Snow

Here's our big weekend snow. As you can see, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

While I enjoy the snow, I feel for the people in the rest of the northeast who lost power. They are suffering now.

It seems that old large trees are a mixed blessing. In the spring they signal a return of life after winter, in the summer they provide shelter from the sun and sometimes the rain. In the fall, they offer a world of color before the bare branches of winter. Because so many trees still had their leaves, the wet snow was too much for them. They collapsed under the weight onto the power lines.

I hope those people affected get their power back before too long.

WE HAVE SNOW!!!!

Winter has arrived. It's a little early, but I'm not complaining.

After a day of rain and some flurries, it's snowing now. If my mother was right, I'm going to be very happy this winter.

She had an Old Wives Tale or superstition about snow. She said that the date of the first snowfall predicted the number of snowstorms we would have. Since today is October 29, it looks like we will have 29 snowstorms this winter. I'm so happy. Let me enjoy today before you hate me for wishing all this snow on us.

Now maybe October 29 will be remembered for the first snowfall (a record) and not the big crash in 1929.

Firsts

Today I had my "city fix". The community organized a bus ride into the city. It's a great arrangement. We get there around 11:00 and have time to do whatever we want as long as we meet the bus by 5:00.

I made arrangements to meet a friend downtown for lunch. I had hoped that we could have a longish lunch, but she had to get back to the office (poor working girl who's too young to retire). It was raining and I had forgotten how windy it gets downtown. The wind was so strong, even I had trouble walking and at one point, it even nudged me a little. Anyway, we had a very pleasant lunch, I caught up on the latest office gossip and her family.

After lunch, I had about three hours to kill. If it had been a nicer day I would have wandered over to Zucotti Park to see the protesters, but by then I was a little wet and my hair had been blown straight by the wind.

I went back to midtown to kill the time for the bus. There's a nice hotel in the area, so I decided to go and sit in the lobby for a little while and maybe get a cup of coffee. Well, there were seats, but no coffee. I sat for a little while and then I saw the bar and decided to get a glass of wine.

Here's where the firsts come in. I had never in my long lifetime sat at a bar by myself. Whenever I've gone to a bar, it's always been in a group and usually, we get a table. Today was different. I got up my nerve and ordered a glass of wine which I didn't pay for right away (I don't know the proper protocol, probably should have paid as soon as I got my glass). I soon realized I was in trouble when a man came up and ordered two beers and paid $20. I then paid my bill and stayed a while eating the complimentary peanuts. I don't want to say how much my wine cost, but I will say I could have bought a good bottle of wine for less than the cost of the glass. Needless to say I only had one glass.

So there you have it. For the first time in my life I went into a bar (although at those prices, it's probable more of a cocktail lounge) by myself and the first time I ever paid more for a glass of wine that I would pay for a good bottle of the same thing.

I don't think I'll be doing that again any time soon. But I do love to get my "city fix".

Finding the Good in a Job

Last week when I was doing my monthly food shopping I met a young man, probably a high school senior. He was working the register. That's his job now, but I believe if he keeps the attitude he has now, he will be a success in his chosen field.

He was friendly, we started discussing cats, since I bought about 20 cans of cat food and six bags of Temptations. He also has two cats, their names are Thelma and Louise, but I think my names are better - Crash and Burn, but I digress.

After he finished checking all my purchases, he stretched out my receipt. It disappointed him though, he was hoping it would be a record as the longest he had ever had. It came in a close second.

I was impressed by his willingness to find something good and interesting about his work. Checking out purchases in a supermarket can get pretty boring, yet he did it cheerfully while looking for something different or unusual. I predict that he enthusiasm he has shown in his job will take him far in his chosen career.

Chauvinism

I was born and raised in New York and moved to New Jersey six years ago. I still consider myself a New York and nowhere has that been more evident than this afternoon.

I was speaking with one of my friends when she got a notice on her cell that there was breaking news. She checked and saw that the Governor had endorsed one of the candidates for President. Fortunately I kept my thoughts to myself as I wondered why Gov. Cuomo (NY) a democrat was endorsing a republican candidate. It dawned on my a few minutes later that the report on the New Jersey news was that Gov. Christi had decided to endorse Mitt Romney.

I guess I'm still a New Yorker at heart. Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker.

What Day is It

Happy Monday!

This morning I did what most retirees do. When I woke up, I had to lay there and try to decide what day it is.

At first I thought it was Saturday, but remembered that I had just seen As Time Goes By. Then, I thought it was Sunday and I had better get up for church. No, I had just been to church yesterday.

Voila! It must be Monday.

To add to my confusion about the day, I had trouble publishing this and my last post through Explorer. I finally accessed it through Google Chrome and it worked.

Have a good day, whatever day it is and however you access the internet.

The Last Prejudice

I'm ashamed of those running for the Republican nomination. I truly thought they were above that.

So Mitt Romney is a Mormon, so what. Grow up folks. I have never heard in any of his speeches that he intends to convert the country to his religion. We should listen to what he says and how he has lived his life. I admit that I don't know too much about the teachings of Mormonism, but I do know that they don't advocate killing non-believers.

What really saddens me is that way back in the day when his father was active in politics and attempted a run for president there was no mention of his religion (at least as far as I can remember). And that was back in the dark ages of the 60's.

Why have we become so afraid of one person's religion. Shouldn't we judge him on his record, how he has treated people?

Now for the disclaimer. I am not a Mormon, I am a Roman Catholic and I haven't made up my mind on my favorite Republican candidate, but this week I prefer Herman Cain.

It's time for all those Republican's who want to be president to stand up and denounce any religious prejudice that is so prevalent now.

Computers, TV and Control

Over the past few months I've been having computer problems. I had to replace my old computer and that resulted in having to reinstall several programs and solve other technical problems. So many times I've had to give permission for the tech or my son 3000 miles away to take over control of my computer.

Each time, I remember an episode of Criminal Minds where several women were murdered after (as the investigators eventually found out) working with a tech who had taken control of their computer. That does make me a tiny bit nervous.

Giving control of my computer also reminds me of that old TV series, The Outer Limits, where an unseen voice announces "There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits." It is a very strange feeling to be sitting there watching programs open and close while I do nothing.

Fortunately, after all this my computer is working beautifully. Thank you all.

Who's the Boss

Last week I was sitting in my office when I heard a dog barking. Usually, the dogs here are very good, they don't make much noise, so I just had to look out.

Two of my neighbors were out walking their dogs, one is, I guess mid-sized, I'd guess a Lab and the other is a small dog. I don't know too much about dogs, but I've heard that the smaller the dog the more he barks. What really got my attention though was the larger one. As the small dog kept barking, the other went to stand behind his owner. I guess he was looking for protection from his owner, not the other way around.