Another Marathon

Yep!  That's me, 3rd from the left in the back - the tallest dude - 1958 DHS track team
My two buddies Blaine and Lee are on both sides of me

Some people run the twenty-six mile marathon.  I have my own "marathon."  It's working any schedule that is other than my usual two days a week at the hotel.  I'm working one of those "marathon's" now.  This week I worked my usual 3 pm to 11 pm shift on Wednesday and Thursday night. Then I worked yesterday (Friday) from 7 am to 3 pm.  Yes folks, that's a short night of sleep for moi.  Now I'm working tonight (Satuday) 3 pm to 11 pm and tomorrow (Sunday) from 3 pm to 11 pm.

Last night I was talking to an old friend and former co-worker on during my banking days in Philadelphia.  He had called me to tell me that a good friend of his was just diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.  His friend is only 53 years old.  He already has his death sentenence.  My friend (who is also 53) and I were talking about those Bad Old Days when we slaved away at a major bank in Philadelphia.  It seemed like all my life consisted of those days were commuting to and from my bank operations job in Philadelphia and working even harder as my bosses kept reducing staff to save money (and provide bigger bonuses for themselves for their "efficiencies.") 

My friend is now retired, having made a bundle of money a few years ago from his hard work and some wise investments.  He told me he thoroughly enjoys his retirement but at times does get bored.  And that folks is one reason I continue to work.  I think if I ever completely gave up the Work Situation, I would get bored and probably develop a terminal disease.  While I don't want to be a Slave to the System and work full-time, I find my life is nicely balanced by workng part-time.

Then there are times like this marathon run I'm doing this week.  I'm filling in for my co-worker Robert who is in Orlando, Florida (yes, Mickey Land Disney World) to attend his brother's wedding.  Unlike his predecessor who always asking me to fill in for her everytime her daughter got the sniffles, Robert rarely asks me to fill in for him so I was more than glad to accomodate him. The only thing is.....I'm working FIVE DAYS STRAIGHT and this is wrecking havoc with my sleeping schedule (Nap Time is totally screwed up) and my digestive system (constipation).  Of course my regular blog posts also suffer as well as keeping up with the posts of my favorite blog buddies.

I'm at the point in my life where I want a routine and predictable schedule.  When I have disruptions like this week I tend to get f*ck*d up discombulated.  Things like this didn't bother me when I was a young chap.  I seem to take things more in stride back In The Day.  These days I need a predictable routine.

So here is what is on the agenda after today.  I have a DirecTV technician coming in tomorrow to install my free upgrade HD-DVR (only $49.00 installation cost.  This "free" is like the "free" credit report that you pays to see your credit score - only the credit report is free.)  But be that as it may, this new HD-DVR will fit in nicely in my office with the new Samsung 32 inch flat screen TV that I just purchased this morning from BJ's. 
As I told my friend Tom, whose friend got the Death Sentence Notice this week.  I try to make every day count.  I try not to put off until tomorrow what I can do today.  So I made good use of the extra money I will make this week by running this marathon.

Thank you Robert for providing the opportunity for the extra hours.  I'm making my time count.

DHS Senior High Track Team 1958

Don't Like What I Say In My Blog?

I seem to remember that I posted a blog a few weeks ago with the title "If You Don't Like My Blog Don't Read It."  Apparently some folks out their in the blogosphere who don't like me or my blog continue to read my blog and feel compelled to comment on some of my opinions that I state in my blog postings.

Just to remind everyone, this is MY BLOG and I write what I want to write about and I freely express my opinions without fear of censorship.  If you don't like what I write about, my opinions or you just don't like me, then why are you wasting your time (and mine) reading my blog?

Why do some people feel compelled to correct me on opinions that I state just because they differ with their opinions?  Hey, maybe I don't agree with them either.

I realize there are those people in this world who feel they are superior to others and feel the need to correct others directly when they see or read something they don't agree with.  All my life I've had to deal with these people,  the SUPERIOR ONES who KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.  You all know who I'm talking about.  There is not a one of you (unless you're ONE OF THEM) who hasn't had to deal with this type of person who believes their Mission in Life is to pontificate to others about their behavior which they feel doesn't meet THEIR STANDARDS.

Recently I cleaned house of several of this type of "friend" (you know who you are).  I don't need them in my life, I don't want them in my life, and I'm not having them in my life.  They are always negative, never positive and certainly never supportive.  I will live my life unencumbered by their negativity.

This is me, I am who I am.  You either like me or your don't like me but I sure as hell am not going to change my life to PLEASE you.

So to those few readers of my blog who feel compelled to correct me on my opinions, I don't need your advice no do I give explanations as to my opinion.

I said it once and I'll say it again.  If you don't like reading my blog then don't waste time sending me comments trying to control me.

To those of you who find my blog interesting and fun (most of it is said with tongue in cheek after all, a distinction that is often lost on the complainers), I continue to welcome you.  I appreciate your friendship and understanding of my sense of humor.  But to those humorless few, you're wasting my time.

Rainy Saturday

If there was ever a day that I was glad I didn’t continue with my address canvasser job for the Census Bureau, it was this morning. I awoke with a deep congestion in my chest and aching from bone to bone. I could hear the steady downpour of rain from outside my bedroom windows. My voice is little more than a croak. Thank goodness that I don’t have to work at the hotel this weekend. Thank God I don’t have to go to work this morning verifying addresses for the Census Bureau. My sympathies go to those Census Bureau workers who are going out today to verify addresses. God bless them.

One of the biggest benefits of being retired is the freedom to decide to do with my day. Today is such a day. I don’t have to go to work at the hotel until next Friday, at which time I will work a four day marathon. I will be filling in for the full time front desk clerk who is going on vacation. But until next Friday I have nothing on my schedule except a dental appointment in Dover on Monday. I’m getting an upper partial dental plate and it is in. It will probably take several visits to get the fitting just right. Hopefully, I won’t have as much problem as my friend Diane did with her partial. Wish me luck Diane!

Tomorrow even I am meeting friends at the Purple Parrot in Rehoboth Beach for our weekly get together. That is if it is not raining. The days are longer (which I love) but I still don’t like to travel in the rain, in the daytime or nighttime. There probably won’t be too many more of these Sunday night gatherings anyway as the tourist season heats up. The traffic, people and congestion is just too much to have a pleasant evening with friends. No complaints about the seasonal tourists though, we need there business to keep our economy going here in Lower Slower.

This morning I received an interesting comment on my "Census Job Day Five - I Quit" blog. The following is the comment that “Anonymous” left:

"Guess some people get tired of your long-winded posts; the infinite details that are truly boring, and the fact you document every aspect of your life.Maybe you could post more interesting discussions that invite people to participate, rather than to read about your life that is truly focused on yourself in a way that is consistently way too verbose, and tiring to read."

Guilty as charged. My post are detailed. I do that on purpose. That is my style. Yes, I do try to document aspects of my life. Guilty again. In fact, that is the purpose of my blog. It is called a BLOG. That’s short for Weblog. It is a personal journal. It is MY personal journal

“Anonymous” sates “the infinite details that are truly boring….” Perhaps the details are truly boring to him/her. So what? Why read my blog then?

“Anonymous” suggests “Maybe you could post more interesting discussions that invite people to participate, rather than to read about your life that is truly focused on yourself in a way that is consistently way too verbose, and tiring to read.”

I love this comment. This stranger is telling me to post a discussion forum. What? There are thousands if not millions of blogs of this ilk. When I originally started a blog I had one like that. It attracted all kinds of unpleasant and negative people like “Anonymous” who presume to tell me how to write and lead my life. I discontinued that blog because it did nothing but drag me down to the same depths where people like “Anonymous” live. No, that was not a good thing. That isn't where I wanted to go with my blog.

What I love about the Internet and blogs is the freedom to write whatever I want to write about without seeking the approval of people like “Anonymous.” Yes, my blog is about me and I will continue to write in detail about every aspect of my life. I have to admit I do find it fascinating that some people like “Anonymous” feel the necessity to try and dictate how I should write my blog. Displays of arrogance like this always amaze me. This to me is perhaps the main problem with human kind today; some people telling other people how to live their lives. They have an innate inability to live and let live. They abhor freedom. They assume they and only they are always right and anyone who has a different viewpoint on life is wrong. They seek to control and when they can't control that which they cannot control, they strike out in fear with insulting and hurtful words. Frankly, I enjoy receiving these kinds of comments. I love pricking at the oblivous pomposity of self-important czars of Internet like this person.

So "Anonymous", back to the details of my life…….no work next week, I may eat a Clementine or two during the week, perhaps bake a German Chocolate cake (which I haven’t done since my father died August 22, 2000 – it was his favorite cake), might do some gardening if the weather is nice, will vacuum clean the house (haven’t done that in about a month – it’s way overdue), will have to update the mailing list for my 50th high school class reunion, will try to come up with a design for the cover of the 50th class reunion booklet, will try to get some more items for the Clear Space Productions Thrift Shop, will update my Facebook account at least three times a day, will check my e-mail also at least three times a day, will try to reduce my backed up mails to zero (lots of luck on that one), will continue to watch two Netflix movies a week, will keep my partner Bill entertained with my witty conversation and repartee ( I posses a smidgen of French in my vocabulary – my 8th grade English teach Miss Hurlock would be proud), will try to update my genealogy records on Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker, will also try to scan more old photographs into my computer for permanent storage, will try to get rid of the boxes of old correspondence in the dining room, will take more digital pictures of unique scenes as they appear, will continue to work part-time at the hotel and fill in where necessary when other workers have emergencies, will continue to have breakfast every Saturday morning with my partner Bill and our good friend Bob C., will continue to read the four books by Allen Hollingwurst that I got from Amazon.com (Mr. Hollingwurst writes excellent prose), will call my Mom in Pennsylvania to hear her latest complaints about Obama and Nancy Peolosi, will continue to watch my favorite MSNBC programs “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, “Countdown” with Keith Olbermann, and the “Rachel Madow Show”, will continue to have Ralston Purina Corn Chex for breakfast with one ripe banana and 2% low fat milk, will continue to have a scoop of potato salad for lunch with a flour tortilla wrap of roasted red pepper hummus and feta cheese and a side of Pineapple Mango Chipotle Salsa, and for dinner (when I’m not eating out), fresh Romaine Hearts with Parmesan dressing and whatever leftover rotisserie chicken I have on hand that week that I purchased from either the Wal-Mart at Georgetown or Milford. Oh, one more thing. There's a grapefruit in the bottom fruit drawer of the refrigerator that's been there since the Inn Christmas party. I better eat that this week before it turns to mush. Hate to waste food. Waste not, want not I always say.

And that my “Anonymous” friend, are just a few of my favorite things I will be doing all this week. Check my blog daily and I will attempt to fill you in with more detail. Have a wonderful day!

Live While You're Alive

We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madam's tombstone (of Waylon and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: ' Tried everything twice...loved it both times!'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath... And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him and/or her.

6. Disappointments happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Remember: Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. You are worth it!

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

11. Forgive now those who disappoint you and move on. They know not what they do.

Lost time can never be found! So make sure . you find time to love unconditionally.

My Part Time Job

After I retired I laid around the house for about three months, just to unwind and decompress from the nightmare ordeal of selling my house in Pennsylvania. I decided that I wanted to go back to work. However, I didn’t want to work fulltime. I didn’t want to work Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, 50 weeks of the year. As they say, “been there, done that!” I certainly didn’t want to work in a padded cubicle. Really “been there, done that” with all the attendant office politics that go hand in hand with that type of job. At this time of my life, in my waning years I, like many other retirees wanted to do something just for myself. I wanted to work at a job that I truly enjoyed. A job was fun and interesting. Sure, all jobs have their moments but what is life if not a challenge every now and then? I think a little stimulus is what we all need in our everyday life to keep our brains from atrophying. So, I decided to seek a job that I had previously when I was in between my banking jobs – hotel front desk clerk. After applying at several Rehoboth Beach and Lewes hotels, a canal front bed and breakfast inn was astute enough to hire me to work part-time Monday and Thursday evenings and every other weekend – once during the day and the other weekend during the evening. The owner of the Inn hired me after an interview. He is a man of true wisdom. He saw the true value of hiring an “older” employee. Sure, I may have been around the block a few times but I can hold my own with the best and brightest and youngest employee. In my case experience does indeed trump youth and beauty. This was/is an ideal situation for me. Just enough work to keep me active and vital but not so much that it would drain the life out of me. Also, the extra income helps to pay the mortgage that I now have since I had to drop the price of my previous home in Pennsylvania in order to sell it and move to Delaware. That’s another whole story I may, or may not go into in the future. I am a believer in that all things happen for a reason. I truly believe that if I had no trouble selling my previous job I probably would not have found my present job at the upscale, delightful small Inn where I work now. I work with wonderful co-workers, a great boss, and appreciative guests. Best of all, I’m finally working “near the water”. That seems to be just about everybody’s goal in life to either “live near the water” or “work near the water.” I have one out of two which isn’t bad at all.