Day in Philly

Sunday was my day in Philly.

Having living and worked in Philly for over thirty years, I visit as often as I can.  

Delaware Tech offered a $39.00 round trip to Philly this past Sunday.  How could I pass up that opportunity?  

I had to get up early to catch the Jor-Linn bus leaving from the Delaware Tech campus in Georgetown.  Real early.

Always my worry in getting up early for a trip is my "bathroom needs" before the trip.  When I was young I didn't worry about such bodily functions but now that I have aged, I no longer have complete control over my bodily functions. Thank goodness my body cooperated with me on Sunday morning and "everything" came out fine.

The bus was going up for the Philadelphia Flower Show.  In previous years I paid the ticket price for the Flower Show, just to get to Philly for the 2 1/2 trip in the comfort of a big bus.  Those tickets were $89.  Now the ticket is $99 for the ride and flower show.  Just between you and me, the Philadelphia Flower Show never impressed me.  Just a bunch of vendors centralized at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  And oh, the CROWDS, so crowded.  No fun folks.  I'm glad I had the option this year to buy a ticket for the ride without the flower show option.

Getting on the bus at the Delaware Tech campus for the trip to Philly this past Sunday morning

The main reason I wanted to go to Philly was to visit my longtime friend and former co-worker Don McK.  Don lives in center city Philly. 

I talked him into switching from the God awful Windows operating system to an Apple iMac during my last visit to him last fall. But Don has a learning curve that he needs help with, and that was my goal during this visit to Philly.  And of course I always like visiting Don and sharing our Old Man Medical Issues.  Always fun.




As during my last trip, rain was forecast.  Lucky for me the rain didn't begin until I left Don's place and made the race for the bus.  And yes folks, I almost missed the bus again.  Just like last trip.  

I arrived in Philly at about 10:30 AM.  I walked to Don's co-op at 21st and Walnut from the Convention Center.  I don't walk like I used to.  When I lived and worked in Philly I didn't have to deal with my arthritic legs, hips and back.  Now I do.  Plus, there is so much construction in center city Philly, I had to make numerous detours. 

I arrived at Don's co-op and was admitted into the confines of his concierge guarded building at about 11 AM.  Got to his apartment and we spent about an hour updating our medical histories.  Then to his computer.  I showed him how to created folders for his porn Internet copied photos he had on his desktop. I told him "You don't want those photos laying around your desktop Don. And oh, can you forward me THAT one?"

After about an hour of iMac instruction, our stomachs were growling.  We were hungry!

Lunch at "More Than Just Ice Cream", a wonderful mostly gay restaurant off of 12th Street just around the corner from Walnut Street.  We took the SEPTA bus down.  Free ride for us, we just show our Medicare cards.  You see folks, there are some benefits once you reach the Geezer Stage.

Don and me in front of "More Than Just Ice Cream" restaurant 

After lunch, back on the bus, back to Don's apartment.  With the cleared desktop, we were ready to move Don's tax files from his old and SLOW Dell Windows based computer to his brand, new FAST iMac computer.  I just about completed the job when we both noticed I had only about twenty minutes to get to the Del Tech bus.

I called my tour director and told her I was on my way.  I wish I had a video of me hobbling down Market Street towards the Convention Center. Again, I kept encountering streets completely blocked off for construction of new skyscrapers.  Man oh man, has center city Philly ever changed.  Gone are the days when I worked there and most of the tall buildings, none taller than City Hall, were mostly office buildings.  Now that the computer has effectively eliminated the need for all those low paid office workers (me, being one of them), that prime real estate in center city Philly is quickly being converted into condos, co-ops, hotels (the bank where I formerly worked is now the Ritz-Carlton hotel) and apartments.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel formerly the Girard Bank - Philadelphia, PA

Lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel

All with high monthly fees.  I've been priced out folks.  Even the modest row house where Bill and I used to live in center city is now worth over $600,000.  We bought it for $27,000 in 1969 and sold it for $95,00 in 1980.  And at that time I thought I made a killing with that "huge" profit.  Anyway, I digress.

Bill going into the garage at our row house in center city Philadelphia - 1976 - check out his blue Maverick 

I got to the convention center but I couldn't find the bus.  I saw a couple of police officers on the corner of one of the convention center buildings.  I asked "where do the busses come in?"  They directed me to around the corner.  Stepping over several stinky homeless people mounds on the ground (some things never change in Philly), I found the Delaware Tech bus waiting for me. The bus was leaving at 4:15 PM.  I boarded the bus at 4:12 PM.  Three minutes to spare!  Seriously folks, I don't like cutting things that close.  

We depart center city Philly and the rains began. Luck was with me folks.  

An as I and the other whiteheads (old people) departed Philly, I reflected "Another good day in my old hometown."  

I return to Philly in early May.  I'll meet my Pat, my Canadian Travel Buddy.  We'll spend a week at Don's then down here to Lower Slower for three days. 

Life is good folks.

P.S.
The banner photo today is of the tree line at the Delaware Tech campus where I was waiting for my bus

Saturday Rant

Four Rethuglicans who can't wait to destroy this country should they get into power - Evil, evil, evil

Just got off the phone with my insurance company. So frustrating with these automated phone systems.  The good news is that I don't need my landline anymore while waiting for the "Your call is important to us" now wait a half an hour like you have nothing else to do while we try to straighten out OUR mistake in billing you.  

Folks, the main reason I had a landline was for those time I was put on hold.  Which, is as you all know when you call for HELP you're ALWAYS put on hold and hear the message "Your call is important to us" now wait while we f--k you over by wasting your time.  Oh, they have a new thing now, they'll call you back because "We realize your time is important to you and we want you to keep your place in line so we will call you back, just press One."  Uh huh, I press "One" and still get an automated call back and I STILL have to wait.  Then I still had to wait another twenty minutes until I got a live person on the phone.  

"Your call is important to us" Sure! Then why am I kept on HOLD so long?

So frustrating.  Well, at least I got them to back out the mistaken charge they put on my bill.  

Talk about frustration.  Have you all bee following the presidential contest?  First of all, the Republicans.

Check out the photo atop of this blog posting.  What a sorry bunch of liars, phonies, and egotists.  And now Trump has brought us to a new low.  I used to think he was amusing.  Now he just scares the hell out of me.  And as for the rest, really folks, is this the best we can do?

On the Democratic side (and yes I say "Democratic" and not "Democrat" as the evil Rethuglicans like to spout these hate filled days).  Hillary is going to get the nomination.  I don't even listen to any of the DEMOCRATIC coverage.  Nada.  I like Bernie Sanders but seriously folks, you think he can get anything done with Congress as long as it is controlled by the Rethuglicans who want to privatize both Medicare and Social Security so their Wall Street masters can have access to that massive honey pot of money so they can even further engorge enrich themselves at the expense of the middle class?  

Oh I know all about the Hillary Haters (frankly I never go that but who am I to judge as Pope Frances said except when he met with homophone Kim Davis but I digress).  

You know folks, I actually think that the Orange Faced Liar 

should be the Republican nominee.  The White House has to stay in Democratic control to prevent the aforementioned further dismantling of the social safety net.  I have an immediate interest here folks because I DEPEND on Medicare and Social Security for survival.  You want to save Social Security, take the cap off of the earnings limit and so the billionaires like The Reptilian Monster can pay their fair share of taxes.  God knows they have benefited massively from the American system already.  They won't miss those extra dollars so Melania can buy another two hundred pairs of shoes.  Oh yes folks, we have our own Imelda Marco right here in River City.  But I digress.

The new First Family - a stuffed lion - really?

The good news.  I'm going to Philly tomorrow to see my friend Don McK.  Good to get away from this mess that's on TV.  I need to clear my brain.  Sort of like a flush out. 

Spring is Here!

The calendar says Spring doesn't arrive until Palm Sunday, March 20th.  But folks, I'm telling you Spring is here!  

Yesterday the temps were up to 77 degrees.  I took sought to take advantage of the spring like temperatures and began laying flagstone around my compost pile.  I had to quit after about an hour of that hard labor, I was sweating.  I had to quit folks.  I am of that age that if I get overheated there may be serious consequences.  Bill said even he got dizzy working outside.  We both came inside to the cooler climes of Casa Tipton-Kelly.

Me yesterday putting a border of leftover flagstones around my compost pile

Note the picture at the header. It is of the double wide where my late friend Bob McC. lived with his husband Jim D.  That photo was taken last week a day after our last snow (I hope).  That place, scene of many a good times is now abandoned.  Now only a sad reminder of what was and will never be again.

These days I have new friends and new "good times."  One day too Casa Tipton-Kelly will be no more, only a faint reminder of the happy and contented life that Bill and I enjoy now.

Today I go to work for my regular 3 to ll PM shift at the hotel.  The hotel is undergoing complete renovations thus creating some discombobulation of everyone's regular routine.  But all that will be well worth it because I'm telling you folks, that hotel is absolutely fabulous now.  I am so proud to work there. I don't work in any dumps. Oh okay, I'll admit it.  I am a hotel snob. 




I'm back on my regular shift.  I don't like switching around every week.  I lose track of when I'm supposed to work plus I can't plan my "other" life.  Right now I have a balance that works for me.  Part-time work and retirement doing what I want and enjoying doing.  If I'm working all the time, especially filling in on short notice, then I feel like one of those firemen who sleep at the firehouse waiting for a call to slid down the pole and fight the latest fire.  I don't mind filling in occasionally folks, but not all the time, on a regular basis. I work part-time.  I'm not a substitute worker. 

I'm posting two videos to You Tube I took.  One of the renovations at the hotel and the other of the new daffodils that have arrived this Spring at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  Hopefully I'm not infringing on anyone's copyright status.  Most of my last videos that I posted to You Tube were blocked by You Tube because I dared to have background music in them.  God forbid I would prevent one of these overpaid entertainers from getting a few more pennies for their "art."  It's not like I have ads on my blog and I'm making money from posting those videos.  What a time we live in folks, every one is so hyper about political correctness and copy right infringement but yet we're bombarded every day with incessant ads from all angles.  Thank God I got rid of my land line which I DON'T MISS AT ALL.  At least I stopped that one form of ad harassment. Should've done that a LONG TIME AGO.

Okay, I'm ranting now and I shouldn't be.  Such a beautiful day outside.  Think nice things Ron.

Me at work with my "Barney" sweater

Colonoscopy Time Again

That time again?

Oh yes, I can no longer deny the inevitable.  It is colonoscopy time again.  

I had my last colonoscopy in 2011.  My family on the male side, has a history of colon cancer.  My uncle Sam and my cousin Jeffery, both who always refused to have colonoscopies, both died of colon cancer.  I'll always remember what my Aunt Shelby (Uncle Sam's wife) told me when she urged her husband to have a colonoscopy.  He said "No man is going to stick his finger up my ass!"  Well, he's dead now.  He was only 67 years old.

My cousin Jeffrey was only 49 years old when he died of colon cancer.

This year I will be 75 years old.  I've lived a long time but I would like to live a few years longer.  Maybe ten or fifteen years longer?

I'll take another 24 years!

I've had four colonoscopies so far.  My second colonoscopy the doctor found two benign polyps. Although not cancerous, such polyps could turn cancerous if left undetected.

Thank goodness I'll be knocked at at this juncture

So here we go folks. While the actual colonoscopy is a "breeze", the difficult part is the night before when you have to take the prep.  God, it is awful.  

You have to drink four liters of a green solution (eight ounces every half hour) that tastes like lime flavored antifreeze.  Then, and this the "best" part, once the solution hits, you peeing out your ass a black solution.  Sorry folks if I grossed out anyone but man oh man, I'm not looking forward to this.

My first appointment is April 18th, to go over my medical history since my last colonoscopy.  Here we go folks.  

By the way, I called Medicare this morning to see if I was eligible.  Oh yes, I am a glutton for punishment but hey, I'm not ready to check out yet.  So I do what I must to maintain this aging body for a few more years of good times.

Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan died today.

Nancy Reagan
1921 - 2016

I'm always surprised by my reaction to the deaths of public figures.  There are times which I expect to be very sad and I am not.  Then there are times I don't expect to be sad but I am. Today, when I heard of the passing of Nancy Reagan, I am experiencing profound sadness.

Nancy Reagan, widow of former president Ronald Reagan brought class to the White House.  

Today, during the most base and vulgar campaigning of the Republican presidential candidates, remembering Nancy Reagan brings back memories of a better time in this country. 

During her lifetime, Nancy Reagan received much criticism but always responded with grace and class.  

Nancy Reagan, actress

Nancy, our country will miss you.  Real class and dignity. 

Nancy and Ronnie

Santa Monica Pier

Me on a cloudy day at the Santa Monica Pier

Back to California folks!  I still have many photos and videos to share of our annual January trip to sunny California.

Today the photos are of the day we spent at the fabled Santa Monica Pier.  

Pat at Santa Monica Pier

This is the second year we have visited California.  This is our annual tradition now, to "punch a hole in winter" and visit sunny California.  However, this year there wasn't so much sun in sunny California but we had a good time anyway.  Matter of fact, Pat and I always have a good time wherever we go.  We're good traveling buddies. 

Pat and Ron, the Intrepid Traveling Duo at the Santa Monica Pier selfie - hey! It was a little breezy that day

We don't have any set schedule of places we want to see prior to our flight out to California.  We just meet up in Philadelphia, take the five hour flight, land at LAX, rent a car at Enterprise Car Rental, check in at the Hollywood Bed and Breakfast and go from there.  Our only "must" is to eat at the Veggie Grill at 8000 Sunset Boulevard, right across from the legendary Chateau Marmot hotel.

Last year, we made it a point, actually I made it a point to touch the Pacific Ocean.  Just because I live so near the Atlantic Ocean here.  That we did. Regular followers of my blog probably remember that "Ron and Pat Show" video we made of that toe dipping adventure.  When we were at the Santa Monica Beach last year I saw the famous Santa Monica Pier but we were too late.  It was just about to close.  So this year we got to Santa Monica earlier so we could partake of the Santa Monica Pier.  

Is that a rainbow flag behind me?  Well, I'll be!

So how did I like it?  Of course I loved the Santa Monica Pier.  I would go back again.  Now next year's goal will be to make it to Venice Beach.

I'll pump it up for our visit to Venice Beach next year

So many places to see, so little time.

Trump's Small Hands

Trump displaying his "baby" hands

Well folks, it looks like Donald J. Trump is well on his way to the Republican nomination.  I'm listening to the results of the Super Tuesday primary as I write this blog.

I could say so much about this impending disaster of Trump getting the Republican nomination and actually getting elected president (wake me up, I MUST be dreaming!), but I'm only going to address one subject in this blog.  Trump's small hands.

I was surprised when Marco Rubio also noticed how small Trumps hands were.  I noticed the same thing during the first Republican debate.  

I just happened to notice his smallness of his hands while Trump was waving them about and pointing his finger while making a point.  I thought "Why, he has doll's hands!"  I thought my TV somehow distorted how small his hands were. But now I know, he DOES have those little "baby" hands.  Man oh man Donald Trump.  

All I can say is I'll repeat what Marco Rubio said:

"You know what they say about a man with small hands . . . . YOU CAN'T TRUST THEM!"  

Wow, these are tiny hands

By the way, in case you're wondering . . . . . yes, I have large hands. You can trust me. 

Me and my "paws" after a visit to my dermatologist's office when he took another piece out of my face 

I have big feet too.