72, 71 and 67

Me, Barbara and Wayne deCajun at the Henlopen Oyster House today

"Now what is Ron writing about?" you ask.  "72, 71 and 67" are the respective ages of the three kidney stone survivors fine folks in the photo above that was taken today at the Henlopen Oyster House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Today is my neighbor Barbara's 71st birthday.  I know, I know….I can't believe she's 71 years old either.  She can't either.  She told me as much as I drove her down to Rehoboth Beach for lunch this afternoon.  Of course I'm the Old Dude at 72 (that's me on the left in the blue V-neck L.L. Bean pullover 100% cotton sweater).  Wayne deCajun is seated on the right and he, the dear, is the youngster in the group at 67.  

"The Oysters Rockefeller are a bit dry here."

Today was one of those quiet off season days that we locals so cherish.  Gone were the summertime crowds.  Gone was the crush of aggressive motorists looking for ever dwindling parking spaces.  Gone was the sun…..to. It's been raining here today folks…..all day. 

But you'll hear no complaints from this quarter about the rain.  My friend Tom J. of West Chester sent me this photo yesterday proving that he had "six inches"…….of snow.  My friend Larry M. of Claymont Delaware called me on FaceTime yesterday bragging about his "eight inches".

Larry's 8 inches

I'm telling you, these guys….always bragging about how many "inches" they have.  Why it's almost enough to make one feel inadequate.  

Seriously folks, I am SO GLAD we didn't get snow.  SO GLAD.  Oh I know there are those who say "It is so pretty" and "Isn't it nice and Christmasy?"  Tell you what folks, I'll look at the reports on TV and listen to my friends brag about how many inches they got but for me, I'll take a rainy day in Rehoboth any day having lunch with my good friends Barbara and Wayne deCajun.  

So what did we talk about?  Our medical maladies of course. Yes, we have become our parents.  When we get together we exchange horror stories of our journeys through the medical maze that is the lot of 72, 71 and 67 year olds who are exceptionally prone to kidney stones.  Ironically, even though the three of us have had our bouts with kidney stones (and that's saying something), our medical dramas this year are all different.  

We all agreed to meet the same time next year, providing we're still here.  However, a good time was had by all today.

Happy birthday Barbara!

Snow!

That's snow on the ground folks at BJ's this morning! EMERGENCY!

If it's Sunday morning, it's BJ's time!  This morning Bill and I made our usual regular Sunday morning trek to Millsboro and the BJ's Wholesale Club store.  Time to stock up again!

I was out of Panera loaded potato soup, hummus and besides, I had my December coupon book. SPEND RON SPEND!

We made our usual rounds in the giant warehouse, all the Usual Suspects were there.  Not quite as extreme as Walmartians but close…..very close.

Upon leaving we were rudely greeted with SNOW!  Yes Virginia, SNOW!  WTF?  

Earlier in the week I was talking to someone and they said "Oh, I miss the snow."  Say what?  "Whatchoo talkin about Willis?  Folks, I do not miss the snow.  I lived in Pennsylvania long enough to get all my appreciation of snow that stayed on the ground from the first snowfall in November until the last frozen remnants melted in early April.  Oh no folks, I definitely do not miss the snow.  

Get the snow shovels out! Stock up on milk and bread!

I drove our Subaru Forester to BJ's but Bill insisted on driving back home.  He said "You don't know how to drive in the snow."  Oh how long have I heard this lament?  I don't even argue after forty-nine years of that tired old evaluation of my driving abilities.  I do have to admit that Bill has more driving experience than I do, after all he's been driving for about one hundred and ten years but come on, I can drive in the snow.  But we have enough other things to fight about, I just give in on the "you don't know how to drive in the snow" mantra.

Driving through downtown Millsboro this morning

We did get home in one piece.  No accidents, thank God.  All the straight roads down here in Delaware, you would be surprised the number of accidents.  That's because we have more than our fair share of crazy assed drivers but I digress.  

After we got home, and unloaded our Contribution to the Local Economy, I had lunch then my usual afternoon nap.  

After Nap Time, it was time to finish off my Christmas cards.  Bill bitched about that too.  "Who are all these people we're sending cards too?"  This year our Christmas card features our wedding day.  He was concerned that I would send them to the WRONG people.  And who might that be?  We got married Bill.  That's a fact.  Time to bust out of that closet door.  He said he didn't want to upset anyone.  Hey folks, if you know me and you know Bill….we got married this year on our 49th anniversary.  That's news that I'm sharing and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas at the same time and a wonderful and glorious new year.  Poor Bill, he's still of the old school that he doesn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers.  I say it's time to ruffle feathers.  Don't you agree?

Bill selectively signing only SOME of the Christmas cards

Christmas Cards

Me and my Mom and my Christmas card "take" at my center city Philadelphia home 1978 - I still have those cards!

This evening I finished addressing my Christmas cards.  I'm a bit late this year.  No reason other than maybe I'm just not really into the holiday season.  Oh I like the sparkling lit Christmas trees and the goodwill.  Not so much on the caroling (I HATE the Partridge in the Pear tree song and all the "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Santa Clauses that seem to be in every other commercial).  And of course I don't like all the commercialism but other than that, I like the Christmas or "holiday" season.  

Me at "Christmas Card Central"

The one "holiday" activity I do like is sending Christmas cards.  This is the one time of year I have the opportunity to let my friends and relatives, who have moved away, that I am still alive and they are still alive.  Unfortunately, this year I just discovered yesterday that two of my longtime friends had died in the past year, one the day after Christmas last year.  I am saddened by the knowledge of that fact. Ironically both of these individuals I once tried to fix up with each other.  She was interested but he wasn't.  It was a shame because they both died single.  Both fine folks.  

I used to kid my friend Rich that he was the only person I knew who had a birthday that the whole city of Philadelphia used to celebrate every New Year's Day with a massive, all day parade. Every year I kidded him about that and every year he took my kidding. He was very gracious about my annual lame joke.

Addressing and sending my Christmas cards, most with a little note (I don't do "the letter") is my one enjoyable Christmas activity of which I have never tired.  By the way, if  you're on my Christmas card list, don't feel obligated to do a tit for tat.  You don't to send me a Christmas card just because I sent one to you.  I send the Christmas cards because I truly want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

This year's Christmas card (the cat's out of the bag now)

Note:  95 cards this year broken down this way:

Arizona - 1 (you know who you are)
California - 5
Connecticut - 1
Delaware - 12 (newly adopted state)
Florida - 2
Georgia - 3
Louisiana - 1
New Jersey - 5
Nevada - 2
New York - 1 (you know who you are)
North Carolina - 2
Ohio - 1
Pennsylvania - 45 (former home state)
South Carolina - 6
Tennessee - 2
Virginia - 5
Canada - 1 (and you definitely know who you are)

Converting Old 8 mm Films to iMovie

Yesterday my sister-in-law Barbara sent me an e-mail requesting a clip of an old 8 mm movie that I had transferred from VHS format to a DVD.  I would be glad to do this for her but there was one BIG problem.  How do I convert the DVD to an iMac compatible video?  Oh woe is me.  My brain was going to get exercised again.

Hey folks, I'm no tech guru, far from it.  I'm a 72 year old man with a brain that is cluttered with the debris of over 40 years of office work.  I don't have the clear (empty) head of my boss's five year old daughter who probably knows more about computers than I do.  And to be quite frank, I'm sometimes just plain afraid to mess around with my computer lest I cause it to explode.

But folks, I've been putting off this latest challenge, converting my old VHS tapes to DVD then to iMac.  Thy name is procrastination.

Well folks, I could put it off no longer.  I jumped right in today and figured it all out.  Yes, I DOOD it.  And yes, my head is hurting right now but I finally got that short black and white film of me departing from the family home in April of 1960 for Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, after I finished Army basic training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.  Wow, was I EVER that young?  

So here it is folks, Chapter One of the Old Family Films.  Some of you may not find it interesting but hey, this is my blog and I find these old films fascinating.  Plus, I'm leaving a history behind which is my goal now that I am entering my Twilight Years.  It's all good folks.  Enjoy!

Birthday Lunch in Rehoboth!

"Ya want some of this?  Oysters Rockefeller."

My friend "The Cajun" invited me to a birthday lunch today.  In years past we used to treat each other to lunch on our birthdays.  However, the past few years (the time goes by so fast), we've missed a few birthdays. 

A few days ago I was talking to The Cajun on FaceTime (he's on my growing list of FaceTime contacts) and he invited me to lunch with him today at The Henlopen Oyster House in Rehoboth Beach.  Of course, non fish eater than I am, I immediately responded "I don't eat fish."  He said "Get an hamburger then!"  Well folks, I did get a hamburger and I have to tell you it was probably the best hamburger I've ever had since we moved to Delaware seven years ago.  Will wonders never cease?  I think the secret ingredient was FRESH HAMBURGER and not the usual frozen patties which is a whole different animal.  

So here is an accounting of my little adventure today to meet The Cajun for lunch.  I was to meet him at 12:30.  I only live ten miles from Rehoboth, a straight shot (well, not really, probably a "gay" shot but I digress) up the infamous Route 1.  This is the off season so I thought "No problematico."  HA!  Little did I take into account today is the DAY AFTER BLACK FRIDAY and I had to drive past all the outlet malls on Route 1.  Plus this is "Shop Local Day" so everybody and their grandmother is out of their houses and in Rehoboth.  IT TOOK ME FORTY-FIVE MINUTS TO MAKE THE TEN MILE RIDE FROM MY HOME TO REHOBOTH BEACH.  

The Cajun had suggested to me to save a seat for him if I got to the restaurant early.  HA!  By the time I parked and braved the cold wind and gray skies to Wilmington Avenue, I was already five minutes late.  Here is what I saw waiting for me as I entered The Henlopen Oyster House (yes, I stopped to take a photo but as anyone who knows me knows I take a LOT of photos, something one has to tolerate with moi). One does have to be patient with me (but it's worth it folks!)

Waiting for Godot Ron

Once in and settled, I could see The Cajun was selected a good restaurant. I had never been here before but I knew I The Henlopen Oyster House immediately.  Again, my friend The Cajun has demonstrated his impeccable taste.  Unfortunately I don't have good taste in restaurants but I do have good taste in friends.  Just saying.  

"Another picture?"

Our hunky waiter came by and asked us if we were ready to order. Again, another GOOD sign. Restaurants, you want good business straight and gay? Hire hunky, friendly waiters (and waitresses) but mainly WAITERS. We gay guys (and straight women) like eye candy too you know. Who cares about the straight men? They can go to Hooters down the street. It's refreshing to go to a restaurant that appreciates at least HALF of the clientele would like to see good-looking men waiting on them. Just saying.

Two of the help at The Oyster House. Easy on the eyes..…front or back.

First thing I do is ask our handsome and very friendly waiter to take our picture. He happily complies and takes this picture of we two old gay geezers.  Hey, doesn't cost anything to make two past their prime (and I'm not saying "it") gay men happy.  

Me and The Cajun

Someday they too will be OLD like me and The Cajun and they'll ask some nice, pleasant, handsome, and young waiter to take their picture.  The old "what goes round come round."  Isn't that from the Lion King?  But I digress…..again.

Time to order.  Since it was my birthday I ordered a festive (as The Cajun often says) drink, this time an Eggnog Martini.  Slurp! Slurp!  It was most wonderful and did give me the proper giddy buzz for which I am well known in these parts.

Then time to order.  I ordered the hamburger.  

Hamburger and Fries - my usual

What a pleasant surprise. This was probably the best hamburger I've ever had in Rehoboth Beach. But I already said that didn't I? Well, it bears saying again. The best! I will write a positive review for The Henlopen Oyster House.

But the best thing about our lunch today?  Seeing my old friend The Cajun.  Thank you The Cajun!  A most enjoyable lunch.

The Henlopen Oyster House 50 Wilmington Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE

http://www.hcoysterhouse.com

Lavender Lad

Me, yesterday at work.  I cannot tell you what my co-worker Robert told me to bring this smile to my face (you don't want to know but we DO have fun)

So how was your Thanksgiving?  Mine was just dandy. I worked at the hotel yesterday from 3 pm to 11 pm.  I don't mind working the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas because the guests are (almost) always in a cheerful and upbeat mood.  Unlike wedding guests (the worst), holiday guests are happy.  They don't seem to be as demanding as the usual wedding guests are.  

Yesterday I wore my new purple outfit to work.  Purple or lavender is probably my favorite color. So hard to get though for men.  This sweater I got from L.L. Bean which is a new thing for them.

 Usually, the only colors available for men's sweaters from L.L. Bean are gray, brown and black.  Come one L.L. Bean!  Get some color!  The really lively colors are for the women.  

I've often wondered "Why doesn't L.L. Bean make colors available for ALL the people?"  Well, finally they have.  Maybe, just maybe diversity is catching up with that staid institution of manliness called L.L. Bean.

Well folks, today is Black Friday.  Leaving work last night after 11 pm and driving north on Rt. 1 to Casa Tipton-Kelly, I witnessed the once a year phenomena called "Driving to the Rehoboth Outlet Mall to take advantage of Black Friday stores opening at 12 am."  Egads!  Can you believe it?  Folks driving down at midnight to SHOP!  Every year I am amazed at that steady steam of headlights headed south on Rt. 1 in the darkness of the cold night.  Nothing is worth that.  Are you kidding?

Well today I have to figure out what to do with this turkey (a real one, not Bill) that our neighbors so graciously gave us for Thanksgiving.  I think I can freeze a lot of the white meat to use in future meals.  I'll have to check it out.  I love turkey though and especially left over turkey.  I'm sure I can come up with some very interesting concoctions for that turkey meat.

What's to to this weekend?  I called my friend Ed who was down for the annual Gay Man's No Place to Go for Thanksgiving dinner. This year the dinner was held at Tim's and Mile's house.  Unlike many years past when it was held at Bob and Jim's but both Bob and Jim are in La La Land the Brandywine Senior Living Center these days so other "arrangements" had to be made.

 My friend Ed said he doesn't know how much longer the annual Gay Man's No Place to Go for Thanksgiving dinner will be held.  Attendance was down to nine this year.  In Bob and Jim's heyday the attendees sometimes totaled two dozen and two turkeys (not including the attendees).  I suggested to Ed that maybe he cold hold the dinner at his place but he shot that suggestion down even before I could finish my sentence.  I'm certainly not holding it at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  My once a year Bloggerpalooza is my thing.  I've done the family reunions.  The poor attendance at this year's reunion has cured me of that folly.  I won't be organizing any more reunions but the Bloggerpalooza I will.  That's a lot of fun with fun people.  I never did like the annual Gay Man's No Place to Go for Thanksgiving dinner because it seemed to me to be a place to get hit on by dirty old men.  At least that was always my experience.  Yes, I'm going down THAT road.  Just telling it like it is folks.  I'll tell you, it's not all fun being a Man Magnet like I am.  

Yep, that's me in the center in front of the curtain (certain old men's picture have been altered because they get their noses out of when I post pictures to the Internet)

So folks, I hope you all have a good day.  After Bill eats his breakfast we're out of here for our Daily Ride.  

Tomorrow I'm going out to lunch with my dear friend The Cajun at the Henlopen Oyster House.  That's right, I don't eat sea food but as The Cajun said "Get a hamburger!"  And indeed, I will.

A "Wimpy" hamburger (with all the fix ins!) at the Purple Parrot in Rehoboth Beach. Yep, that's cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion and tomato and FRENCH FRIES topped off with a lime margarita but  but what kind of glass is THAT for a margarita?

Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Morning

Feeding the seagulls this morning at Rehoboth Beach

How are you doing on this Thanksgiving morning folks?  

Today, here in good old southern Delaware the sun is bright (blindly so) and the temperatures are frigid ) 23 degrees when I woke up this morning by a "Happy Thanksgiving" message on my iPhone from my fellow blogger friend Dr. Spo from Phoenix, Arizona (what TIME does HE get up?)

After a quick breakfast of bran flakes (with 100% of all the vitamins available - taste like dried leaves but it is good for me so my urologist tells me) topped with a sliced banana, we were on our way to Rehoboth Beach.

A deserted Rehoboth boardwalk this morning - frigid temperatures!

For many years now on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day I clean out some of the old food items from my frig an take it to Rehoboth Beach to feed the seagulls.  This morning on the menu were veggie dogs from a few weeks ago that made me sick (I can't handle hot dogs in any form but I keep trying).  Of course the sea gulls were most appreciative.

I like making the ten mile straight shot down Route 1 on these holidays because there is hardly any traffic and the sea gulls ARE APPRECIATIVE.

I worked at the hotel last night as is usual on Thanksgiving and Christmas, the guests were all so nice.  Unlike so many of our guests we have in for a wedding, the holiday guests are almost invariably in a good mood and most cheerful.  That's why I don't mind working the holidays, that where I get a lot of my holiday spirit from.  I don't need me and stinking Black Fridays, I feed off the goodwill and bonhomie of these delightful holiday guests.

Bill called me at the hotel last night with quite a surprise.  Our wonderful neighbors brought over a WHOLE TURKEY for me and Bill. Folks, I cannot tell you what wonderful folks our neighbors are. We have truly been blessed.  

Bill digging into his Thanksgiving turkey (courtesy of our neighbors Bob and Barbara) early this morning - turkey for breakfast with a dollop of mayonnaise for Bill!

I have so much to be thankful for today but next to my health I have to say I am most thankful for (in no particular order):

• Bill
• All my friends
• My job
• My health
• My wonderful home
• Living in a state like Delaware which recognizes me (and Bill) and regular human beings instead of gay pariahs
• All my friends (oops!  I already said that didn't I?)
• And those special friends (they know who they are)

These days I'm getting a little long in the tooth (no, I'm not going to die anytime soon although I do like to tweak some of my friends by belaboring that point).  I see others who are my age or young tottering around like they're on their last leg.  They have given up hope.  They think their life is over.  Well folks, everyday I get up it is a New Beginning for me.  I feel as if my life has just begun.  And for that, I am so thankful.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Yours truly before going to work yesterday - 72 years young and still working! I started my first job as a paper boy when I was 10 years old, before any of my friends had a job.  They have since retired (except for my friend Stuart) and moi is still working.  Mom would be proud of me (since she got me that paperboy job way back in 1951).