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.

TAR HEEL Forever

Ft. Fisher Pier- Kure Beach

I love North Carolina. Loved it since the first day I arrived in Chapel Hill in 1975.  I moved here from St. Louis, Missouri where as graduate students we had no money, and lived in not a great neighborhood.  Campus was in the city, much unlike the Big Ten experience I had had at Purdue.  We definitely did not enjoy St Louis  as much as we could have.  Chapel Hill was a completely different experience...beautiful campus, big basketball program, lots of spirit.  I loved it.

Now that I am older and retired I continue my love affair with this state.  The Ft. Fisher Pier and I have become and remain great friends.  This was yesterday morning right after breakfast---two blocks from my friend's place.  That ocean air really gets to you.  We both said how relaxed we feel here, and we think it is the air.

Retirement is great because we don't have to rush back home to get back to work.  So today will be spent putzing around the house fixing little things..no longer laying out at the beach getting a sun tan!  HA!  The price of retirement is that you are old enough to have age spots and not want any more.

I can't help but show my UNC pride with this bumper sticker I saw yesterday (even though my friend is a Duke graduate).

Ah. Life is a beach

Day 71 of retirement and I'm enjoying it at the beach in North Carolina.  See picture at left taken out the window of my friend's place.  It is 70 degrees, sunny, and I got my first Carolina barbecue sandwich today.  I also had time to pick up a UNC-Chapel Hill bumper sticker for my car.  Ain't life grand?

I know I got off a bit carried away the other day about having to pay $1.00 for air, but for some reason I can't stop thinking about it.  Why is there a limit of 3 minutes to purchase air for your tires?  Is this a limited commodity?  Is it rare?  Am I, the consumer, going to line up cars and just steal all the air I can get for my $1.00?  How much will it be worth it to me to fill up the fourth tire that I could not get to in the three allotted minutes?

On the plus size, Motorbike (friend here at the beach), gave me ideas about how to approach this task (putting air in the tires) the next time.  I will share it with you so that you don't end up with 3 of 4 tires filled like I did.

1.  Remove the caps from the valves on all four tires.  
2.  Put caps in your pocket so you don't lose them.
3.  Unwind the hose that the air comes through to ensure that it can reach all four tires easily.  (This was one of my big mistakes.)
4.  Pump the air into the tires.  NOTE:  You must press down on the thingamagig to send the air into the tire.
5.  Check the tire pressure with the air hose, but NOT pressing down on the thingamagig.

There.  Lesson learned for today.

How sweet it is to be retired.

Day 69 - Not tired of retirement

I may have given you all the idea yesterday that I am tired of retirement or bored.  Far from it.  It was just one of those days where I really didn't have a plan.  Those who know me know that this is a dangerous situation.  So, I've regrouped and have started thinking about my plans for the future. One of those plans includes trying to keep in better touch with friends who are still working.

But before all that, let's take a look at today's news:

Becca's Brief

1.  Super PACs learned that the campaigns cannot be bought.  WooHoo!  Quoting the Post today:  "Never before has so much political money been spent to achieve so little."  Do we have the opportunity here to re-set the way we run campaigns?  I'm not optimistic, but wistful.  One business leader in today's paper said just what I believe:  "We learned you cannot address the fiscal and cultural differences in our society by throwing money at political dogmas that may have outlived their usefulness."

2.  Hurricane Sandy and the Nor'easter.  Wow.  How much misery can these people take?  I was not a fan of Chris Christie before, but have changed my mind about him.  He really cares about his New Jersey, or so it seems to me.  Anyone thinking that perhaps climate change might get on the President's program this time?

3.  Foreign policy.  Isn't it interesting that our friends (and probably foes, too) are relieved that Obama is back?  "The hope, many said, is that Obama will be more inclined toward negotiations if he isn't worried about being accused of being soft on Iran."  I was not a W fan, was against the war in Iraq, and hope that negotiations will trump chest thumping.

4.  Obama's cabinet.  Lots of discussion about who will stay and who will go.  I hate to see Panetta go---loved his colorful language.  Proud that a Paisano*  is running the Pentagon.  Glad to see that Erik Shinseki may stay as head of the VA.  He and his wife are great people and very committed to our military members and their families.

*A word used by italians toward other italians meaning "Italian brother" sometimes shortened to Paisan.

5.  Finally, saw the play WAR HORSE last night. If you've seen it, you'll know what I am saying ----How in the hell did they get those horse 'puppets' to be so realistic?  Fantastic entertainment.  If you get a chance to see the play, do it.

Day 68 - First inkling I'm retired

I promised to explain the ups and downs of retirement.  Today is the 68th day of retirement and the first day that my concerns about boredom and becoming a couch potato have raised their bad ass heads.  Now, I'm not nearly finished with all of the work around the house, but I'm taking a break because it has been three non-stop weeks of work and I am TIRED.  So I thought I'd take the day off and just do nothing.  I am not good at doing nothing.  That's not bad, but now I am obsessing over the idea that everyday will be like this one after I get all my projects completed.  Crazy, but just expect this may happen at day 68.

I've got plans.  I've registered for a beginning oil painting class from January through March.  I assume I'll also paint in between the classes so that should keep me somewhat busy.

Honestly, I've not looked into volunteer activities yet.  I've got to do that, but thus far, until today, I've just been too busy to think about volunteering.

I've also not started taking all the exercise classes I said I was going to take.  Maybe tomorrow.

QUESTION:  When did gas stations start charging $1.00 for air?  My somewhat new car has a tire pressure meter that tells me my tires are not at their correct "psi."  I stopped by a local station to add air, found that I needed four quarters for 3 minutes!  I hate to admit it, but it took me 2.25 minutes to figure out that I had to press the lever to put air INTO the tires.  Up to that time, I believe I was taking air OUT of the tires.  I got three tires at the correct psi, but not the 4th.  and I didn't have any more quarters.  How bad is it to drive on 3 tires at the right pressure and 1 at the wrong pressure?

Swing State Voting

2 1/2 hours from here to vote

I thought 2008 was the time of heavy voter turnout for the Presidential election.  You wouldn't know that in the swing state of Virginia.  I spent last the three hours in line to vote.  I don't know how many people just didn't get in the line, but I saw NO ONE leave the line.  

This is an interesting area of northern Virginia.  Our neighborhood is heavily immigrant, and not primarily Hispanic.  The voters in line with me were young, white, old, (some very old). African, central and southern American, eastern European.  There were taxi cabs lined up to park so that the drivers could exercise their American right to vote.  It was cold.  I was not dressed right for the cold, but could not make myself leave the line when no one else was leaving.  This was democracy in action.

For three hours as I waited, I listened to Ken Follett's Winter of the World about the rise of Nazi Germany.  As I was waiting to exercise my democratic right to vote, I listened to the justification of the German people (some of them, at least) as to why democracy might be over-rated.  This is an over-used word - but it was surreal.

I'm retired, but I wonder about the people I saw in line, many of whom looked to be hourly workers---I know the taxi drivers don't make money standing in line to vote---but there they were.  I wondered also about the countries from which they came to America.  Was this a normal thing to them to have a say in the leadership of their land?  I really doubted it.  I think for many of them, this was a great honor and they were not going to pass it by.  It will be interesting to see what percentage of the population vote this year.  How many will just skip the polls because the lines were too long, they were too busy, they were sick of the election.

I'll stay up tonight to see what happens.  All of us here are tired of the election campaigning, but as a swing state, we have had the opportunity to see the importance of the race, too.  I'm sorry I had to bear so many hours of disgusting ads, but happy I am part of the excitement.  Thanks to whoever was handing out candy in the line, too.  Next time, bring some hot coffee!

Flight - Denzel is brave

Flight, the movie - don't believe the trailer.  This is NOT an action film, it is a film about one man's addiction to alcohol and it is fantastic!  Denzel Washington must be secure in who he is, because through most of this film he is not a pleasant man to look at or a pleasant man to be with.  The scene where he is dead drunk was spot on and so powerful.  Anyone with a drinking problem needs to see this movie.  I give this film four stars.  I recommend Denzel for an oscar nomination!

The Courthouse Movie Theater.  If you are in the area, try it out.  They've renovated the theater and it is super cool.  Reclining "leather" seats, and I do mean reclining.  If you went to see a movie that was bad, you'd surely fall asleep in these seats.  I hope this is the future of movie theaters.  It was great.

Tomorrow is election day in Virginia.  As a swing state, every voter is important.  I will be out in mid-day -- after the working people get in line to vote.  Although I am secure in my selection, I am very uncertain that anything in this country will really change.  The President, no matter what party, has only so much power.  With a divided Congress and no desire it appears to compromise, I question how we will address our issues.

I know that jobs are the number one issue in the country, but for me health care, is the most important issue. I've got insurance, but worry about those who do not, or those who are stuck in a job because of insurance. I remember so clearly when my mother lost her insurance because the insurance company quit issuing policies for the group in which she was insured.  I remember sitting at the table as she tried to make sense of what other policies would be available to her.....that stress should not be part of the American experience.  Medicare was a gift to my family; and the Veterans Administration for my dad.  Working people who have worked their entire lives, raised a family, given to their church, and helped out those less fortunate, should not have to worry about their health care.  So, that is my soap box for the day.

Vote Tomorrow!

Elections and the Next Generation

Don't get me wrong.  I DON'T understand the electoral college, but I find it very difficult to encourage my nephew to vote in his first election as it is pretty darn clear that Indiana will go for Romney whether he votes or not.  (NOTE:  I'm not sure who he would vote for, but just saying, does his vote mean anything?)  I on the other hand live in a swing state (Oh lucky me!  Bombarded day and night with election ads of the most sickening negativity.) so my vote WILL count.  

Unfortunately, as the Post said this morning, the elections have focused on these swing states to such an extent that the needs of the whole country, I fear, are being overlooked by the focus on the desires of these States.  This year's campaign has not enlightened the electorate, as far as I can see, because each side has projected such falsehoods about the other.  Who is the world has the time and understanding of where to check the facts?  One campaign has said they don't care about the Fact Checkers anyway, so I guess that means they don't care about the facts.

To see the biggest whoppers of the 2012 campaign, visit FactCheck.org.

I am going to do my part today.  What is this "Parks" initiative that I am supposed to vote about Tuesday?  My goal today is to figure out where I can learn about this initiative so that I can vote wisely.  I already know that I am going to vote for the initiative to fix the flooding problem in one of our neighborhoods brought on by building and expanding roadways, but leaving over 200 families in fear of constant flooding.  That's just not right.  We all benefit from the expanded roadways, so we all should pay for the problems this caused.  That is my feeling. 

But on the Parks?  All I know of parks is from the TV show Parks and Recreation...I think I need to learn more before Tuesday.  My first try on line yielded me this:


PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES BONDS 
Shall the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County contract a debt, borrow money and issue bonds of 

Fairfax County, Virginia, in addition to the parks and park facilities bonds previously authorized, in the 

maximum aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds with any other 

available funds to finance the cost of providing parks and park facilities including the acquisition, 

construction, development and equipment of additional parks and park facilities, and the purchase of 

permanent easements for the preservation of open‐space land and the development and improvement 

of existing parks and park facilities by the Fairfax County Park Authority, and including an amount not to 

exceed $12,000,000 allocable to the County as its share of the cost of parks and park facilities to be 

acquired, constructed, developed and equipped by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority?  

STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS BONDS
Shall the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County contract a debt, borrow money and issue bonds of 

Fairfax County, Virginia in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000, for the purpose of 

providing funds, with any other available funds, to finance the cost of providing storm drainage 

improvements to prevent flooding and soil erosion, including the acquisition of necessary land?  

(Source:  Fairfax County website)

Looks like I am going to need to dig a bit deeper to understand what all of this means.

Gettysburg - History at an important time

Friend and I visited Gettysburg today.  I've lived within 2 hours of the battlefield for over 17 years and had never visited.  It was awe-inspiring.  I left the introductory movie and the cyclorama with a real appreciation for that time in our country's history.  We had driven up just the two of us, but there was a large group of Viet Nam vets and their spouses coming in with us.   I wondered as we took in the cyclorama  how the vets felt about the description of the battle and the re-enactment of the cannons and fighting.  Did it bring up memories they wish to forget?  I couldn't figure out how anyone could have the courage to step into a battle knowing they would likely be killed or maimed.  51,000 casualties.  Imagine the enormity of the small town of Gettysburg (population 2,400 at the time) cleaning up the battle field with tens of thousands of dead bodies lying around, in the middle of the summer.


The other thoughts that were running through my head involved the terrible split in our nation now as we are on the eve of the next election.  How did we dig ourselves out of this most monstrous war of citizen against citizen to have  a united country?  I'd just been listening to an interview with David von Drehle the author of Rise to Greatness:  Lincoln and America's Most Perilous Year and was struck by his description of Lincoln and the era in which he led the country.  Surely, it was a much more difficult separation in the country?  And yet, we made it through.  I am not a Lincoln scholar, so cannot say that he was the greatest President, but I wish we had leadership that would move us forward, that could compromise, that could reach across the aisle.

I just ordered the book on my Kindle.  Maybe I'll become a historian after all.  That would surely surprise my friend, the Judge.

Day 61 - Technology, the Retired Person's Frontier

61 days...where does the time go?  The time is spent trying to keep up with technology without a help desk.  I sure miss you techies from the help desk and the office.

The CLOUD.  Have you visited it?  I have.  Mine is called Google Drive and it does NOT come with directions.  I find it so interesting and so frustrating that these new technologies are unveiled and really pushed as a Must Have, but with no written directions, no manual.  I suppose that the young tech-savvy people have grown up with this kind of innovation, but for my generation, I expect a manual.  

I've learned, of course, to "Google" my questions and meet up with other Google Drive users in a "users forum."  How do I know I can trust these new friends with my computer?  Some of them have some pretty weird ideas about how to fix my problem.  But hey, I'm a trusting soul and I only spent TWO DAYS doing what they told me to do, re-installing windows installer, which required me to back up my system first, then moving all of my precious files to my C:  Google Drive.  

I finally figured out that the Google Drive on my computer (does this sound like an elderly person is explaining it?!!) backs up to the My Google Drive in the Cloud.  It worked.  Now all of my precious photos and other sundry items are safely ensconced in the Cloud.  I can access them from my Kindle Fire, my net-book and my desktop computer.  It isn't really a miracle, but I feel proud that I could do it.

My November 1 Get Fuzzy calendar: Yeah, I am a bit like Satchel -- if I think something I say it....most of the time.