"Now I feed myself with most delicious poison." (Antony & Cleopatra)

Went out to dinner tonite with Rho's cousins, Sandy and Irwin. Her mother and Rho's father were siblings. We went to China Gardens, and the same old problem popped up...I should say popped on. Every time I put on a clean shirt, I inevitably drop some food on it, and since Rho abhors ironing, it winds up at the dry cleaners. They are making a small fortune cleaning food off my shirts. Rho has threatened to buy me one of those silver or gold bibs to wear at restaurants; but if she ever does, it will be cause for divorce. Nah! I can't survive without her. Right now she's paying some medical bills I know nothing about; she has records of medical bills going back to the year 10,000BC. She knows which pills go into my pillbox. I don't know the names of most of them or their shape or colors. Also she's the only one who knows how to take a scooter apart and put it back together. She his committed to memory the route to the dry cleaner. So, if I can't wear a bib, the only solution I'm aware of is that I should take off my shirt before I sit down in a restaurant booth. What else?

"Be merry, you have cause, So have we all, of joy." (The Tempest)

Well, I suppose I have to confess as to how I did at the casino yesterday--OK--I won $260 on the slot machines. So that was a lot of fun. Unfortunately Rhoda lost. We were supposed to meet the bus to take us there at 4:30 in the Clubhouse parking lot, but as we drove up, we saw an empty bus leaving. Turns out there were 60 people going but the bus that showed up only held 30, so we had to wait until about 5:15 when the right bus came. We wound up at the casino at 6 and we left for home at 10. In between we gambled and then went to dinner at the buffet. The food was excellent. However, for dessert I went out of the buffet to the deli where I bought a slice of chocolate checkerboard cake. This time I didn't forget! It's probable the only place in Florida that makes that cake. I never saw anything quite like it anywhere else but in this casino.

Today, the cleaning crew came at 11am so Rho and I went to the Cardiology Center where I had to have a protine check to see that my coumadin level was at the right place. It was. Then we went in the new Malibu to the Mall at Town Center. That place has grown exponentially since 1982. Most guys could care less about going to malls, but I'm an exception. I enjoy seeing all kinds of people there besides seniors. The young high school girls today wear skimpy outfits with tattoos showing; guys wear baggy shorts down to their ankles with their underwear peeking out. The adults to be seen are of all sizes and shapes; I saw one black lady with the biggest backside I'd ever seen. She was a walking pick-up truck. Then there were the upper-crust rich ladies from Boca Raton with Bloomingdale clothes from fashion designers. Then there were normal people like Rhoda and me. So, normally we stopped and had a cup of yogurt with chocolate sprinkles. It was about 4pm when we got back home and after reading the mail and answering telephone calls, we went to Ben's and I had a "Daily Double"; a mini corned beef sandwich and a mini pastrami sandwich on a mini roll; plus some sour pickles, cole slaw, french fries and a couple of glasses of diet Sprite. And so to home and time to write this blog. If you don't have the time to read the whole thing, just read the last sentence.

"Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em and flout 'em; Thought is free." (The Tempest)

Several people either spoke to me or emailed me about their having read the article on Heroism that was printed on the editorial page of Monday's Sun-Sentinel, and the feedback was 99% positive with the exception of a niece who lives on the west coast of Florida. She said she didn't agree with my politics and that sending her an email of the article must have been erroneous. However, I couldn't understand what heroism has to do with politics. Well, you can't win them all, can you? Witness the NE Patriots; they won 19 games in a row, but lost the big one. One of the "fun" things that resulted from the publishing of that blog was the running "philosophic discussion" I had with my son and daughter who wrote comments on this topic which can be read following the blog of March 10. They put me to the test. But I heroically withstood their debatable efforts.

Last week we bought a scooter at a local medical supply shop. Although I detested the idea that I've been relegated to a mobile device, I did it so that when we go on our cruise to Scandinavia next July, I'll be able to go on excursions off the ship with my wife, when otherwise she would have to go alone. The truth is that if I hadn't seen my father and my mother having to use wheelchairs, perhaps I wouldn't loath seeing myself in one. When I had to be wheeled off the cruise ship we were on in December it was a downer of an experience. So far, the scooter is at rest in the trunk of Rhoda's new Malibu. May it rest there in peace.

This afternoon we are going on an excursion to the Isle Casino in Pompano along with a large group from Huntington Lakes. The good thing about it is that we will be sitting comfortably in a bus going and coming...and we will save about $9 in gas and tolls by not having to drive ourselves. And perhaps this time I won't forget to bring home a piece of checkerboard cake!

And Happy Birthday wishes today to my ex--my kids' mother.

"O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts." (Henry V)

Yesterday we went to the dedication ceremony for the opening of the South Florida Veterans' National Cemetery held in Lantana or Lake Worth as some call it on Rte.441 just south of Lantana Rd. Robin was able to get us VIP passes that permitted us to park on site, and we also got front row seats. Robin sat on stage with all the other VIPs and when the Secretary of the Dep't. of Veterans' Affairs, James B. Peake, spoke he was kind enough to mention Robin's name and her contribution to the existence of this much needed cemetery here in Palm Beach County where 1100 veterans, mostly from WWII, die each day. The Undersecretary of the VA for Memorial Affairs, a job which Robin once held also spoke. However, Ron Klein, our congressman--who seemed to be the only Democrat--also added his own comments. Altogether, with the 19 gun salute for the Secretary and the color guards and about 150 bikers, and the playing of taps, and a high school orchestra, and about 3000 spectators, it was a wonderful ceremony. I may volunteer to help out there in any way I can. The ceremony started at 2pm and was over by 2:45 after which Robin, Rhoda and I, and my sister and brother-in-law went to the mall at Wellington and had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. We finally got home about 5pm.

Coincidentally and appropriately enough, today I had an article on "Heroism" printed on the Editorial Page of the Sun-Sentinal. It pays tribute mostly to those who failed to survive in our wars since the American Revolution. I claim that they are the real "heroes". The only "heroism" I lay claim to is the fact that I have survived two marriages and four kids and a teaching career. But so far, no one has come forward to pin a medal on me. Anyway, I include here a link to the article if you have not already read it as a blog.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-forum10heroismsbmar10,0,7397957.story