Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
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5:20 am - Everyday Objects - 1 .....,
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This one is an experiment, and is the first in what I believe will end up being a series.
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(comment on this)
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Friday, November 20th, 2009
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2:23 am - From an Article re Citibank's Credit Card Rates.....,
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Citi is hiking rates, even to their "good" customers.
To soften it, they'll offer a partial rebate on the increases, but only if you use the card to spend more money.
"In a statement, Citi said the actions were necessary given elevated losses from souring loans and "regulatory changes that eliminate repricing for that risk."
Maybe I've missed something here.
Their losses were not from me, or those like me. I pay my bills, and on time.
Their losses were from their own stupidity and greed, granting credit to those that should not have it because they couldn't manage.
A bank used to be able to turn a profit on about a two percent spread. They are borrowing from the Fed at about 0%, charging customers 20%, and still claim that they have to raise the rates so as not to lose money.
Those losses should be to their stockholders, not to their customers!!!
Except of course that as taxpayers that have bailed them out [again], we are now the stockholders.
I have a better solution. My only card through them has Home Depot on the label. I've stopped using it at all. I've repaid two thirds of it in the past four months and expect to zero it before the end of the Winter.
.... and, as a statement to Home Depot for sticking me with Citi in the first place, I've now taken most of my business to Lowes and in cash - several thousand homeowner dollars per year.
Will they note it?
Maybe not.
But if I've enough company I would like to hope so.
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Thursday, November 19th, 2009
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11:34 pm - Noted with Happiness.....,
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I was on CNN's web site today and read a brief article with eight photos attached. The steel work is rising and One World Trade is now four stories above street level.
I watched them build the originals.
I watched as they came down.
Seeing the replacement in concrete and steel instead of print in a newspaper is an important part of the healing process.
It's real.
There is hope.
We got caught by a sucker punch, but we were not defeated.
There's to be a trial soon - a verdict - and likely an execution.
I'm not particularly vindicitive, but frankly using some of that steel work to support a noose makes a whole lot more sense than a needle.
At the very least he should be made to stare at it as he feels the chemicals enter his body.
If you find that extreme of me, I'm sorry, but please stand in my shoes.
I'll not apologize.
I lost three.
I don't know anyone living here that didn't lose at least one.
... and yes we all take it very personally.
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(10 comments | comment on this)
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2:12 am - Found Artifact From the Flood of '35.....,
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There's a tale that goes with this one.
In 1935, a WPA crew was felling trees to form a clearing alongside a stream. A sudden summer rainstorm came up and a couple of the timbers floated away. Downstream they lodged against the center pier of a NY Central railroad trestle that spanned a gorge. Other debris became lodged, a dam was formed, the water rose, other logs were dislodged, floated downstream and joined their brethren.
Eventually it was too much weight and the pier buckled. Suddenly a forty foot wall of water, trees, trestle, and freight cars came roaring down the gorge, through the town, and eventually into the lake beyond. There was much damage, but only one casualty.
The gorge is now a seasonal park and tourist attraction. Seventy three years later, a different crew was maintaining a path along the stream bank. They unearthed this - roughly a half mile down stream from the trestle site, and chose to leave it in place as a part of the history of the place.
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
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6:21 am - Fall '09 - 2
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2:17 am - Something That I Wasn't Ready For Yet.....,
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As I came out of my office tonight, I noticed several of the building's electricians looking at something on the other side of the lobby.
Several other workmen were busy assembling a twenty foot high artificial Christmas Tree.
Is it really that late in the year already?
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Monday, November 9th, 2009
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3:14 am - If It Has Eight Legs, it's Not a Bug.....,
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1:50 am - OK- Time to Start Paying the Bills Around Here.....,
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Sunday, November 8th, 2009
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1:57 am - It's Time to Post Again.....,
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Life is good.
I've been busy.
[...and distracted]
I've been neglecting both art and LJ, but now it's time again.
This one is for practice, to relearn how to do it.
The objective was the repetition of form, rivets, and especially the knife edged reflection on the edges of the steelwork.
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(comment on this)
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
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2:58 am - The Quote of the Day.....,
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Or maybe even the week ...
From a random profile on a dating site ...
Regarding pets ...
"My condo board doesn't allow horses."
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Thursday, October 1st, 2009
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12:54 am - Every Once in a While.....,
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I find myself on the other side of the lens.
My barber is foreign born, and barely speaks English.
I said "trim" and ended up with a comb-able crew cut.
I'm promised that it will grow back.
Now about those bags under my eyes ...
Definitely need more time in bed ...
Instead of staying up on LJ, that is ...
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(16 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
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2:25 am - I'm Learning About Being Domestic.....,
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I long ago learned basic bachelor survival cooking and am actually fairly good at the things that I make.
I long ago learned how to operate a washer and a dryer.
I've always done my own ironing, and folding laundry is not a biggie.
Except! ...
... How the hell do you fold a fitted sheet???
Several have tried to teach me, both verbally, and in person. Somehow I just haven't been able to get that part down and I'm not totally sure that I ever will.
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(33 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
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10:59 pm - Mellow Mood......,
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Over the weekend, I purchased the sound components of a home theater system. I've owned one before, but the one from my past now resides elsewhere. This one was mid level in quality, entirely adequate for an apartment.
Tonight I got around to hooking it up.
Among other things, I own a two disc set of the Essential Santana.
It's not the only thing I played, but it is by far the most perfect thing, and it's on as I type this. I never stop marveling how much I enjoy his music.
It's definitely a dim the lights, open a bottle of something, and sit back and relax situation. The only thing missing is someone to share it with ...
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009
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6:18 pm - I'm Sort of Getting the Hang of It.....,
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Life always has new adventures.
Right now my most immediate one is re-learning cooking for one.
I know there's frozen/prepared, but I prefer things done from scratch. It's also a good way to keep the excess salt problem under reasonable control. What I've found that works for me is one major cooking session about once a week, dividing the results, and freezing them as one at a time portions.
[During the week my microwave is my friend.]
Last night I did both a meatloaf and meat balls. In about two and a half hours I now have the protein component done for approximately two weeks worth of meals. My cost, even with spices was less than $11.00 in total. I'd previously done chicken, and have a supply of both fish and chops. I vary things from night to night of course.
Salads are quick, and so are some other veggies. Potatoes are a problem - I don't really like instant and "from scratch" takes a while. Pasta is quick enough and rice is not too bad.
The biggest problem that I've encountered is buying for one, especially fresh vegetables. There are some things that I like, but not every day. Carrots keep, but greens are problematic.
I'll figure it out.
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(9 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
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8:38 am - A Nearly Perfect Day, and Evening.....,
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Like too many, I push too hard and never relax.
Yesterday I took a long drive into greener scenery and ended up visiting old friends.
Their home is adjacent to an open field. We sat talking on the patio and, near twilight, two does, four fawns, and even the buck appeared - gently grazing. The fawns were curious, and unafraid. Three of them came up on our lawn and as close as fifteen feet away. It was a very nice ending to what had been a gentle, pleasant day.
...and of course deer don't hang out in bad places.
.... and, if you are reading this because I asked you to, then yes, you are in the right place.
[:>
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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7:41 pm - I'm Still Around - and More or Less Healthy.....,
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I've just been busy with life's chores and haven't had much to say.
But I will of course, that's a given.
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(9 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
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3:58 am - Twilight Study Exercise in Cream and Cyan.....,
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3:06 am - Sometimes One has a Visionary Moment in the Middle of the Night.....,
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This one involves three components.
1. I left the AC off and have the windows open.
2. Unseen, there is a skunk wandering about in my neighborhood.
3. There's nothing that I can do about items 1. or 2. now that will make a difference.
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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2:21 am - Decisions, Decisions -- dash two.....,
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Can I?
Should I?
Do I want to?
How do I make it happen?
I think the answer may be yes, but that sort of defies logic.
Not that I've ever allowed that to be a major impediment.
I need some additional data.
Or maybe I already have it, and just have to realize what is already in hand.
We'll see.
Must grok some more.
[This one is a positive conundrum, not depressed or depressing. I'm actually in a fairly good mood, just trying to solve one of life's puzzles.]
[[...and I think I may leave this one public, and for a particular reason.]]
[[[ Grok = "To contemplate for an indeterminate time until understanding is." Heinlein - Stranger in a Strange Land. ]]]
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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2:16 am - Decisions, Decisions.....,
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