This is the 100 Post of 7200 Days, give or take. Where does the time go?
100+ days into retirement here is what I have learned so far
1- a lot of people are out of work or have very flexible hours
2- most if not all of the people in the Dinky Donuts during the day are old, Greek men (surprise)
3- somedays I find myself waiting for the postman
4- during the storm in October the postman didn't live up to the motto about the rain and snow and.....
5- I use to make things happen now I wait for some thing to happen
6- I stopped spending the day in slippers and wearing my old corduroys. My version of sweet pants.
7- I seem to be sleeping later in the morning and I don't like it mainly ' cause it suggests I have no place to go
8- I don' t need a hobby, I need a purpose
9- the day goes by really fast and I have not missed lunch.
10- I am proud of the fact that I have stayed with my blog and I look forward to 7100+ or - more.
Thank you for reading my blog and watch this space for great things in 2013.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Are you from around here?
With my wife's photography hobby we spend a lot of time in NYC as she loves to take pictures of interesting people. No surprise most of these people are in the city and not in our hometown.
So we Tavel in most weekends, pick a locale and snap away. A hot spot is the meatpacking district just below Chelsea. Photos usually give way to shopping in trendy stores with overpriced merchandise and very young salespeople. Invariably and despite our best attempts to look like natives, we are asked, how long will you be in town, where are you visiting from and whe do you live?
When we are in a locale that is inhabited by "people of a certain age" our age, we never get asked the question. Is it that obvious that our hip veneer is just that in the city and do we really belong in Boca Del Vista!
So we Tavel in most weekends, pick a locale and snap away. A hot spot is the meatpacking district just below Chelsea. Photos usually give way to shopping in trendy stores with overpriced merchandise and very young salespeople. Invariably and despite our best attempts to look like natives, we are asked, how long will you be in town, where are you visiting from and whe do you live?
When we are in a locale that is inhabited by "people of a certain age" our age, we never get asked the question. Is it that obvious that our hip veneer is just that in the city and do we really belong in Boca Del Vista!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Formally Known as
The artist foramlly known as Prince has nothing on the country formally known as Burma.
Whenever this country is referred to in the media the announcer prefaces his comments by stating Myanmar, the country formally known as Burma as if we might confuse it with another Myanmar.
Given the history of England and their colonial ways, see India, the BBC radio broadcasts, from England, seem to be very reluctant to just ...let it go.
So, Live from the city formally known as New Amsterdam.... it's Saturday Night!
FYI:
The country, popularly known in English as both Burma and Myanmar, has undergone changes in both its official and popular names worldwide. The choice of names stems from the existence of two different names for the country in Burmese, which are used in different contexts. The official English name was changed by the country's government from the "Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar" in 1989, and still later to the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar", which since then have been the subject of controversies and mixed incidences of adoption.
Whenever this country is referred to in the media the announcer prefaces his comments by stating Myanmar, the country formally known as Burma as if we might confuse it with another Myanmar.
Given the history of England and their colonial ways, see India, the BBC radio broadcasts, from England, seem to be very reluctant to just ...let it go.
So, Live from the city formally known as New Amsterdam.... it's Saturday Night!
FYI:
The country, popularly known in English as both Burma and Myanmar, has undergone changes in both its official and popular names worldwide. The choice of names stems from the existence of two different names for the country in Burmese, which are used in different contexts. The official English name was changed by the country's government from the "Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar" in 1989, and still later to the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar", which since then have been the subject of controversies and mixed incidences of adoption.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Elvis has left the country
A few blogs ago I told you about The Voice, a mysterious person who seems to work for every credit card company I deal with.
Well, the voice has a brother, named Elvis and I swear he is not of these United States.
I called to cancel a car reservation recently and sure enough the guy on the other end of the line said, Hello, My name is Elvis and I will help you Mr. Grasko. Same accent as The Voice, same mispronunciation as The Voice. Very weird. I remain convinced that these people are in fact virtual people or they are sitting in a cubicle, in New Delhi.
Well, the voice has a brother, named Elvis and I swear he is not of these United States.
I called to cancel a car reservation recently and sure enough the guy on the other end of the line said, Hello, My name is Elvis and I will help you Mr. Grasko. Same accent as The Voice, same mispronunciation as The Voice. Very weird. I remain convinced that these people are in fact virtual people or they are sitting in a cubicle, in New Delhi.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sometimes it works
I checked my on line banking satement yesterday to find that unbeknownst to me I was in a Food Lion Store in Raleigh North Carolina on Friday and purchased $150.00 of food. Amazing, as I was also getting my haircut in Stamford CT on Friday!
I called the number on my debit card and was quickly connected to a real person. I gave Maureen, no last names please, my information including my last 4 digits of my social as she made sure, with respect to the operator Lily Tomlin, "that I was the person to whom I am speaking".
We stayed on the phone for 45 minutes as she graciously walked me through the process of reporting a fraud. Luckily it was only $150 and that I caught it early.
She made sure that a new card would be issued by Monday.
I know I shouldn't be so thrilled by the fact that I got a real person, she was very patient and helpful and that the entire episode went seamlessly.
On Friday night I did receive a mysterious message from an institution about a credit card. No names were given and they asked us to call a number and also gave us a reference number. We thought it was a scam. Ironically the scam had already taken place.
I called the number on my debit card and was quickly connected to a real person. I gave Maureen, no last names please, my information including my last 4 digits of my social as she made sure, with respect to the operator Lily Tomlin, "that I was the person to whom I am speaking".
We stayed on the phone for 45 minutes as she graciously walked me through the process of reporting a fraud. Luckily it was only $150 and that I caught it early.
She made sure that a new card would be issued by Monday.
I know I shouldn't be so thrilled by the fact that I got a real person, she was very patient and helpful and that the entire episode went seamlessly.
On Friday night I did receive a mysterious message from an institution about a credit card. No names were given and they asked us to call a number and also gave us a reference number. We thought it was a scam. Ironically the scam had already taken place.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Who is this guy?
To stay current and involved with some of the many friends I have made during my career I have made it a point to meet with old friends on a regular basis for coffee or lunch. There is a direct correlation between the closeness I feel towards the person and the extent of my intake. Really good friends, long lunch and so on.....
We tend to meet at a new place in the SOTO section of Stamford. This made up acronym stands for South of Town and is on the verge of being overrun with loft and loft style apartments with lofty prices. Pane Le Quotidian is the chain of faux French pastry shops springing up in the metro area. Some are poorly lit and overcrowded, all are overpriced! The one in SOTO is well lit, on the ground floor of one of the newly converted loft buildings and actually very inviting.
Given what I did for a living, most if not all of my acquaintances are women. I wonder, as I arrive 2-3 times a week to meet a different woman, if the waitstaff thinks I am looking for a job, a date, or a wife.
Keep 'em guessing.
We tend to meet at a new place in the SOTO section of Stamford. This made up acronym stands for South of Town and is on the verge of being overrun with loft and loft style apartments with lofty prices. Pane Le Quotidian is the chain of faux French pastry shops springing up in the metro area. Some are poorly lit and overcrowded, all are overpriced! The one in SOTO is well lit, on the ground floor of one of the newly converted loft buildings and actually very inviting.
Given what I did for a living, most if not all of my acquaintances are women. I wonder, as I arrive 2-3 times a week to meet a different woman, if the waitstaff thinks I am looking for a job, a date, or a wife.
Keep 'em guessing.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Voice
It seems that whenever I call a credit card company, airline or insurance company I gat the same person to help. A woman, who doesn't sound robotic but has a sing song quality to her voice. She sounds Indian which leads me to believe that I most of the companies have gone outsource with a company in New Delhi.
She apologizes a lot whenever there is a delay in her ability to service. She always pronounces my last name incorrectly, asks me for my zip code and wants very much to help.
She has NO sense of humor and also asks if I will take a brief survey.
It is sure hard to choose between this ubiquitous operator and the PRESS 1 method of customer service.
She apologizes a lot whenever there is a delay in her ability to service. She always pronounces my last name incorrectly, asks me for my zip code and wants very much to help.
She has NO sense of humor and also asks if I will take a brief survey.
It is sure hard to choose between this ubiquitous operator and the PRESS 1 method of customer service.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Free TV?
Channels 2-4-7 have always been the network stations on my TV. They were part of the free airways we are guaranteed by the Constitution, I think. This has always been in my lifetime with channels 5-9-11 and 13 as the also rans with cartoons, and Yankee Games.
Don't know when but all that has changed and while the same stations exist it is really hard to understand why there are commercials for channel 9 programming, MY9 on channel 2 and WPIX, then PIX is now the CW and I think owned by CBS! Anderson Cooper from CNN is a regular reporter on CBS' 60 Minutes, it is all very disorienting. When two baseball teams would face one another there was an palpable rivalry among the players, with spikes held high while sliding into second and pitchers brushing back home run hitters. Now when Big Papi rumbles into second he is greeted with a pat on the tush by Derek Jeter, all very disorienting.
At some point we started to be charged for TV other than the 7 channels, deemed as FREE. Cable tauted the fact that there were now options, over 100, 200, 600, channels to choose from. WOW! What a country. At first this luxury cost $14.95 a month, then 19, 29, 45, 60 and our last bill topped out at $194.85 a month. Yikes! but hey quality programming like Honey Boo-Boo, Jersey Shore, Iron Chef, Cupcake Wars, and endless shows about vampires cannot be free in the home of the free and the brave.
With Optonline, Netflix, You Tube, and Apple TV I am ready for the next wave of must see TV
Monday, January 7, 2013
World's Smallest Loser
On and off for the last year I have been going to the gym. At times I have worked up quite a sweat, with the stationary bike and some weight training. For some reason, I think it was going on vacation in August, I have not been so diligent. But since the holidays, I have returned with a renewed vigor.
Throughout my on again off again commitment, I have noticed an overweight woman, strenuously working out on the stair master. This looks way too difficult and I give her credit for working up quite a sweat as she steps and steps and steps again. However unless she has had the same level of commitment that I have, in other words, not that committed, after 1 year, despite all the "steps" she has taken, she is roughly in the same place as she was when I first saw her 1 year ago.
Throughout my on again off again commitment, I have noticed an overweight woman, strenuously working out on the stair master. This looks way too difficult and I give her credit for working up quite a sweat as she steps and steps and steps again. However unless she has had the same level of commitment that I have, in other words, not that committed, after 1 year, despite all the "steps" she has taken, she is roughly in the same place as she was when I first saw her 1 year ago.
Friday, January 4, 2013
That's a Wrap
Well the holidays are over and today I packed away the decorations and took down the tree.
This was truly a no muss, no fuss Christmas as the tree was stationed outside and when dusk came well, it lit up like a ....... Putting the tree outside meant no ornaments, and no pine needles in the rug and on the floor in the house.
Actually I was surprised at how healthy the dead tree was (oxymoron). There was frozen water in the stand, the needles were firm, the branches supple, and the sap running. Just like the animals we domesticate, the tree would rather be outside in nature.
Looks like we started a new tradition, the junior Rockefeller Christmas Tree at our house.
Now the question is, can I discard the boxes of ornaments? Knowing my Jewish wife who has gotten the Christmas spirit, it will be a hard sell.
This was truly a no muss, no fuss Christmas as the tree was stationed outside and when dusk came well, it lit up like a ....... Putting the tree outside meant no ornaments, and no pine needles in the rug and on the floor in the house.
Actually I was surprised at how healthy the dead tree was (oxymoron). There was frozen water in the stand, the needles were firm, the branches supple, and the sap running. Just like the animals we domesticate, the tree would rather be outside in nature.
Looks like we started a new tradition, the junior Rockefeller Christmas Tree at our house.
Now the question is, can I discard the boxes of ornaments? Knowing my Jewish wife who has gotten the Christmas spirit, it will be a hard sell.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Movie Trailers
The other night we went to see Skyfall. Regular readers of my Blog, and I know you are out there will remember that I saw Skyfall when it was first released as part of my coming out, now you can go to the movies alone, experiment. Well the other night I took J with me as she wanted to see James in action.
Prior to the movie and just 3 weeks from Newtown we sat through some gruesome trailers. all were focused on killings, mayhem and extreme violence. Loud and destructive the explosive reverberated throughout the theatre. We are definitely violent society and these stories of blood and destruction, so soon after the real horror of Sandy Hook, made me squirm in my seat.
Now Bond has plenty of shooting and explosives but there is a cartoon aspect to it, whereas, Gangster Squad and others seem to exist only to numb us all to murder and bloodletting.
How quick we forget.
Prior to the movie and just 3 weeks from Newtown we sat through some gruesome trailers. all were focused on killings, mayhem and extreme violence. Loud and destructive the explosive reverberated throughout the theatre. We are definitely violent society and these stories of blood and destruction, so soon after the real horror of Sandy Hook, made me squirm in my seat.
Now Bond has plenty of shooting and explosives but there is a cartoon aspect to it, whereas, Gangster Squad and others seem to exist only to numb us all to murder and bloodletting.
How quick we forget.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Timing is everything
With the new year and all the time in the world, comes a rededicating to physical fitness and losing weight.
I made an abortive attempt to return to the gym at the Tully Center about 1 month ago. I drove over to the center at about 9:00 hoping to return to the stationary bike and work up to the weight machines I had been using for about 5 months early last year. I had never been able to go to the center during the day and was surprised to see the upper parking lot, closest to the entrance, full. Instead of driving to the lower lot and walking up to the entrance, an exercise in itself, I drove away and home.
With the changing of the calendar and a new year approcahing, I returned to the center during the Christmas week. I walked the track, at a rapid pace and did some stretching with weights. In the center of the track, were a few older people being tended to by therapists. My workout resulted in some aches and pains but a resolve to return on a regular basis.
This morning I went back, parked on the lower level and walked up hill to the entrance. i checked in, hung up my cot and returned to the second floor for a mile walk on the track. Apparently lots of people had the same idea, new year, new resolve, the track was crowded with people strolling, chatting about Betty White and several with heart monitors around their necks. I had to slow down and speed up to get a clear path, and to maintain a pace worthy of the word, exercise.
The center of the track, which reminded me of a roller derby ring, was chock full of people of a certain age, being monitored, and manipulated. I give them credit for staying in the game, not giving up but the sight of so many elderly folks trying to stay mobile brings to mind the old saying, Getting old is not for sissies.
I'll return to the gym but a different time of day.
I made an abortive attempt to return to the gym at the Tully Center about 1 month ago. I drove over to the center at about 9:00 hoping to return to the stationary bike and work up to the weight machines I had been using for about 5 months early last year. I had never been able to go to the center during the day and was surprised to see the upper parking lot, closest to the entrance, full. Instead of driving to the lower lot and walking up to the entrance, an exercise in itself, I drove away and home.
With the changing of the calendar and a new year approcahing, I returned to the center during the Christmas week. I walked the track, at a rapid pace and did some stretching with weights. In the center of the track, were a few older people being tended to by therapists. My workout resulted in some aches and pains but a resolve to return on a regular basis.
This morning I went back, parked on the lower level and walked up hill to the entrance. i checked in, hung up my cot and returned to the second floor for a mile walk on the track. Apparently lots of people had the same idea, new year, new resolve, the track was crowded with people strolling, chatting about Betty White and several with heart monitors around their necks. I had to slow down and speed up to get a clear path, and to maintain a pace worthy of the word, exercise.
The center of the track, which reminded me of a roller derby ring, was chock full of people of a certain age, being monitored, and manipulated. I give them credit for staying in the game, not giving up but the sight of so many elderly folks trying to stay mobile brings to mind the old saying, Getting old is not for sissies.
I'll return to the gym but a different time of day.
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