The Micro and Macro of Spending

The day after my birthday was my afternoon off.  Mary and I were together, enjoying each other’s company and trying to make responsible spending decisions.

I Want a Revolution Like This One

Historically speaking, most political revolutions do not end well.  They create violent, bloody counter-revolutions in reaction.  The American Revolution (1775-1783) was highly unusual.  We didn’t have a counter-revolution.  There are other kinds of revolutions too, revolutions in ideas.

Black Pepper Friday?

The region of the United States I used to be from is well known for setting trends.  Folks there are the pioneers of all sorts of innovations, good and bad.  A couple of holiday seasons back, prospective customers in Palm Springs were shooting each other over the availability of some price-reduced TVs.  I’m glad to say that sort of dangerous behavior has evolved and improved since.

Turning Into Patrick McGoohan

I’m irritated at not being able to complete posts I begin because “real life” intervenes, so I’m just going to write this one in real time, despite interruptions.

Life Stats

Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

They Aren’t Your Friends

Oh, how I despise uninvited attempts to sell me things!  If I decide for myself that I need an item or a service, I go shopping for it either in person or online.  Under that circumstance, if I come to your store I’m glad for your help in clarifying my choice of purchase.  If you try to create a fake friendship out of our transaction it won’t work.

“If You’re So Smart…

…why aren’t you rich?”

That’s what they used to say to me back in the Midwest, in response to my being an insufferable know-it-all.  I am a more sufferable know-it-all these days, so I am rarely asked this question, which is disappointing since I now have many good answers for it.

I Hated It, and I’m Right

What do you mean you don’t think this is great acting? I’m not moving, not blinking and I’m speaking brilliant sarcasm as fast as humanly possible.

Caged

The warehouse of unopened boxes in Citizen Kane (1941).

I’ve been thinking about a kind of imprisonment many of us struggle against – the cage of material possessions.

Buh-Bye Motel 2 1/2

We get the keys to our new home today.  Important truths have been re-emphasized in this arduous process, but the lessons are old ones.  I did develop some new skills from living for three weeks in a cabin with no air conditioning and no ordinary source of hot water.

The Bad Art War

Once upon a time we lived next door to a couple who had specific ideas about what should or shouldn’t be done with a garden box.

Carry That Weight

I’m performing without a net.  My wife’s pension documents are still screwed up.  I’m working quick turnarounds, a brutal test of stamina.

Bad Art in the Boonies

There is one restaurant within walking distance of the Motel 2 ½ where we are living.  It’s swimming in bad art.

Casa Not-So-DeLuxe

Here’s where we are living while Mrs. Invisible and I continue to slog through the required paperwork and await the closing of escrow on Casa DeLuxe.  She worked for a  TV network for 30 years.  They certainly made a big deal out of it if ever she was late turning in a story for broadcast.  Now that obtaining a home and mortgage depends upon processing her pension in a timely fashion, they can’t be bothered to do it properly.

Movies about Work

I don’t usually write list-based posts, but I enjoy reading them so I suppose it can’t hurt to write one every so often.  I learn a lot from books, but over the course of my lifetime it’s usually films that change my mind and make me think about things differently.  Films begin as a very serious form of writing

Dying to Work

In considering my tendency toward overwork combined with the useful responses I received toward how to view that, or change it, I realized something I had not taken into account.  One’s view of the nature and purpose of work varies depending on the age and time of life of whoever’s examining the question.

To The Limit

There have been some alcoholics in my family.  That means I have a genetic capacity for addiction.  However, my drug isn’t alcohol.  It’s workohol.

Top of the Deck

The Real Estate Poker Game So Far

This is C.M. Coolidge’s most famous work of commercial art, “A Friend in Need”, painted just after the turn of the 20^th Century.  He painted nine of dogs playing poker

Let’s Make a Deal!

Today’s REAL WORLD Questions

(CUE – ANNOUNCER Voice-Over)

It’s an exciting day for all you fans of competition AND ethics!  You’ve read about Mr. and Mrs. Invisible.  Before we present today’s edition of WHAT WOULD YOU DO? , let’s have a look at what’s happened up to now.  (Roll FILM REEL)

We Have a Few Forms…

I apologize for being unable to provide you all with any amusement or ideas to chew on right now.  There’s a lot of paperwork involved in buying a house