Tag Archives: retiree

15

Oct. ’17

The World’s Spinning Faster

Thinking about the fiasco surrounding the NFL; the kneeling situation. I am dissolving my cheering for my NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. Why, you may be wondering? It’s not what the team did, kneeling during the national anthem, it’s Dallas’ owner who is in the president’s pocket by saying the team will stand or not play. He was one of the president’s largest contributors which is also a mark against him. Strike two.

While in the military, I told the men that worked for me- in a baseball game there are three strikes before you are out. In my game you have two strikes and you are out. Mess up once, the strike is on me. Mess up twice and you are out. Jerry Jones have two strikes. I love the team but not the owner, especially what he is standing for.

Kneeling was never against the flag but against inequality. Against everything except the dishonoring the flag. Not once have anyone said anything about the flag or anthem, they wanted to have their voice heard, to unify. But, someone, somehow twisted the message and that was heard loudest. This will free-up time on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.

Also, bundled into this is the thought of burning, throwing away or rendering unwearable all the team gear that was collected over the years. Many have already sacrificed all the gear they have but the NFL and the team already have the money, what’s the point. I’ll keep mine but I’ll stop cheering.

Did you know that the president is so knowledgeable and have so much respect for the flag that he did not know what the music was before lowering or raising the flag or what it was for? Nor did he know what was to be done when the music was heard, etc. But, he is down on everyone about respecting the flag yet, in the beginning, he did not know it was never about the flag. What is to be done to the people that burn or stomp on the flag? I wonder.

As for the retiree/senior citizen, have you heard that the president have signed a proclamation to suspend funds to supplement healthcare for low income people? That it will mean is either higher cost for healthcare or higher cost of health insurance or both? As of yet, I am not affected yet because I am a military retiree but I am holding my breathe because this president may have other tricks up his ?/&**$# sleeve. I don’t trust him, don’t believe him nor have I ever. Any and everything touched by President Obama will be stricken, regardless what it is or whether it hurt people or not.

Moving on to my travels, a retiree’s privilege. This time my wife and I took the Sunshine bus tour to Cass, West Virginia. We stopped at the observatory and had lunch before going to Cass, WV. From a distance I took pictures of the large dish and the small dish but other than that there wasn’t much to see. Then on to the train.

This was a small locomotive that ran up and down the mountain pulling four open sided cars (from Cass to the tourist station at the top) and while at the top another train arrived from the other direction. It was interesting as well as fun. A good day and that was last week.

This week, Brookdale Imperial Plaza took the weekly outing to Charlestown, West Virginia, the Charlestown Casino/Racetrack. This was an overnight trip because the horse racing is always in the evening. I did okay in the casino but lost my shirt on the horses. It is all about having fun and spend only what you can afford to lose. Never go to the casino expecting to win because you may win a little but the odds are against you. My wife and I had a good time and in two weeks we will be at the casino in Delaware before continuing on to Connecticut for the casinos there. We have not been in either place in a while but now is the time to go, this is before our next cruise which will be in December. Therefore, in two weeks one or both blogs may not be uploaded. Fun first.

Get out the house, get out of town and have fun. You may be here today but tomorrow is not promised. See ya!!!

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09

Jan. ’16

Mighty Pen Project

It was a great night, 1/6/16, at the Virginia War Memorial where we had the reading and reception of the Mighty Pen Project. Quite a few people were there, the food was good and the readings went very well. There was six of us, that was in the second class of the Mighty Pen Project, and I was first to read one of the pieces I wrote for the class. All of the written material was well written, very moving and covered a wide area of military life from Viet Nam to the present time.

Mr. James Triesler, Education Director of the Virginia War Memorial gave the welcome. Dr. David Coogan, Associate Professor of English, Virginia Commonwealth University and our instructor for the second class of the Mighty Pen Project, gave the remarks. Mr. David L. Robins, program founder/author/teacher at VCU, gave the introduction of readers.

The Mighty Pen Project is in need of students, like myself or better, that is military connected, past or present, and want to write. People that want to write about their military experiences, feelings, just to get things out of their system or just to leave something for their loved one, to name a few things, need this class. It’s too late to registrar for the class starting on 1/20/16 but contact can be made for the class starting in April. Each class is every Wednesday night for ten weeks and involve reading, writing and supreme insight into the material from the instructor.

Go to the Virginia War Memorial web site, www.vawarmemorial.org, for information on the Mighty Pen Project ( MPP) and the Virginia War Memorial. The Mighty Pen Project also have a Facebook page and a lot of information can be gained there. A web page and blog is in the works. Since I have joined the board, I have been appointed to help with initiating the web site and helping with future entertainment. I hope my work goes well. If anyone need information or know someone that would qualify, they can either contact me or go to one of the sites.

I know that this is not like my normal blogs but I feel that I can at least help get the word out with one or more shots from my blog. Don’t hesitate to do this and I will surly get back to you as soon as I can. There are a lot of retirees out here that would like to try this and the person does not have to be good or retired. That will come with time and it’s not to write a book (it’ll give you a start, if you want), just snippets. Well, I’ll see ya the next time. Contact me.

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17

Jan. ’14

Neighborly

Yesterday I practiced pool at Boxwood, here at Imperial Plaza, and, like I told Ron, I stunk.  I haven’t shot pool (billiards) in thirty five years or more and I stunk then.  Why, you ask?  I had other priorities at the time and shooting pool was nowhere near the top of my list.  To be good a person (man or woman) must have patience, planning, a steady hand, and, like chess, the ability to see moves ahead of time.  All I had was the patience and to follow it up was just plain luck.  I knew guys that could compete with “Minnesota Fats”.  He wouldn’t even look in my direction.

Today was the outing for ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  We went to Ruby Tuesday and it was great.  There were two new men that have recently moved into Imperial Plaza.  Everyone was joking with everyone and conversations abounded.  Terry, as usual, drove and, of course, there was Ron with about a dozen of us guys.

The food was good but the prices were even better.  The only thing I didn’t like was the desert menu.  I wanted something I could bring home and share with my wife but the portions they had was too small.  Therefore, I gave up on it and decided to get Krispy Kreme Donuts tomorrow.  I usually get a desert the majority of times my wife and I go out to eat but this time I had to pass.

I see a lot of residents that need a little help.  Not serious help but just a little.  I am more able than most and much younger also so I try to do my part.  One day I may be in that position and I would like someone to help me if I needed it.  There was this lady that live down the hall from me and she needed help.  She drove herself to the market and was having problems unloading her car when she came back.  One of the maintenance men saw her, loaded her items in a basket and bought it up to her apartment.  She was too tired to move her car from the garage and when I left my apartment I saw her.  I went down the elevator to the garage, moved her car to a parking space and went back to her apartment to return the keys to her.

We all need help or, one day, will need help and it is upon all of us to render any and all assistance to whoever needs it.  I have seen residents ignore others, like opening a door and other small things but it all mean a lot to someone in need.  I cannot stress this enough.  Do what you can, when you can.  It’ll only take very little time and Blessings will come your way.

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