The natural order...

Thank goodness that older people can not have children!  The natural order works in this case.  My nephew is visiting and that has convinced me that a meager retirement income cannot support a teenager.  I bought a gallon of milk and two boxes of shredded wheat, which normally lasts two weeks in my house.  Can you say two DAYS?!!  And when did shoes get to be the size of a small yacht?  Which also makes me wonder why teenage boys now are so "into" shoes.  I sure don't remember this from my teenage days.

Jack Lemmon, Walter Mathau, Ann-Margaret - unknown to my nephew and his girlfriend.  Of course, they weren't born when Grumpy Old Men was filmed. 

Speaking of youth, how about those Redskins?  Neither RGIII nor Alfred Morris were around the last time the Redskins were on top.  Two 22 and 24 year old young men have enlivened this city at least for a few days.  They did so with skill and grace.  Redskins 28/Cowboys 18  

HOMELAND  I don't get the Showtime channel (meager retirement income, remember?), so missed out on this unbelievable series.  The DVD is circulating among my friends, though, and it is blowing me away.  I won't give out any hints, except to say that surprises abound.  What a great way to spend the holidays--in bed watching a great show, drinking red wine, and being glad I don't permanently have teenagers living with me.

Have a great New Year's!

CHIMERICAL

I hate to admit this, but for all of the years I've lived and breathed (62), attended Catholic school (12) and read (57), apparently I've just skipped over words I didn't know the meaning of.  Technology has caught up with me and my errant ways in the form of the Kindle where I need only press my finger onto a word and the definition pops up.  Oh the shame of the ever increasing number of words that have received my finger (the index finger, that is, not the middle one).  The latest is "chimerical" - according to Webster's this means "existing only as the product of unchecked imagination:  fantastically visionary or improbable."  

This revelation has inserted itself into my thinking about myself.  In what other arenas do I fake it, pretend to understand something, pretend to care about something or pretend I am going to do something?  One resolution for 2013 is to BE there, to give the finger, as it were, to any words, actions, emotions, statements in my life.  I promise myself NOT to skip over the hard parts, or the opportunities to learn or give something.  Now, I ask you, is this chimerical of me?

That is your new word for the day and a good thought.  

One smile a day this awful week.....

I

This week has bummed me out along with everyone else in the United States.  One thing has brought a smile to my lips every morning- Bucky Katt and Satchel Pooch.  Bucky the cross-eyed Siamese cat will take on anyone, even though he is only 20 inches tall standing up right.  This week he is studying children's day time TV characters.

Lass, you are my only reader who seems to get this, so if for no one else, thanks to the Washington Post comic pages, this is for you.

If only all our arguments were this easy.  Have a great holiday, everyone.

You can't go home

I was talking to my dad last night.  He is 90 and still working.  He retired when he was 62, just like me, but hated it.  I told him that in 110 days of retirement, there have only been two when I wondered if I were going to be bored.  I never really regretted retiring, but just wondered if I had it in me to come up with my own "work" for the next 25-30 years.  It is something to think about for those of you who are considering it.  I still feel like it will work out for me.

Starting in January, I'll be taking art classes one day a week, Spanish lessons (if I can get myself to bite the bullet and do it), and working at a soup kitchen one day.  Each of these are only about three hours a day, but on a retiree's schedule, that can extend to a full day...we move a lot more slowly, you know.  HAHAHAHA

I'm also going to ratchet up the exercise.  Friend and I will go back to body pump twice weekly and I want to take yoga again.  My dancing friend who is retiring swears she will take Zumba with me again.   So, today, I'm thinking it's going to work out.

You can't go home....the inspiration for this post.  I made my first visit to my old workplace for a Christmas party.  I liked seeing everyone, but it was obvious that they've moved on as have I.  In these three short months, I have lost my curiosity with the goings on of the offices.  They in turn have new "subject matter experts (SMEs)"--- and I'm not on the cutting edge any longer.  I will keep in touch with people who've become friends over the years, but likely not with a lot of people.  That is life.

Right now, I'm preparing myself for at trip home to visit my family.  It will be a nice visit at the holidays, but also stressful as I anticipate some issues with elderly parents.  I've been so lucky to have them for so long, but still dread the future.  That also is life.

More on how this all turns out later........

Are you kidding me?!!!

Now the NRA supporters are saying that teachers should pack heat!  Are you kidding me?  How would this have helped at Newtown when this kid had an assault weapon?  He had killed the kids and the staff in a few minutes.  Or maybe ALL of the teachers and principal should pack weapons?

In yesterday's Fareed Zaharia had a great op ed on gun control:

Fareed Zakaria, The solution to gun violence is clear - explains the homicide rates in countries with strict gun control compared to the rates in the U.S..  It is staggering.  Last year we had around 11,000 homicides by gun.  In contrast, according to this article, other industrialized nations had:

England and Wales - .3% of our rate
Australia - our rate is 30 times theirs

Zakarai goes on to discuss the other explanations that have been given for our murder rate - 

• mental health - if this is why our numbers are so high then we should have 30 times the mentally ill as Australia, but we don't
• video games - if this were the reason, Japan, which is a video game culture, would have our rate or close to it.  Rather they have a close to ZERO percent.

Read the article.  It is very thought provoking.

BUSHMASTER 223

YES, NOW SOMEONE TELL ME WHY ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY NEEDS THIS GUN?

"An ABC report quotes a February report by Guns and Ammo magazine noted a growing demand in recent years for AR-15-type rifles (the Bushman223 is an AR-15-type rifle)– and specifically those loaded with .223 caliber bullets – for use in home defense. The .223 caliber load is popular, the article says, because it has better fragmentation upon impact, meaning it will deal a lot of damage with less chance of accidentally continuing through the target and endangering whoever's in the background."  Yes, it won't travel through the "target" because it basically tears up the "target."

I'm sorry, but whether this is for hunting animals or defending your home, why do you need to tear up the "target"?  This does not sound like defense, it sounds like rage.

This weapon can fire 45 rounds in a minute, also.  Maybe if the kid had had handguns only, he may have killed a few people, but not as many.  I don't know.  I do know, that there is no reason for these killing weapons.  I am so ashamed that gun purchases went UP on the days following the Newtown massacre.  Can people in our country be this afraid ?  I just don't feel afraid, and I am sad that so many other people in this great land of ours seem to feel it.  So afraid, that they want to tear up the insides of anyone who might break into their homes, apparently.

Today's Post has some good editorials.  I'll link to two of them:

Eugene Robinson, On Guns, Take Action Now

Richard Cohen, The killing of children, our national shame

TRADITION TRADITION

 There is nothing better than good friends and traditions.  Saturday night we celebrated Christmas together at my house, as we have been doing for many years.  This IS my Christmas regardless of the date.  

I love decorating with a different theme each year---this one was an old fashioned Christmas with candy hanging in the windows, lots of stuffed toys, and red poinsettias.

Indy, our little shih tzu, loves Santa, too.  In fact, he spent most of the evening snoozing on Santa's lap.

What a great night and I look forward to 2013.  I'm already trying to figure out my theme.

ANGRY BEYOND BELIEF

My beloved Washington Post, how could you be part of this?  I am so angry and so sad that this morning's paper, A12-A13, includes stories of the adults and children killed in Newtown, Connecticut.  I am sad for the families and angry because in at least one article, by Post reporter Annie Gowen, it is obvious that the Post contacted the family at home.  The woman who answered said they were not interested in talking.  "We just lost our daughter," she said.  

Isn't this just what the spokesperson for the state police said to the reporters --- the families don't want  to be contacted right now.  He practically begged the reporters to abide by their wishes.  Can't we just leave them in peace?

I've already written to the editor of the Post and will write to Ms. Gowen, too.

Weeping for the children and our country

I'm not sure what to say, what can be said, about this senseless slaughter of innocents.  I am, of course, a gun control advocate, but it is more than guns that killed these little children.  The gunman was mentally ill, there is no other answer, but why didn't anyone see it or do anything about it.  Maybe they did.  I certainly don't know everything about this situation.  what I do know, however, is that public discourse in this country has spiraled down to an unacceptable level.  We can't have different opinions without denigrating the other side.  Still remember the 2012 elections?

I do know that all 50 states now ALLOW  concealed guns!  What the hell have we become?  For what reason do we need guns in our homes?  Why would we need to go around with a gun concealed?

I don't have the answers, but I have the emotion.  I am so sad and so concerned about where we are headed.  I cannot imagine how my brother could handle it if his little five year old were one of those murdered and I feel so incredibly sad for these families and the families of the teachers who were killed today.

DAY 103 - OPM meets the mark

OPM OPM OPM   It is day 103 and OPM has completed my full retirement action.  I got a deposit today in my bank account for the bit that they had not paid me for the first three months and checking with OPM Services Online was able to see what my first full check will look like on January 1, 2013.  With all the bad news about OPM and the backup on retirement actions, I must say, this is pretty quick.  I believe that my two friends who retired last year waited about 8 months for their first full check.  Way to go, OPM!

Please note those of you who will be retiring that you MUST adjust your taxes yourself via OPM Services Online.  The taxes being taken from my check were much too low.  Also initially state taxes are not taken out.  Once you get your full payments, you can add in those taxes.  It is not a fun thing to do, but it has to be done.

I have also calculated how much I will require to make up the difference between my "meager retirement income" and my expenses.  I have completed the paperwork to  have funds from my life's savings transferred to my checking account each month.  There also, I am having taxes taken out before I get the money.  Will report on how this is going in a few months.  Right now, I am getting a quarterly allotment based on what I think I'll need to cover monthly bills.  I've also set up a monthly payment to an account to cover annual bills like car insurance so that I don't get any big surprises.

Had dinner with old friends from the Department last night.  Half of the group were retired and the other (younger) half were still working.  ALL of those retired seemed very happy with our circumstances.  One is spending quality time with her mom who is battling severe memory loss, one is a volunteer chaplain at a local hospital who works with families dealing with death, one continues to teach music lessons, has a 96 year old mom still living with her (great genes!), and appears to be travelling monthly, and the honoree of the dinner continues to do things for everyone.  It was so great to see everyone and my Christmas tree earrings were a hit.  I gave the pair I had on to one friend at the table and will deliver another pair today.

No one seems to get my humor, but I am going to torture you with Get Fuzzy until someone admits it.  

DAY 102 - The retiree's life.....

Being a retiree is not that exciting, at least not every day.  I don't want to quit writing this blog, but really, I don't have that much to say some times.  I hope you don't mind my recounting things I see on TV or read in the paper.

I don't often agree with Richard Cohen a conservative columnist in the Washington Post, but today's editorial really hit me.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to think that someone would think this highly of you?  Cohen writes of his love for Mona Ackerman, his love for many years.  She died recently of ovarian cancer.  

He writes:  "I had what I called “Mona Moments” — bursts of intense love. They could make me gasp, even go a bit weak in the knees. (Ya think it doesn't happen?) She’d ask me what she had said — what had done it? I rarely knew. I watched her have a similar effect on others. She was adored. She glowed."  

I find it very refreshing that he could bare his soul so fully in public.  Mona must have been some woman. 

Body Pump - I got to the 6:00 AM class again today.  The other pumpers seem to be getting much younger.  I made it through, adding a bit more weight, but still not up to my previous weights.  Sherry made all of us commit to returning next week.  I'll do it.

Jewelry - I'm making three necklaces for the Silver Streak out of pearls and gold balls from her mother.  I want to do something really "out there" but don't have the exact idea yet.  In the mean time, I am making Christmas earrings.  I'm kind of proud of these.

Parties.  I had a luncheon/champagne drinking event last week with a few friends from work.  Thursday I am hosting "high tea" with The Lass and another friend from work.  Saturday is my annual Christmas dinner with eight of us (I only have eight seats at my table!)  The joke is that someone needs to die to get an invitation to this dinner.  This year it will be an old fashioned dinner complete with ham and green bean casserole (!).  I've been decorating the whole house so want to have as many social events here as possible.

After the New Year, life will get more exciting.  I promise.

Day 101 - Woe Is Me.....

 I LOVE Satchel the Pooch because he is so naive and just so lovable.  Isn't that last pane just so dog-like?  "I'll just stand here until you need me"....and so often we do need them.

Today was day 101 and I am starting to worry about what I'll do after the first of the year when the holiday decorating, cooking, partying and gift giving are over.  Gave the old "woe is me" speech to Friend.  I'm pretty sure she is getting tired of hearing it.  Anyway, she told me about Warren Buffett's son, Howard Buffett's plan to end hunger in this country.  Can you believe that we have so much hunger? or any?  Just in case you don't read the article I linked to, read just this:

Buffett in Parade magazine, December 2012:  "Last year I attended a Thanksgiving dinner at Harris Elementary School right here in Decatur, where I learned that 92 percent of the kids are on free or reduced-cost lunches. I spoke with some parents who told me that school lunch is the best meal their kids get all day. That shocked me because the school sits in a community that has the largest food-processing facility in the world for corn and the second largest for soybeans; 1,500 to 2,000 train cars roll out of those plants and through these kids' neighborhoods every day. The irony of that is unbelievable."

Kind of hard to be "woe is me" when we have these kinds of problems.  So, Friend is going to research what she and I might do to serve in some form to support ending hunger.  More on this later.

I'm also going to start "Blackbelt Spanish" in January.  I'm declaring this now and in public because I DREAD IT.  If some one asked me whether I would study brain surgery or a language, I'd definitely choose the brain surgery.  I am just not good in languages, but given that I married the Silver Tongued Latin Lover and live in a very diverse community, isn't it about time?  I'll certainly have lots of opportunity for practice.  More on this later, also.  Maybe I'll be shamed into doing it.

My Techie Friend also reminded me that I had not started on those photo books.  Actually, I've made two - one from my retirement party and one from the trip to Italy, but he is right that I've not started the old photos that need scanning.  Mark that one down for after the holidays.  I need to get a scanner he suggested first.  My excuse is I'm waiting until after all the Christmas expenses to buy the scanner.  Shame may kick me in the butt on this one, too.

Day 102 tomorrow - I think it is going to be a great one.

Day 100 - State of the Union

This shows me how much I learned from civics class.  I thought the State of the Union Address was given after 100 days in office, but having just checked with the authority on the subject - Wikipedia, I find I am wrong.  I'm not changing the title of my blog, though, because I can't think of anything better.

My friend said yesterday that she figures if she does one new thing a month for the rest of her life, she will have 240 things to do.  As I am planning on more than 20 more years (I'm sure she will, too), that means that I have time for maybe 300 new things.  It is overwhelming.  Overwhelming because in my usual way of thinking it means 300 new things like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro   I've been thinking about the retirement years for 100 days and I am no closer to even my list of 100 things to do, much less 300!  Our other friend said that something "new" could be baking cinnamon rolls if you've never done that before.  Somehow, this just doesn't seem like something to which to aspire.  So I baked biscotti this week.  Does this count?

Civil War re-enactments....my new interest is the Civil War and I missed a crucial re-enactment yesterday in Fredericksburg, VA.  Can't believe my friend, The Lass, did not tell me about this, but also can't believe that I did not realize there are all kinds of re-enactments going on this year.  My goal is to get to one of them---maybe Petersburg Battlefield.

100 days - I was hoping it would be a more auspicious day with lots more to talk about regarding retirement, but it isn't.  It has been a great 100 days filled with bathroom renovations, decorating, baking, jewelry making, and lots of time with friends.  On the other hand, isn't this sort of what I said I would be doing the first few months?  It is hard to be an over-achiever when you are trying to scale it back.

Electricity went off last night so I did not get to post this.  

Being truthful about retirment

This will be a short post.  Just got back home from dinner and drinks with old work friends....I DO MISS this part of working.  I love retirement, but will not lie to those of you who are contemplating it... I miss the gossip, the strategizing, the intrigue.  I miss the discussions of how to solve a problem, how to work around those at the top, how to work through the bureaucracy.  It is great being your own boss at home, but very difficult to diss the boss when it is YOU.  I"m giving myself until January to come up with something to do that makes me feel like I am contributing beyond a clean house and pretty decorations.  A great evening.

Becca's Briefs - December 6

Penn State Sorority Mocks Latinos - Really?  I'm just not sure how much more there is to say.  In defense of the "girls" this was a Mexican-themed party [reported the  independent college blog, Onward State] but I am concerned that this is all that Penn State college girls might know about Mexico.  Not much to say for their education.   I wonder if the Asian young lady on the left would have liked it as much if this were aimed at her family and ancestors.  It makes me wonder about holding a Penn State pedophile-themed party.  That would be funny.  Really.

Please Please Please - Purdue and UNC-Chapel Hill - don't do anything like this to embarrass me.

Update on U.N. Treaty on Disabilities

Daily Show  John Stewart had a great segment on the U.N. Disability Treaty vote.  I LOVE THIS GUY and wish I could write 1/10th as well as he does.  You've got to watch this segment as he points out the idiocy of this most recent vote.  

Not to be outdone, if you have the time, watch the Colbert Report segment (towards the end of the episode).  Colbert has a great quote in relation to the vote against the U.N. treaty:  "paranoid fantasy has long been the key weapon to fighting the specter of accomplishment."  I think that just about sums up what we have in Congress right now.  

Please excuse the movie trailer that accompanies these two clips!  

It is Day 97 of retirement - cleaning the house and putting final touches on my Xmas luncheon tomorrow.  The biscotti from yesterday are in the freezer, I'm making labels for the canning jars, and life is good.  I am hoping that my Zumba partner sticks around for a while after she retires this month so that we can get back into it!

Becca's Briefs - December 5, 2012

Notre Dame!  Don't you remember Penn State?  I was blown away this morning by an article in the Post - Why I won’t be cheering for old Notre Dame.  Can it possibly be true that two separate incidents involving FOOTBALL players and rape have been swept under the rug at this prestigious Catholic university?  Say it ain't so.  Read it for yourselves and if you know something that isn't in this article that makes it better, PLEASE tell me.  This is so upsetting.  

Senate rejects treaty to protect disabled around the world  Another article I just don't understand.  The vote was to sign on to the United Nation's treaty that is modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act.  We are the model for the world on treatment of people with disabilities!    HOW can we be afraid that the United Nations will limit home schooling through this treaty?  Really?  

"He (former congressman Rick Santorum) and other conservatives argued that the treaty could relinquish U.S. sovereignty to a U.N. committee charged with overseeing a ban on discrimination and determining how the disabled, including children, should be treated. They particularly worried that the committee could violate the rights of parents who choose to home school their disabled children.

“This is a direct assault on us,” Santorum said."  [Is the man paranoid or what?] 

No less than Senator Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush showed up for the voting to encourage approval of the treaty to protect the rights of people with disabilities around the world, and the right wing still voted against this treaty.  PLEASE tell me something that will make this article not so upsetting!

Pope gets a Twitter Account.  So now the Pope has a Twitter account - "Pontifex" is his handle.  A representative said that he would not be following others on Twitter, "he would be followed."  That make sense.

I spent the rest of the day trying to get it all out of my mind---cooking biscotti and making jewelry.  Day 96 of my retirement.

Becca's Briefs

This is my second post today.  That's just how it goes when you are retired.  Maybe you do nothing for several days, then two or three things pop in your head.  The Post had lots of articles that interested me and I must share.  NOTE:  Never go round to posting the blog yesterday.  This is also something about retirement....la di da...I'll wait until tomorrow.

Navy Dolphins Lose Their Jobs to Robots  I love dolphins, I hope that PETA doesn't have a stand against them working for the Navy, and I found this article so much fun.  The Navy has 80 dolphins trained to track down mines.  Isn't that mind-blowing?  Now, 24 of them are losing their jobs to robots!  Don't worry, they are not going on un-employment, but will be guarding our ports instead.

US Military Academy’s main chapel hosts 1st same-sex wedding; senior chaplain leads ceremony

My how times have changed and for the better.  I hope the rest of the U.S. can catch up with the military!

A promise to a friend.  Michelle Singletary's column today was terrific.  I'm not suggesting that all of you run out and try this, but it is sobering to think about what will be left behind when you are gone.  I know one of my friends visited an elderly lady's (she was a retired government employee) apartment years ago and was horrified that the woman had stacked everywhere the mugs and other handouts we all get (or used to get) from conferences.  She pretty much vowed then not to let her place get cluttered.  I think Michelle's friend had the right idea.  Read the article.

Kaiser Permanente - This was not an article, but an ad in the Post.  KP was awarded five stars (out of five) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for its medicare program.  I love Kaiser and have been a member for almost 20 years.  Can't say enough good things about my care and my doctors.  Good going KP!

  

Four Star Movies - Avoid Them

I really hate to do this because I know it makes me sound like an old curmudgeon with nothing to do but complain, but I am beginning to think that we should avoid all four star rated movies.  Case in point - Anna Karenina.  Friend and I went to see the film at Shirlington, our local "art film" theater and it was packed!  In the audience were mostly grey haired retirees (my opinion) who had probably read the book (Confession - I've never read the book).  We were both psyched to be there, but that didn't last long.  

For some "artistic" reason, the director of this film decided to stage many of the scenes ON A STAGE.  I don't mean that it was a film of a play, what I mean is that action may be taking place in the bedroom and then move to the living room---but the characters would walk behind the stage to move from place to place.  Unlike the wonderful Dr. Zhivago of my younger days, the scenery was just that -- scenery.  It wasn't real.  The train rolling through the Russian snow was a toy train and was staged to make that clear!   Dr. Z would roll over in his grave!

It was difficult to take something seriously when I was watching it, but so were the people on the screen who were in the audience watching the characters on their stage.  Sounds confusing, doesn't it?  At least I had read about it before I went in.  Had I not done that, I don't think I would have figured it out at all.

Other reasons the movie failed for me:

1.  The Count, who is the illicit love interest of Anna looks like he is about 14 with a very skimpy fake mustache pasted on his upper lip.
2.  The romance between Anna and the Count never seemed to light up in my opinion.
3.  Anna's husband, who I understand was a rotten guy in the book, comes across as a saint compared to Anna.

The costumes are fabulous, the jewelry out of this world.  Anna is beautiful.  That's all I can say.

As we left the theater, I told friend, "Let's discuss this when we leave."  I didn't want the other theater goers to know how un-cultured I was to not like this film.  Friend said she would have walked out but she thought I liked the show.

You are forewarned.

DAY 90 - PERFORMANCE REVIEW

I thought that title might get some of you who are still working----Performance Review!  HAHAHAHAHA

Actually, today is 90 days since retirement.  I thought it was a good time to review where I've been on this journey.  I don't think that my journey is much different than some of yours will be when you retire.  So take note, if you wish.

1.  September - 

• Bike trip to Italy.  Fantastic.
• First retirement check.  Scary.  More on this in 2013.

2.  October - 

• Visit home.  Realities of getting older with elderly parents.  This is an on-going trip.
• Started my "plan" to clean and fix up the house.  Mind-blowing.  I've adjusted my performance standards on this plan.  Everything takes so much longer than I thought it would.  Thus far, guest bathroom finished.   I've gotten guest bedroom cleaned and master bathroom cleaned.  Also learned that I can spray paint (Rustoleum oiled bronze) my old brass fixtures, which made a huge difference in the bath.  I really like it!   I'm not sure I'd get even a three on this performance review. 
• Registered for 2013 bike trip from Brugges to Amsterdam!

4.  November - 

• This was the month when I was going to set up an exercise plan based on classes available through Gold's.  Don't ask.  Moving this plan to January!
• War Horse at the Kennedy Center
• Signed up for oil painting class in January.  One accomplishment.
• Signed up for a "travel" writing class in New York - January 12.  Will let you know.
• Thanksgiving - eleven guests including sleepovers.  A success.
• Christmas - figured out my "theme" for Christmas dinner decorations, started the plan, decorated the Christmas tree, hung the wreaths in the windows (9), and placed the electric candles in the windows.
• Learned to make and can roasted peppers....I'll stick with buying them in the future.
• Learning to make biscotti today.  

5.  December plans:

• Trip to Middleburg for Christmas parade
• 15th - Famous Christmas dinner - at least a ten year tradition.
• 16th - Dream Girls at the Signature Theater
• 22nd - Trip home
• Finances - working on what I will draw out of my retirement savings to pay the bills. I'm giving myself a year to figure this all out.  Too much ebb and flow of money right now with the home improvements and holidays!  More on this as I figure it out.

I haven't accomplished writing out the 100 things I want to do in retirement.  I think I am just too boring to come up with 100 ideas.  Really, nothing is jumping out at me.

Have not started any volunteer efforts yet, although I did email the White House and suggest myself for any volunteering that would help educate citizens on Obamacare.  I think this would be a good use of my talents and would support health care efforts.

Humans-the musical

Thank god for the Sunday comics!  

This had been a great Thanksgiving weekend until some JERK almost ruined it this morning.  The hubby and I stopped for coffee on our way to walk the Boys in Old Town.  I noticed that a van swooped into the spot next to ours and was rather close to our car, so when hubby returned, I started to pull the car out so he could get in.  He beat me to it, and opened the car door very carefully trying to get in with the coffee while beating back the Boys.  I watched carefully because I did not want my car hit, and he didn't.  Then said van driver knocked on the car window and started chastising hubby for hitting his car.  After my husband explained that he had not hit his car, the jerk turns to me and says, "Do you speak english?"  Why oh why can't I ever think of a snappy comeback?

I asked if there were a mark on the car, which there wasn't, explained again that we had not hit the car, and said I'm sorry if that's what he wants to hear.  DAMN DAMN DAMN.  Why did I say I am sorry?

Any suggestions for a snappy comeback?

I love the "human" costumes in Get Fuzzy today, especially like Mac McManx's six pack!

The Queen of Versailles and her King

This blog is turning into a movie review site, I'm afraid, but I just can't help myself.  I just saw The Queen of Versailles, a film about David Siegel, a billionaire and his wife Jackie, who in 2006 were building the country's largest home - 90,000 square feet--in Orlando, Florida.  David Siegel is the owner of Westgate Resorts, the country's largest timeshare company....he made his money selling people who could not afford the "dream" one week a year of the "dream" in one of his resorts   

The film was to have showcased the building of the home they call Versailles, but ended up showing how the 2008 financial free fall in this country affected the Siegels and the Versailles they were building.  It was like a train wreck, you couldn't take you eyes from the screen.

I came home very curious about him, about his company and about why in the world he and his wife would let some one make this film.  [See the film and you will know why I can't believe they let someone film it.]  I learned more than why the film was made:  

What I learned is that Siegel is the very same CEO who wrote his employees during the 2012 election that he would need to layoff many of them if the President won re-election.....poor guy, I guess any additional taxes would force him to stay in his 26,000 square foot home and not the 90,000 one.  This is not his first foray into politics, either.  He admitted that during the Gore Bush presidential campaign, he "surveyed" his employees and forced those who favored Bush to register to vote, but not those who favored Gore.  In the film, he says he is the reason that Bush won, but can not say why because "I'm not sure it was legal."

At the start of the film, the Siegels are living high.  He brags about his latest timeshare - a $600 million high rise in Las Vegas.  She shows a friend the house under construction including their 6,000 square foot bedroom suite.  She shows us her closet and discusses spending $1M a year shopping for things like an $11,000 Gucci bag.  

Excuse me if I don't feel sorry for him and whether he may have to pay more taxes.

As the film ends, the family is struggling financially (in the 26,000 square foot house).  They have had to layoff most of the 19 maids, gardeners and nannies.  He is bemoaning those big bad banks who lured him into an addiction for cheap money, then pulled the rug out from under him.  Believe it or not, she comes off sort of sympathetic, he not so much.

I think it was poetic justice that he was lured into cheap money, but luring people in is the cornerstone of his timeshare business.  His staff nicknamed the middle class folks who are lured into a sales pitch with a free show in Las Vegas --- The Moochers.  One company Vice-president explains that they are selling the "dream" to the "moochers."  The "moochers" are greedy!  Build upon their "greed" to convince them that the time share is what they need. You hear and see part of the sales pitch and folks who don't appear to have the money being talked into immediately putting a $2,000 down payment on a credit card!  I understand very well how this guy made his money and it was on the backs of the middle class.  

Now Siegel is suing the filmmaker for making him appear less than sympathetic in the film.  Good luck.

By the way, Siegel claims that his empire is back and that this was his best year ever.  Go figure.

My life as a Turkey

My Life As a Turkey is a PBS documentary of a naturist's year living with 16 wild turkeys he raised since they broke out of their eggs, saw him, and imprinted on him as their mother.  Sounds weird and why in the world would I watch it?  Normally, I'd have been watching Daily Shows but last nights was a re-run, so by complete accident I watched this show.  I am so glad that I did, and recommend it to any one.

Joe Hutto did not raise the turkeys as pets, he spent nearly two years with them in the wild, without human contact, learning of their ways.  He "roosted" with them, watched a couple of them die of an illness, and served as their mother.  The PBS special is unbelievable.  Throughout the hour he recounts almost a day by day description of what happened, and the videographer working with him captures photos of nature that also re-create the two years.  I couldn't be a naturist like Hutto, but what I would love to be able to capture photos like this.

I won't give away the ending of the show, but suffice it to say, these were wild turkeys who lived out their lives in the wild.  Joe was an important part of their lives, but he did not remove the intrinsic knowledge they possessed, nor did he influence how their lives would be led.  In fact, they influenced him.  My favorite part of the show was when he talked about how the turkeys lived in the moment, not the past, not the future.  

"So many of us live either in the past or the future and betray the moment. And in some sense we forget to live our lives. … And wild turkeys don’t do that. They are convinced that everything they need, that all their needs will be met only in the present moment and in this space and the world is not better a half mile through the woods, it’s not better an hour from now, and its not better tomorrow. That this is as good as it gets. So they constantly reminded me to do better and to not live in this abstraction of the future which by definition will never exist. And so we sort of betray our lives in the moment so the wild turkeys reminded me to be present, to be here.”

I am vowing not to "betray the moment."

If you can find this on line, please do yourself a favor and watch it.  You won't regret it.

Happy thanksgiving.

Those EYES

In previous posts, I may have been bit unfair to "The Boys" --- my Bichon Frise, Chapi, and my Shih Tzu, Indiana (Indy for short).  I know that on at least two occasions I've described my weekly get away to Dunkin' Donuts for coffee, a toasted coconut donut and my Washington Post.  They were described as get aways from the pleading looks of those very well trained beggars I call The Boys.  Now that I am home a good part of the day, I am able to observe their goings on...well, I wouldn't characterize that too much is really going on...but I can observe their lives, shall we say.  For the most part, they fill their time with sleeping, eating, barking at other dogs out the window and the squirrels out the patio door, and of course, relieving themselves.  The rest of the time, they are following me around, which sometimes makes me so crazy and other times warms my heart to no end.  It is a cliche, but who else in our lives provides us with such unconditional love?  

At 14, Chapi is not the Bichon blitzing puppy who entertained us so much with running in circles around the dining room and living rooms.  He doesn't bounce up and down the stairs any longer, but sometimes likes to be carried up and down.  He no longer jumps on to our high bed, nor even our much lowered bed (lowered to help him with jumping on and off).  A set of stairs provided by my good friend, Jersey Girl, when her own loving Jack Russell could no longer see well enough to use them, does not call to him that they will provide him his independence for a bit longer.  He seems somehow resigned to being lifted up and many times off the bed.  His only goal in life, it seems, it being velcroed to my side.  It gets annoying in a townhouse when being at my side means multiple trips up and down the stairs especially when those trips now include either carrying him or worrying that he will hurt himself.  He only 50% of the time seems to understand the command STAY.

At 12, Indy hasn't seemed to change much.  Always cat-like since the day we rescued him from a broken family in Florida, he is not the velcro-dog like Chapi.  He prefers to keep to himself.  He doesn't really like to be held and hides in the bedroom if very many people are here, especially children.  He looks like a little stuffed dog and perhaps this is his way of telling people - BACK OFF, I'M NOT YOUR TOY!  The one observation I have about him, however, is that when Chapi is not around, he does like to snuggle a bit with me.  He will quickly jump off my lap, however, if Chapi returns.  He some how knows that the furry white one needs to be there and jumps down.

Red and Rover spoke to me about what they mean to us and what we mean to them.  I know that all of you with pets of your own know this feeling.  If you don't have a "boy" or "girl" of your own, consider adopting.  You will most certainly hear those words if you do--- "You've made my world."

I have to add this comic because it made me laugh.  Sort of sick humor, but funny.

The Sessions - A moving experience

Wow.  The Sessions.  What can I say?  My husband says he knows when I like a movie because I cry.  Well, had he gone with me he would have known that I loved this movie as I softly let the tears flow towards the end of this unbelievable film.  I had a cold at the time, so I hoped that my friend would think I was just blowing my nose because of that, but realized that she, too, was softly crying.

John Hawkes is unbelievable as Mark O'Brien, a poet and author who had been paralyzed  from the neck down since the age of six by polio.  The film starts when Mark is 38 and trying to figure out how he can have a sexual relationship with another human being.  Helen Hunt plays the sex surrogate who meets with Mark to build his "body awareness" (he's not sure what that means).  In one scene, she kisses his chest.  He tells her that no one has ever touched him except to bathe him or perform medical procedures.  That really tore me up as I thought about all of the people who are disabled and wondered about their experiences with others looking past them, talking over them, and pitying them.  My friend, The Lass, is one of the only people I know who really SEES people with disabilities.  I admire her so much.

The movie is fantastic.  Although you will cry, you will leave the theater uplifted somehow.  This guy had such a wit, such a sense of humor, and it is not just in the film.  It was this way in his real life, from what I've been able to research since last night.  As an example, here is one of his poems.  Enjoy.

"Lifestyles of the Blind and Paralyzed" by Mark O'Brien:

The pay is lousy,
no vacations or sick leave,
and the compliments …
You’d rather do without them.

On the plus side,
you’re exempt from military service,
get to watch lots of TV
and pay half price at the movies.

They’re out there, my public,
dying to ask me what happened to you,
wondering how I pee
and using me as proof

that God is just
and punishes only the wicked.

Please read this 1999 Salon.com article about Mark that showcases his Irish spunk and the struggles that our citizens with disabilities face even today....note his fight with Social Security about keeping his $400 payments for an attendant because he lacked "appropriate records."

John Hawkes deserves an Oscar.  

Scams - 69999

Ever heard of FlyCell?  Ever get a text from a number you don't recognize, like perhaps, 69999?  This is unbelievable, but true.  I keep an eye on my bills, being on my "meager retirement income" now, and noticed that my Verizon Wireless bill was higher than it should have been.  At first I thought it was the texting I've been forced to use in order to communicate with my nieces and nephews (as they don't use phone or email any longer).  However, this month, I stopped long enough to look at the bill and saw a charge for $9.99 for "Premium Messaging."  I contacted Verizon by email --- isn't interesting that companies hide their phone numbers and you are forced to email?  I must say, that I got a very nice response back from "Will."

Will's message to me:  

"I hope you are having a wonderful day. My name is Will and I will be more than happy to address your concerns. I know unexpected charges can make an impact on your billing. I have a little sister and she is always giving me surprises on my bill. I want to make sure that you are not paying for services that you do not want or use. I am completely on the same page with you.

Premium Messaging is a subscription service from a 3rd party company that will send monthly messages to your wireless phone. The service is called "Flycell Tones" and provides downloadable mobile entertainment content, such as ringtones, games, graphics, news and other information data via a text message. Other examples of Premium Messaging programs are:

Interactive voting during TV shows

Weather alerts, sports score alerts, daily jokes, horoscopes, etc.

Trivia subscriptions

Subscriptions that enable the download of a certain amount of content each month, such as the ability to download 10 ringtones or wallpapers per month. "

While I appreciated the tone of Will's message and the speed at which it arrived, I have no memory of any of the activities he provided that would have netted me FlyCell Premium Messaging.  Now, of course, my memory is not that great, but I also did a little checking with my friend, Google.  

It seems that this scam has been going on for several years--complaints go back to 2006. I found complaints from 2006 and in just about every language...just not stupid Americans fell for this scam.  It also seems that FlyCell and their ilk can text you and if you DON'T respond, they ASSUME you want the service and start charging you $9.99 a month until you notice the added cost.  You can then text 69999 with the word STOP or CANCEL and supposedly they will stop charging you.  However, until that time or for those who don't notice, they are netting $9.99 a month for NOTHING!  Apparently this is legal, but is it ethical?

As a consumer, you can block these third parties, Will explained:

"If this is a service that you do not want, we do offer a free block that we can place on the account to prevent this from happening in the future. Please reply to this email or contact Customer Service at (800) 922-0204, if you would like the block to be added."

So, buyers beware.  Please share this post with others so they don't fall into this trap.  If you have older relatives with cell phones, you might want to check on them also.