Doctors

Today we had a doctor's appointment. As I noted before we like to use NYU doctors, and since that is such a huge organization they have doctors all over the New York area. If one wants a good specialist one has to be willing totravel to wherever that doctor is located.

This particular doctor is located in deep Brooklyn and that is where we had to go. I never liked Brooklyn and today proved it again why. We hit such traffic that I had to call the doctor's office and let  know that we would be late. And we were 35 minutes late but they were nice enough and still saw us.For a while I thought

It is interesting to see the neighborhoods where these clinics are located. Ours here where we live is totally russian. They speak russian, their signs are russian and most of the patients are russians. Where we went today is in an arab area. Most of the store signs are in arabic. For a while I thought I was in Cairo. But later I realized no, this is New York. 

There was arab lady in the waiting room who at one point got up and did her bowing and praying as it is required.  

PASSOVER 3

Sunday was the first day of Passover. In my neighborhood every store was closed, it was eerily quiet. I really don't mind the quiet.

We were home all day resting and not doing much. Abigail's boyfriend came over and they were busy with what teenagers usually do.

I said before we again had a lovely dinner. I came to the conclusion that there is a lot of similarity between me and matzohball soup. We both get better as time goes by. Second day the soup is better than on the first and on the third day there are no words to describe it.

Last night's dinner was:

the traditional seder plate with its prescribed contents                                                                                  matzohball soup                                                                                                                                              beef sirloin prepared to my liking                                                                                                                  baked potato, vegetables                                                                                                                                matzoh                                                                                                                                                            wine, soda                                                                                                                                                      desert (poppy strudel, fruit cake, pogacsa)

Again, there was so much food that I can not describe it. I just can not leave food on the plate so, whatever my wife places front of me I eat. Than later, I deal with the consequences.

Today, Monday is the second day of Passover but since we do not observe it everything is back to normal. Foodwise it means leftovers.  

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I came to the conclusion today that I must be losing my mind. For weeks now, I had a note in my calendar that I had an appointment today with my doctor at 2:30 pm. We planned the day accordingly, until this morning I found out that I had no appointment at all. I was a little embarrassed because I have no idea where I got the information from. It was good thing we didn't go to the doctor's office because that would have been ridiculous.

I guess I'm not as sharp as I think I am.

Passover 2

Today is Passover. We are really not celebrating it but in a small way observing it. One of the observations was last night's dinner. And here is the menu:

Matzoh ball soup                                                                                                                                            Gefilte fish                                                                                                                                                      Lamb chop with mixed vegetables and baked potato                                                                                    Pickles                                                                                                                                                            Wine, soda                                                                                                                                                      Cakes (poppy seed strudel, pogacsa and home made fruit cake) (the cakes were supposed to be kosher)    Matzoh on the side in lieu of bread

Dinner was great. The meat was fantastic. I was really filled after it.

My wifew promises another similar feast for tonight. I can't wait.

Love these holidays, regardless of the religion.  

                                                                                                                                               

 

 

Passover

Tonight is the beginning of Passover. In our house it means that my wife will be cooking up a storm. I am a "foodie". I love to eat, so I am looking forward to some good eating. I kind of guess what is on the menu, but I'm sure I will be pleasantly surprised.

Tomorrow I will provide the menu if anybody is interested.

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Staying on the Jewish subject, my wife and I fell in love with an Israeli TV show called Shtisel. It is about an ultra-orthodox family and it gives an interesting insight to their customs, rules and behaviors. It ran for two seasons but by popular demand it was renewed for a third season.

Netflix showed it on the 25th, all nine episodes. We started to watch it on that day and by Friday night we finished it. The storyline was good, interesting. They speak hebrew but there are english subtitles. We were glued to the tv. Late night it was difficult to call it a day, but sanity prevailed.

Even though they kind of (happily) finished the storyline there is always possibility for continuation. After Dallas (the tv show) nothing seems impossible. 

Newspapers

I remember that years ago whenever I was going home late at night I always saw those funny looking trucks in the city delivering bundles of newpapers (Ithink they were called mailers). They drove up to a store or newsstand, hollered in and then dumped large bundles of next day's edition of newspapers and drove off to the next address. This was part of city life.

Lately, I don't see anything like this at all. I don't know how newspapers are delivered as a matter of fact I don't know if anybody still read newspapers. Well, if they do it is certainly not for the news value. In today's technology the minute the news is printed it is already obsolete. Thanks to the internet we are informed faster and just as much in detail as the nespapers. 

The difference is that newspapers can add their (mostly) twisted commentaries the way it can serve their interests. Not that TV and radio would not do that but there is more possibility on paper.

When I used to go to work every morning on the subway I always saw people reading the papers. Now that I am a stay at home pop I really don't know if this is still happening. But going into any store that used to sell daily papers I did notice the low supply or total lack of them.

How do they stay in business? If nobody read them what is the point advertising? Maybe in small towns it is different where publication is in low numbers and local news is more interesting and less biased.

I remember years ago New York City had a bunch of morning papers and even some afternoon papers. Then slowly they all fell by the wayside. The few that are still around are the victors. 

The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are institutions by themselves. But still, publishing daily 35 plus pages as the NYT does it is not easy. This is not a paper easily readable on the train.

What I never liked about New York papers that their ink dirtied up my hands. Going through a paper my fingertips were black, I immediately needed to wash my hands. It was caused either by the quick printing or the cheap ink they used.

Anyway, watching the news on tv or listening to the radio keep me just as informed or better, and my hands stay clean.  

 

Covid

NYU Langone is a huge medical institution in New York. They have a major hospital complex and various clinics throughout the city. We like to go to one where all specialists are having practices. It is not far for us, appointments are fairly easy to get and everything is in their electronic database which make repetitive inquiries unncessary.

We really like to go there because they can handle the entire family, except Robin. Occasionally we are required to go to their main location because a certain specialist is there only. The only interesting thing is that I feel we are in the middle of Moscow. This area has a considerable russian population and because of that all the staff is speaking russian and if you don't you are a second class patient.

The funny thing is that they assume everybody speak russian that come into the clinic. They always address you in russian first before they realize that it might not be your language.

We went to the City location a few weeks ago. Entering the hospital complex is easy. Somebody checks the temperature and you are free to enter and wonder around. No restrictions that we could see. And I am sure they are protected.

On the other hand this little place by us is overdoing their protection. First, the re is no way to enter the building lobby if there are 2 or 3 people are already there. They make you que up in the street, regardless of the weather. Then, they check the temperature, then there are times when they will not permit escort. In the city this was not even an issue. 

The elevator that can hold at least eight people is good for only four people. In the waiting areas every other seat is blocked off so people will not seat next to each other.

I am puzzled with the different rules within the same organization. How come that one place is laxed while the other is so strict?

Oval Office

Thank you President Biden!!!!

You are really making or lives better and easier. I am very happy that you got elected because I am sure you will make history.

You will make history because you are so lame it is not even funny! I think Jimmy Carter was better than you are. You will make history as one of the worst if not the worst president this country ever had. You should have had the decency not to run because of your age. You should have realized your limitations. Let's face it, you are just too old to be able to hold a job like this. What was it, the four year rent free living?

You are hiding from the public. you are hiding from the media, your very few speaches do not make any sense. Your one obsession is that whatever President Trump did is no good and must be wiped off the books.

You are creating unemployment, you are creating international tensions, you are making America the laughing stock of the world. Whatever diplomatic achievement the the Trump administration had you belittle. Case in point Israel and Israel's diplomatic achievements in the Arab world. For you it is nothing because you are not inclined to pursue it. Maybe your antisemitic feeling are coming to the surface.

Gas prices are skyrocketing, thanks to you. In the previous four years gas prices were low and stayed that way. But now, the sky is the limit.

$1,400 stimulus money will not drastically change anybody's life. It might help out for a month. But then what? If there is no future this money has no meaning.

I think I can see what is waiting for us. Biden will not finish his term. He will resign claiming some phoney excuse and VP Harris will step in. I have a funny feeling this was the arrangement they agreed on.

This will also make history: first woman president, first black woman president. With Harris' radical views we are looking for a very curious future!  

Television

TV is a peculiar media. It makes things appear simple, easy and very possible. I can say almost magical. For example, did you ever see anybody struggle with heavy luggage?

Look at any scene where people travel, use airplanes, load up back of cars or anything similar. They are lifting luggages, two at a time like they are good old Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

I have never seen anybody lift luggages like that in real life. People fill them up with stuff until they are ready to burst and thus they are heavy, real heavy.

The other thing is when someone leaves a No matter what they will do job that person packs a small box with a few items and smilingly carries it out of the workplace. This happens only on tv. When I retired and left the office, I took five boxful of books and other things home. These were things that I accumulated throughout the years. Note: I only accumulated them after 9/11 because everything prior to that day were lost! If they were not lost I might have taken home 15 boxes.

And everyone of my boxes were totally full. I also know somebody who took home 13 boxes of technical books when he retired. So, this empty box with the bowling prize is a myth. Only on tv.

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My favorite quiz show is Jeopardy. I love that show and I was really sad when Alex Trebek passed away. No matter what they will do to that show it will not be the same.

Now, they have these guest hosts until they decide who will be the permanent host. Ken Jennings was ok, a little stiff but I'm sure he can warm up. Second was a producer, he was ok. Katie Couric was fine yet, not one of my favorites. But these two weeks I will not watch because they have dr Oz. I can not stand the guy. I will not watch anything with him in it. I unerstand there is a viewer uproar against him. Silently, I join in.

I hope they will find somebody who is classy and intelligent to continue the tradition.

Weather

 It is crazy to live through the weather changes that keep coming around. Early this morning it was around 40 degrees, t it went up to the 60s. All day today it was nice and sunny. We went out to do some chores and it was nat rare to see some people in shirtsleeves and shorts.

But then in the evening when the sun goes down it is another story. We usually tak Robin out around midnight for his last spin and it is pretty cool by that night.

Yesterday my wife was talking to a friend of hers who lives in northern Hungary and she was told that it was snowing. Very rare for this time of the year. But like I said the other day normal is passee. So, why should the weather behave as it used to?

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Many virus caused restrictions are being lifted effective today or shortly. Like restaurant eating, movie theaters, gyms, theaters and many others. I am curious to see how fast things will go downhill with all this freedom. The trouble is that it takes only a snap of finger for the state or city authorities to shut everything down and make these pleasures shortlived. And the way people behave it is not impossible for it to happen again.

Americans are undiciplined to say the least. They thin k the Constitution gives them the right to act stupid, because they do. Like in Miami!

Reality

I am not hung up on age but there are things that touch me. In 1970 there was a movie, a real tearjerker. I was called Love Story. I dare anybody who have seenit to say that there were no tears in their eyes at the end. This movie was clean, romantic and just a great film.

Its two heroes were Ali MacGrow and Ryan O'Neil. Two beautiful people at that time both in their twenties.

This morning they were interviewed on CBS TV. I know that today it is 52 years later, and I also know that time does not wait for anybody but still.

I was very touched by how these two performers look today. Ryan O'Neil is suffering from stage IV prostate cancer, he looks really old, overweight and liver spots. And he is only 79 years old.

Ali MacGraw looks a little better. You can still see remnants of the beautiful face she had back then, and she is only 81.

We are watching or just remembering movies from years ago with handsome stars and they are engraved in our memories the way they looked then. And when reality hits and we see them now then is when the "oh my God" escapes from our mouth. This is a sad reality but this is life. People change and most of the time not to their advantage.

It happens many time that a favorite performer from the old days who is not seen frequently suddenly appears is not being recognized only when his or her name is shown. We just have to accept that people do change and not always to their advantage.

But there are exceptions. My friends and I don't change. We look the same as we always looked if not better. 

Homes

Because of the times we are watching a lot of tv. And, that result in all kinds of programmings. One of our favorites is HGTV where they remodel old homes. For an eternal apartment dweller watching old or dilapidated homes gettin a new lease in life is very interesting.

These shows are filmed all over the country and most of the time they reflect small town living in picturesque neighborhoods. Watching them one might think that all the people are living in houses and not in apartments. But this is fine. The American dream is to own a house with two a car garage (and cars too). The 30 year mortgage is another story.

Our favorite shows are Home Town that is filmed in Laurel, Missisipi and Love it or List it which is filmed in the Toronto area in Canada.

Anyway, these shows run about one hour and uring that time they convert a "barrack" to a castle. It is amazing what they can do when the money is there. They claim to work within given budgets but who knows. It is interesting and at the same time also entertaining. Since they go on and on, one similar show after another, one can watch it continuously.

Some hosts seem very real some less so but we still find it good watching. Certainly better that the news wich is filled with politics and misleading information.

I just could not leave this last sentence out.

Medusa

I know I wrote about this before but what goes on in the news just bugs the heck out of me. The media is not happy unless they can dig up or create a scandal. Ruining someone's life is today's news and it sells. What happens tomorrow is not their concern. By that time it is on to the next scandal.

They are hiding behind the veil of "it is their job to keep the public informed". This is all bullshit! They are the tools of the politicians. Their acts are not govern by fairness but by sensationalism. And this last one is what sells. Mainstream media looks down on supermarket tabloids but they are not any better.

Now why is this outburst? Because of what goes on about Governor Cuomo and his sexual harassment. In my opinion he is a good governor. New York could do and probably will do worse if and when a new governor will be elected.

This might not sound nice but in my opinion in many cases young women are asking for these problems. They go to work in high profile, high power places and they are aching to get ahead. Well, everybody want to get ahead but these women also use their God given gifts for that purpose. 

The problem is that they try to use it and if they get rejected that is when they get vicious. How dare someone to reject what they were offering?

They get vicious because they know that in these cases the accused will always be presumed guilty and rarely proved innocent. 

Years ago where I worked there was a young lady who claimed that she was harassed. Back then this was not as fashionable as it is now. She was working with an older man who was kind of hooked on her. This thing only got as far as he was touching her shoulders or hands or stood a little too close to her.

After a while she complained to the project manager, also a female. The young lady was told to forget it. Do not give an opportunity to this man but in any case do not launch a formal complaint. And it stayed that way. And at the end nobody got hurt.

That was the civil way to resolve an issue like this. But I guess today these Medusas want blood. Turning the non compliant male to stone is not enough of a sentence.

The Vaccine

European media and the WHO are publishing information about the vaccine's post Covid effects. They say about 12 weeks after the vaccine is applied these effects which are physical and neurological begin to show up.

They claim to investigate the reasons because at this time they have no explanation for this occurence.

Well, I do. Due to the urgency of this virus these vaccines were fast tracked through the trial and approval systems. They had no time to check out anything for long term effect and that explains these occurances. Trials for new medicines take years and these vaccines were pushed through in months. And that was also political.

What is interesting and shows how political this entire thing is that there is not one word about this in this country. They are not talking about any problems that might  have or already surfaced. All they are obsessed with is getting the population vaccinated. And that obsession is found everywhere.

I think if any negative  item will come to the surface they will just bury it and will not make it known. I am sure the scientists and Dr. Fauci know about this but they all have their marching orders to keep mum about it.

This is very scary and sad. We are living in a world where we are forced to be vaccinated with something that is not proven to be beneficial and further more that something might even be harmful to our health.

Why?

Normal

The City of Minneapolis is paying $27 million to the family of George Floyd. I know, I already mentioned it a few days ago. But in today's news there was an item that two jurors, who were already selected were removed from the panel. As it was noted they were removed because of their prejudicial feelings about this payout.

This is not normal. Who would not have prejudicial feeling about such a compensation? Maybe brother Sharpton. He probably says it is not enough.

I wonder if the compensation would have been this large if the victim were white!

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Today is St. Patrick's Day. Normally, there was a huge parade on Fifth Avenue on this day and bars along Second Avenue in Manhattan were wall to wall with Irish and Irish wanna bees celebrating this day.

But, normal is no longer in our vocabulary. Normal is a word archeologists will find years down when they dig for what happened to today's society. What made this society suddenly change. It will be a mystery as it is with the disappearance of the Incas, or the residents of Machu Pichu.

Now we are using expressions like "it used to be" or "way back when". The sad and at the same time funny is that we are getting used to it. I really don't know if things would go back to normal would we know how to deal with it, could we deal with it and would we want to deal with it?

In Memory

I always loved to go to St. Maarten. Last time I was there in 2019 August. I took my new family to introduce them to the joys of the Caribbean, St, Maarten, the Divi (our resort) and last but not least to my longtime friends.

We had a great time even though I was not in perfect physical condition. I walked with a cane and fell a few times. But still, we were there. This was my first visit since 2013 and I was saddened by the events that took place since then. Some friends passed away, some were not well. But this is life. And I was still happy to see my longtime friends, My wife and daughter made very quick connections with these people, connections that are still going strong.

There was this lady, a beautiful person, a longtime St. Maartener whom I got to know from my first visit to the island. I met her every year and always had a great time together. Interestingly, she was very white skinned, sun sensitive yet, she loved the sun and the water. Spent hours in the water floating around with her foam noodle, with her t-shirt on, hat and sunglasses and talking to everybody whoever came into the water.

It was always a pleasure talking to her. When I saw her last, in 2019 she was already not well but kept it under controll. Didn't spend as much time in the water as usual. Sat in the shades and relaxed. But it was still nice to see her.

Never realized that this was to be the last time we met. Late last week we were notified that she passed away. I feel very sad about it because she was one of the few friends I was always looking forward to see there. The place will not be the same without her.

Rest in peace!

Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March. This was the day Julius Ceasar was assasinated. In 1848 on this day a very patriotic rebellion started in Hungary that was eventually snuffed out by Russia. 

The 1956 uprising was also snuffed out by Russia. Seems they have the market for stopping discontent in Hungary!

But today's big event was something different. Totally non-political. Today Robin was taken to the grooming salon and was beautified. He got a shampoo, haircut and his nails were clipped.

I am proud to say that he behaved like a gentleman, I think he likes the lady who has been doing him. He was not fidgeting, was not growling. These are things he does at home if we try to clean him up a little.

Before going gthis morning, I had a father-son talk with him about behavior. He looked at me with those understanding eyes and I know he got the gist of the conversation! 

Like father like son!

The Vaccine

It is very interesting and at the same time sad how politicized this virus and its vaccines became. The previous administration called it the china virus and blamed China for it. This administration is turning a blind eye in that direction and is afraid to blame China for it. Actually it is not blaming China for anything. I wonder why?

Trump started to distribute the vaccines while this administration is now taking the credit for it. As somebody said it is like the rooster taking the credit for the sunup. Very true.

It is also very interesting how the media is averting any mention of the negative effects the vaccines might have. Other countries do come out and talk about the harm the vaccines might cause. Canada, Europe openly criticize the negative effect the vaccines have on the human body. But here not a word! Very curious, I wonder why?

I heard that amongst seniors it has a very disturbing result that show up weeks after its application. But this seems to be taboo around here. There are numerous health establishments where the staff unilaterally rejected the vaccine. Seeing what it causes they just don't want it. That includes doctors, nurses and all. But again, the democratic controlled media is mum about this.

Yes, I did see Trump, biden and others getting an injection but only they know what they received. Who knows what the upper echelon was receiving! This country has a population of about 333 million people. If 300 million people get the vaccine (best case scenario) that is only 88% of the population. The administration is shooting for  100% and that will never happen. Not until it is proven to be effective.

Daylight

Sunday morning, at the crack of dawn or before we had to adjust our clocks. One hour forward, meaning that we all get one hour of sleep. Terrible nuisance! Some people claim it is very difficult to get used to. This is the nuisance, the incessant complaining. Here people complain about everything. Come September they will complain about setting the clock back.

Come on people, get used to this!

Actually. I don't see the point in doing this. What is being achieved by jerking the clock back and forth twice a year. They are doing it just to mess with time based schedules? Daylight changes so fast that times when it was still dark will be light in days.

If time changes were universal I could understand it but this country is doing it now the rest of the world in April. Why, because we are different?

Tonight, before we go to sleep I have to go through the apartment and change all timekeeping gadgets. The microwave, coffee maker, oven, electric clock, grandfather clock and last but not least all the wrist watches. At least I will have something useful to do.

Commentary

Last night our lame president made his first speach to the people. It took 24 minutes and said nothing. He took credit for the coronavirus vaccines never metioning his predecessor under whose administration it was developed. He spoke like a robot, mouthing the words without really meaning them.

Today he held his first Rose Garden event where he spoke about the $1.9 trillion aid package. He was surrounded by the leaders: the vp, Schumer and Pelosi. During his speach Scumer kept nodding his head so vigorously like those little dummies in cars rear windows. He is sucking up bigtime!

This whole thing is ridiculous. They want to quiet the people with the $1,400 checks hoping thta once we all get it we will all think that this administration is godsent. I don't believe this will work. The American peo[ple are not very bright but not that stupid either.

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The city of Minneapolis agreed to pay the family of George Floyd $27 million. It is sad that the man had to die such a way but still! This will now create a precedence for the family of anybody to sue the police if a family member happens to die while in police custody. And sue for monies that these people wouldn't have made in 10 lifetimes (legally).

We are living in a society where suing is a national sport. Everything has a price including human life. Unfortunately, all those awards make our life more expensive. Insurance companies don't just give money away. To plug the gap they raise their fees. We pay higher fees other costs increase. So, this is a never ending cycle.

But I guess the people wo will receive the $27 million (less about $10 million for attorney fees) don't care about others just for themselves. I wonder how much compensation  chinese people will get who were beaten up in the streets just because they happen to be chinese. Or the orthodox kids and men who were chased down the streets of Brooklyn just because they happen to be jewish.

It seems that some lives matter more than others!

 

Literature

I already said that teenagers were not normal. This time I am going one step further. Teenagers are retards. At least some of them.

A college philosophy test requirement is to write about anything. Anything at all. It came to my attention that a subject to be covered will be Spiderman. 

I know this is not a doctoral thesis but still. To write about Spiderman in a college test sounds very childish. At least to me it does. Maybe I am too old fashioned, stuck in my old ways of thinking.

I know that there were and are people who make good living out of these sc-fi creatures but that is different. These imaginary characters are not supposed to fill the brains of young people.

Some kids' immediate plans include watching all the following movies: X-men, Spiderman, Star Wars, Wonderwoman, Aqua Man, Superman, and whatever else that fall into this genre.

Gone with the wind, War and Peace, The Ten Commandments, Streetcar named desire and many, many more are not even in their long ranged viewing plans. When one happens to mention any one of these they look at him like he is talking in another language. This is pretty sad.

It seems to me that reading went out of style. It is easier to read consised versions of books than really read it. This way they know the story but miss out on the beauty of the story. This is also sad.

In my days in school we were required to read Hungarian classics. Not one or two but many. And read it from beginning to the end. We were also required to read poems and analyze them. 

I never understood why we had to memorize many of them. I don't think I became a better man because I memorized some poems! But I would never tell that to my Hungarian Literature teacher.

Leave him with the belief that knowing how to quote from those poems contributed to my success in life. 

Food and Pandemic

I used to love going out to eat in restaurants. But since this pandemic scare we had not eaten out at all. Actually we did not even had food delivered too many times. My wife is a good cook and I don't think she minds cooking for us. Most of the times she prepares some Hungarian specialty that can be eaten for more than one day.

Actually, stuff like Hungarian goulash, stuffed cabbage and a few more taste better as the days go by. So, we are doing ok.

New York City is in the throes of pandemic chaos. They closed the restaurants, then they allowed outdoor eating, then they allowed lomited inside eating then they closed the whole thing down. It was like a roller coaster. On again, off again.

Now we are in the stage wher restaurant eating ia allowed but at a reduced capacity.

I don't think that we will be venturing out in the near future to any restaurant. Our eating habits seem to be working fine.

We have a concern about restaurant food. They claim and swear on the bible that all their employees are checked daily and everybody is healthy. I don't believe them! In today's world where permissiveness and falsehood are prevalent from the highest echelons of government down to the "common" people how do I know that the kitchen staff where my food is coming from do not have the virus?

How can I be sure that the chef, the cook, and any of the kitchen staff do not carry the virus? Just because they say so?

Well, better be safe than sorry, we will keep eating at home for a while.  

Clear sailing

I used to have a very good friend who unfortunately is no longer amongst us. He was a terrible driver but he loved to drive. Never cared much about traffic or about the surroundings. He drove slow (cautiously said he) never worried about holding up traffic.

In the summers we used to go away for the weekends. Sundays he alwas left early so him and his family could get home before the real traffic started. We usually waited until evening to start home. The road we used was a generally quite busy highway. When I used to inquire how was traffic on the way home, his response always was that there was no traffic ahead of him.

I told him that the reason for that was because he was holding up traffic and everybody was bumper to bumper behind him which he never noticed.

Why am I telling this extremely interesting story?

Because doctors are like that as my friend was. Doctors see patients all day long. But to get into and see a doctor is an excdercise (sometimes) in futility. One must schedule to be ill ahead so by the time he gets to see the doctor he is really ill. Once we tried to call our primary physician because one of us didn't feel too good. The earliest appointment was to be about two weeks away. I had to send an email and complain in order to get an earlier appointment.

Recently, I went to see my finger specialist who suggested that I go to see an occupational therapist as soon as I can. Easier said than done. I called the therapist and the earliest appointment I could get was for the end of the month. Now how do I explain this to my doctor?

He is like my friend used to be. Ahead of him it is clear sailing but he does not notice the line behind.

Friend

I don't know if it is anatomically possible to have brother only two months younger. But if it is not I am sorry because I feel I have one.

In my country when we went to school, elementary through high school we used to have the same class mates year after year. In each school segment we also had the same classrooms and seats, too. So, when something unusual happened, like a new kid showed up it was news.

In 1950 September, on the first day of my last year of middle school a new kid showed up. He looked different, kind of funny. After my first day my Mom asked what happened at school. and I told her about this new boy. My Mom said that she thought we might be cousins, distant but cousins.

Next day at school I told him that my Mother thought we might be related, He said that he was told the same at home'

This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship! As the saying goes "one can not choose his relatives but can choose his friends". On this front I think I did very well. He is ok as a cousin but he is superb as a friend.

Being in this country and have a lifelong friend is a very rare experience for people like us. We are very close. We understand each other, we are honest with each other and we are there for each other. And that is a lot. I could not have asked for a better person to be my friend!

Both of us are only children but I can not imagine to be so close with a brother have I had one. 

The other day was his birthday. Now, we are the same age but I will retain the title as the oldster. Hey, two months is two months.

Word to the Wise

 This is a real story.

Saturday afternoon I got a call on my cell phone from an unknown number. Against my better judgement, I answered. This was in the afternoon and that number left a message in the morning already. Very insistent.

Well, he introduced himself as XYZ from the Publishers Clearing House. In short, he told me that after playing their game for years my name was drawn as a winner. My winning was $3.5 million, a Mercedes Benz and $10,000 a week for a year. He said they, the Price Patrol, were in the neighborhood and were to come over later on.

He said I should have all my personal identifications (licence, passport) ready. Then he threw in something that made me think. He said I should get a Vanilla Gift Card for $500 because they would need that.

At this point I stopped taking him seriously. What kind of a sweepstake want a $500 gift card up front? Anyway he told me that as soon as I get that gift card give him a call and they would be coming over.

After this I called PCH and inquired and I was told that they never call in advance, they just show up.

So now I am sitting at home and waiting for my Mercedes and $3.5 million check.

I might be old but not completely stupid. I wander how many people fall for these scams.

Exual Harrassment

 This was not a typo!

It seems to me that lately every young woman who work for some kind of government official want to have their 15 minutes of fame by crying sexual harassment.

Fine, let it be their way. But when all the hoopla quiets down nobody will ever remember them. They will be yesterday's news. And what would have they achieved? Nothing except ruining someone's life.

With the exception  of Monica Lewinsky nobody ever remember or care about these people. Monica Lewinsky was not harassed, she was a willing participant and she made a name for herself based on her activities .

Today they are on tv tomorrow they will be yesterday's news, looking for work. No company in its right mind will ever hire people like these. They are trouble from the get go.

Lately just saying the most mundane thing to a young lady can be construed as sexual harrassment. This is a joke. From time immemorial, men had different attitudes toward women than toward men.

Years ago when I worked we had female co-workers. We talked, we joked, we made remarks, we all flirted. Nobody ever construed these dialogues as sexual harrassment. And nobody was ever thrown on the desk and violated. This sexual harrassment thing now seems to be very fashionable. 

Women, who have no life like to have this 15 minutes of fame. They like the knowledge that they might have ruined someone's life. What is this, a power trip?

Or is there some dark force behind all these claims who dredge up things from the past, find a willing participant, offer some financial incentives and then it is off to the races?

Airlines

 This morning I heard on the financial news that Lufthansa the German airline announced a $6.6 billion loss in 2020, while in 2019 they had $2,something billion profit.

I am really confused. I don't know how sorry should I feel for them. A little or a lot? All these airline s are nothing but flying dirtbags. Their interest is not to get the flying public from point A to point B but how to screw that public. This applies to the domestic as well as the foreign airlines.

Trump wanted to or maybe he did bail out the American carriers during the pandemic times. I wouldn't have given them a red cent. Use the money they chiseled out of the flying public.

When they sell tickets there is no seat selection, no food and no baggage included. It seems we can travel for the posted prices with a paper bag and standing all the way. Don't laugh this will be the future of air travel.

Abigail

I am a very proud step dad!

A couple of days ago Abigail told and showed us that she made the Dean's List in her college. She is on the list for the 2020-2021 winter semester. Her grades were excellent and they were appreciated.

I know she studies very hard and very conscientiously. Yesterday she had a math exam that she was very apprehensive of. It turned out she got a 100. So why be afraid.

Even though she is not my biological daughter she is picking up a lot of things from me. Like she is smart, her mom says that her general behavior looks more and more like mine, and she is picking up my good and one or two bad habits. Now, one can not go wrong with that, right?

Unfortunately, being on the Dean's List does not come with anything just that her name is there. No gifts, no financial advantages except maybe higher exceptations.

Bottom line is that her mom and I are both very proud of her!

Guns

I have been writing this blog for quite a while and it is possible that some subjects I will touch again. If I do, I apologize.

The second amendment in the United States Constitution that was accepted in 1791 deals with the right to keep and bear arms.

Well, in my opinion this is stupid! This amendment should be repealed or should have been a while ago. In 1791 and for years after that there was lawlesness, there were armed bands in the countrysides and ye, people had to protect their homes, their families and themselves.

But for crying out loud, we are living in the 21st century. Armed bands only appear in the movies. And if someone is trying to protect himself using a weapon against a bad person he gets into more trouble then the culprit he is defending against.

Yet, the NRA is fighting tooth and nail to keep guns in people's possession.I can understand hunting rifles, but is the purpose of any other kind of weapon in a household?

For hunting one does not need a machine gun or any other kind of repeating weapon. Against spacemen these weapons will not work anyway (I didn't want to use the word alien because the meaning could be misunderstood).

I could never understood why people in the south or west like Texas people have to strut around with guns in their belts. Are we living in the Wild West days again?

No matter what the authorities might do the bad elements will always be able to obtain guns. They always did and they always will. But the law abiding populace have no reason to be armed. 

This is again politicking, 

Beauty and the Beast

I heard it many times that "money isn't everything". This was said in the movies and books, It was always or almost always mouthed by rich people who always had money and never imagined an existence where money was not readily available.

Every person that I know dreams of one day becoming rich. Rich to the point when there is no worry about rents, mortgage payments, credit card payments etc. Getting love at home is good. It makes a person feel rich. But love does not pay the rent nor the food bill. 

They say money does not buy good health. True, but it buys the best doctors available. Because doctors are human and they also work for money and not just for the betterment of humanity. When one is in trouble (any kind) a good attorney is necessary. They also cost money.

People need jobs not because they love to work but because they need money to support their families.

Bottom line is that money is needed all through one's life.

So, here are the tho biggest idiots of the century: Harry and Meghan. These two people had what every human on earth can only dream about. A royal lifestyle, no worries about their future, financial independence. And they gave it all up just because somebody slighted the American goddigger.

Good riddance. If they don't think they belong there get the hell out and start life anew. They are currently the news but eventually it will fade and they will just become yesterdays news. I am sure the royal family will survive their absences but I wonder what will they teach their children about their family history and gratitude.

The fact that he craps on his grandmother's and grandfother's head is another story. They raised him and his brother after his mother's death but it seems gratitude is not in Harry's dictionary. He is, so he says enthralled by his son and wife that it is just not normal. 

But today the word normal no longer exists.  

Retirement in Covid Time

9 am I get up. This is pretty much my routine. No matter how late I go to sleep. somehow oround 9 in the morning my eyes pop open. There is really no reason to get up any earlier because I do not ha ve a busy schedule. To be honest I do not have a schedule at all. 

My wife get up a little before me this way by the time I make my way to the living room the TV is on and the coffee is made. So the day begins. We sit around and talk until around 10:30. Abigail does not get up until 11 but she is up easily until 2 am. Robin is also sleeping very peacefully with whoever he can sleep with and by now it is Abigail.

Around 10:30 I start to "beautify" myself and by 11 I am ready for whatever the day throws at me. Which is not much!

I do not go outside unless we go somewhere by car to shop or there is a doctor's appointment . Usually my only foray to the outside world is when we take Robin for his midnigh pee run. I go out with my wife for protection! My walking cane is my weapon but thank God so far there was no need to use it.

Anyway between 11 am and evening we clean the house (meticulously), sit front of our selective computers or  watch TV. Oh, we also have lunch. After dinner my wife and I watch a movie or two which might take us to or past midnight. Then bedtime.

This is retirement in covid time.