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.