So I Got a Cold

I have a chest cold. Big deal you say. Everyone gets a cold in the winter. Well, I usually don't. I must have compromised my immune system somewhere along the way. Anyhow, there's more. On Monday, I went to confession. As I was walking back to my car, I tripped and fell on a perfectly level sidewalk. I am still trying to figure out if it was satan or my Guardian Angel adding to my penance.

As a result, I have a pulled muscle or something under my left breast. Let's add in the cold. Every time I cough, my side hurts. But wait, there's more. I decided to take one of those head, nose and chest OTC medicines. Apparently, there is something in it which causes me to gain weight. I kid you not. I have to decide: do I want relief from the cold or do I want to lose weight? I decided that since the cold is short term, I'll take the medicine.

At least now I don't have to brood over what sacrifice to make for Lent. God provided it.

Electric Use

Algore would be proud. I am really cutting back on my electric use from last year. Even with having all the Christmas lights on, usage went down in December. The difference from last February to this February is a whopping 72 Kwh less! Maybe it's the new electrical equipment. Whatever I am always glad to save electricity because that means saving money!

Local Color

It seems to me that we are losing our individuality in this country. You drive from state to state, town to town and see the same stores and fast food restaurants. In some ways it is good to have a McDonald's right off the highway when you are travelling and don't know the area. But on the other hand, can we not have some local color?

Years ago, I was at a council meeting in Edgewater. Some man was complaining about the hot dog truck on the Fort Lee Hill. As it turned out, it was technically in Fort Lee. But that wasn't the point. What was wrong with it? So, it wasn't an architectural masterpiece. We were all used to it. It was a part of our culture.

I drove past Hiram's this morning. How nice to see this unique business. It's not fancy or high tech. But it adds some panache to the area. Why cross the bridge to go to a McDonald's? But maybe a New Yorker would find it a fun experience.

When I do travel to a new city, yes, I like to get on a tour bus and get my bearings. I want to see the big sites. Who can go to Paris and not visit the Tour d'Eiffel or Arc de Triomphe? But then we want to just stroll down the street and see where the Parisians live, shop and eat. It is fun to get off the beaten path.

And can there be anything more boring than driving on an interstate? Yes, they are practical. But as you drive don't you just want to get off at some random exit and see what is there? I enjoyed the part of the trip to Ithaca when we got off the interstate. A couple of times I have driven home from Atlantic City on Rt. 9. Lots to see and it didn't seem to take that much longer.

I hope we never get to the point where there is no room for a hot dog truck off to the side of the road.

The Depressing 70's

I was listening to Billy Joel's "Captain Jack". It has to be one of the most depressing songs this side of country music ever written. But it describes the 70's perfectly. I would have to say it was the worst decade that I have experienced in my life.

The war in Vietnam was still raging. Finally that ended. That was followed by out of control inflation, high taxes, unemployment, crime, gas shortages and lots and lots of drugs. Oh, let's not forget disco (although I would like to). I didn't think anyone had any hope. New York City almost went bankrupt. The Northeast and upper Midwest were aptly described at the Rustbelt.

Did I mention that there was a credit crunch? I don't remember the details; I just remember it happened.

Sadly, I see so many signs that we may be headed back to the way it was in the 70's. Stay strong!
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I wrote this at the end of December but never posted it. Unfortunately, nothing has improved.

Mr. Hope & Change

Okay, Barack Hussein Obama has been president for 2 weeks and 2 days. I understand that he inherited quite an economic mess. At this time, many Americans are scared as they watch their savings evaporate into Neverland and wonder if they will keep their jobs or ever get a new one if job hunting. How is the president giving us hope? He is telling us that we are in the worst economic times since the Great Depression. He says if we don't pass his stimulus package that our economy may never recover. Gosh, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Whatever happened to "we have nothing to fear but fear itself"?

I love all the changes in his administration. Is there anyone who did not serve in the Clinton administration? When he talked about change, I thought he meant he wanted to bring ethics back to Washington. How many of his appointees have turned out to be tax cheats? Although I have to admit that having a tax cheat as head of the IRS gives me hope that the IRS will not be so tough on the rest of us anymore.

2 weeks and 2 days: I'm already counting down to Jan. 20, 2013.