Ten things I said this year

I notice they are celebrating "Vlogmas" on Youtube and I am hoping to do a miniature "Blogmas" in the coming days.

Like most people, I tend to repeat myself when talking. Some people are quick to remind me when I said the same thing last week that I am saying now. So for my first list of "Blogmas" I am going to recount the ten things that I always say.

1. I'm going to get new kitchen tiles this year.

2. I have Netflix but am too cheap to buy HBO Max.

3. I have Apple plus because my nephew gave me an Ipad which came with a free year.

4. No I think I'll keep the Honda another year. 

5. They raised my property tax but not my condo dues.

6. My condo dues includes heat.

7. I get my health insurance through the state as part of my retirement. 

8. Don't worry I have a spare mask in my car.

9. I have relatives in Texas.

10. I found out on 23 and me that I am only 40% Italian.

In the coming days I'll describe my favorite movies, You Tubes, Netflix shows, and other things that tickle my fancy. Happy Blogmas.

Should I stay or should I go

Today is a volatile day in stocks. I promised myself that I would never become a stock watcher when I retired. I would be active and busy and not one of those people who sit home following the minute- by- minute progress of the market. Today, however, it is tempting to keep a close eye on the situation. The big question is whether it's time to sell my stocks and stock funds or grin and bear it and do nothing. 

Like many retirees I have made more money sitting on my behind the past year than I ever made working. However, we all know the time comes to pay the piper. Is it time to sell or not? Hard to tell. I'll probably sit on my hands. I usually do. 

Editor's note: I have become a fan of Emma Chamberlain. Most of the vlogs I follow get less than 10,000 views. She gets views in the millions. I don't know why. Most of the time she doesn't do anything. She drives around LA. She cooks. She plays the drums. She sulks. She is the baby boomer's image of how the younger generation lives. She seems to be on hiatus from YouTube but her podcast is called "Anything goes".

Happy Turkey Day

 Here is an oldie but goodie. Happy turkey day!

Can Biden get communion?

 

Today the Catholic bishops are meeting to determine if Catholics who publicly espouse abortions should be allowed to receive communion. Ever since Vatican 2 doubts have been sowed about the church's role in modern political decisions. The conservatives argue that a true Catholic has to vote Republican because Democrats support gay marriage and killing unborn babies.  

Going by this logic, deeply religious Christians are restricted to voting Republican in national elections. Liberal Democrats could be forced to sit in their pews during Communion or perhaps ditch church entirely for a Sunday morning round of golf. 

The bishops have one problem. Church going Democrats put their hands in their wallets and put money into the collection baskets. This money is needed to help struggling parishes that are already closing churches and schools. A walkout among Democrats could be quite painful for the American Catholic church. That is why I predict that an accommodation will be made to keep those Catholics happy, along with their billfolds. 

Halloween: should I go to a party or a bar?

 

As we approach Halloween, we again have to make the big decision. Should we go to such and such's house or the local tavern to show off our costumes. Last year we didn't have to make this decision but it looks like things are returning to normal, more or less. 

Who do you want to see?

The regulars at the bar or the usual guests at the house party will probably be there. It sort of depends upon who you would like to avoid. 

Ease of entry:

The bar is easier since you only need to wear a non offensive costume and bring cash. For the house party you can be a little more creative in costumes but you are expected to bring food (preferably prepared at home) and beer or booze. 

Spending the night.:

Unless you are in Europe you probably won't be able to spend the night in a room above the bar. 

Music:

You can bring cd's or at least have some say on what is played at a house party. Of course if the bar has a jukebox and you have quarters, you can have a say also. 

Access to booze:

Generally easier at a house party once you figure out where it is kept. At a bar you have to catch the harried bartender's attention. 

At midnight:

You will find yourself sitting at your host's kitchen table while old friends talk about high school. At the bar you will end up watching Saturday Night Live without the sound on the bar tv. 

Going home:

In both situations it is easier to make an Irish exit. Don't forget to pay your tab and tip the bartender. 

No Santa Claus this year

For multiple reasons involving shipping delays, over crowded ports, truck driver shortages, Chinese tariffs and a host of other political and covid related events, it is possible that we may experience a dearth of presents under our trees this December. We may experience a season where dear old Santa Claus is missing or at least on a sabbatical. 

We can say good-bye to Christmas this year. No new toys, Windows 11 compatible computers, the latest toys and gadgets all tied up in barges off the coast of Los Angeles. We will instead, have to rely on Mother's cookies, old sweaters from the second hand shop and dusty books bought at the used book store for presents. Santa will be nowhere to be found, the reindeer have no feed and the sled needs a silicon chip to run. 

The making of a curmudgeon

 

Today we are going to turn our attention to the modern day curmudgeon. Typically a retired man living in a comfortable home but idle. No longer having to go to work and often abandoned by wives and offspring, at least during the day, he notices little things about the neighborhood and becomes aggravated. In the past he was at work from dawn to dusk and had his kids and wives  to keep him occupied, but now he is alone and sees things that he never noticed before.

One thing he notices is construction projects in the neighborhood. "Oh great", noting they are putting in a new sidewalk. He reads a memo in his mail slot asking him to avoid parking in front of his house. "Well, it will only be for a few days," he ruminates. Trucks, cranes, cement trucks fill the neighborhoods. Then the following day, the job maybe a quarter done, all the trucks are gone. A beautiful day but no crew. The next day, the same. Thursday it is threatening rain and it starts to sprinkle in the afternoon. The trucks all show up and the crew has to hustle to get the work done before the rain. "Oh why couldn't they have finished the job when the weather was nice?" cries the man, now inching towards becoming a curmudgeon. 

For years young men have been tearing through the neighborhood on their motorcycles. He never noticed them because he was always at work. Now he is home and is infuriated by the sound of unmuffled motorcycle engines. 

Children he never knew existed suddenly appear in the neighborhood in the afternoon. Basketballs bouncing, bouncing, bouncing. "Why do they have to play in front of my house?" he asks. Another step on the slippery road to curmudgeondom. And he was such a nice guy when he was at work all day.