"When we are born, we cry that we have come to this great stage of fools." (King Lear)

Four score and four! That's my age tomorrow. So while the cleaning ladies were here today and Rhoda was off on her business, I took myself to see the movie, "No Country for Old Men" which I thought was appropriate for the occasion which will occur on the morrow. Now I believe that this country is really not a country for old anything. The elderly are rarely treated with respect. If you're an old dog or horse, they put you down; if you're a handicapped elderly veteran of foreign wars they stick you in a home where they take your money and your soul. So four score and four is kind of scary. Who expects to live that long after smoking Camels, Lucky Strike, Chesterfields, and Marlboros every day for 50 years? Well, I attribute my longevity to the fact that I used to run every day at least five to ten miles for several years. After you've run two 26 mile marathons, survived 60 combat missions and you've driven in South Florida for 25 years without getting hit, you kinda get the feeling that you are invincible. So, what the hell; I'll shoot for five score! Now I have a new goal. I've been looking for one. I'll go ask RH+ to double my meds tonite.

I just got myself an Obama sticker and a button. I still have Wendel Wilke's (sp?) button. A lot good it did. My son sent me an email today with a link to an article in an online magazine that went on a lengthy Obama bashing, based on his belonging to a church whose pastor was a buddy of Farrakan(sp?); and that Barack has surrounded himself with anti-Israel advisors. I responded to JR that the sins of the pastor ought not to be visited upon a congregant. Besides, that magazine is an ultra conservative right wing journal whose articles are pushed frequently by Rush Limbough and others of his ilk. I like Obama; he is Robert Kennedyish...(my opinion). I also like Hillary, but I believe Obama has the best chance of winning the presidency. Anything to get rid of that CIC who has caused so much misery to American and Iraqi families...and for no good reason...my opinion.

IsraelFactSheet.pdf

"Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part..." (Coriolanus)

I was lying on my bed about 9pm minding my own business and working on a crossword puzzle while Rhoda was playing games on the computer when she suddenly appeared in the doorway and asked a silly question: "Is there any reason why the water in the kitchen sink is running?" Well, of course there was a reason. It stands to reason that there was a reason; the reason being that I had recently washed a fork that I had used on a piece of cake. Now I thought that washing the fork was a thoughtful thing to do; the unthoughtful thing to not do was to not turn the faucet off. I really can't be expected to remember everything. But this was not the first time that I forgot to turn something off. The other day I made an Eggo for my breakfast in the toaster oven. When I had finished off that cardboard waffle and went to check my email, Rhoda...as was her wont...appeared in the den doorway and asked a silly question: "Is there any reason why you left the toaster on at 350 degrees? Do you want to start a fire?"

Well, of course I wanted to start a fire; why else would I leave the toaster oven on? I always wanted to try kleptomaniacal things. Well, maybe that's not the right terminology for lighting fires. But, so I left the oven on, I can't be expected to remember everything every single day.

But remembering to turn things off (or on) is not the only thing that I'm being admonished for...or rather, for which I've been admonished. A couple of times, while driving at night, and having to make a left turn, I accidentally turned into the lane of oncoming traffic instead of the lane I needed to turn into on the other side of the center strip. So Rhoda asked a silly question: "Why are you turning into this lane? It's the wrong lane! Do you want to cause an accident?" Well, of course I wanted to cause an accident. Why else would I turn into the wrong lane for the second time in two nights? How else is a person going to find out if the premiums he is paying the insurance company are going to lead to some road service? How else is he to know whether or not the police are doing their job? If only my wife would understand these things a little better, growing older would be a snap. Hey, I'm not forgetful or blind driving at night; I'm just a daredevil at heart. If Rhoda would only try to understand that I was a combat air crewman and I feed on danger, and that there is always a reason to explain my actions...or reactions.

Yesterday we went to the Isle Casino and I won $160 on the slot machines. We got there about 3:30 and left at 8. They were giving away $500 every 15 minutes as long as your players card was lodged in a machine so they could call out your name. Our name was not called. Perhaps because we went to the buffet at 5:30 for our dinner. I had vowed to bring home a piece of the chocolate checkerboard cake that is outrageously delicious before we left for home, but while in the car, Rhoda asked a silly question: "Is there a reason why you forgot to order the checkerboard cake?"

"We are happy in that we are not over happy; on Fortune's cap we are not the very button." (Hamlet)

Well, now that the guests have left, now that the Arts & Crafts show is over, now that Rhoda's new car is launched, golf is gone, book is published, performances retired, Heat's lost 10 straight, Cabrera and D-Train traded to Detroit, what's left? No wonder I'm now officially in the doldrums. According to Webster the "doldrums" are defined as 1. A spell of listlessness or despondency ...2. a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms...3. a state of inactivity, stagnation, or slump. I've studied these definitions for about an hour or so and still cannot with assurance decide which number fits my current mood. If I had a choice, I would opt for #2 as long as there is a Publix nearby where I could buy some Mallomars and Nathan's hot dogs. Right now the only thing I'm "abounding" in is ennui...defined in Webster as "boredom". I realize, of course, that in July we are going cruising in Scandinavia, so that's a neighborhood to look forward to...or for the strict grammarians out there who are preposition preoccupied, "...a neighborhood for which (to which?) to look forward." Ugh.

Another event to which I can look forward (to) is my 84th coming on Wednesday. I look forward to it because the alternative is unacceptable. I will have to do a good deed or two this year; although I don't really know if there's a Heaven or a Hell, I don't want to take any chances. I look forward to 85 which sounds much better said than 84.

Another event to which I look forward (to) is the Presidential election; I've been through many of them dating back to Calvin Coolidge. This will be the most exciting of them all. Go Obamamama!

"Like as the waves make to the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end..." (Sonnet 60)

Got back from Snappers a little too late last night to see the beginning of the Moon eclipse, but did see the total from my catwalk. As I've told students in my classes, poetry is not found only in a book, but it is all around you if you'll only open your eyes and your soul. The total eclipse of the moon is pure poetry. Why? Because it is at once beautiful and awe-inspiring. Can only imagine what primitive people felt as they watched this astral show. Now I'll have to wait until 2010 before I can see another.

This evening we drove our guests to the Palm Beach airport; so gone are the suitcases on the floor; gone are the wet towels and bathing suits; gone are the strange toothpastes and brushes; gone are the mystical electronic devices plugged into our walls; gone are the calls to use my computer; gone is the stress produced by company with strange habits and...etc. To say there is a generation gap is putting it mildly. However, let it be known that we enjoyed having them for the week; but we also reserve the right to enjoy their leaving as well.

"Speaking" of guests, I was embarrassed yesterday when Rhoda and I went to visit her niece and nephew, and Michael their young son at the Glen Eagles country club pool. While there, I met former neighbors of mine from long ago East Meadow. Along with them was a young lady of about 50 whom I thought was introduced as a friend, but after chatting with them for several minutes I started to leave when I was told to tell Bonny, my daughter, that Linda says "Hello"...Linda Horowitz! Omygod...little Linda, their daughter who was a friend of Bonny from long ago East Meadow. I didn't recognize her. How could I. I hadn't seen her since she was an inch high. And so to bed.

The Moon?

I went out for breakfast about noon, and when I got to where I usually feed, there was a 25 minute wait, so I drove over to IHOP. The sign ordered that we wait to be seated. I stood by that sign for 10 minutes, and nobody even nodded to me. Some guy came in and sat at the "bar" but soon got up to leave when they told him there would be a 45 minute wait before he could be served...so I went to the bank and cashed in a CD before I came home, in a not very good mood. I wonder why? Could all this be the result of the full eclipse of the moon tomorrow nite? Are all the crazies out? Another confusing thing has to do with computer "viruses". I got one that warned against an email claiming someone sent you a postcard. Don't open it or you're computer will be blasted to computer heaven...or hell. "It's real" was the warning. "Checked out on Snopes".

But according to Urban Legends, it's a hoax. Whom can you believe these days?

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_postcard_virus.htm

Incidentally, I sold 7 books at the arts and crafts show on Sunday. Amazing.

"The heavens forbid But that our loves and comforts should increase Even as our days do grow!" (Othello)

Hello again. Valentine's Day is over and love permeated the air, but now the permeation is over and love has to take a back seat to the daily annoyances or whatever. Thursday night Renee, Jeff, Ilana, and Allyson were supposed to arrive at PBI at 11pm...Renee is Rhoda's daughter...Ilana is in ninth grade and Allyson in fourth. I kept calling Delta to make sure the plane was on time. To make a bad story worse, the plane was not expected to arrive until midnite. Jeff's parents, Irv and Edna Cohen live here in Huntington Lakes and they followed us to the airport. We left at 11:45 so that we wouldn't have to wait too long in the cell phone lot. We got there at 12:20 am and 10 minutes later got the call that they got their luggage and were waiting at the curb, so we picked them up shortly. They had enough luggage so that I believed the other 250 passengers had no room on the plane for theirs and had to FedEx their bags to Florida. It was 2:30 am before Rhoda and I got to bed.

The next morning we had to get up early because the City of Hope was having their annual Children's Luncheon at Diamonte's, a catering hall in Coral Springs. When I walked into the room, I saw about 500 women from different S.Florida chapters and table loads of toys that had been donated for children who were hospitalized. It so happens that I had a cup of coffee and two Oreo cookies before we left for the luncheon. When I sat down at our designated table there was a scoop of chopped liver in front of me so I munched on those while I awaited my sliced steak lunch. It finally came and was a major catastrophe. It was so salty, we couldn't eat it. If only I had brought some Oreo cookies with me. While we were waiting on our dessert, we were treated to another major catastrophe...the mother of all bad entertainers; the lady assaulted our ears for about an hour with her songs and canned music. I was beginning to believe Sartre, that Hell was other people...and lousy food. But if the kids enjoyed their toys and furry animals, then I guess it was all worth it.

Today I got an email from my bank that a direct deposit had been credited to my account. I couldn't understand this because usually my SS is direct deposited on the third of the month. About a week ago I went online to "taxact.com" and did my tax return for 2007. I answered all the questions they asked for that followed the format of Form 1040. When I submitted the final "copy" I printed it out. It looked professional. TaxAct also gives you the choice of mailing in your own copy or having them file it for you electronically. I opted for the E-filing and a week later...today...I got my refund. Amazing! And I paid not a penny.

Tomorrow there is an arts and crafts show being held in our clubhouse. The arts and crafts are those produced by residents with various talents from painting to ceramics, etc. I am having a table stocked with copies of my Memoirs and poetry books. Maybe I'll sell one. Wish me luck. Right now, the company is at the beach and Rhoda and I are going to the movies. TTYL ... Baron

"There is nothing either good nor bad but thinking makes it so" (Hamlet)

It seems now that this is blog #157; if I can keep it up, perhaps there is the making of another book...not! Who would read it? I don't know for sure how many readers I have now. The only way to get a head count would be if each and every reader would leave a comment. Writing a blog does not take as long as playing a round of golf, but since my golfing days are over, it's something to do besides playing Scrabble or Jewel Quest on the desktop or making the bed or emptying the dish-washer Last nite we had a dinner date with our good friends Phyliss and Herb. We went to a Japanese restaurant in Boca which was really beautiful and the food was excellent. I had a dish called "Pad Thai". It came with white rice, noodles stir fried with shrimp and peanut sauce. Yummmmy. I drove there in the new Malibu, and it rides like you're just floating on water...and it's so quiet I can actually hear what Rhoda says. I haven't decided whether that's a beneficial option on the car or not. One of the amazing things is that it has a telephone in or under or behind the rear view mirror. You can speak, hands free, for 16 cents a minute. Of course Rho has a cell phone also, so she plans not to use the car phone very often.

Renee, Jeff, Ilana and Allyson are arriving tonite at 11pm for at least a week. They love Japanese restaurants and down here we have a choice of three excellent ones that we know of, but of the three, last night's is the best, I believe. This 21st Century is really something what with the internet, robot-like autos, HD TV, IPods, and et al.

I did my taxes on the computer for nothing. Like last year I went to http://www.taxact.com/ and answered all the questions asked just as if I was doing my 1040. When done after about 30 minutes, I printed out a copy of the 1040 with all the right places filled out. Then I clicked the buttons that allowed TaxAct to send my form by electronically. Now if we can only elect a Democrat, we'll have a perfect world. No???

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!