Planes, Trains...

Why is it almost trivial to go from Pennsylvania to a major city in France or Italy, but virtually impossible to go to a major Canadian city without going through Atlanta or Detroit?  And why does such a trip take so long?????

Attitudes

Attitudes are weird stuff.

Yesterday and this morning, I was thinking that I'm doing pretty good with French. Not perfect, a long way from that, but still -- pretty good. And then I saw a video where a person I know was speaking French... And I didn't understand a single word.

And now I'm thinking, why do I even try?

I'll get over it but at the moment it's irritating as all hell.

Hope, In a Land Without Hope

Balancing Act

I always get a slight frisson of pleasure when my checking account balances -- and even more when it doesn't, and I figure out why.  I really don't understand people who say oh, I'll just round up. Round Up is for weeds, not check registers. 

Weaponry

Yeah.  Because, you know, terrorists.  At least, that's the party line.

Observation

Some days are like a slow-motion train wreck.

Whimsy

What is it about the sight of a battered old piece of luggage that arouses the desire to travel in someone whose idea of roughing it is slow room service?

And while we on the subject of the imponderable, why does Blogger lately show me a picture of the image I'm trying to upload or link to -- and then freeze when I say okay, that one?

good and bad

Good news: my daughter is home from school.  Yay!



Bad news: no more walking around in my underwear. Boo!

Intersection

I don't know who or what Yeezus is, but the others seem about right.

Original found at ODDMAN, here.

Traveling

This month, I'm going to Canada, finally.  Well, Ottawa, definitely - there might be something dodgy about the reservation in Montreal.

Next month, my daughter is going to France for a study abroad.

At the end of June, my wife and I are going to Chicago to visit relatives, and to check out rumours that Chicago actually has a warm season.

In July, we're going somewhere.  I know this, because we're boarding the cat.  I just don't remember where.

And in October, I'm going to France for two weeks - the first is a total immersion class, where I will live and study with a small group and teacher, speaking only French. Paranoid?  Oh, you betcha.  And then the next week, I'm visiting with a couple of friends who live there, including one that I've met just once, for about three minutes, and one I've never met at all.

I wonder if we need new luggage?

So Wierd

I saw a picture of a pretty tropical resort, and wondered where it was.  Google Image Search suggested Six Senses Resort, at Ninh Vah Bay.  Gee, I thought, that sounds like....  I went to their web site, and read this:

The Hill Top Pool Villas feature plunge pools and are facing the mountain ranges of Nha Trang whilst offering majestic views of the East Vietnam Sea.

Nha Trang? Air Force base, Army, fighting, people with guns?

Apparently, not any more.

So wierd.

The Book of Purim

Committment, Lack of

I need to apply for Medicare, and I need to apply for Social Security benefits.

I just hate the idea of flagging down the Geezerdom Bus so I can hobble on.

Economics

I'm not a big fan of the Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic strip, but I think that they nailed this economic concept.

Observation

It's funny how someone can be important to you one day, and then.... they're not.  You don't wish them ill -- quite the contrary -- but abruptly, if they have problems,  it's no longer as significant to you.

Observation

Sometimes I value other people too much and myself not enough.

Suited

For reasons that I don't entirely understand, I've been thinking about buying a suit.  It's partially motiviated by the hope that when I go to France, I won't look exceedingly like a fat American tourist, which is of course what I will be, and what nothing short of lead shielding will prevent me from resembling.  I don't know why I don't want to, but there you have it.

The problem with suits is that they're all aimed at people much younger, much thinner, and much more limber than me.  For example, this morning I saw this -

and thought oh, that's nice.  I knew immediately that they were not specifically talking to me, but I went to that webpage anyway.  It linked to another (warning, that page plays music on loading), where I  found this at the top:

A Gentleman in Portugal

I´m Ricardo, 16 year old, from Portugal!

Yeah.  Umm....
   

But still, I'd like to try.  I may never wear the suit, or look good in something like that if I do, but I'm thinking of trying.

This is my current object of fascination::