"Wow...Getting Older...Will I Be Able To Do Anything Soon?"

I finished my ten weeks of daily Monday through Friday external radiation, for prostate cancer, eight days ago.  I shall be tested to determine of the success of the procedure two months later.   With a two thirds reduction of workout strength, a reduction of long-term energy, and an increased feeling of "frequency", that I did (and look) very well...That done, it will soon be time to address the arthritic "trigger finger" in my left hand that locks up into a closed position at night!

This morning, I took Mom on errands.  Since I had broken one of the blades while trying to shut the bedroom ones, we returned to a window treatment store in a nearby town where Mom had previously replaced broken ones.  The owner came up and responded that the blades no longer came with flat profiles. Arched profiles had replaced these over 20 years ago! An examination of hundreds of color wheels revealed that they do no come in beige (the second most South Florida color) either (of course not)!  At Mom's insistence we placed an order for an arched white one to eventually be installed with the other non-matching ones.  Mom realized it had been about 28 years since she had last gone to this store!
 

This afternoon, I returned the phone store to get a battery-charger for my cell phone. I was told that these were not still available for this "vintage" two year old product. Nor were batteries. But I could be "upgraded" to a product that although it looked the same (simple operations with visibly large keys!), this one would have a few "new features"! I responded that I don't use hardly any of the current features, and that switching phones would cause (once again) my non-Sim-card entered contacts to be lost..."Oh no, that is not the case anymore; let me show you"...and sure enough they were dropped!!!

Tonight,to no avail, I spent an hour trying to find a serial number on (with two different strengths of reading glasses!), and read the directions of, my newly purchased bicycle.  I went on-line to see if their site would be of assistance but it wasn't...

So I went upstairs and took out the directory of over 1000 channels available (I use about five basis ones!) with my cable system.  I got a magnifying glass to read the minuscule print.  I grabbed the remote and turned it on, and then went to the TV to turn on the receptor button for the remote (so convenient), and nothing but horizontal lines appeared on the screen.  The "trouble-shooting" directions were no help, so I called the dial-around customer (usually disservice) service number.  Surprisingly I got a voice that took me through a number of steps to eventually get a picture to reappear!  "You must have pushed another button on the TV other than the remote receptor one that caused your channel receiving station to be moved to another!  You should be good to go now!"..."If you are in the US, Happy Thanksgiving!"..."I am, and thank you for calling.  We appreciate having you as a customer!"

Success...maybe I (we will make it after all)!!! 

 

 

 



"Black Friday to Black Thursday...Black Days..."

More signs of the times...

 

Once again, the new America "speaks"...Majority rules...

Despite the e-mail, letter and walk-out protests by a few employees, many stores decided to  open mid-afternoon on the Thanksgiving Day Holiday!  Shoppers began to "camp out" in lines in front of department stores as early as the prior Saturday to be sure to have the opportunity to BUY, BUY, BUY merchandise at "perceived" sales too good to miss!!!

"Black Friday" has now been preceded by "Black (Thanksgiving) Thursday"...or "Black and Blue Thursday" as shoppers fought for the goods after the doors opened!!!  The paper described fist fights breaking out after a box of the "latest" cell phones was opened!  One customer even shot another who was trying to grab the last reduced-price "game boy"!  Debriefing reports related that merchandise could have been purchased online at the same or better prices!!!  Some continued shopping from noon Thanksgiving Day to midnight on "Black Friday".  and for this, some even realized $200 in savings for all of the anguish and misdirected motivation! They continued that over 41 million customers shopped on Thanksgiving Day, and over 123 million shopped on "Black Friday".  The record breaking sales volume was so impressive that the sales are being continued through to "Black Sunday"!!!

A friend posted a quote:  "Black Friday: Because only in America, people trample others for sales one day after being thankful for what they already have!"

 

I am old enough to remember Blue Laws...no stores could open even on Sundays! 

My niece told her father (my brother) that she was going to the stores with a friend at 10 PM Christmas night to watch the crazy shoppers.  To which my brother and sister in law told her to be extremely careful as some of the crazy shoppers could be dangerous.  I have to admit though that I would sometimes go to the local malls Christmas Eve afternoon, not to shop either, but to watch all of the "desperate" people trying to BUY, BUY, BUY before Christmas morning, in the true spirit of the religious Holiday.

On to "Cyber Monday"...

"Busyness..."

Last week, the "Healthy Living" section of our local paper featured an article "Are Our Lives Really Too Busy? Sleeping, Working, easting, Exercising...There Is Not Enough Time In the Day...BUNK!"

"Why do Yuppies Always Feel Tired (we have even classified run-down symptoms as Yuppie Syndrome!)?"

 

This "hit home" with me!  I have always felt that the more one puts on their plate, the more efficient one becomes at accomplishing!  I have been known to express that "there is plenty of time to rest...ultimately"!  I found that eating small meals and keeping "hydrated" throughout the day allowed me to keep going with three hours sleep per night.  Friends urged me to slow down, for fear of me getting ill.  And with a weakened immune system from Myrsa Staph Infection after cancer scare lymph node removal surgery...and tomorrow I have my last day of ten weeks of daily Monday to Friday radiation for prostate cancer...this has proven to be true.

 

Our current 24-7, instantaneous communication technology-driven lives have enveloped a lot of what would have leisure and sleep time.   Between my office (architecture, real estate and management careers) and home computers, and even with Spam blockers, it is not unusual to receive a few hundred e-mails a day!    The Harvard professor featured in the article, stated that 80% of what is received is "c_ _ p!", and he advised to only handle e-mails once whenever possible.  "Time-tracking" is a good tool.  I determined that to get paid for one small architectural addition, I had 122 e-mails back and forth with the client!  At 10 minutes each times an hourly billable rate of $160 per hour, this unbilled time was worth $3,904, and expended one 24 hour day of time!

 

For time management, he continued to prioritize, avoid procrastination, and for middle-aged adults to eat well,and sleep at least eight hours per night.

 

I managed to increase my sleep to six hours per night, and continue with a limited version of my anti-oxidant regimen, during my recent treatment.  And the "state of our country's (and world) economy" has (somewhat) reduced my work load, but other's impression of my life is that it remains about three times as busy as the majority of those my age...and realistically this is part of my persona, and for the time being probably won't change too much!  But, my goal is to re-implement as many "smart" time management aids as possible... 

"Bedding..."

My master bedroom sheets and spread were looking a little worn...and I felt that the room needed more color, so when the department store home sale advertisements appeared in Friday's newspaper, I decided to go look for new bedding...

 

I started with one of the "higher end" stores an hour before I was going to attend a dinner party.  The ads spoke of sales of up to 85% off...my kind of numbers!   I arrived an no one else was shopping in the department so my minimally allocated shopping time should have been sufficient.  A friend joined me for the adventure...

 

As I looked at a display of burgundy color sheets, the bedding manager approached to offer assistance, and to make sure I was aware of their one-day sale.  We selected the queen bed fitted and flat sheets and pillowcases. I wanted a rich, masculine "look".  I asked about a spread with the cranberry, gold and beige colors, and she displayed a couple of duvets and shams.  The best choice seemed to be a satin gold base set wit these colors interspersed.  She added that these were on a REALLY good sale!   Then she suggested that a leopard pattern top flat sheet would be a good addition to the grouping.  My friend was very supportive of the manager's selections and meanwhile brought a few more pillow and spread accessories to consider...At the register, the duvet  had been reduced from $450 to $150.  The (2) shams were reduced from $185 to $117, the leopard top sheet was reduced from $142 to $90, and with the fitted sheet and two pillowcases the total was $622! I was shocked as my last "bed in a bag set was purchased on sale for $69, and with my thought processes, this was the price of a week cruise!  "The original price was $1,200 and normally our shoppers pay $2,000 to $4,000 for their bedding!  It is VERY important to have good bedding as you spend 1/3 of your life in bed!  And to make this an even better deal if you apply for our store credit card, you will receive an additional $93 refund to bring your INVESTMENT down to only $529!"  I was now already late for dinner, but I took 15 minutes on the store phone and computer to get approved for their card. I had forgotten to get the $90 "box spring skirt", but as I drove to the dinner, I had already determined that these purchases would be returned by the end of the weekend!

 

Sunday after church and brunch, I went back to a bedding superstore armed with a handful of 20% off coupons, as I knew one coupon would be required for each purchase.  I found the same fitted sheet and pillowcases at a reduced price from $58 to $49 (my Friday sales price for these was $130).  The sales associate approached to show duvets and shams and we determined that none of the inventory "worked".  So I put the sheets on hold and went to a less expensive (than Friday) department store that also was advertising a home sale.  There another associate offered assistance.  I showed my original sheets and bedding, and she brought over a beautiful burgundy and gold Asian set (duvet, shams, skirt and three decorative pillows) that was reduced from $200 to $70 (The Friday store's sales price for these was $823!), and if I used my store charge card another $15% would be subtracted!  I put these on hold too!  Then I went back to the Friday store and the day manager (in the still empty department) approached and asked if I wanted to return a purchase. "I found comparable products at two other store for a substantial savings!"  As the leopard patten flat sheet could not be found in the other stores, and it added to the "total look", I returned everything but it for a new card refund.  "You know that the other less expensive department store owns ours'!  They have 5-day sales when we have 1-day sales and our prices cannot come close!  You are the third (and only) customer today to return purchases after discovering this!"

 

I back tracked and picked up the other held items.  My new total was $200!  I "saved" $739 with two additional hours of shopping...enough for a future vacation!!!

"Even Stevens..."

"Even Stevens"...an expression traced back to 1748 that has come to mean equal measures or fair shares...It became memorable with the "Seinfeld" episode highlighting that whenever something negative happened to Jerry, an equal positive was right around the corner...I believe this...

 

I've heard of periods when the "Mars is in retrograde"...that is characterized by things being"off-balance"...

 

I have to sit back and laugh when a series of "less than positive things" occur...great things are next...Last week was one of those weeks...

 

Friday, tennis partners and I (finally) had time to play...it was sunny everywhere except for right over the slow-drying courts...the time before that we tried to play the weather forecast one half hour before said no chance of rain for the tennis courts location...after we hit two strokes it started to pour for the rest of the evening...

 

I was driving home Saturday morning and I had two choices...pay to drive on the Turnpike or use the free Interstate...expecting no commuting traffic I got on I-95, and came around the corner and traffic was stopped due to a large accident...

 

That night, thinking about the onset of the comfortable fall weather, I decided to take my new bike out of the garage for a ride (not really used after purchasing a new one after the previous one was stolen) the following day...the following day I realized that my home had been robbed again and the new bike was stolen...

 

While I was outside discussing the robbery with my neighbors who had also been robbed at the same time, the sun shined brightly on my re-painted house...it showed that the painters had only painted to as high as they could reach on the first floor for that wall...

 

The following day I went to my morning radiation, (happy that I was half way thru the 9-week regimen and the end was near)  to find that the operating computer system had broken, and then it was still broken the following day to extend the date of the end of the treatment...

 

With newly found available time I decided to go to a meeting...I was first in line as I approached one of our many Intracoastal "draw bridges"...it went up to allow a sailboat to pass under it about ten minutes later, and then it started to close, and nearly made it...then it broke with only a few feet, up, left...it remained in this position (with cars lined up behind me) for an hour, and I missed the meeting...I decided to go to another meeting and the railroad crossing "arms" went down to warn about an approaching (long) freight train...and I missed that meeting too...

 

Before deciding on my radiation therapy, I had been told that I was in such good shape that I would probably not experience negative symptoms like "elimination urgency and frequency"...that was not the case while I waited, unable to move my car!

 

All week my "luck" remained the same...GREAT things are coming!!!



"Heroes..."

 

I think that after our November elections occur, it will be time to replay the London Olympics!  For two weeks, you were able to turn on TV and actually get inspired by "heroes in life", in lieu of having to watch the dollars-wasteful negative election campaign news.

 

Added to this negativity is the media's love of monopolizing on personality weaknesses, by "tearing away" at the characters of perceived heroes.  Penn State top rated coaching staff was caught in  "sexscapades".  Arnold Schwarzenegger promoted his book describing his love child and other unfaithfulness activities toward his wife. Hulk Hogan was next.  Cyclist Lance Armstrong was found to be involved in the largest "doping" network ever.   The list grows daily with the headlines of the local newspapers and television news...

 

Thank goodness for 43 year old Austrian paratrooper Felix Baumgartner's successful "free fall" dive from 23 miles above the earth's surface.  After being lifted in 2.5 hours to that height in a capsule pulled by a lightweight helium balloon, he dove up to 833 miles per hour, to the surface in 9.5 minutes, while visually spiraling out of control!  Thus he became the first man to without equipment travel faster than the speed of light!  And now he states that he is retiring from diving in order to provide emergency helicopter rescues!  His jump experiences and his jumping suit will be used for future hopefully (well-intentioned) scientific advances...



"Our Times..."

This morning I stopped at the gas station that typically sells its gas for one cent less per gallon than the next lowest priced station.  Its location on "the other side of the bridge" reduces its usage. During the last two weeks when I entered to pay the weekly-changing employee (for the lower cash price), I've interrupted their sleep! "How's business?"  "SLOW!"  The station has sold twice to new foreign buyers this year, and was hailed a few years before (when gas was two dollars per gallon less!) when its new owner had acquired and remodeled it, as a full service "neighborhood" convenience and service station.  The sign on the door, said "In order to maintain our lower prices, we have eliminated our attendant positions...Pay by credit card at the pump only".  Note: by paying with credit card, you pay a higher per gallon price!

 

Next to this service station is a restaurant.  It has been rented by three different operators already this year...a grill, an  Italian, and a sushi concepts. For the most recent last few months it had been empty with a "For Rent" sign again.  This week, it had a new banner..."Thai restaurant coming"!  I wonder if each attempting operator had paid first, last and security for the $5,000 per month rent, with their individual dreams of success!

 

One of the corporations that owns a number of the large national restaurant chains, Has cut all of its full-time employees from forty to thirty hours per week...hence a 25% income reduction.  This was done to avoid our new national health care mandate of paying for health insurance for all full-time employees!

 

A year before, our largest local grocery chain had reduced its full-time employees' hours from forty to thirty too.  Due to the "frozen food" competition from "big box" discount chains; and due to the incredible cost escalation of groceries over the last few years, business had reduced! 

 

As a substitute teacher in Westchester, New York in 1978, I was paid $120 per day.  In 1990 in Palm Beach County, I was paid $96 per day.  Current County substitute teachers are paid $78 per day!  And this is gross income, before taxes!!!

 

But, I have noticed an apparent boom of new jobs that would substantiate our latest national government increased employment figures' claims...the "banner  people"!  All along the major roads, people stand in bright outfits holding advertising banners to stop and purchase here...Buy your mattresses, your massage, your pizza, your Halloween costume, your "you name it" here!!!  And these people receive an average of $50 per day, tax free!  This is certainly less stressful than having to spend a day keeping order with our current unruly, undisciplined, children in a classroom!

 

 

"Smile..."

Smile...it goes a long way!!!

I smile a lot!!! I am told that I do.   People come up to me and say "You are always smiling...You must be one of the happiest people I know...You light up a room when you enter...Are you on something?...You are "the mayor"...Your Mom is always smiling too..."

It makes me look and feel younger!  It makes face to face business and personal dealings go smoother!

 

Try it...

"Prostate Cancer Treatment..."

After months of research, and speaking to a number of treatment options specialists, I selected External Radiation.  An investment of time (nine weeks of daily Monday through Friday sessions) is made in exchange for one of the least "invasive" treatments.  No surgery or seed implants are required. From leaving the house in the early morning to return is only one hour.  The fairly new state of the art radiation oncology facility is beautiful and staffed with excellent doctors, nurses and administrators. I joked that  the only nurses  that I have seen as caring as these, has been in hospice.  With similar schedules, the same patients are seen daily...our "morning club"!).

 

The treatment has a 98% chance of a complete curing for prostate cancer caught as early as mine was.  Symptoms include being increasingly more tired.  Even after doubling my daily sleep from three to six to seven hours, by the end of the first week, I find I need a short nap.  Nevertheless, I am still working out daily...cardio and lifting 4 times, and distance swimming 3 times per week, doing my job, my volunteer work, and a fairly active social regimen!

 

I received my first statement from the radiation center from my insurance company.  $4,400 (times 45 days equals $198,000!!!) was billed for the first day, from which $1,200 (times 45 days equals $54,000) was approved, and $180 was paid by insurance, with the balance due from me!  Luckily, I have an insurance maximum annual out-of-pocket outlay!  

 

Tomorrow  is the end of three or the nine weeks!

 

 



"Wednesday, Late September Observations..."

Today's Business headline read: "DOW, Worst Drop In Three Months...and continued...After the Fed's effort to support the economy (by printing more currency) failed, and this has undermined future Fed action..."

 

"Staples is shutting 60 of its U.S. stores and will close its European ones by the end of the fiscal year of 2012"...

 

"In NYC this year, over 7000 teenagers have been given "the morning after pill" to deal with their pregnancy..."

 

"China just launched their first aircraft carrier to build their navy..."

 

"An Israeli rabbi urged the burning of their country's I-Phones to keep out of contact with the negative Internet news..."

 

To renew a subscription to our local paper, or not...that is the question?!? 

"September Weekend Observations..."

Saturday night, at twilight, the beauty of nature was in full force!  Driving south along US 1, there were double rainbows over the ocean to the left, and a golden glow on the facades of the buildings and vegetation, as the intense multi-colored sunset pierced incredible billowy cloud formations!  Air was refreshed from two previous weeks of daily rain, and the humidity was indicating the beginning of the Fall season in Florida!

 

Sunday's Business Section of our local newspaper had a full front page article on the Business of the Week...It described a 49 year old man who started another on-line porn site!  His earnings were reported at $25 Million in three months!  It also reported the fourth murder in West Palm Beach in two weeks...The main section contained page after page of reports of the international scene in violent unrest...

 

The local news station was describing the 2012 Presidential election campaigns as the nastiest in history...while both candidates are wasting incredible amounts of money and time on these campaigns...and it appears that the nation is evenly divided (with combative strong opinions) between both.  For me, this reinforces a one-term presidency...six years would be a good number...and ideally if both houses of the Congress would be totally replaced with new members with a one-term limit that would be good too!

 

An e-message from my domestic and cellular phone (bundled TV and Internet) company, stated that my e-mail capacity was exceeded, and I should click on the attached link or my e-mail account would be canceled!  Suspicious of a possible virus, after three calls to customer disservice were dropped, I managed to get through to an overseas gentleman who informed that my suspicions were well-founded and that the e-mail should be deleted!

 

I checked the previous day's mail to discover an envelope from the Florida Department of Corporations.  It had all of my corporate information on a form that was to be signed and returned in the enclosed envelope to a post office box in Tallahassee, with a check for $125 to fulfill my annual report legal requirement!  A check of my check ledger showed that I had paid the Department of Corporations Annual Fee of $150 five months prior.  A further check of the Florida Department of Corporations web page warned of this mailing as a records-violated additional scam!

 

 



"Consumer Education...1953"

As a child I remember sitting on my maternal grandfather's lap while he read through extensive records on costs in the United States in its Post-Depression period.  He constructed a four-story brick Colonial home and medical office with a detached two-car garage with a slate roof, two kitchens, beautiful interior and exterior finishes and detailing for $7,000! 

 

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to read my Mother's college senior "Consumer Education" class "Life Time Budget" report for which she was given an "A" grade.  It was divided into "life period" chapters on "Savings and Establishment of Family"; "Child Bearing and Pre-School"; "Elementary School"; "High School"; "College"; "Recovery"; and "Retirement").    Mother had met my Father, and they were engaged to be married the following summer after her graduation.  After a post marriage military assignment in Virginia, they planned to move to Westchester County to raise their predicted family of three children (and they had four).  It was VERY interesting to look back to compare the economic predictions with the life that unfolded for our family...

 

In 1954, Dad would be earning $240 per month as an Army First Lieutenant, and Mother would be earning $200 per month as a bank teller.  This placed them in a 20% tax bracket.  Their partially furnished two-bedroom rental home with utilities and homeowners insurance was $80 per month.  Groceries were budgeted at $70 and meals out at $10 per month were budgeted.  Their Chevrolet convertible cost $279 per year for gas, oil, maintenance, license and registration, and his and her insurance policies (note, that Dad's was $40 and Mother's was $100 per year). Their combined annual health insurance plan with Blue Cross was $42 per year! After expenses, $1,203 ($600 in US Bonds) in savings of their $5,280 combined annual income was budgeted!

 



"Danube River cruising..."

I just returned from cruise # 91...this time on the new (placed in service 2 months prior to our boarding) Avalon "Vista"...This was my 3rd river cruise, after Germany's Rhine, China's Yangtze, and Egypt's Nile. River cruising provides a different experience from ocean vessels. It tends to attract an older group, is VERY relaxing, offers a very personal "reach out and touch it" regional awareness, usually with educational lectures, and local dance and musical evening performances and cuisine.  The ships are very long and narrow (single-loaded corridors), and are usually three levels. The public areas contain an entire length roof deck, and possibly a small spa or a small "dipping" pool; a meeting lounge with bar; a formal dining room; a less formal cafe lounge; and fore and aft small deck seating areas; and possibly a tiny fitness center with a few cardio pieces of equipment, stretching area, massage room and sauna.  The lower level is crew for 1/2 and less expensive cabins, both with small fixed windows.  The upper two levels might have small balconies, or the recently possible floor to ceiling sliding glass doors with "french" (no seating areas) balcony  railings.  The cabins and baths tend to be larger than cruise ship standard ones.   The "Vista" had a very sleek luxurious contemporary decor and exterior design.  Upper deck shade canopies and the  navigational bridge "collapse" to allow passage under low bridges.  Maximum occupancies range from 100 to 160 passengers and 50 to 60 crew members (good ratios!). 

 

The flights thru the night from Miami to Frankfurt and  then on to Budapest were long (11 hours), and as I traveled in August (the busiest month for Europe), they were full and fairly expensive!  After Hungary recently lost their national airline (related by the Mercedes taxi driver), and Budapest closed its second airport, only two major carriers regularly fly to Budapest.  This has reduced the tourism, that is the number one industry for this wonderful, surprise city.  The Danube bisects the city into Buda (the older) and Pest (the newer) sections of the city.  Arriving at 10 am, and despite not sleeping on the trip, I went directly to a hotel to meet a local couple.  After living world-wide with, and retiring from,  United Nations careers, they decided to spend 1/2 of the year in Budapest and 1/2 of the year in Palm Beach County.  With good reasons, they love the city, and I concurred!  it is spotless; with beautiful historic and modern architecture; with great indoor/outdoor restaurants and cafes; and REASONABLY priced!  If this is your starting or ending point of a Danube cruise, plan to spend a few days before or after the cruise.  Unfortunately, I did not, but thanks to my friends tour-guiding, I got to get a good "taste" of it, to wet my appetite for a future visit!

 

To be continued...

"How To Change From The Inside, Out..."

From a February 2002 "Power Lunch"...

Do it now.

Do not blame others.

Examine your good and bad habits.

Ask for assistance from a "higher Power".

Keep away from temptation (You may not fall down if you avoid slippery places!).

Focus on something better...

Restore mendable broken relationships.

Enlist accountability.

Extend yourself to others...

And from 2005 personal philosophy random thoughts...

Physically and mentally exercise daily.

Exude energy.

Accept change for its learning potential.

Accentuate the positive.

Let go of negative energy.

Give thanks generously.

Walk in other peoples' shoes.

Think globally.

Cherish truth.

LOVE thyself.

LOVE others.



"August Reflections..."

August...my birthday month...always a time to reflect....to appreciate and be thankful for all of the gifts of another year...to renew old, and set new goals...probably even more so for me,  than at the New Year...

Early this morning, there was a news clip on a motivational speaker, golf instructor, Jake Olson, trying for a  PGA ranking...and he is blind!

The fantastic London Olympics Closing Ceremonies just ended...there were SO many stories of heroes...like Oscar Pistorius, the sprinter from South Africa that had his legs partially amputated at 11 months of age.  There was the distance runner who won a gold as the only athlete from his country...who lost his whole family as a child...

It was GREAT to have so much coverage of these events where so many heroes emerged...in these times where our youth need heroes that they can use as life models.   The U.S. prevailed over second place, China, in medals...the two "Super Powers"...one historic, re-motivating...and the other upcoming...in athletics...and in world social, economic and academic realms...

Sochi, Russia, Winter Olympics 2014, and Rio, Brazil, Summer Olympics, 2016, here they come...  

Although bothersome with lots of received cell calls and mail, it is great to see so many young people who are running for office in 2012 from both political parties... 

Last weekend at two alumni hosted events, I got a chance to meet a number of the 26 students who will be entering the University of Virginia Class of 1917 from South Florida...these young men and women are incredible future leaders...

I'm blessed to have such a close family; to have had a father that maintained a positive attitude with 30+ years of negative health; to have strong mother that survived a major health issue, and remains a strong person that lives for the success of her family; to be blessed with a God-given talent that led toward a rewarding architecture academic and professional career; with an incredible energy level to multi-task  thru all aspects of a rich diversified professional and social life; to have an incredible "people collection"; to continue to experience all "corners" of our world...

 These are without a doubt "challenging times" in the homo sapiens history of the world, for our country, and with personal health issues, but I am re-energized to "charge" for more successes in LIFE!  Let's do it together...

"Headlines..."

While the coverage of the fantastic, inspirational London Olympics, occurs on the front pages of the Sports section of the paper, the less inspirational ones have appeared on the front page of the  same paper: 

The average price of a gallon of gas has rose $.13 in the last week to $3.59 (and due to a refinery fire on the west coast is expected to be over $4 soon)

Florida is 4th in the nation for real estate costs.

South Florida has dropped to 38th out of 100 best retirement metropolitan communities.

Auto insurance costs are 4th in the nation for Florida.

Florida has the 3rd highest number of foreclosed properties.

Florida has the 3rd highest incidence of shark attacks.

Florida is ranked 48th for education of the 50 states.

With such positive marketing, why do we need Chambers of Commerce and region marketing representatives?

Post Script:  4 hours after writing this the Florida average price of a gallon of gas rose $.10 to $3.69!

Post Script # 2:  Today's headline was...the US Post Office is bankrupt...losing $51,000,000 per day!!!  Does that ever speak to more US Government-run organizations!!!



"Dental Appointments..."

I checked my phone messages..."This is your dentist's office reminding you of your Wednesday 3:00 appointment with Gail...please call to confirm this"...

Gail has been our family dental hygienist for nearly 20 years.  Our dentist took early retirement and two partners split his patients.  The office clerical staff was replaced with a new group that initiated special arrival sign-in, and computerized scheduling technologies....

I checked the mail at lunch....there was a card sent to remind me of my upcoming teeth cleaning with Gail.  I checked and there was an e-mail from the office..."Please respond to this e-mail to confirm that you are coming"... I responded three times...

Wednesday morning I had messages to call the dentists' office..."Gail will not be in today...we can reschedule you for a month later...or you can use someone else"...I took someone else because I wanted to have my teeth cleaned due to quick plaque build-up, and for egotistical reasons, because I was leaving for a 40th high school reunion!

After the appointment with a less than great technician, she said she would schedule my appointment.  I related that I had already scheduled appointments for every three months.  She checked my patient "computer" record to relate that none were shown!  At the front desk, they remembered that this had been done, and were able to find the appointments.

Last Thursday I received a call to remind me of my upcoming Monday 10:00 AM appointment with Gail.  I checked my calendar for the month and did not have this written down, it seemed to me that I had just been for a cleaning, and moreover I added that I usually only schedule afternoon appointments. The assistant related that it had been over three months since my last appointment so that I was due, and that I could be moved to 4:00 PM on Monday.  I accepted this.

During a Sunday conversation with my mother when I asked her plans for the following week, she started with her 10:00 Monday appointment!  I checked my accounting records to discover that I had been to the dentist only 5 weeks prior! Oops...with the clerical mistake, I had switched her appointment to the afternoon when she prefers not to drive!!!  Since the office was closed I left a phone and an e-mail messages to be received Monday when the office would open.  I suspected that the 10:00 slot  would be filled... 

Monday at 8:30..."This is the dentist's office for Elizabeth"...When I said that she could be reached at their phone number, I was told that their computer records had this as her phone number!!!  After their records were straightened out again, they were able to contact her and take her for a 10:00 appointment...and then it was pouring outside!!!!

Post Script:  I saw my mother after she returned from her appointment...she showed me her computer printout that listed my future appointments under her name!!!

Post Script No. 2:  My mother showed me another declaration sheet from her new residential contents insurance policy that had been issued to correct the previous three issuances' mistakes.  Believably the supposedly corrected sheet STILL incorrectly showed no fire alarm or fire sprinkler system!!!

Post Script No. 3:  I opened my mail to discover a computer generated 7/31/12 PAST DUE invoice for $43.20 from my oncology center.  I checked my check ledger to verify that I had paid that bill a month earlier!  The next envelope contained a $36 DUE NOW invoice for monthly extermination service. Even though I have given a check to my exterminator in person each month for eleven years, ever since the company switched to a billing service, each month I get a double billing!

I pity the person with bad personal records-keeping in this contemporary world!!!

"Degrees of Separation..."

Years ago, a popular book described "six degrees of separation", to hypothesize that everyone in the world was at most six contacts away from knowing everyone else! 

This morning, while checking out from our Palm Beach County Costco, wearing a University of Virginia shirt and cap, with party supplies for an afternoon alumni event, the cashier said "UVA...I'm from Charlottesville...great school...I went to Washington and Lee..."

A few weeks, while preparing for Palm Beach's attempted first "run from the Bulls" ( to relate to Pomplona, Spain's event), I was talking to a couple..."We just moved here from Arizona...my husband is an author that specializes on the life, travels, and wines of Thomas Jefferson (the founder of UVA)..."..."You are? My whole family graduated from the University...an out of state record..."

In this "social media" world, I find that all of a sudden I have 1,133 Facebook "friends"!  Every time I log on, I get pop ups that suggest that I "friend" another ten individuals that have mutual friends. 

When I set out to arrange our 40th high school reunion, the list of contacts from the reunion 30 years before only had about 25 active contact records.  Thru Facebook, Linked In, and Google Search, I was able to discover over 100 others.

There is hardly a conversation anywhere, where I mention something that doesn't lead to a mutual contact...

In current time I suggest that six degrees of separation has been replaced with one degree!

"Bravery..."

A few weeks ago, our family was having dinner at our regular Sunday waterfront dining restaurant.  Our waiter appeared to be pre-occupied, so I asked if he was feeling OK...

He said that his 35 year old girlfriend, a single mother with an eight year old, was having a tough time.  A year before before, she had a double mastectomy for diagnosed breast cancer.  She had been told that it had been successful surgery, but then was told that it had spread to some other lymph node sites, so she underwent intense chemotherapy, during which she experienced nausea and her hair loss, but she had remained in good spirits, to be nearly thru the regimen.  A few months later  she had been informed that it had spread to her bones and blood.  

 

 

This week, I was sitting in a waiting room, while the third set of new tires was being installed in my three-year old, 65,000 mile vehicle.  Two young men were sitting across from me and one was in a uniform.  Questioned, I discovered that he was home from Afghanistan on a medical leave, and was about to return to a domestic air force base.  He had jumped from a plane overseas and his parachute had tangled and did not open.  He free  fell with such speed that he couldn't execute his trained emergency shoulder roll", and had landed headfirst.  He survived and after recovery time in a hospital, had been released.  He returned to the States.  One night he said from the experience gained from surviving eight concussions during his "extreme sports years", he knew that he wasn't better.  He started bleeding thru his nose and ears and went to an emergency room to be diagnosed with internal brain bleeding.  He had just been released from surgery from this.  I thanked him for serving and asked how old he was?  "Nineteen".


The July 2012 Summer Olympics from London have been wonderful to watch.  I had never watched cycle distance  road races before.  It is amazing how much is involved in negotiating these courses, while riding sometimes in excess of 60 mile per hour in groups of cyclists with no separated distance.  Near the end of the mens' 152-mile race, the favored winner came to a ninety degree road turn, and was unable to negotiate the turn, and crashed headfirst into the fence.  Bleeding, he got back up, hopped on his cycle and finished the race.  The sportscaster revealed that three months before this 39-year old had crashed and had broken his collarbone in four locations!

"Tuesday Evening Observations..."

As I only had a half hour before an evening Village Council meeting, I stopped in a local sub shop for a quick dinner on the go.   I was the only customer there...

"Is anything on "special" tonight?"  "Just the printed daily sub, drink, side (chips or cookie) combo."  "How was your day?"  "I have been swamped since I arrived at  9am (it's 6:30 pm now).  I apologize for my snappy attitude!  The other day shift employee quit because of our pay.  Then our evening replacement called in sick, so I'm doing a double shift.  I earn just above the $7.50 minimum wage and I pay a home sitter $15 per hour for my baby, but that increases to $30 per hour for overtime after 8 hours!  I'm only in my my early twenty's so I live at my parents' home a 45 minute drive away, with my boyfriend.  He commutes 1.5 hours to his job because he earns more money. Gas is expensive!   Normally I make $60 in a day and pay my sitter $120, but today I'll make $180 and will pay the sitter $360.  Day care out west runs $200 per day and it  ain't very good!  I wouldn't leave my child there!"  "Do you get health coverage with this job for your baby and you?"  "Nope...we're on my parents' policy, but it ain't very good either.  It has high "co-pays" that I can't afford, so if me and my baby get sick we go to the emergency room and say we ain't got any insurance so we don't have to pay! Do you want some Parmesan cheese on your sub?  Is this for here or take-out?"   I paid my bill, and got my cup of water, and sat in the dining room at one of the numerous tables covered with crumbs on the floor also covered with crumbs.  Meanwhile, The employee was in the back room talking on her I-phone..."Yeah, I got double duty here tonight..."  "Good night...I hope your evening turns out better than your day..."  On the exit door was a sign..."Rate your experience with us.  Take an online survey and receive a coupon for a free cookie for yur next visit!"...WOW!

I left and went to the Council meeting where despite a room full of fellow neighbors and two of the three  Council members objecting to the proposal, after two hours discussion they unanimously passed building a 10,000 SF industrial maintenance building directly across from my home!  In order to do it, the petitioner had to have the zoning changed, and close a major area traffic relief road also in front of my home!  How did it pass?  Why wasn't a vote delayed to a future meeting after the neighbors' concerns could be addressed? I left the meeting dumb-founded and drove along two major roads where people were standing along their edges, with billboards advertising..."Eat here"..."Yup, we're open so buy your mattress here"...and the best...a man dressed as a Dalmatian costume..."Stop here...new pet store has opened for all of your pets' needs!"  And who says there aren't lots of local alternative jobs available? 

As I drove, I looked out at the billowing clouds in the sky, contrasted against the silhouettes of palm trees, toward another magnificent Florida sunset...

"The Prostate..."

Between the Wednesday 6:30 PM and Friday scheduled return to the urologist,  after getting over the normal reaction of hearing the "C" word, I started to research the topic.

What became very apparent is that there is lots of controversial discrepancies as to what would be done. 

This time my appointment was scheduled 45 minutes later  at 4:45 PM, so I had less of a wait.  The nurse came in with her blood pressure testing apparatus, saw that it was me, and turned around to leave!  The doctor entered at 6:00..."I'm sorry about.."  I cut him short..."Doctor I'm used to the waiting game...it's modern medicine as usual!" 

"As promised, I have your image and data printout from the your biopsy.  Your "Gleason Score" is six...three plus three.  This along with your (9.7) under 10 PSA result indicates VERY early cancer.  It appeared as a left base 1.2 mm (10% of the tissue) and 0.7 mm (5% of the tissue) two spots out of 12 cores taken in the biopsy.  This is prostate cancer in its very early stage and is slow-growing.  You have a choice of treatment to make based on your personal "comfort level" with one over the other. I would not recommend the first, "watchful waiting", because of your relatively young age, general healthy lifestyle and great physical condition; and due to your early detection.  You can take action now that will reduce you having to deal with a larger problem in the future. Hormonal modification that curtails your testosterone  production is not recommended at this stage.   I am a surgical urologist by training so I would lean toward that method of treatment.  Traditional surgery uses a long incision in the front of your torso, and has possible complications that have been reduced by the robotic procedures.  Of these, the urologist who is one of the top in the country for successfully completed procedures using the DaVinci system, in a relatively short operation time (less time under anesthesia) with a short hospital stay (overnight), and quick recovery, and a record of less complications (incontinence, lack erection ability, etc) is a doctor who works out of Celebrations Hospital in Orlando.  Although I do the DaVinci procedure, I take 6 hours while he takes 1.5 hours and I would use him!   Radioactive seed implants into your prostate is a choice that I would recommend for patients older, and external radiation is another choice to investigate.  Take some time to research the alternatives...you really can take 6 months before deciding with hardly any risk for the spread of the cancer..."

This was a lot to absorb in one meeting, so I left with the mindset to talk to many people, and to continue to read about, and research the topic online...

"Another Wednesday...Customer Disservice 24-7..."

Wednesday, mid week, "over the hump day", commenced with my regular morning "thanks" and "family tree meditation"...another beautiful south Florida day...


The night before a review of my personal credit card statement revealed a charge of $19.95 for a Credit Bureau inquiry.  As I didn't recall making such an inquiry, I checked online to find a telephone number for the company.  There was none...just a web page e-mail. I called my credit card company.  They said their transaction information was that it was an authorization to bill my card $19.95 daily!  They said it sounded fraudulent, and I was given a contact number for the merchant with offices in California.  When I called, I was asked if I had authorized a Mr. Panesh in India to make these charges?  I had not even heard of the company!  I asked the representative why their company hadn't been suspicious of such an unusual series?   After ten minutes on hold, a manager told me that my credit card was being credited for the charges, and that I should cancel the card (which I did next, while asking why they hadn't notified me, a long-term customer, of the suspicious charges?)!


I was then transferred from the personal card to the business card "customer service" division.    When I had purchased three years in advance at my health club three months prior, my monthly automatic card debit was supposed to be canceled.  The monthly statements revealed that this hadn't been done despite frequent reminders to the local management...the corporate computerized billing department didn't seem capable of processing  this cancellation...so I canceled the debit with my credit card provider!  They offered to credit the debits for the recent months and address the issue with the club themselves...

As I approached my home for lunch, I noticed two local water and sewer utility trucks in my driveway and one in my front yard.   I approached and asked the trucks to be moved so that I could drive to my garage, and I was signaled to drive on the grass to pass them..."But my irrigation sprinkler heads will be crushed!  And what are you doing anyway?"  "We are here to replace the storm sewer black cast iron grate at no additional cost to you."  As I passed I noticed three men on their knees cutting the 24 by 36 inch perfectly good grate into hand-size pieces.  When I went upstairs to look out I saw what looked like a rusted grate in one of the truck beds. "They must have taken that rusted grate from another yard, I assumed."  After an hour they all left and I went outside to see a 24 x 18 inch (one half the storm grate size) rusted grate replacing one half of the black non-rusted grate!  Imagine how good I felt to have the damaged replacement of nothing originally broken,  provided at no extra cost to me?


I opened my mail to notice that I had been billed for two co-payments to a doctor's office because on the first visit I couldn't be given a complete report of the testing because the computer system was down!  I also had a bill from my structural engineer for their mailings,that are not reimbursable by my clients!


My agent called to relate that no private company would provide interior contents insurance for my mother for her condominium, because a shower pipe had burst in her "party wall" two years before. If you receive a settlement payment on a claim, you are now put on a computerized do not insure master list, that is referenced by all providers!  Insurance companies have been so historically profitable because they collect unreasonable premiums and limit their pay out liability by either refusing to issue a policy, or putting so many "riders" on it, that nothing is really covered!


And these were only a few of the absurdities experienced in one day....

"Contents Homeowners Insurance"

Another rip-off...

My mother's cost for her limited contents Homeowners Insurance renewal rate went up from $1,100 to $1,485 this year.  Since she lives in a condominium, her building "shell" is insured under a master policy that is covered by her quarterly maintenance payment to the Homeowners Association.  The interior policy is supposed to cover damage from fire, plumbing leaks, and wind for her 1,400 square foot two bedroom/two bath unit.  The maximum damage payment is $65,000.  The rate is "discounted" due to the hurricane shutter system that she installed on her window openings.

She mailed a check on Tuesday for the full payment.  The following Tuesday she received a letter in the mail that informed her that her policy was canceled for non-payment!  Numerous calls to the company revealed that on Sunday at midnight the company's computer system sent  out the notification letter (with no previous warning or call even though she has been a long-term customer!)

A few more calls determined that her policy would not be reinstated because she had made two claims for plumbing leaks damage during the last five years!  This company that holds the condominium master policy, has the monopoly on interior policies.   Since no other company would offer a policy she was directed to the State of Florida's established insurance provider for those who cannot find private insurance.  They offered the same coverage for a rate of $2,300 with  $500 wind and fire deductibles and a plumbing coverage exclusion!  What a "rip-off"! 

This is another example that our current world is out of control!

"Modern Accounting..."

A few nights ago, I went to my credit union's automatic teller machine (ATM) to withdrawal $40 in cash.  I noticed that the machine had been replaced with a new one with different graphics..."Insert your card...Press one for English, two for Spanish...Insert your pin number..."

At the completion of the transaction the $40 cash came out along with a receipt.  I usually would toss the receipt, but instead I looked at it..."You have subtracted $43...Your balance is $7,765."  I didn't remember hearing that the credit union was imposing fees for automatic withdrawals and I didn't remember having that much money in that account.  When I got home, I checked my register, and after deducting the $43 I showed a balance of $765!

The following morning I stopped by the Credit union.  "You again...what did we do wrong now?"  "When I used the ATM last night, I noticed that that it was a new machine, it charged me a $3 transaction fee, and that's OK if it is adding $7,000 to my balance!"  "We replaced the machine so there should be no problems with it, and with one that meets the new Federal Guidelines of having to ask first if you understand English, and meets the American Disabilities Act requirements.  We charge non-premium members a $1.50 transaction fee, not $3, and you have a Premium account so there should be no charge.  I'll have to inquire with the Miami home office about your balance addition."

Minutes later, there was a consultation online with the assistant manager to determine that with my card, my transaction had been processed with another member's account!  My online records showed the correct withdrawal of $40 and the correct balance.  The things that make you say huummmm...

"Summer Palm Beach County Dining Specials..."

Summer (Off-Season) in Palm Beach County, Florida is a time for its full-time residents to enjoy special restaurant offerings...

Testa's in Palm Beach continues its seven entree choices three-course and beverage  $15.95 4-6pm "Sunset Specials".  The eggplant appetizer and the salmon entree are delicious.  They've added business six breakfasts Monday thru Friday for $8.95 with coffee or tea.  The hungry man offering includes two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausages, pancakes, potatoes and toast!

The Waterway Cafe on the Intracoastal in Palm Beach Gardens continues its all-day $6 menu; two for one cocktails from 4-7 (with sliced prime rib and bq sandwiches free on Fridays); and added the "Roll-Back To 1996 Menu Pricing" with seven selections fro $10 to the lobster dinner for $13!

Morton's Steakhouse and Palm Beach steakhouse have their great happy hour $5 bar menus.  So does Brio Tuscan Grill from 4-6pm and 9pm to closing with its $3.95 menu (including the best cheeseburger in the region!).

Newly opened La Scaletta in Palm Beach Gardens has all you can eat pasta and pizza for $5!

Not discounted, but highly recommended is Palm Beach's Matteo's Garden Cafe, with the best eggplant I've ever had!

I'll add to the list as time allows...

Check the "Palm Beach Post" Wednesdays and Fridays for published discounts and ENJOY...

"Long Term Care...Continued..."

At 11:00 PM, the night before my scheduled prostate biopsy, I had a second dinner, and prepared to "fast" until after the procedure.  Reluctantly, due to past experiences taking antibiotics, I took them the day before, and then the morning of the exam, and took my "fleet enema" at 7:30 AM, and then drove to the urologists office for the 9:00 AM check-in.  I was taken to the back room and given the rear open surgical robe and told to lie down and wait for the doctor...

"How are you doing this morning?  Despite needing to evacuate this morning, you should have eaten so you have the strength for this. It will take about 15 minutes. You will hear a series of loud "thuds" and then feel consecutive razor cuts. There should not be too much pain. Lie down on your left side facing away from the screen and raise your left leg in the air at a 45 degree angle and hold it there.  Here we go..."   "Ouch...ouch...that smarts...I seem to be feeling every cut...my left leg is getting a "crazy horse" cramp...should I feel this?  I feel like I'm going to pass out...snap nine...I can't hold my leg up anymore..."  "We are almost finished...hang in there...nurse, how are the views on the screen?  We need to redo that one."  "That's 4 more cuts...oh my gosh, this hurts!"  "You are done.  You did VERY well during the procedure!  You can dressed and check out at the front desk.  You can't take aspirin,and need to continue your antibiotics for a day.  You may experience blood for a few days.  Call us if it doesn't stop..."   "Nurse...should I know anything else?"  "No, just drive home, eat, and then you can have a regular work day. Come in a week for your results..."

I drove home, and the pain of sitting on the car seat developed. By the time I got home it was all I could do to get a protein shake out of the downstairs refrigerator and crawl into the downstairs guest bed on my right side.  It hurt too much to lie in any other position.  I put the cell phone under my pillow and fell asleep.  When I awoke, still in pain, I called the doctor's office (and amazingly got someone to answer!) to ask what I should do. I was told to use Tylenol Extra Strength, and I called an associate at work to get some.  A few hours later, she arrived, reminding me that Tylenol Extra Strength had been removed from the shelves, nationally.  She found a generic substitute.  I made dinner,  fell back to sleep, and woke up the next day sore, but ready for a day at the office!

A week later, the doctor's office called to say that the results were delayed, and would take another week.  "Why?  Is that a normal response time?"

I flew to California for a family event, and returned the following week.

"Your results are in...come in at 4:15 PM.  The doctor will have to reveal them."

At 5:15 PM, I was taken from the waiting room with four patients to the back exam room. When the nurse's aide said she was going to take my blood pressure, once again I said to hear results it wasn't necessary unless I had to wait much longer!

At 6:00 PM the doctor came in and once again apologized for the wait..."I'm getting used to it...this is the state of our contemporary medical system!  But I don't mind waiting to hear good news!"..."Well, I've got bad and good news...The bad is that the biopsy locations determined that you have prostate cancer, but the good news is that after treatment, you should expect to live!  I can't give you too many details because our computer system is down, so think about how you feel about this news and call me for another visit, and we can go over the results more specifically, and tell you your options...I can perform traditional or robotics surgery, and I would also recommend that you speak to doctor Patel in Celebrations, Florida who is ranked as one of the top surgeons with the DaVinci Robotics procedure.

"Oh boy!  This is not what I expected to hear!  And I had just thought not being able to get Long Term Care insurance was my only problem!  This must be psychosomatic!"

I left the office and drove to a business card exchange to have a cocktail and take my mind off the news...

 

"Long Term Care...Maybe Happening..."

After a week, I was called to come in to get the PSA results.  It was now three and a half months past my initial physical where my PSA test was 6.4, and now it was 9.7.  Well, hasta la vista being able to be given a Long Term Care insurance policy wit a letter negating an issue from my doctor!  My G.P. said that I needed to schedule an appointment with a Urologist.  When I said that I had never been to one, he recommended one, locally that was in my health insurance "network".   I called and the earliest I could be seen, was two weeks later. 

I walked into the small 10 by 15 foot waiting room of this doctor that had about six elderly patients for my 4 pm appointment at 3:45 in order to have time for the sign in paperwork.   Two patients were checking in ahead of me..."Your co-payment will be $20".  "Your co-payment will be $40".  "Your (mine) co-payment will be $183"!  The previous two were on Medicare!  I sat down to start seven pages of medical history forms and releases...at least the print was large because I had forgotten my reading glasses!  The gentleman across from me asked what my guess for time to complete the forms would be?  "You're a young "whipper-snapper"...what are you doing in a urologists office at your age?  I'm 94 years old and I'm just coming!"

At 5:30 my name was called (as there was no one else in the waiting room by then!).  "And how are you today?  What is the purpose of your visit?  Come to this back room.  Roll up your sleeve...I need to take your blood pressure and then your temperature!"  Then the nurse's aide left.  I noticed two framed objects in the room...one was a painting by an artist friend of mine an offered for sale...the second was a diploma from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where I had architecturally designed the Forensic Institute for the State of New Jersey.    My patience was growing thin, as  continued to wait...so I opened the door to the hall and started pacing back and forth...

At 6:30 the door opened and a young man entered.  "How are you today?   You seem anxious!  I'm sorry that you had to wait so long. Yes, I received my  medical education from The College of Medicine and Dentistry" in New Jersey.   Please tell me why you're here today?  Have you ever been to a urologist?"  I informed, "My grandfather was chief of surgery at St. Francis Hospital, where I was born.  He specialized in prostate surgery and he passed away from it.  His twin sons, in practice with him at St. Francis, also both were diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer".   The doctor related that he had done his residency there....another case of "once-removed" coincidences!

"Please remove your slacks and lean over the exam table...I'll need to do a rectal exam...I cannot detect any abnormality...but with your quickly increased, and high PSA, and family history, I am going to schedule you for a prostate biopsy.  It is done by me in the office, under local anesthesia, and should only take about 15 minutes.  A good result could be that it will be negative, and I may be able to write a letter to have your Long Term Care policy reinstated." 

I was scheduled for the biopsy in one week.  "Your co payment will be $785.  You can use a credit card (yeah, cash back or miles!)".  As I left the empty office at 7 pm I felt confident that my $968 + investment would result in reinstatement of my insurance at my $6,000 discounted rate!

"Envisioning..."

After a recent business card exchange during the dinner hour, a couple of trays of "finger food" were passed.  While delicious, these weren't enough to make a meal, so I was still hungry afterwards.

Driving home, my mind wandered to the Greek diners that were so popular up north.  They always offered a lot of food for a reasonable price.  I envisioned a Gyro platter with a Greek salad, while passing thru a northern section of West Palm Beach, and I looked up and there was a sign on the street..."complete Greek dinners from $6.99 including a large beverage"! I pulled over, knocked on the door because no one appeared to be inside, and the owner said he was open, and to have  a seat!  I took one of the about 30 seats inside, and I had the best Gyro I've  ever had with a delicious Greek salad and large iced tea!  The owner related that on Fridays they feature Greek music and dancers.  He also handed me a breakfast menu..."complete breakfast from $2.75...featuring a feta cheese, gyro meat Greek omelet, potatoes, toast and coffee for $4.99"!

We told friends about it, and went there after church the following Sunday! 

"Long Term Care..."

I was pleased to receive notice from my professional architecture society that it had made arrangements to offer the membership discounted rates on Long Term Care Insurance policies.  I contacted the recommended agent who came to the house and presented that he was able to write policies for a few months longer at rates that were equal to policy rates of five years ago...extremely competitive.  The policy with the current most notable provider of this type of insurance would save at least $2,500 per year less than other quotes I had received.  After he explained the policy provisions, he interviewed me to fill out an application.  With my non-smoking, limited drinking, daily exercise, good diet, good annual physical ("clean bill of health") results of one month prior, "underwriting" would have no problem issuing the policy.  No doctor's visit or medical records transfer would be required as part of the arrangements made for the group policy, but I could expect to be called to determine that I am "mentally coherent"!  A caller might contact me to give me a list of names or sentences  that I would need to repeat back by memory under an "honor system" (although since it was a phone call, the agent related that some have been known to write them down to assist with the memory!) the list.  I gave my credit card (travel miles!) for the first two month's premium, and I was told that I should expect the issued policy in 1-2 months.   After a month, I checked the status of my application and was told that it was in "underwriting" and I should receive the policy soon.

A few weeks later I received a letter from the provider that due to an undisclosed high PSA prostate test result in my December physical, three months prior, the policy would not be issued, and a check for my paid premium was enclosed!  The letter added that with a response from my primary doctor, that the test results were incorrect, my application would be reconsidered.  This was a surprise, because it had been years prior that I had any symptoms of "evening frequency" or "strong elimination urges", and as mentioned, I had been told after a physical exam and blood testing, that I had no issues with anything!  After a few days of (typical) unanswered phone calls to my doctor's office, and two drive up-drop ins, I finally got to see the doctor. He related that my PSA result had been 6.4 (above 4, plus patient family history) was considered an alert.  "And wouldn't have been good medical practice to contact me?"  He arranged to have my PSA retested and agreed to write a letter after my anticipated good results would arrive. I contacted the insurance agent to give him the good news and he said that he would be able to expedite the policy issuance at the lower rate upon receipt of the doctor's letter...

"Constant Activities...Or At Least, Attempted Activities..."

A few weeks, in one month, after Easter, so "off-season" in Florida and the activities continue...or at least attempt to continue, weather-determined...

"A Tribute to Broadway" at the Kravis Theatre of Performing Arts on a Monday, followed by the Palm Beach Chapter of the UVA Alumna's "Thomas Jefferson's Birthday Celebration" at Palm Beach's Taboo...

"Master Harold" play unfolded at West Palm Beach's "Dramaworks" theatre..."O-Dance" creative contemporary ballet merged with visual arts performance

Saturday, a national polo match at the Grand Champion's Club...then a world premiere of "Love Free or Die" occurred at the "Palm Beach International Film Festival"...the following morning a 2-hour parade occurred along South Beach's Ocean Drive...on the way home there was time to stop at the "Delray Affair" art festival...

Thursday, "Earth Week" commenced with a "Glam From Garbage" fashion show at Norton Museum's "Art After Dark"...Friday,The Palm Beach Historical Society's "1940's Swing Time" at the West Palm Beach Armory was set up to occur generally outside, and right at its beginning, a torrential downpour started and lasted most of the evening...nevertheless 400 people braved the weather and were escorted inside from valet parking. Saturday, "Turtle Fest" at the Loggerhead Museum of Juno Beach had a tornado watch weather cancellation...the weather cleared for Lake Worth's "Earth Day Drum Circle" under the starry sky... 

Last weekend...450,000 estimated attended  Saturday's returned after five years, Fort Lauderdale's "Air & Sea" show...Weather canceled the event for Sunday.  It also canceled the Historical Society of Palm Beach's "Barefoot on the Beach" in Delray...

Next Wednesday, West Palm Beach's five-day 30th anniversary of "Sunfest" waterfront music and art festival starts...it ends Sunday night with an always incredible firework's spectacular...Rain is threatening...and 275,000 are expected...

"Easter"

Easter...

Nearly everyone that I spoke to, last week, said that this is their favorite holiday of the year...

It falls in our spring when the days are getting longer, the flowers and trees are  blooming, our residents from the northern parts are emerging after the inside-bound days of winter, the families gather to enjoy traditional family meal favorites, people bring out their bright-colored outfits, and the Christian churches are filled with standing room only from their sunrise services to thru the later services thru the day...

The reflections during the pre-Easter Lenten observances, lead to thoughts of refreshed renewal...

It's a time to re-charge and motivate with positive goals...embrace this feeling...

"International Air Booking"

Another one of my "bucket list" trips is the Danube river cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg. Like the ocean cruise industry, the river cruise industry has been releasing innovative new and improved ships regularly.  A brochure for a wonderfully designed new ship arrived, and I placed a deposit on one of its summer sailings, conditioned on being able to find good flights to and from Europe.

Tired of our domestic carriers, I decided to check flights for one of the overseas airlines that has a reputation for efficient well-executed service. First I researched multiple leg flights from Miami on a travel search engine.  With two stops, itineraries appeared to be 28 to 35 hours each way, and priced at $1,250.  When I went to the dedicated site for the desired international carrier, I found one stop itineraries down to 16 hours for $1,530.  I returned to the site multiple times while drafting through the evening, and then at 2am a $1,350, 13-hour fare appeared!  Bingo! I continued to book it, but before i did I was directed to join the carrier's frequent flyer program.  All of the sections were completed, and I was e-mailed a confirmation of my new membership number.  With this I was supposed to be able to process the reservation.  Unfortunately the site kept not accepting my code, and then would disconnect me so I had to start the whole search and process again!  Meanwhile, each time I tried to continue to process the reservation,  the fare went up!  By 3am it was up to $1,600, and I gave up for the evening!  The next morning, I called the 800 number while driving and 30 minutes later (listening to the tape..."we'll be right with you, but in the meantime if you want immediate service, use our web site!") an agent picked up! She said if I needed help with the site not accepting my log in number (that they had given me!) I could call Tech Service from noon to 5pm weekdays!  Due to computer issues, it took her about 10 more minutes to find the itinerary, and she informed that there would be a $20 fee for not booking online...and the rate she quotes was...$3,800!  "You have got to be kidding...I had $1,350 online last night!  Are you quoting anything else other than economy or are you quoting for two passengers?"..."May I book this reservation for you?!?".   Late that night I went back online, and the site did not require my unaccepted log in number...and after a few minutes, I found the itinerary for $1,410, and I was able to book it!!! 

Lots of persistence is required to book with one of the top rated airlines...and I'm hoping the flying experience is better than the reservations systems!!!

"Air Transportation..."

My brother and I were invited to spring ski in Colorado again this year, so I checked online to compare airfares...Understand that once again timing is everything...the airline industry had just been government-reprimanded for their disregard for their customers.  Because of this, and because of the escalating cost of fuel, rates had really jumped!  Finally, coming and going from Florida in the spring is a high-demand time.

Palm Beach International (PBI) is my nearest departure airport, and our destination was Vail/Eagle.  I was still shocked to hear fares of  $1,400 from PBI, and $998 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL), an hour drive away.  Checked bags would be $25 for the first and $35 for the second  We tried to use a two for one "companion fare", but these were not an option at this high demand time. We were surprised to be able to trade in frequent flyer miles.  It used to be a 20,000 mile exchange for domestic round-trips.  This had increased to a 50,000 mile exchange!   My brother booked two round trips from FLL,  and selected aisle seats for each leg of the trip on line.

A few days before our departure, my brother checked the status of our itinerary.  All of the flights were still scheduled, but our seat selections had been deleted.  In a call, we were told to call for seats two hours before our scheduled 6:30 AM.  So 3:30 AM we called and were told to report to the airline check in desk to get seats.  There, we were told to use the kiosk (while the six attendants stood behind the desk and watched my brother use this computer system).  Bulkhead seats were offered for a $29 up charge.  We were then told that aisle seats would also be a $29 up charge, but it turned out that the system said no seats were available on the overbooked flights!  We should report to the gate!

After disrobing to our slacks and shirts, and placing all other items on the conveyor belt, we eventually both got thru the "security check".  At the gate, when questioned by us, the representative said that it had become common practice to change equipment (planes), and when they do without notice to the passengers, they cancel booked seats! We were "lucky", because we could get two seats next to each other in the next to the last row of the (long) plane.  What I didn't know was that they also put the passengers with screaming (at the top of their lungs) and kicking children in this zone too!  We were told that we  could not book return seats because the airline had a new policy of not doing that in flights from the west (I cannot always believe what reps say these days!)  Then we grabbed a egg muffin ($1 out of the airport, and $8 inside!).  Tap water was discouraged as not being safe to drink! 

As we cued in line to board, a passenger questioned when we would be boarding? The attendant yelled back that he would not tolerate passenger rage!!! Lucky again we were boarded right after the medallion, first class, and passengers traveling with small children or disabilities, so we were able to take our "carry ons" on board before the (common practice) luggage racks were filled!

"Welcome aboard...with our goal of providing first class service (in economy), when we reach cruising altitude  we will serve a cup of soda, juice or coffee .  We also offer gourmet (crackers and cheese or protein bars) for a (high) fee, but we only take credit cards for payment. We also offer a choice of movies or in flight programs for a $6 plus $2 earpiece charge!  Buckle up and watch our safety instructions video...and ENJOY your flights with us today!"

"A February "Height of Season" Weekend..."

I've overheard "There's nothing to do here..."I offer another opinion...

Last Friday, I left my office a little early and went for a 2-mile swim. Then I headed for a late lunch at the 3-day annual Greek Festival for a gyro, Greek salad, and some live Greek music and belly dancing.  Then I back tracked to the complimentary "Cook-Off" at Northwood Nights...the bacon wrapped bananas, crab cakes and dim sung were delicious! Next I headed south to the opening of the Delray International Tennis Championships.  I arrived just in time to see Andy Roddick from eight feet away on a practice court...the cool evening weather was perfect!  Still heading sough and with an earlier theme, I stopped at a Greek diner!

After 4 hours sleep, and breakfast number two, it was back to the indoor pool to swim 2 more miles.  Back in the car on the Intrastate and oops ...a tire blowout!  AAA said it would be 1.5 hours to get a service vehicle, so I bumped off the highway, and got a store owner to fill the tire with a portable unit, that allowed me to drive two more blocks to a branch of the store where I had purchased the tires!  Since I had "road hazard coverage", the replacement tire  cost half price!   But when I looked for my credit card I realized the box office had forgotten  to return it at the tennis tournament!  So I rushed back down to the tennis stadium in Delray, picked it up, and turned around to stop by the Lake Worth annual Street Painting Festival! It had quite the artist turnout!  From there I drove north again to join 3,000 of my closest friends in Palm Beach County's "Wheel of Fortune" tryouts.  You lined up for an hour three times to drop an application into a box.  From these they randomly selected 5 people, 20 times in an hour for a mini-version of the show.  My usual good luck wore off for the two ladies on either side of me...both were called...I was not!  After that, I had to take a jacuzzi, watched UVA lose to UNC in a nail-biting close basketball season final game, and rest for a dinner reception back south again! An artist and his partner opened up their beautiful home that displayed his work, while we enjoyed an unusually catered meal!  Then it was time to head back north to Jupiter to catch the late show of the actual Navy Seal footage "Act of Valor" terrific film.

After another four hours sleep it was time to head back to Palm Beach for mass with Mom, then back north to brunch at a hotel that I was trying to sell.  After dropping Mom home, once again, I headed south to board a cruise ship for a champagne brunch business meeting cruise along Palm Beach's Intracoastal waterfront.  It finished in time to catch the "Unsinkable Titanic" lecture at Palm Beach's Whitehall Museum.  Then, back north again to meet my brother and mother for dinner at the Waterway Cafe!  Afterwards, it was home to do an architectual project while watching the Oscars, and preparing for a Monday workday!

Nothing to do?1?!

"Presidents' Day Weekend, 2012"

South Florida is a buzz in the "height of the (social) Season" this Presidents' Day Weekend.  The weather cooperated with clear skies and temperatures in the mid 80's Saturday and Sunday with a drop to a refreshing high 60's Monday.  The local newspapers related that this "Season" has been the busiest in many years with booked hotels and filled restaurants.

Regionally, events included the Miami Boat Show; the Coconut Grove Arts Festival; pre-Lent Mardi Gras at the German American Club; Artigras Art Festival; The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art, and Antique Show; Polo; National Equestrian Championships; the India Fest; Movies Under The Stars; George Hamilton in La Cage Aux Faux; and more...

Observations..."complexity and contradictions"...

In order to drive to all of the events, I found myself at the gas station filling up four times...regular unleaded...$3.61 to $3.64 to $3.71 to $3.79 per gallon!  Our gas prices are expected to keep escalating this year (to over $5 per gallon this summer) due to our reliance on foreign imports...and Iran is developing 30 plus nuclear bombs with Israel ready to attack!  While Canada's economy is escalating due to using their natural resources, we have decided to limit the use of our own! 

To make the two mile drive from the State park beach I sat in bumper to bumper traffic for 45 minutes (idling at those gas prices!) due to the decision to reduce to alternating traffic lanes to start the access bridge ("stimulus program") construction during this "Season" height.  The alternative route's bridges are in their third year of construction... 

Always in search of a bargain, I went to our local branch of a large national department store to look for a few items.  I could not find a one pair of plain gray socks that was not packaged in a "three-pack"with patterned ones.  All of the t-shirts were on sale except for the XL ones.  Of the 1000 plus groups of long-sleeved shirts, the store had made a policy to only carry 100% cotton need to iron types...no more wash and wear brands (a good idea with the outrageous cost of dry-cleaning and our 24-7 always in a rush, no free time to iron schedules!).

The local restaurants unveiled their "new" menus to present their new prices!  The alternative is to cook at home...two months ago my groceries for a few days cost $50...then a month later, $60...and now $70!

I decided to stock up on incandescent 3-way bulbs...because our government has decided to outlaw their sale (in the interest of "global warming") and replace them with the migraine-inducing fluorescent and disposal-toxic LEDs...

I went to the indoor pool for some laps...the heater was broken...COLD cramp-inducing...the spa was perimeter "yellow-taped" with "do not use" signs, while a gentleman was sitting in its middle, disregarding the warnings!  so I went into the sauna.   a local fireman and paramedic struck up a conversation..."I can't believe I was being paid $18.95 per hour in 2005, and I'm receiving $15.95 per hour in 2012!  I work double my regular hours in unpaid overtime, and my nightly call outs have increased from five to forty!  People out there are nuts!  I have an air-conditioning and an electrical business to attempt to make up for the reduction.  I hardly ever get a chance to workout anymore...in fact I hardly sleep.  I'm SO stressed!  My pregnant wife lost her job in a corporate down-sizing. She wants a divorce. My bank increased my my mortgage payment from $1,200 to $3,900 per month, and they wouldn't renegotiate with me, so I lost my home in foreclosure.  Don't you find that the few of us that are able to work, have to accept lower pay for tremendously increased work loads?"

"I know what you mean!!! In my graduate school years in 1978 I substitute taught in New York for $125 per day.  When things were slow for architecture in 1990, I taught in the Palm Beach school system for $95 per day.  In 2012, our local substitutes are paid $78 per day, and you know the prevailing contemporary discipline issues!"

Presidents' Day...any president, any politician, any of us...we all have so MUCH work to do!