If I had won the lottery last night – yes, I bought one ticket – no, I did not stay up to watch the drawing. But, if I had one of the three winning tickets – what would I be doing?
After paying my taxes, I would be buying a big ass NetJet share. And, I’d hire someone to deal with Verizon and get myself FIOS. And, that is about all I would change. We eat lots of great food already. I am happy with my clothes. Jewelry – nope – don’t need any. I love my apartment. I’d be keeping my current husband. Don’t even crave any new electronic toys. Just a NetJet share.
But wait – I could buy myself a politician. That would be amusing.
I made it outside this afternoon to take a picture. Out as far as my deck. But every little improvement helps. My major outstanding problem is the cough that starts about 10 minutes after I go to sleep. Oh well.
Yesterday, I removed all the games from all the computers. Except for chess. If I have time to kill – I am sure I can kill in more constructive way than slinging cartoon birds at carton pigs etc.
The Masters has a problem. Their major sponsors are AT&T, Exxon and IBM. For years they have made the CEO of those companies, members. Last August, IBM got a new CEO. Ginni Rometty – a female person. Should make for good theater.
At last, I am actually getting better. Tomorrow, I might be able to venture outside. Might even be able go to the volunteer job. Or go out for a walk. Or take pictures. Since I have been sick reading and playing Angry Birds and eating is all that I have been doing. So, I have porked up a bit.
Would hate to have just donated a loved one’s organs. Their heart might be beating away inside Dick Chaney.
On supporting Trayvon Martin – does wearing my black cashmere hoodie count?
Well, I was better most of the morning. But, I seem to have relapsed. My voice has gone and the cough is back. Respiratory infections last 7 to 14 days. I have now completed Day 7. Don’t want this go on for another week. And Carlton still can not hear.
Yesterday, for the first time since visiting the dentist on Monday, I ventured outside the building. I walked down to the Apple Store to inspect the new iPods. As an investor, I was happy to see lots of happy shoppers. But, I still don’t see any reason to get an iPad. Last thing I need is another thing to play Angry Birds on!
Speaking of places to spend money. Late next month the first Leica Store in the US is opening in DC.
Still sick. But, I think (hope) that I am starting to get better. But, still, every time I go to sleep, I start coughing and wake myself up. So maybe I am more tired than sick.
Spent a little time today getting the photos from 2011 all sorted out. That picture of Carlton is fuzzy enough to make him happy. The large gentleman on the right is Kumu Etu’a Lopez.
Been researching robotic things today. Amazon bought a robot company yesterday. Maybe I need a robot company.
The house that Chuckles and I built in 1970 - thank you Google Street View
Getting pretty bored with poor health. Couldn’t sleep last night. Every time I dozed off – I would get a coughing fit. So, I got up. Figured if I was going to be awake – I might as well be up. Hope I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
The granddaughter is in Hawaii on Spring Break. She is in Kaneohe and in 1970, Chuckles (The Original Mr. Bethany) and I built a house from a kit in Kaneohe. I was going to ask her to drive-by and see if my old house is still standing. But wait, what about Google? There is was. Looking good!
It was made from telephone poles, redwood, and cedar. It looks just I remember it. We had a huge old mango tree in the front yard. The mango tree made way more mangoes than we could eat. We used to take boxes of mangoes to the Honolulu Zoo. There is a chicken in the front yard in the picture. One of our neighbors raised fighting chickens. When we built it, it had 1 bedroom and 2 baths. It was designed so it would be easy to put in a couple of walls and end up with a 3 bedroom 2 bath 1,200 sq ft house. But according to Zillow, it still has only one bedroom.
I went to the dentist today. I tried to skip the dentist – I am still enjoying poor health. But the dentist said having a cold didn’t get me out of the dentist. So, I went. Glad I got that over.
Our apartment is having a little photo contest. I didn’t feel good enough to go out and take a new one – so, I dusted off one from the archives. The rules are “Show us what you like best about the apartment?” Heck, I love everything about the apartment. Except the snail internet. And snail internet is because I am too cheap to get FIOS. No, I am not too cheap. I hate dealing with Verizon too much. Carlton had to get phone service (and DSL) setup when we moved to this apartment. I kept getting mad at them.
Carlton’s taxes have been filed. My taxes have been filed. The lease has been renewed for another year. The weather is delightful. All should be excellent. But Carlton and I both seem to have gotten a respiratory virus – AKA – The Common Cold. Most likely on the plane. At least neither of us can blame the other for spreading germs around. So, we are enjoying poor health.
I took a little camera out with me this afternoon. And found a picture of jack-o-lanterns. Took a picture of a daffodil. Sort of illustrates how long I was in Hawai’i.
Daffodil
Finished (95%) my taxes and Carlton’s taxes. Being lazy, I decided to stop using TaxAct – which I have used for decades. Staying with TaxAct requires a Windows machine and it doesn’t go around and suck data down from various banks and brokerage houses. So, I decided to shell out the big bucks and go with TurboTax. It is still cheaper than hiring a CPA.
Also, got the lease settled for another year here in the apartment. We really have zero leverage since there is only one 2 bedroom unit available and it is on the second floor. So, we just smiled and signed on the dotted line.
Finally, organized enough to take the last photo from Hawaii out of the camera.
We had 3 very uneventful and on-time flights home. It was 70 degrees when we landed in DC. The apartment was in fine shape. No complaints.
I did pick up a little cold/respiratory virus somewhere along the way. Or maybe it is just a massive spring allergy attack. As a result I have been lazing around enjoying poor health and jet lag. And, I started sneaking up on the income taxes.
About the New iPad: I was going to get one for my birthday. But, I decided that I don’t care how ‘cool’ the iPod is. It really doesn’t do anything that I need doing. So, yet again I will pass on an iPad. Still enjoying the Kindle.
About the war in Afganistan: (1) Declare Victory. (2) Leave. (3) Repeat as needed.
A couple of broom fish from the dock. I decided that it is prudent to continue staying out of the ocean. But, broom fish are big and easily attracted with chunks of white bread. Not whole wheat. They like white bread.
Got my USPS box in the mail today. It will get home before I do. Tomorrow – wash the clothes that are staying behind, charge up all the electronics, work on my tan.
About getting old: I always planned on having lots of birthdays. But, I didn’t plan on being old.
This man has been in Kona for at least 19 years – and he has always looked the same. He hasn’t aged (I sure have). He hasn’t gotten fatter (I have done that). The local homeless community call him Fred and think that he is Fred MacMurray’s son. I think he is like the cockroach and will be unchanged by direct nuclear bomb hit. He seems to have some source of income. The word is he has a trust fund. He is a surviver.
