life in the old lane

Went past the star magnolia tree again today. I was hoofing it down to Clarendon again. The expressed purpose was to purchase broccoli and get some exercise. The real purpose was to take a peek at the new stuff at the Apple store.

The iPad 2 is sweet. But, it is still just a big iPod. The new 11 inch MacBook Air is cute. I can see buying one. The 13 inch MacBook is to die for. 2 usb ports. Twice as much memory and disk space.  But, I am happy with my Gen 2 iPod touch, and iPod Classic and the Airness. (for now) In fact, I must confess to purchasing a bottle of iCleaner – which I think is just really expensive Windex – and gave all my devices (even the non-Apple ones) a good polishing. The Airness was truly grubby.

I don’t know about you, but I had hundreds of Bookmarks. Many of them pointing to long gone sites. I exported them all and the went on a wild deleting spree. Bookmarks are very last century. A holdover for when the internet was new and every new site was saved for future reference.

Next, I might just ditch my 50 year collection of paper income tax forms. I don’t have the supporting documents – just copies of the forms that I duly submitted to various governments. When I am living in the old ladies home, am I really only to want to see how much income tax I paid in 1962. I think not.

The income tax forms come to mind – because I am doing my taxes. And Carlton’s. Note to younger generation. If I die first – guess who gets to do Dear Old Dad’s taxes?

About Japan. Blessing to those 50 workers. As for me, I dumped all my Vepco and Duke Energy stock. I fear it is just a matter of time before we hear the word MELTDOWN – I hope I am wrong. But, for now, I have taken my electric utility money off the table.

mea culpa,
mea culpa,
mea maxima culpa

For all you kiddies. That would be old school catholic for “my bad”.

I was so wrong about the safety of nuclear power. Maybe because the first Mr Bethany worked first on nuclear subs and then on nuclear power plants. Maybe because I like all things scientific. Maybe because my favorite physics professor in college had worked on the Manhattan project.

I was wrong. If the Japanese can not build secure nuclear power plants – no one can. Consider me nuclear free.

Everyone on the planet should thank those 50 souls who remain on the job at the Daiichi Plant.

So far so good with the nuclear power plants in Japan. But, I fear that a funny little town without much going for it except some really funky public art and a spaceship-like cartoon museum was washed away.

RIP Ishinomaki –

But wait. Ishinomaki is about 10 miles inland. On a large tidal river. I am guessing that some of it is still around. Especially away from the river. I hope so.

About the NFL strike. Does anyone really care what the billionaire owners do to the millionaire players.

Oh dear, an email just arrived – another explosion at one of the power plants.

It was warm and sunny enough for me to go outside. The first thing I found was a little star magnolia tree in bloom. It was warm enough for a nice walk down to Clarendon. Home of the Apple Store, the Container Store, Crate and Barrel, Whole Foods and other urban delights. I went into Whole Food and got lunch. Managed to avoid all the other shopping opportunities. For now. A visit to the Apple Store will happen soon.

Still waiting to see what happens to Japan’s nuclear power plants. I think the nuclear power will be a total nonstarter from now on. I am not sure what we will use for electricity in the future. But, I don’t think it will come from nuclear. Maybe we will have to use less electricity.

Everyone in Hawaii is upset because the GOP Slash and Burn Budget slashes funding for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Understandably, no one else seems to care or even know that there is a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. I guess “they” figure The Weather Channel can handle the job.

 

Kona. As we were heading out of the room for the last time – I took this picture. The question is –  Was this the Last Boat? The pier was condemned by the Coast Guard today. Hopefully, they’ll send divers down and decide that it is safe. But, it would be sort of fun it the pier were removed. I think that the nice wide beach that used to be there would come back.

Japan. I am glad I went last year. I feel sure that at least one town we visited might be gone. With some grief I realized when it was reported that two trains just vanished off the tracks in Miyaji Prefecture that the teenage person and I had been on that train. And, I do hope that they can get the reactors under shut down before anything worse happens.

 

Japan: On last summer’s Japan adventure – the teenage person and I started our journey in Sendai. If you have to get a big earthquake or a tsunami – hope you are in Japan.

Hawaii: Last year the tsunami was a non-event. This year, in our town, the tsunami was an event. Not an event that makes the national news – but this year’s event flooded Carlton’s Palace and destroyed the Palace Caretaker’s house.

home, and in best archy and mehitabel fashion. no capitals. because one hand is busy eating a turkey wrap from the deli downstairs. The other hand is drinking a blue moon beer that the beer fairy left in my fridge. thank you beer fairy.

The travel goddess smiled on us. Will be going from Seattle to Detroit to DC – no extra charges. Should be home by bedtime tonight.

Completely screwed. Our flight to Seattle was 2 hours late. We missed our fight to the east coast. And, since yours truly booked two separate trips to save money. Alaska Airlines says we got you to Seattle. We don’t care what you do now. And, Delta says “Hey, it isn’t our fault you missed the flight”. So sorry.

We decamped to a friendly Holiday Inn. Will come up with Plan X tomorrow.

Every morning for the last four months I have taken my sorry lazy ass and a cup of coffee outside and watched this life jacketed dog go for a bracing (and long) morning swim. Today, I picked the camera, zoomed out to 300 mm and snapped a picture of the dog heading back to the beach. The dog usually goes out with a woman – who does not use a life jacket.

Carlton came home with a lime this morning – figured it was a sign that we should have a last meal of fish. Got a pound of mako shark. So, we feasted on shark, rice, and pineapple. Tomorrow we’ll be on the plane – we will feast on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I refuse to spend money on airline food.