Tag Archives: weather

MPP and Casinos

You should have been there. The third class of the Mighty Pen Project had their graduation ceremony, of which I was a part of, on the 6th of April. There were at least eighty five people in attendance and food in abundance (after the ceremony, of course). And, to top it all off, there were six or seven readings of some of the pieces written during the ten weeks of intense university level instruction. This was my second class and I loved this one most of all. The next class will be starting in a week or two (I forget which) and Mighty Pen Project (MPP) will begin to take applications for the fall class that will start in September. Those of you that can make it should sign-up for this ten week course. You’ll be surprised in what you can accomplish. Registration is taken through the Virginia War Memorial (our partner in this endeavor) on their web site, www.virginiawarmemorial.org I am still working on our web site (I finally made a break through in getting it started) and it’s located at www.themightypenproject.org I finally have a few photos from the graduation and a couple from NPR when they were at the second class (I’m in both of the photos which ended up in the papers also). Keep looking at both sites because information change often.

I love going to the casinos but I am out with Charlestown Casinos in Charlestown, West Virginia. The horse racing was good (they can’t rig that) but the slot machines are brand new and set to not pay. Maryland Live and Horseshoe (Baltimore) is much, much better. You may not get a jackpot but you will make and lose a little with the occasional jackpot or near jackpot. West Virginia must want us to pay for the new machines. Not on my dime. But, on the other side of the coin, my wife love to play Roulette and does pretty good on the table. It’s hard to rig the table but the machines are another matter. Therefore, we’ll go to Maryland Live for a week, starting Monday, and my religious blog will be late if at all (it’s not like I’m getting paid for this blog).

I see we have the typical Virginia weather…wait five minutes and it’ll change. Seem as though we are getting March in April, therefore, we may get April in May. Either way, our Virginia weather, in my opinion, is the best in the USA. A little of this and a little of that with not too much of any one thing. Here in the Richmond, tri-cities area, the very bad weather either go around us or skip over us. I love it and try to enjoy it. It’s never too hot nor too cold (three bears?) and I don’t like the cold although I spent most of my military career in cold places. Oh well, there is nothing that can be done about it even if you don’t like it. We all have to suck up the bad weather and hope we are never in it.

Take care, be good and I’ll see all of you when I get back.

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Merry Christmas

It’s been a while, however, I’ve been busy and sort of lazy in the off times. But the Holidays will do that to you although that should not be an excuse. When I think of the season, I feel sort of guilty every time I look at the national and international weather. Here we are basking in the sun, warmth, mild winds and just plain unseasonable weather. Reminds me of when I was stationed at MacDill, AFB, in Florida. I remember sitting under a window air conditioner on Christmas Day. It was a nice day although on the hot side but very nice all the same.

As I walk around, here at Imperial Plaza, I often hear people complaining about how warm or cold it is. I hear people complaining about the rain or no rain at all. People just have to complain about everything that does not need complaining about. We could be in the Mid-West and have the feet of snow along with the cold. We could be on the west coast and be in the drought stricken areas.

There is a saying: “Be careful what you wish (ask) for, you just may get it.” There are areas, on the west coast that were wishing for rain, now there are floods. There were areas on the west coast that wished for snow in the mountains that will give them water down below. Now the complaint is the snow came too early and it’s too much. We have people here wishing for cold weather. Are they going to get it? Will it be too much or not enough or just right? Be careful what you wish for.

There is another complaint at the Plaza. There is one group of people, in Dogwood, that say the new lobby furniture is too high. There is another group that say it is too low. Then there are those that complain it is too dark colored. I say, be grateful and happy new materials are showing up all over the place. It cost us exactly zero and it is new. There is a saying for this also: “You can please some of the people some of the time but you can’t please all the people all the time.” I personally love the new furniture and carpet. The place look beautiful. At least to me it does.

There is another saying: “The difference between men and boys is the size of their toys (or the cost of their toys.)” I just bought my Christmas toys and I already have them out. I just love getting toys and acting like a kid, even if it is not Christmas Day. However, I don’t go overboard and have it carry me into bankruptcy. I like to pay as I go. Try it. This time next month will feel good knowing everyone else is knee deep in debt and I have no bills. Oh, what a feeling it is. Puts a permanent smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. There is another way to be without debt at Christmas. Start saving a nice amount, monthly, for next year. Start now and keep doing it.

I’ll shut down, for now, and do some other writings. I have three writings that I want to finish, at least by the end of next year, and some smaller writings that I hope to sell sooner. This really take a lot of time, especially concentration and rewrites, rewrites, rewrites. This article, that you are reading (I hope), can be done in one sitting with only a little editing. There is a gold mine of things to write about, here at Imperial Plaza, but being careful about what is written takes time and a lot of thought. Thinking before it is sent to the internet will save a lot of heartaches later. Plus having finger crossing luck.

Have a very Merry Christmas and the best Happy New Year ever!!!!

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Elderly and Writing

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Cool weather is upon us and we must prepare for the up coming cold winter air. Don’t wait because it will be upon us before we know it. Winter, like summer, is no joke, especially if you are among the elderly. Things we used to do when we were younger is no longer true now. The heat or coldness we used to endure is fatal now. The getting up at the crack of dawn is gone. Swiftness in our step is slowing if not already slowed. Soon it will come to a stop; we all must meet that fate. It’s no fun getting up in age; we all must meet that fate also. We are human and not infallible and must watch what we say, do and react to. Infallibility certainly come with age and we get older, not younger.

Have patience with those that are older than we are. Those that move slower. Those that are slower in wit (some didn’t get it with age but was there most of their lives). Not only does the body deteriorate with age, so does the mind (few exceptions allowed). Be helpful and understand. One day we all will be in the same position. How would we want to be treated?

On a lighter note…My wife and I attended the Annual Meeting (and luncheon) of The Virginia Writers Club on the 7th and it was grand, although there wasn’t as many attendees as I thought there would be. We bought a couple of books (the book I’m writing is not finished yet) and had them autographed. My wife won a prize, a book. The main speaker was great and the food was out of this world. The event was held at The Embassy Suites Hotel and the hotel have a botanical garden area that Lewis Ginter Gardens would surely love to have. It was wonderful to tour the floras and running water (all indoors, of course). We even accidentally met the keeper of the gardens. It was a great day. Now I must buckle down and write in earnest. I’ll tell you why…

The Mighty Pen is a project presented (hosted) by the Virginia War Memorial. I am in the second class of writers that are coached (taught, instructed) by some highly powered people. The class was an idea of author David Robbins and he taught the first class and drops in on the second class, my class, which have two more weeks left of a ten week course. My class is instructed by Dr. David Coogan, author and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. There are only twelve people at each class but two have dropped out of mine. As can be expected, the writings are all about the military, fact or fiction (great majority is fact). It is a great course and I would have never forgiven myself if I had passed on the opportunity to attend (it was my wife that showed me the article about the class). I’m glad I am attending and I have learned a lot as well as rubbed elbows with a lot of influential people. I hope the younger class members realize what an opportunity it is to be there.

Mr. David Robbins is also the co-founder of the James River Writers Club and asked me to check into them and, hopefully, join. I am looking into them as soon as I can and, if they are as good as The Virginia Writers Club, I will join. These clubs, in the future, may be a help to me in my writings and will look good on my resume, when submitted to a publisher. Wish me luck.

There was suppose to be a writing course started here at Imperial Plaza. I signed up for the course about three months ago but have not heard anything yet. I heard, a couple of weeks ago, that they were looking for people to take the course but my name and number have been on the sign-up sheet for a long time. Oh well, no contact, no sweat. I’ll wait because I have plenty of other things on my plate, not counting my writings.

Remember, prepare for winter and keep a sharp mind. Be mindful of others and, as it was said in days of yore, “keep on keeping on”. And, as I used to close all my radio programs, “be kind to your neighbors, because you’ll never know when you’ll need them. Also, ensure your words are soft and sweet, because you’ll never know when you’ll have to eat them”. Bye-bye!!!

It’s Coming

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First let me say, a week in advance, “Happy Father’s Day”, to all the fathers out there. May your day be wonderful and full of family activities or just plain restful. I prefer restful over anything. Like mothers, fathers need a day of plain rest and recuperation. It’s coming.

Another event that is coming is the Brookdale Imperial Plaza fishing trip this coming Thursday. We are supposed to fish out of Virginia Beach and, I hope it’s like when I have previously fished out of Virginia Beach aboard Miss Virginia, we go to the old ship wrecks. There I have caught plenty of one of my favorite fish, Black Bass. But, there may be a problem on our doorstep. Rains should be coming from the west and arrive here tonight and tomorrow. I am hoping it will be far enough out to sea that it will not cause rough seas. I can take it but I don’t know about the older people that want to go. Can you say sea sickness? Either way it may be, it should be a good day for fishing. The most fish I have ever caught was during a rain storm and during a roller coaster boat ride. I have always said, “the fish are already wet”.

Richmond is still going full speed getting ready for the bike races in September when bike racers, from all over the world, will be here in force. I can hardly wait and I hope the weather will be good. I will be on the sidelines as well as watch on TV. I wish this had happened in my younger years so that I may tryout the route like during the Grand Prix. For those of you that don’t know, before and after the European portions of a Grand Prix, for a small fee you may take your vehicle onto the track and drive the course. I’ve done it and, although you aren’t going at a breakneck pace, you get to see what the drivers see and you let your mind take you into Fantasy Land.

And, while everything depends on the weather, let me throw this into the pot. Let’s not forget that we are now into Hurricane Season and we, here in Virginia, are long overdue for a strong one to hit. I have always kept my eye on the weather and have tried to do an amateur prediction. I have done quite well but I can’t predict the far future weather. Plus, the one thing to keep in mind, is that weather have a habit to do what is unexpected. Can you say it’s not an exact science? So far, here in Virginia, we have had very good weather and good weather is expected for the future. Of course, there must be occasional bad weather (rain, wind, lightning, etc.) but we all should expect this. Everyday can’t be warm and sunny because severe drought will follow. I feel for California as well as the wet weather in Texas, Colorado, and other states that have flooded with too much rain. Virginians have nothing to gripe about nor make undue wishes for. The weather have been perfect.

Keep in mind, this is only the tiniest of tiny of the things that are coming. There is more to do at Imperial Plaza as well as the surrounding areas. I advise everyone to take advantage of it. That Is why I retired, gave up my house and moved to Imperial Plaza. Now I don’t have enough time for everything to do. Let me add one more thing that I am contemplating. I got a message from one of my writers site that the novelist James Patterson will give a course on writing, for a small fee of course. I am seriously thinking about taking the course. I have had a couple of classroom courses but I think James Patterson will be out of this world.

Now, take care and be true to yourself and remember this…..”Be kind to your neighbors because you’ll never know when you may need them”….also, “Insure your words are soft and sweet because you’ll never know when you’ll have to eat them”.Electrical Storm, Arizona

Grumpy People And Other Things

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There is a saying, “you can please some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time”. That is a very true statement, especially around Imperial Plaza. Almost daily I talk to people that complain about a vast array of things but most just want to hear themselves speak, I imagine. I try to avoid those I know will complain about everything under the sun and I name them “grumpy”. These people also do not participate in anything but have something to say about everything. A good example is of one woman that always complain about the lousy food served in the restaurant and when asked if she have eaten there lately and the answer is “I’ve been here three years and have eaten there once. I don’t want that garbage.” There are many like her and she and others should keep there mouths shut unless they are involved with whatever they are complaining about.

There is a change that I spoke abut once before. This man ran all of our activities and is back from being repositioned elsewhere. He should never have been situated elsewhere and all I have heard is that it is great he is back. In my opinion, that was a bad move to start with. Why move the best you have and the one that really love the job? I guess the administration had to learn from a bad mistake. I just hope it does not happen again. We did not suffer while he was gone because he still did the job plus his new job. I asked him once if he got double pay since he was doing two jobs. He just smiled and said “no”.

The church is coming along slowly but surely. We still need membership but we have a lady (Evangelist) that comes and is looking for a new home. She sings and have made a CD of which she sang a couple of songs at last Sunday and this Sunday’s services. Her voice reminds me of Mahalia Jackson which put me in awe. I hope she stays. I was praying for a musician and she was sent and I am eternally grateful. The Lord said that if you wanted or needed something, all that was required was to ask. I asked and the result was last Sunday’s service. I am grateful and I am a witness of God’s word and promise. Last Tuesday night’s Prayer Meeting yielded more of what the Pastor and myself have asked for. We must now do what we have to do to finish what God have started.

The weather have finally turned to the better (warm) and, guess what, I came down with a head cold. This is the first one in two or three years. I normally don’t get colds and it normally does not last long but I feel terrible until it’s gone. I’m trying for it to not slow me down because I must keep plowing on and just keep blowing my nose as I do. Keep God in your heart and mind and I’ll holler at you the next time.

Time For Everything

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Finally started riding my bike and I found out, quickly, that I am a little out of shape. It won’t take long to get my body back into shape which will mean I can then explore further out and be out a much longer time, like I used to. It feels so good to be out early in the morning, before a lot of traffic and when it is cooler. I also love to ride until I sweat because I believe it releases a lot of toxins that is in the body. Sweat is good but I must have time to wash the funk away. LOL It also provides a peaceful solitude for thinking.

Now that I am a Deacon, I must have my mind in the right place and think about what is coming up. I must pray and prepare. I believe and have witnessed going from not having any idea about what direction I was going in or what to say to having a revelation that is clear as a bell. Sometimes it is well in advance and at times it is at the last minute. I just let God and God has never let me down yet and never will. That is where bike riding come into the picture. Solitude, peacefulness, exercise and release of toxins gives me insight into what I must do. It also gives me energy to do the multitude of things that is on my plate. I have to take things slower than when I was younger because at my age I must remember that my body tire easier.

Lately the weather have been mostly good and I even had the opportunity to have my car washed. I needed an interior cleaning more than anything else because I am lazy. The exterior is getting more pollen than dirt but the frequent showers we are getting help wash off the car occasionally. Now those little green worms are dangling from their web cords everywhere. It’s just starting and, in a few days, they will be everywhere. I will then have a use for them.

The other day I received in the mail order I made the other night. I now have a Venus Fly Trap. I sat it up and will have to wait a few days for the plants to take hold of it surroundings. When the rest of the pods (I think that is what the little mouths are called) open I will feed it a worm or two. The instructions say it only eats one bug once a week per plant. I have two therefore I won’t hurt the worm population at all. The instruction paper say the plant doesn’t have to eat, it will just be smaller. There are a lot of plants in the apartment and that takes a bit of caring also. Then I have my fish tank.

I must mention that my wife and I went on the Imperial Plaza bus trip to tour the White House and then ate at a fine restaurant across the street from the White House. The President’s motorcade turned the corner, heading back to the White House, while we were waiting for our bus. We didn’t see the helicopter but heard the one man helicopter that landed on the Capitol lawn. What a trip we had and a trip to the Pentagon is being planned. Imperial Plaza always have good trips like ROMEO (check previous blogs to see what that stand for) trips once a month.

Next week the blog will have more things that I hope is interesting for all to read. I should have some stuff concerning what is going on with Imperial Plaza (oh, I forget, Brookdale’s Imperial Plaza). So until the next time take care, be good, stay safe and God bless you all.

Rambling Again

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It is great to see some of the people here at Imperial Plaza taking advantage of having a small dog. Just like when the people bring the Companion Dogs around, these do the same thing. Bringing comfort and companionship to the lonely with an added sense of feeling needed. Having a small dog can do wonders for the people but it can also be a nuisance. I know you are wondering what I am talking about and why.

There is no barking or whining, that I have heard. However, what I have observed is even worst. People are walking their animals on the property grounds and letting them do the business that we all must do. Urinate and defecate. I have observed the dogs defecating and then the owner and dog walk away leaving the remains behind. I have even seen an aide with the owner and dog with the same results happening. Myself and quite a few others walk the area (across the grass) and now I guess I can expect, on occasion, walking into a surprise. I hope not but it’s like playing Russian Roulette, eventually the inevitable will happen.

Next week I will oil and tighten up my bike and start taking short rides until I build up my endurance for longer rides. The season, for me, is here and I am chomping at the bit to get out there (weather permitting, of course). Like I have said in previous articles, I am a fair weather rider. If it’s cold, rainy or dark, I do not ride and not being a racer can be added to the list also. I have only seen one other person, here at Imperial Plaza, riding but that was last year. I hope to have a riding companion, especially riding through the Bellevue community, as part of the neighborhood watch program.

Becoming a Deacon and spending a lot of time at the church leaves little time for riding although I will get it in some way. I enjoy being a Deacon even though it is a tremendous amount of work getting a new church off the ground. In order to grow involves a lot of work, at church and at home. There is always something to do and little time to do it or get it done. As written in the Bible, the Seven went out among the people converting others and they, in turn, did the same. Here it is more than two thousand years later and it is still going on. There is always work to do for the Lord. Never be angry about the work because there are those that want to do the work but can not physically do the needed work. Be thankful that you are able and not among the infirm because things could be worst.

I wish to thank those of you that are keeping up with my ramblings and haphazard writings. I had promised to do better but that was before I got really busy. I have received and started following a really religious, interesting blog. This person writes two to three times a day. I’m not anywhere close to having that amount of time to do that much writing but I do read it and it is very inspiring. There are others and I do look at them when time permits. I say to all to keep up the good work and thanks. Any questions or suggestions, drop me a line or two and it will be received with appreciation. God bless and keep all of you.

I’m A Deacon

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It’s been a short time coming and I am both excited and humbled by it. The new Non-Denominational church that my son-in-law started in January has Ordained me as the Deacon. We only have eleven steady members, at this time, which mean the Pastor and I have some hard work to do but I am happy to be chosen for the job and will put everything I have into it. I don’t want to stifle my home life but incorporate it into the big picture. Unlike a well established church, that have been around for a while, that have it’s business well in hand and in an easy flowing mode, this is building from the ground up which means nothing is smoothly flowing or it is not flowing yet. With time and patience, things will come together as long as the Pastor and I keep everything in it’s proper order. With a membership increase, qualified people can be picked to handle duties that is taking the Pastor’s and my time in which we need to concentrate on some other important duties.

That is why I haven’t been writing in the past two weeks but I will try to write more. In that time I had a meeting with the head of Imperial Plaza. A lunch, to be precise, and I think it went well between us. I had nothing to report to her and, as I have said, I am in a wait and see mode. Most of the things I talked about earlier have either been cleared or cloaked in secrecy. I was just informed that there still are employees leaving. One or two, every now and then, but they are leaving. I am surprised, every time I go into the dining room, and only recognize one or two people out of the many that are there. There was a time I knew everyone there. I even see new faces as I walk along the hallways and grounds. The assistant activities director have been moved to another position but he is still doing the job because, I think, no one can do it and get it right like he does. To me, that was the dumbest move of all and the young man that took the job doesn’t know the job from a hole in the ground. I am still in a holding pattern, waiting to see what will happen, to see and hear the other shoe drop.

Warmer weather is almost here and I can then get back to my bike riding. I am too old and it’s too cool for me to get out there when I can just wait three or four more weeks for better weather. I know that most people was thinking I had given up bike riding but I am a fair weather biker, I am not like I used to be in my younger days and I am not a professional. However, I must first get myself tuned up and also, the first few rides, take it easy on short routes. If I don’t, I’ll be seeing a doctor and my wife and church don’t want that (should I say I don’t want to hear what they have to say?).

There are other things that have happened but I will get to that in another article. So much have happened and there is much, much more to do which mean I will change all of my on-line profiles from ‘retired’ back to ‘working’. Until the next time….’be kind to your neighbors because you’ll never know when you’ll need them’….also ‘ensure your words are soft and sweet because you’ll never know when you’ll have to eat them’. For years I used to say those words at the end of all of my radio programs and, if you think about it, the words are true. Bye-bye

Bad Weather

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We have had some really rough days here at Imperial Plaza but not as bad as the people in the northeast. Extreme cold, rain, snow, ice and, mixed in it, sun. I finally had my chance to do what I threatened to do; stand in the window with a cup of hot coffee and look out at the weather. When I got rid of my house and moved to Imperial Plaza, that is what I said I wanted to do during the worst weather.

When a person (man) have a house, bad or good weather doesn’t mean anything. Yard work, repairs and beautification must be done, each and every day. That mean rain, shine, hot, cold, daylight or darkness. The work never cease and that is just the outside. Remember, after it’s all said and done outside, the inside awaits attention (which does not include the “honey do” list).

This is the reason I “Love” Imperial Plaza, work only if you want to. I now have everything done for me and that is why I took on many other things I had been neglecting or wanted to do. This even left time to take on the responsibilities of the Church. In my younger life, I had been very active in the Church but drifted away. Now I am back and, believe it or not, have a better vision about what is to be done at the new Church.

The six o”clock news showed a film clip of a fire at the place where I have a part-time job. Luck was with the place by having no injuries and minor damage. This is the season for that sort of thing happening everywhere because people love to use space heaters and will sleep while they are on. I am glad it has not happened here but the other day we had a sprinkler pipe burst and cause water damage. A few residents had to spend a couple of days in a hotel as the cleanup people did their work.

Last week all outside activities and excursions were canceled because of the weather. It is the first time “ROMEO” (retired old men eating out) did a cancellation. We did do the WII bowling and a few other things but the weather kept things to a minimum. Hats off to the support people for, first, getting here through the cold and snow and, second, doing a fine job taking care of all of us. Thank You and I wish I could do more than to say……. Thank You. I am dry, warm and thankful for being able to stand in my window, drink my hot coffee and look out onto the bad weather.

One other thing to smile about is many churches closed due to the bad weather, that is, except for the church I am a part of. If they close of presumed bad weather, what are they going to do when the weather is really bad? Never presume, act only when needed. In other words, don’t jump the gun.

Hear Ye – Hear Ye!!

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This weather is beautiful and is just right for any outside activity.  Sure, there is occasional rain, here and there, and it is mostly at night when everyone should be sleeping or at least inside, out of the weather.  Don’t let the threat of rain or an occasional sprinkle bother you.  Like the shoe ad say….”just do it”.  Imperial Plaza had a cookout and the weather was perfect for that as well as for all other things going on at that time.

My wife talked me into playing BINGO and, lucky her, she won one and was really close on a couple.  I, on the other hand, wasn’t even close so you know what that mean.  Yep…..no more BINGO because I can think of other things to do with the time I spend at BINGO.  She still runs the twice weekly WII BOWLING and she is trying to get me into that also.  I show up, every now and then, and watch while having a beer or two.

There are a few things that have changed at Imperial Plaza and they are to talk about it at the next “Men’s Conversational” which will be with Cindy as the guest speaker.  Since she is from Corporate, she should have all the answers we want and then some.  The one thing I heard is that the name (Imperial Plaza) is changing to Brookside, the company that bought facilities across the nation.  This should be interesting because after calling a place by one name, it’s hard to call it something else.  I still say Mosque instead of Altria (those around Richmond know what I am talking about.  All others can contact me directly and I will explain).

Virginia is a place to behold.  They are so against gambling (years ago it was very hard to get lotto) that they not only repeatedly turned down casinos (the Indians wanted it like in other states) but now the only horse racing arena is going around and around with the state over some sort of regulations, etc. that there is no time for racing this year.  This state tries to be too puritanical and we all (the residents of the state) suffer for it.  This is not the 1600 or 1700 but we are into the 2000’s and things have changed.  Morality has changed all over the world yet Virginia refuse to change.

SEE YA LATER!!!!!!!!