Government's
view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it
moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops
moving, subsidize it.
Ronald Reagan (1986)
GOOD
MORNING DRIVELERS! Just how is the world treating you anyway? My
world is fine. No big trashy Tuesday troubles that I am aware of at
any rate. They have not been around to collect yet but I have upheld
my civic responsibilities by having the Garby and Curby at the curb
in the prescribed manner and at the prescribed time. It is now a
waiting game, I guess.
First
thing I need to mention is a big SHOUT OUT to all that provided me
with advice on my fiber question. Not one of the suggestions
mentioned any chopping of corrugated cardboard as I had feared. Seems
as though fiber is everywhere in the food world. I was encouraged by
that. I have taken steps to implement the advice I received.
I
took a big step last week. I purchased a new car. I have been
procrastinating for six months to a year. I looked at all of the
crossover type of vehicles multiple times. I didn't see anything that
really tripped my trigger plus the Honda Odyssey was still perking
along just fine. Last week though the 2004 Honda started to show some
subtle signs of age. Things like brakes, timing belt, CV joints and a
sliding door that started not to function as it should. I negotiated
a deal for a new Chevy Equinox LTZ. It is stunning how much has
changed in only 9 years. Automotive technology has really gone wild.
Pretty amazing. Now all I have to do is figure out how to pay for it.
Purchasing
a new vehicle for me is like getting a root canal that takes 5 hours
or more. I just don't like it. This buying experience was not as
tragic as others I have had. Actually, it went rather well. It helped
that I was able to deal up the food chain with people who actually
could make decisions. That takes the phoney, baloney back and forth
out of it.
My
current wife and I go to Wal-Mart at least once a week to purchase
things that we really don't need but think we do. The other day I was
standing in the check-out line waiting my turn patiently. There were
two women ahead of me. I think they knew each other by the way they
were chatting. I looked over the impulse buy items seeing what else I
did not need to buy when I overheard the gal 2 carts ahead of me
asking the gal right in front of me “What are you doing at
Wal-Mart? Don't you usually shop at Target?” The pretty thing ahead
of me kind of looked around and whispered, “I have to shower before
shopping at Target.” I felt my face turning red when I realized I
had come there directly from the gym. I had my sweat pants on and wet
t-shirt on and probably smelled like an old fart coming from the gym.
My shopping strategy may have to include some underarm deodorant to
be placed in my new car. So I am not so RIPE when I am shopping if
you know what I mean.
When I got close enough, I put my purchases on the belt. I moved up a bit and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those 'dividers' that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the 'divider', looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code, she said to me, 'Do you know how much this is?' I said to her 'I've changed my mind; I don't think I'll buy that today.' She said 'OK,' and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened. Perhaps I should just shower and go to Target
I
caught a video on YouTube that I thought I would share with my
drivellers some of whom can relate to this. I know I felt it was
about me when I watched it.
Senior
Moments
Sue,
my current wife is in love with the new garbage disposal. I hear her
out in the kitchen running it for no reason. She just likes listening
to how quiet it is compared to the old one. She was out there the
other day playing with it and also doing some other stuff. She yelled
at me to come to the kitchen. Naturally, I finished what I was doing
in the bathroom quickly. At least well enough to get up and go to the
kitchen. The most used drawer in our kitchen is the eating utensil
drawer. She was standing in front of it holding a screwdriver. My
first thought was “What the heck have I done now?” She slapped
the screwdriver into my hand which I held up in a defensive posture.
Next, she said that the knob on the drawer needed to be tightened.
Whew, no big deal I thought. Wrong, the knob has striped threads and
won't tighten up. I got it the best as I could and went back to the
bathroom. I needed to contemplate this situation plus I was not quite
finished with my duties. I began to shiver as I contemplated. Crap,
what if this is like the bathroom. You all remember the bathroom
fiasco from last year don't you? Where I went from replacing a rubber
washer in the faucet that led to a complete bathroom remodel. I am
just not prepared for a similar experience in the kitchen. I decided
to let the knob issue alone for now. Yesterday, I pulled the knob to
get a spoon out and you guessed it, the knob came off in my hand.
Dang it anyway. This time I am taking a tougher line. I have put a
knotted piece of baling twine through the hole so you can pull it
out. That will work. Sue, the current wife has not had the courage to
approach that subject yet. I think she overheard my stream of cursing
that followed when the knob came off in my hand. I am certain we will
have more on this next week.
Has
the flu gotten you down? Knock on wood, I am still bug free. I have a
flu shot so it should help a little. I just read an amazing fact
about fevers and how to reduce them. It seems as though that having
sex while sick can reduce a fever due to the sweat produced. It is
reportedly 10 times
more effective than Valium.
I suppose with the flu epidemic we will see a population explosion in
a few months. Something to keep our eyes on.
So
I had my window people swing by the other day. I had noticed a draft
wafting over my feet in the dining room in front of the window which
had been replaced a few months back. My guy looks her over and
informs me that the “weep” hole foam rubber was not installed.
Fine, he would get back with me since he didn't have any with him. A
couple days later he comes back and in about 30 seconds installs this
foam stuff in my “Weep” holes. I felt sorry for the “weep”
holes because he was kind of rough when he shoved that foam in. Now I
am all set to
live
my life in front of this window without cold air wafting over my
feet. After all that was the purpose of spending my money on windows.
I was disappointed. Although the foam helped it did not cure all of
the cold wafting. With the skill of an experienced window installer,
I examined all areas of the window and its moldings. Ah ha, there is
the culprit – a gap between the molding and the window frame at the
top. Upon further examination of my other windows, this window and my
bedroom window were the only ones without caulking between the
molding and window frame. I whip out the caulk gun, borrow some caulk
from Jenny the Elder and caulk the beejeebers out of the molding at
the top. No more wafting of cold air over my feet, thank you very
much. The only thing is the current wife would have preferred it if I
had not been so liberal with the caulking. I explained to her it was
paintable but I think she felt I should not have used a whole tube on
the one window. Sometimes you just can't make them happy.
The
current wife is after me to wrap this edition up. It needs to be
proof read and copied in time for her to deliver to the Silver
Sneakers clan at the gym. The coffee is all gone anyhow. Until next
we meet, may your troubles be small ones. TA!
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