Busy Day

Bill (with red sweater over his shoulder) returning to Dover Subaru dealership

Another busy day here in Ron's World.  Today I had an appointment at Dover Subaru in Dover (where else?) to have the oil changed in my 2010 Subaru Forester and the 15,000 mile maintenance.

The ride to Dover (where all the dead bodies of our heroes from our foreign adventures are returned to this county) was pleasant on this brisk, sunny, fall day.  The traffic was light on our newly repaved, stimulus fund paid for Route 1.  Hey Republicans, there are a lot of folks working at night repaving that road.

Usually when I take my car for an oil change in Dover, which is quite a trip for us (39 miles one way), I'm in and out.  That didn't happen today.  After I dropped my car off, Bill and I walked to the Dover Mall.  I bought three new pairs of Docker pants for work.  Depressingly my size has changed.  I used to wear a 32 waist and 36 length.  I NOW WEAR 34-34!  My waist is expanding and my legs are shrinking.  Wow.  I'm slowly being squished.

J. C. Penneys at Dover Mall

I also stopped in the Hallmark card shop and bought Bill a birthday card (his 84th is next Wednesday) and a pack of sympathy cards.  So many people in my life are dying.  I don't remember this happening when I was a young whipper snapper eagerly looking forward to the weekends when I could hang out at the local gay bar looking for Prince Charming.  How my life has changed!

Well, I slow-jammed my stay at the Dover Mall, figuring I didn't have to rush. Bill was very patient, finally sitting on a bench like any respectable old guy.  We walk back to Dover Subaru and my car still isn't ready.  By the way, I still have my Halter heart monitor on. I had to turn it in today which I was very glad to do.  I sort of got used to it but I was glad to be rid of it too.

When we got back to the dealership and checked on my car it wasn't ready.  Oh man.  So I played Patient Ron.

Patient Ron - waiting

When my car was finally ready, we made a stop at Sam's Club. I renewed our membership ($40.00 for a year) and bought a rotisserie chicken, fresh made Pillsbury fudge brownies (which are DEE-LICIOUS and I will have some after this blog), oatmeal for Bill and fresh sliced fruit jar for Bill.  These are items we can only get at Sam's Club in Dover.  I love living in Delaware but sometimes shopping is a challenge.  I have to go to one store for my Turkey Hill Diet Decaf Orange Ice Tea (Milford Walmart, big chocolate chunk chip cookies (B.J.'s in Millsboro) and Doritos Blazing chips (Rehoboth Beach Walmart).  Thank goodness Delaware is a small state because I have to go from one end to the other to fulfill my culinary needs.

We got back, took off my Holter heart monitor, had lunch then dropped off my Holter monitor at the Cardiovascular office.  When I handed the front desk lady the bag with the heart monitor she said "Gee, my lunch?"  Little humor in the day.

On the agenda tomorrow is a visit to my dermatologist then to the Georgetown VA for my annual flu shot.  I would like a week (or two) that I can just do nothing.  I'm ready to coast.

Gay Marriage Likely To Go Before Supreme Court Within The Next Year

Me and Bill - 1972

Could it be possible? Could marriage equality, also known as "gay marriage", become  a reality in my lifetime?  Dare I even imagine?

Bill and I often talk about how far our country has come towards ending discrimination against gays and lesbians.  We never thought we would see this in our lifetime.

We remember all to well that it wasn't that long ago that we had to hide who we were for fear of our physical safety and economic survival.

This morning I read on Huff Post where Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that the Defense of Marriage Act would probably come up soon before the Supreme Court this year.  See here.

Last year Delaware passed a civil union law for same sex partners.  Initially Bill and I were going to rush down to the courthouse in Georgetown and get "hitched".  Then we thought, "This still isn't the real thing" and it isn't.  Delaware's civil union law is a second class "marriage" of same sex partners.  To us, it is not equal to a real marriage.  I'm reminded of what a friend of mine said a few years ago after he and his partner of 31 years ended their relationship.  A few years earlier he and his partner traveled to Canada with a lesbian couple and "got married."  After their breakup I asked him "Are you going to get a divorce now?"  His answer was "Oh that wasn't a "real" marriage. That was make believe."  

I think that says it all, those civil unions and all other arrangements that are designed to give same sex couples they are "married" but designed not to offend many heterosexual couples are "make believe."

Maybe, just maybe in our lifetime Bill and I can get married for real.  It's about time, this summer we will mark 49 years together as a couple.  What a nice 50th anniversary present, to get married.

Bill and me - 2011

My Mom Was One of the 47%

My Mom, Isaac and me (center) 1945

Yes, I plead guilty.  I'm one of the 47% of the American public that Republican presidential candidate arrogantly dismissed as "I don't care about them."  I know I've written about Romney's "47%" comment but it bears writing about again.

When I hear a plutocrat like Romney, a man who was born on third base and thinks he hit a home run, a man who was born into wealth and privilege and had every door of opportunity opened to him, a man who was fortunate enough to be born without any physical maladies and a handsome appearance (not my type though, to me he's ugly), I think of this story my late Mother often told me.  That my Mother told me this story is ironic because she was one of those right wing nuts who would only listen to and believe everything Fox News said.

Here is the story.  I was born in 1941 and in the following two years both of my younger brothers were born.  This was during World War II.  My father, who was 4-F and turned down for the draft, was a long distance truck driver.  My Mother, who married my father at 16 years old (I was born when she was 17 years old) was left to raise me and my brothers in a rented, small house in the country.  The house had no plumbing or running water.  Her only source of income was what my father gave her after one of his long distance truck trips.

She said one day during the summer of 1944 she was walking down the country road with me and my brother Isaac  We were crying because he had no food and were hungry.  She did not know what she was going to do.  Finally, at her wit's end, she swallowed her pride and asked her father for money "to buy milk" for her "boys."  Her father gave her $5.00.

Every time my Mother told me this story I asked her why she didn't go on welfare.  Her answer was always the same.  "I couldn't do that.  Only bums do that. Our family weren't bums.  We were just poor."

Knowing how solidly Republican my Mother was later in life she would probably agree with the now infamous quote from Romney on the hidden 47% video:

The Quote "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

My Mom receiving her 25 year award from Pepperridge Farms

Well Mitt Romney, I guess my Mother would pass your test.  She did take "personal responsibility" and care for her life.  My Mother raised her three sons and they worked most of her life for Pepperridge Farms in the frozen foods division.  Did she pass your test Governor Romney?

Heart Monitor Part Deux

Well folks, I'm wearing the Holter (heart) monitor now.  I wish I had read Sean's suggestion that I shave some of my chest hairs before I had these electrodes strapped to my chest this morning.  As soon as I got up after Kim taped them to my chest, I could feel my chest hairs pulling.  Nice.

Then there was the problem of where do I put the wires leading to the monitor box?  In my fly or outside my fly?  I put it outside my fly.  I didn't want to be too suggestive to my fellow shoppers at Food Lion (where I went after the "installation").

Then I ran into another problem when I got home, going to the bathroom.  All those wires when I disassembled my clothing prior to "seating".  Oh, I sit for both No. 1 and No. 2, no splashing No. 1's around this house.

I just got up from my afternoon nap and managed not to get tangled in wires.  I still have the nighttime slumber to go through.

This thing comes off tomorrow morning.  Can't come soon enough.  Talk about an encumbrance.  This is annoying.  But, as some of my blog followers have noted it beats the alternative.

Holter Monitor

Holter Monitor - (model - not me - my photo will appear later)

Today at 10:30 a.m. I get a Holter monitor.  Folks, I am dreading this.

Years ago Bill had to wear one for a day.  I remember what an annoyance it was for Bill.  Now I'm there.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to get the oil changed in my car and 15,000 mile maintenance performed.

Friday an appointment with my dermatologist and then over to the Georgetown VA for my annual flu shot.

Whatever happened to those days when I could just coast through the whole week doing nothing but sitting at my computer; posting to my blog, updating my Find a Grave account and surfing the Internet to see the reactions to the latest Romney presidential campaign fiasco?

I remember years ago when I used to tease my Mother about her week filled with doctor's appointments.  Guess what?  I'm there now.

Ah yes, the "Golden Age" of retirement.

Hidden Camera Catches Romney's Thoughts on the other 47%

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax."




Folks, I am one of those 47 percent who Romney cares nothing about.

I saw this video and heard this quote after I returned home last night at 11:30 PM from my part-time job as a hotel front desk clerk.  One might ask

"You're a senior citizen, collecting Social Security and three small bank pensions, why are you still working at 70 years old?"

I'm working because I need the supplemental income to survive.  I am one of those "victims" who believe the government has the responsibility to care for me.  To Romney, it doesn't matter that I EARNED my Medicare coverage because I paid into it (and am still paying into it) during all years of working.

I EARNED my Social Security payment because I paid into it since 1953 (yes, I was twelve years old when I first started paying into Social Security).  I am STILL paying into Social Security.

I am one of those "victims" who uses the Veterans Administration for my prescription drugs.  I EARNED it by serving three years in the Army when I joined in 1960.  Lifetime medical care, if I needed it, was part of the deal when the Army recruiter talking me into joining the Army.  I EARNED IT.

Last night I picked up my pay stub.  I calculated the TOTAL taxes that I paid and it comes to 21.3%, MORE than Mitt Romney paid in 2010 (13.9%)

I am the sole support of my spouse, who retired in 1983.  He now receives a small Social Security payment.  He also uses the VA for his medical needs.  He EARNED it because he served in the Army and Air Force for nine years.  He left the service to take care of his mother.  He is another one of Romney's "victims."

Yes folks, I am one of those "dependent" Obama voters who will never vote for an out of touch plutocrat like Mitt Romney who HAS NO CLUE OF WHAT MY LIFE IS LIKE.

Notice how the states that have the highest number of people who "don't pay taxes" are Romney's base?

Weekly Roundup

Another week flashed by folks and what a week it was!

This was the week I voted at my new polling location, the Cape Henlopen High School.  What a mess that was!  As usual, the local Slower Lower government (aka Sussex County, Delaware) didn't disappointment with their ineptness in arranging a public location for a civic event which they made almost impossible to access.  Yes folks, the local political mucky mucks arranged to have our new voting location at the Cape Henlopen High School, DURING A SCHOOL DAY, DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL, and WHERE THERE WAS NO PARKING.  Welcome to Sussex County's voter suppression.

Well, after about an hour of dodging and overcoming these hurdles I voted and the next day I was very pleased to discover that BOTH of the gay candidates I voted for WON!  It's about time.  Here on the east coast of southern Delaware, we of the gay community of mainly occupy this little sliver of land from Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Milton are now finally going to have our OWN representation and not have to beg and plead (and kiss ass) with the local STRAIGHT lawmakers to get some equality here for our increasingly gay heavy population.  Yes Virginia, a gay man and a gay woman won election.  See here.

Andy Staton, our new state senator candidate

Yes, Any is "straight friendly."  Congratulations Andy on your victory!

Marie Mayor, new state house representative candidate

Marie has a business nearby where I live called (appropriately) "Lavender Fields."  I would say!  For news of her election victory see here.  Of course these are both primary wins.  I fully expect the straight candidates to pull out all stops to emphasize the fact that they are the "family values" candidates with the prerequisite photos of them and their families, holding their adorable children.  This will be Marie Mayor's Republican opposition in the November general election.

Tom "I'm Straight!" holding Princess Suri

Ernie Lopez, winner of the Republican primary for state senator, with the "Tom Cruise "Look I'm Straight!" holding his daughter (who is old enough to stand on her own two feet).  

The Lopez Family (holding those kids again)

This was the week (staying on the political theme) that the Romney campaign blew itself up by Romney's blatantly political opportunistic Hail Mary pass to take the lead in the presidential race by blaming president Obama for the assault on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo even before it happen.  Romney, by his action this week, showed that he is nothing more than a crass political opportunist who is driven by nothing more than ambition.  This week was Romney's "Lehman Moment".  This in reference to the last presidential campaign when John McCain decided to "suspend" his campaign so he could "fix" the economic crises brought on by the eight years of the Bush-Cheney regime.

Mitt Romney - Loser

Enough for politics. The second in the series of my heart tests went all right (I guess).  I had an echocardiogram.  I was very impressed that my heart has been beating three score and ten years.  Keep on beating heart!

Friday I visited my general practitioner doctor and was pronounced fit to serve another ten years or more of  blog postings.

Yesterday I visited my friends who were removed to a furnished condo, after no longer able to care for themselves.  The one is the same age as me and the other nine years younger than Bill (my love).  Seeing them in their troubled and helpless situation made me realize how fortunate Bill and I are to still have our  good health and our wits about us.  I would like to attribute that happy circumstance to the fact that Bill and I stimulate our minds and bodies with lots of activity unlike our friends who seemed to atrophy after they retired.

I started work my new shift of Mondays and Tuesdays at the hotel, replacing my former shift of Wednesday and Thursday.  Of course I still get the questions of "What are your rooms like?" (NICE!  What do you expect me to say?)  and the ever popular "Do you have a pool?" (NO!)  Working at the beginning of the week instead of smack dab in the middle of the week makes it seem like I have a longer week which is good.

Impatiens

I feel fall in the air.  Unfortunately our resident rabbit in our backyard ate all of our impatiens plants.  Impatiens plants do so well in the fall.  They struggle in the summer heat but provide a wonderful palette of cool color in the fall.  That's not to be this fall so don't look for my annual blog header photo of our impatiens.

Bill and I are off to an abandoned church cemetery in Gumboro, Delaware (near the Maryland border) this morning.  There is a chill in the crisp pre autumn air this morning, perfect for exploring and taking photos in an old Delaware cemetery in the hinterlands.

Have a great week!