Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 

For my entire childhood and on into early adulthood my father and I happily strolled through February with a smile on our faces, never having to think about what to give Mother for Valentine’s Day. My girlfriend, when I had one, might have gotten something but that was as far as it went. The thing that ruined it was that darn beauty parlor.

One February 14 Mother went to the beauty parlor and all the customers sat in their chairs bragging about all the things their husbands and their children were giving them for Valentine’s Day. One talked about the beautiful roses her son sent here from Florida. Another talked about the cruise her husband was taking her on for Valentine’s Day. The hairdresser was so pleased with the chocolates her son had given her that morning.

That night at dinner boy did we get it. “This one is getting a cruise. That one got an expensive watch. This one is going out to Le Freup a Tell in Manhattan. And what are you giving me?” My father looked surprised. He didn’t know he was supposed to give her something. He never had in the past and they all had been happy as clams at high tide.

He put his arms around her and said “All of my love”. That didn’t work. She looked at me.

I tried to rescue the situation. “But mother, Valentine’s Day isn’t for your mother! It’s for your girlfriend or your mistress!” That didn’t work either. From then, every year, we had to give her something for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day. You’re just getting over the Christmas bills and along comes Valentine’s Day. And you have to give candy to your secretary and the ladies at work. More money coming out of the poor man’s pocket. Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Editor's note: This oldie was originally published in 2007.

Impeachment hearings

Never in my life have I ever been so proud to be an American as I was last night watching the Impeachment hearings. Hearing the Republicans vote unanimously to not allow any documents or witnesses in the trial. I've never seen a trial like that! The founding fathers would be so proud. Watching the bored Senators squirm in their seats. Look, Bernie Sanders is stretching his legs. So proud to be a Senator. 

The speeches were also very moving and informative. So many surprises! A wonderful moment in America's history. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Here is the official website of Harry and Meghan. Quite refined, actually. The message is a little ambiguous though. Yes they want to change their relationship with their royal patronage but don't really explain how they hope to do it. They claim they want to live in Canada but insiders say Los Angeles is their goal. They claim they want to be financially independent. That should be interesting. Celebrities without any major talents can sometimes be disappointments when they dive into real world pursuits. I remember Chelsea Clinton's illustrious career as a commentator on NBC or Ron Reagan's tv show.

They would be ideal for a reality show but that would be too tawdry. Perhaps Harry could open a flying school. Word is that Meghan is going to do voice overs for Disney. That might work. Meghan could play an elf in a Hallmark Christmas special. Harry could be a color commentator in the upcoming Olympics.  So many people wish they had the problems of the Duke and Duchess.

Please don't jump off the bridge

Had a pleasant walk across  the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden to Philadelphia. I couldn't help but notice that as soon as we left New Jersey for Pennsylvania we started seeing suicide prevention signs. I guess they were afraid we were going to all jump off the bridge into the Delaware River.

Coming back we saw more signs. After crossing into New Jersey again the signs stopped. I guess they don't care if you commit suicide in New Jersey.

Why are we so obsessed with Jane Austen

Becoming bored with the Golden Globe awards, I switched channels and happened upon a BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darby. The last time I was at the movies I saw a coming attraction for a new production of Emma. I notice Channel 13 has on the cover of its January program guide "Sanditon", a new production of Jane Austen's last novel. Why, I asked, this obsession with Jane Austen? She seems to be America's hottest novelist and yet she died almost two hundred years ago.

At the heart of her work is the task of finding a suitable partner, made more difficult if there is no male heir for the estate. A partner should have the social skills to dance the quadrille and the minuet, play whist, duel, and have enough property to provide an adequate income. A woman must have dancing skills, play the piano, know how to dine in a formal setting, speak intelligently, and ideally be comely, refined and ideally also have an income.

When you looked at a potential partner, you saw them, as well as their estate. Just like when people look at a retired civil servant, they see his  handsome appearance as well as his  pension.

As America moves away from being a meritocracy and moves towards a country where the success of your parents and grandparents will have more import than your SAT scores, we are learning from Jane Austen how to live in the new/old world. Rather than be taught math, women of the the future will base their success on their abilities at the piano, the quilt, and the selection of appropriate attire for a picnic by the lake of their summer property.

Predictions 2020 on Dec 31, 2019

This is my tenth anniversary predictions blog. It was a good year for a lot of things but not for my prognostications. In general, I was too pessimistic. I said the Eagles would not be in the hunt, and as of now they are very much in the hunt, even in the playoffs. Interest rates are lower today than a year ago, contrary to my prediction. I predicted Mike Pence would be our president at the end of this year, also wrong. Trade sanctions with China appear to be diminishing, which I did predict. Last year I predicted Microsoft would be selling at 120, much below the end of year high of 158.

 Entity:              Dec 31, 2018:      Dec 31, 2019:

                                                     as I predicted.
Dow Jones               23327               26000
S and P                      2507                2900
NAS                          6635                7000
Oil                              45.81              70
Unemployed              4.1%               4.5%
Microsoft                  101.57             120

 Entity:                Today:              Dec 31, 2020:

Dow Jones               28538             30000
S and P                        3231                3500
NAS                            8973                9100
Oil                              61.21                70
Unemployed             3.5%             4.5%
Microsoft                  157.7                 170

For the end of 2020 I see Joseph Biden as the president elect. The Eagles will have a wild car slot. The new decade will be up and down on stocks. It will end with a slight gain. Brexit will finally happen and add tariffs to British trade transactions and lead to a slight contraction in their economy.  Global warming will get worse but the USA will begin a slow return to normalcy. Happy New Years.

Why does Santa ride on a fire truck?

One tradition that we have in America that they don't have anywhere else in the world is that of a fire truck roaring through the neighborhood with Santa. It is a tradition unique to our country. If you were to ask me what I like best about the Christmas season, it is the fire trucks screaming through the condos and the waving of Santa. Why this became a tradition I do not know.  It is one of the mysteries of life along with why Andrew Yang is in the presidential debates.