the smart people say live and learn.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Las Vegas
I am back. I have to admit I have been back for a few days now but I can really get used to being lazy and have no pressing responsibilities like writing a daily blog.
But duty calls and here I am in one piece.
Vacation is over and in short we had a great time. Maybe the only dark spot was the quality of Delta's planes. We had to take three planes on our trip and two out of the three were really bad. But that is another issue.
Our stay in Las Vegas was very peasant. We stayed at the new Hilton Elara which is right on the Strip. Even though we rented a car we didn't use it every day because most things were within walking distance.
We walked and walked. I think I lost about two inches from my height due to wear. This place is amazing. It does not need a special occasion, a holiday or school holiday to fill up with people it is just full all the time.
There are things and places that can be seen over and over again. On our last visit last year we saw a lot but this time it was not repetitious to see some of the same places again.
Abigail had a good time. The place was a little overwhelming for her but eventually she got used to it.
The weather was in one word "crappy". Many days the temperature was down to the 50s but on some others it was up in the 70s. We should have brought more warm clothes than we did but this how we learn.
The bottom line is that it is good to be home in our own turf.
But duty calls and here I am in one piece.
Vacation is over and in short we had a great time. Maybe the only dark spot was the quality of Delta's planes. We had to take three planes on our trip and two out of the three were really bad. But that is another issue.
Our stay in Las Vegas was very peasant. We stayed at the new Hilton Elara which is right on the Strip. Even though we rented a car we didn't use it every day because most things were within walking distance.
We walked and walked. I think I lost about two inches from my height due to wear. This place is amazing. It does not need a special occasion, a holiday or school holiday to fill up with people it is just full all the time.
There are things and places that can be seen over and over again. On our last visit last year we saw a lot but this time it was not repetitious to see some of the same places again.
Abigail had a good time. The place was a little overwhelming for her but eventually she got used to it.
The weather was in one word "crappy". Many days the temperature was down to the 50s but on some others it was up in the 70s. We should have brought more warm clothes than we did but this how we learn.
The bottom line is that it is good to be home in our own turf.
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