I was having my nails done yesterday when a young boy, who appeared to be about 7 or 8, came in selling candy. It looked like the small packets you can buy at Halloween in a big bag at Target or Walmart.
"$2 for one packet", he said with an almost straight face, as he sized me up for my sucker value. I was incredulous, but my bargaining powers had no effect on him whatsoever. I needed a packet of M&Ms like a third leg, so I asked him what he was going to do wih the money and he said it was for the Boys and Girls Club, again trying to keep a straight face. I asked him what he did at the Boys and Girls Club and he said, "Play"! Needless, to say, I, the consummate sucker for little kids, now had a packet of M&Ms in my purse.
Five minutes later, a little girl, who looked to be about 5-6 appeared with a similar box, but she only asked me for $1 for the same candies. I'm wasn't sure if this was due to her inexperience in assessing my suckerableness (sucker ability??) or whether whoever sent her out told her how much to ask, so I told her that I had just paid a young man $2 for the same candy and that she should also be asking $2 each. Turns out the little boy was her big brother.
I probably should have told her to ask for $2 a packet, put $1 in her pocket per sale and give her brother $1, but she probably was too young to grasp that level of con man(or woman)ship. Anyway, the sucker now has another packet of M&Ms in her purse, and the little con man and con woman in training are probably going to be able to afford the new I-phone before I am.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Pandemics and terrorism
This week I got my annual flu shot. Because I am 65, the nurse told me that it is a much stronger dose. My arm felt like someone swung a hammer at it for the next two days, but having had the Hong Kong flu in 1968, where I thought I was going to die, I wouldn't miss getting my shot for the world.
I went to see "Contagion", which is about a global viral pandemic. It scares the crap out of me to think how easily terrorists could spread a lethal virus. Of course, they would have to have an antidote and hope that even if they did, the virus wouldn't mutate and be immune to the antidote.
It must have unnerved everyone in the theater as much as it did me, because everyone rushed to the restrooms to wash their hands when the movie ket out and I saw a few women pulling hand sanitizers out of their purses, but with so many things becoming resistant to antibiotics from overuse coupled with the mobility of the world population, we should be more concerned about this type of terrorist attack than someone flying a plane into a building.
In the meantime, I am disinfecting my remote, doorknobs, the lightswitches, the toilet flusher handle.....
I went to see "Contagion", which is about a global viral pandemic. It scares the crap out of me to think how easily terrorists could spread a lethal virus. Of course, they would have to have an antidote and hope that even if they did, the virus wouldn't mutate and be immune to the antidote.
It must have unnerved everyone in the theater as much as it did me, because everyone rushed to the restrooms to wash their hands when the movie ket out and I saw a few women pulling hand sanitizers out of their purses, but with so many things becoming resistant to antibiotics from overuse coupled with the mobility of the world population, we should be more concerned about this type of terrorist attack than someone flying a plane into a building.
In the meantime, I am disinfecting my remote, doorknobs, the lightswitches, the toilet flusher handle.....
Friday, September 9, 2011
9-11 and other terrorist attacks
I have been watching all of the specials on 9-11 and I'm not sure how to put it in perspective. Most of the people around me and in most of the US, for that matter, have had limited personal contact with the world outside of the United States, so, of course, for them, this was the most horrendous thing that has happened since WWII, and I am not for one minute arguing that it wasn't a horrible, horrible thing.
But if I were to ask you to compare that attack with the number of rockets and mortars that were fired over the border into Israel by terrorists between 2001 and today (more than 9330) (and that doesn't count other types of terrorist attacks by armed gunmen, knife wielding men, suicide bombers and terrorists driving their cars deliberately into innocent civilians), there is no comparison.
Yes, more people were killed on 9-11 at one time than those killed in Israel, but the percentage of the Israeli population killed by terrorists since 2001 is far greater than the percentage killed in the United States. Just last month alone, eighteen people were killed in terrorist attacks in Israel.
Just today in Jerusalem, members of 13 terrorist cells were arrested. They had intended to detonate a bomb on a bus or at a shopping mall.
You had better believe that if the United States had even one rocket come across its borders, there would be instant retaliation, and no one would say boo about restraint or make excuses for the terrorists or condemnations by the U.N. It would start a war just like it started the war against Iraq, (even if we attacked the wrong country), when we were attacked on 9-11. And, if this new terrorist threat materializes, G-d forbid, the whole country would be looking for blood and cheering the soldiers on as we hunted down the perpetrators, even if they came from our "ally", Pakistan.
Americans are not used to seeing the police clear an area and watch little robots go down the street and pick up some child's forgotten backpack because someone called in a possible bomb threat, nor are they searched every time they go into a restaurant, club, mall, supermarket or theater because of a terrorist threat. There is no conscription law in the U.S. and soldiers don't have to do reserve duty until they are 50 or 55 when they are discharged from the armed services. Americans don't have bomb shelters in almost every building, and certainly not in every neighborhood. Americans didn't have hear sirens wailing and run to their sealed rooms and put on gas masks when Saddam Hussein fired his missiles during the first Gulf War. Americans didn't have to build a wall around its embassy in Cairo to protect the people inside from rioting mobs. Americans don't have to worry about their children being blown up on the way to school, or at a pizza restaurant, or on a bus going to a resort town or killed by rockets. Most Americans don't even know a family who has had a son or daughter in uniform in the last 10 years.
When I lived in Israel, my children and I experienced all of those things. My children escaped terrorist bombs because they were on a later bus or at the pizza place on a different day. I knew people who were killed in terrorist attacks. They were neighbors and friends. My children were in our sealed room with me during the first Gulf War and my son, who is only 29, has fought in two wars and will be in the Reserves until he is 55. My daughter-in-law was also in the Army, as were her siblings and every one else in her family.
These are just a couple of examples of what life is like in the U.S. compared to life in Israel.
If the US doesn't stand behind its only real ally in the Middle East, these things could happen here.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
But if I were to ask you to compare that attack with the number of rockets and mortars that were fired over the border into Israel by terrorists between 2001 and today (more than 9330) (and that doesn't count other types of terrorist attacks by armed gunmen, knife wielding men, suicide bombers and terrorists driving their cars deliberately into innocent civilians), there is no comparison.
Yes, more people were killed on 9-11 at one time than those killed in Israel, but the percentage of the Israeli population killed by terrorists since 2001 is far greater than the percentage killed in the United States. Just last month alone, eighteen people were killed in terrorist attacks in Israel.
Just today in Jerusalem, members of 13 terrorist cells were arrested. They had intended to detonate a bomb on a bus or at a shopping mall.
You had better believe that if the United States had even one rocket come across its borders, there would be instant retaliation, and no one would say boo about restraint or make excuses for the terrorists or condemnations by the U.N. It would start a war just like it started the war against Iraq, (even if we attacked the wrong country), when we were attacked on 9-11. And, if this new terrorist threat materializes, G-d forbid, the whole country would be looking for blood and cheering the soldiers on as we hunted down the perpetrators, even if they came from our "ally", Pakistan.
Americans are not used to seeing the police clear an area and watch little robots go down the street and pick up some child's forgotten backpack because someone called in a possible bomb threat, nor are they searched every time they go into a restaurant, club, mall, supermarket or theater because of a terrorist threat. There is no conscription law in the U.S. and soldiers don't have to do reserve duty until they are 50 or 55 when they are discharged from the armed services. Americans don't have bomb shelters in almost every building, and certainly not in every neighborhood. Americans didn't have hear sirens wailing and run to their sealed rooms and put on gas masks when Saddam Hussein fired his missiles during the first Gulf War. Americans didn't have to build a wall around its embassy in Cairo to protect the people inside from rioting mobs. Americans don't have to worry about their children being blown up on the way to school, or at a pizza restaurant, or on a bus going to a resort town or killed by rockets. Most Americans don't even know a family who has had a son or daughter in uniform in the last 10 years.
When I lived in Israel, my children and I experienced all of those things. My children escaped terrorist bombs because they were on a later bus or at the pizza place on a different day. I knew people who were killed in terrorist attacks. They were neighbors and friends. My children were in our sealed room with me during the first Gulf War and my son, who is only 29, has fought in two wars and will be in the Reserves until he is 55. My daughter-in-law was also in the Army, as were her siblings and every one else in her family.
These are just a couple of examples of what life is like in the U.S. compared to life in Israel.
If the US doesn't stand behind its only real ally in the Middle East, these things could happen here.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Things you think about while on the exercise bike at the rehab center
I've been going to physical therapy at a local rehab center for almost a year. I had back surgery 6 months ago but still have some residual pain and numbness in my leg and foot, so my fabulous physical therapist, Jackie, has been trying to get me back in shape.
Since I live in a community where there are a lot of seniors, the average age of the people who I see at pt every day is probably 80, probably because we, as a population, are living longer, but also because we all have Medicare and supplemental insurance and can afford to go-a hot issue in this election.
Anyway, while on the bike, I started wondering what people there were thinking about while pedaling away, since most seniors don't take i-pods to listen to while at physical therapy, if they even know what they are. Are you thinking about your worries, are you making mental lists of all the things you need to do, are you thinking about your family, friends or world peace or what?
I asked the lady next to me and she said she was thinking about a stupid, hurtful thing a "friend" had said to her 2 years ago that she had voiced for the first time that morning in a group. She said her "friend" was too stupid to know she had said something stupid and didn't think it was hurtful, which led into a discussion about the difference between an ignorant person, a stupid person, a book smart person and a people smart person, and how you always remember the hurtful things people say to you forever, because they eat at your stomach, heart and brain. Just think of some of the stupid, insensitive things people say when making condolence calls or when they hear that someone is seriously ill. Been there, done that.
She said that now that she has actually voiced the words, she could put it behind her and that maybe now her stomach would stop hurting, so I told her I was happy for her that she could do that. She said the "friend's" husband had called her to invite her over for dinner, but she declined. She said she had forgiven her but it sounded to me like she is still going to need some more time or that she has decided to exclude someone stupid from her life.
My son is always getting after me to be careful about what I say on Facebook and how to reply to things privately instead of publicly-something I am still trying to get the hang of, and I try every day to be less judgmental, but if I offend anyone with something I say, I guess you can either call me on it or ignore me. Just don't let it eat on you. If there is anything I have learned in this past year dealing with illness, mind-numbing pain, having your life change because of things beyond your control, and knowing you can never live the life you used to live, it is not to let things people say eat at you. Life is too short.
Still, I guess the lesson is that you have to engage your brain before you put your mouth in gear.
Since I live in a community where there are a lot of seniors, the average age of the people who I see at pt every day is probably 80, probably because we, as a population, are living longer, but also because we all have Medicare and supplemental insurance and can afford to go-a hot issue in this election.
Anyway, while on the bike, I started wondering what people there were thinking about while pedaling away, since most seniors don't take i-pods to listen to while at physical therapy, if they even know what they are. Are you thinking about your worries, are you making mental lists of all the things you need to do, are you thinking about your family, friends or world peace or what?
I asked the lady next to me and she said she was thinking about a stupid, hurtful thing a "friend" had said to her 2 years ago that she had voiced for the first time that morning in a group. She said her "friend" was too stupid to know she had said something stupid and didn't think it was hurtful, which led into a discussion about the difference between an ignorant person, a stupid person, a book smart person and a people smart person, and how you always remember the hurtful things people say to you forever, because they eat at your stomach, heart and brain. Just think of some of the stupid, insensitive things people say when making condolence calls or when they hear that someone is seriously ill. Been there, done that.
She said that now that she has actually voiced the words, she could put it behind her and that maybe now her stomach would stop hurting, so I told her I was happy for her that she could do that. She said the "friend's" husband had called her to invite her over for dinner, but she declined. She said she had forgiven her but it sounded to me like she is still going to need some more time or that she has decided to exclude someone stupid from her life.
My son is always getting after me to be careful about what I say on Facebook and how to reply to things privately instead of publicly-something I am still trying to get the hang of, and I try every day to be less judgmental, but if I offend anyone with something I say, I guess you can either call me on it or ignore me. Just don't let it eat on you. If there is anything I have learned in this past year dealing with illness, mind-numbing pain, having your life change because of things beyond your control, and knowing you can never live the life you used to live, it is not to let things people say eat at you. Life is too short.
Still, I guess the lesson is that you have to engage your brain before you put your mouth in gear.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
In the checkout line at Target today
I was in the checkout line at Target and noticed that the woman in front of me had a Rolex gold watch like mine.
Now before you start thinking that I am some rich bitch, the watch was a gift from one of my ex-husbands with a contribution from my father, who gave me an old Rolex watch he bought in 1954 for $500. I had "traded" my ex's Rolex Submariner for an updated model for his birthday and told my Dad that it had gone up in value. When my Dad heard this, he told me about his watch. I convinced him to take it to Rolex and get it cleaned so he could wear it (at the time he was wearing a Timex). To his surprise, Rolex told him that it would cost him $250 to clean and recondition it, and his response to that was he could buy 5 Timexes for that price. When they told him it was worth $2000 (today it probably would be worth triple that price), he gave it to me to use as a trade-in. Sadly, my Dad passed away the following year, so I wear it for sentimental value, since it is the worst timepiece as far as accuracy I have ever owned.
Anyway, I had a discussion with this lady in front of me at Target about something I had seen on t.v. about how muggings have gone up dramatically because of the economic situation, especially if you are wearing expensive gold jewelry. I told this lady that I was having my watch reappraised because it was probably now worth more than my car. She said she should probably look into having hers reappraised also.
Then we started talking about the ridiculous prices Rolex dealers, especially jewelry stores, charge you to clean the damn things and the lady behind me chimed in that she knew of a place locally where the certified watchmaker charged a lot less. I asked her if she knew him and she said he was her fiance.
When my appraiser came today, I told her the story and she said she knew him well and had done business with him and that he had several fiancees over the years but never married any of them, but that is another story.
What struck me later is that it was ironic that two Rolex wearers were shopping at Target, whereas before this recession, maybe neither of us would have been so cost conscious, and that we would end up networking with another lady in line on how to save money on watch repairs. Go figure.
Now I have to figure out how, on a small retirement and Social Security, I am going to pay for the increased insurance premium.
Now before you start thinking that I am some rich bitch, the watch was a gift from one of my ex-husbands with a contribution from my father, who gave me an old Rolex watch he bought in 1954 for $500. I had "traded" my ex's Rolex Submariner for an updated model for his birthday and told my Dad that it had gone up in value. When my Dad heard this, he told me about his watch. I convinced him to take it to Rolex and get it cleaned so he could wear it (at the time he was wearing a Timex). To his surprise, Rolex told him that it would cost him $250 to clean and recondition it, and his response to that was he could buy 5 Timexes for that price. When they told him it was worth $2000 (today it probably would be worth triple that price), he gave it to me to use as a trade-in. Sadly, my Dad passed away the following year, so I wear it for sentimental value, since it is the worst timepiece as far as accuracy I have ever owned.
Anyway, I had a discussion with this lady in front of me at Target about something I had seen on t.v. about how muggings have gone up dramatically because of the economic situation, especially if you are wearing expensive gold jewelry. I told this lady that I was having my watch reappraised because it was probably now worth more than my car. She said she should probably look into having hers reappraised also.
Then we started talking about the ridiculous prices Rolex dealers, especially jewelry stores, charge you to clean the damn things and the lady behind me chimed in that she knew of a place locally where the certified watchmaker charged a lot less. I asked her if she knew him and she said he was her fiance.
When my appraiser came today, I told her the story and she said she knew him well and had done business with him and that he had several fiancees over the years but never married any of them, but that is another story.
What struck me later is that it was ironic that two Rolex wearers were shopping at Target, whereas before this recession, maybe neither of us would have been so cost conscious, and that we would end up networking with another lady in line on how to save money on watch repairs. Go figure.
Now I have to figure out how, on a small retirement and Social Security, I am going to pay for the increased insurance premium.
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