Generally speaking

I have often noticed that most people don't know their neighbors. Years ago most of the inhabitants of a neighborhood knew everyone on the block. Their children played together, outdoors, went to school together and walked, yes walked, home from school together. Todays society doesn't have that same sense of belonging. We have become a mobile people, moving from one place to another to make ends meet or going after that next big pay check. Companies don't have the same loyalty as in the past. If you can't do the job than you are out, instead of finding a place in the workforce to help you fit. I have heard a lot of stories about the number of jobs that are listed on resumes. I myself have only had seven in the last 50 years.
Whether we like it or not, we have to live among other people in order to survive. So get to know your neighbor and help the new employee fit into the company you work for.
Since no one reads this, it is safe to say that these changes will never happen.

for real

Today I got depressed. Not because that is my nature, but because I was tired. Sometimes I would like to go on a vacation with no worries and no one to bother me. I like being out in the world. I like nature and exploring new places. Maybe it is a city I have never been to or a hiking trail I have never been on. I'm not crazy about big cities but I do like museums and small shops. I like quiet and maybe a little noise. I like the east coast, but have never been to the west coast. I would like to travel the US. I know these things will never happen because I am tied down by someone who does not like to leave the house. So every once in awhile I get depressed and I go to Google Earth to view the places I cannot get to.

Time

This will probably be short but the amount of time I spend sleeping is far short of the norm. I made the mistake of buying a bed online, the one we got from JC Penny is firm to the point of being uncomfortable. There seems to be a high spot on the inner portion of the bed. I guess I will have to swallow the $1200 I spent for it and get a more comfortable mattress.
The second part of this time episode is the number of times I have to get up at night to take my wife to the bathroom. we have been married for over 40 years. She started out being mentally "handicapped" and it progressed to being physically handicapped. She now needs help getting around and makes no effort to try to get around by herself. I have seen older women in the grocery store, with their oxygen in tow, doing their weekly shopping. I will have to admit that some  of this is my own doing. I never made her have to do things on her own and now I am paying the price.
So at some point I will have to retire, not because I want to, but because I am to tired to go to work. Time spent in a garden will do me a lot of good, time to take a nap will help also.

Disaster

Today I watched several movies that destroyed New York, Lexington Ky., Paris and who knows where else. The thing about these movies is that the acting is so bad that the movie is interesting. Yes they are "B" movies and the outcome is predictable, still the special effects are really great. Along with these movies are the monster movies. The "monsters " are superimposed but that is okay. The amount of ketchup used must be enormous.
All in all they are entertaining and somewhat of a cult following. I don't know how many times I have seen the St Louis Arch fall or New York in shambles. I can say this that the violence in them is not to be believed because it is so fake. As for the women in their skimpy or tight fitting clothing, well I guess that is the what draws attention.
So the next time you want to see a good disaster movie, go pick out one that is rated B for bad, you will get a good laugh and be entertained at the same time.

Your welcome

Apparently the words "your welcome" no longer exist in the modern day radio interview. Haven't you noticed that the host thanks the person interviewed, and the guest also says thank you. Don't they know they are supposed to say your welcome. Being polite seems to have gone by the wayside. Saying yes sir and no sir don't seem to exist anymore. Holding the door open for someone means that the person holding the door is showing respect and politeness to the person passing through the door. Opening the door for a women has the same value.
I think to many people in the world today are so self centered that nothing else matters unless it involves themselves. Listening to an elderly person talk shows that their life had meaning at one time and it also passes a bit of history on to the younger listener. Stories of the " good old days " are always interesting even if the good old days weren't so good.
So lets remember that life is what you make of it and who you are depends on how you treat others.

Weekend

I know that no one will read this but I will write it anyway. The weekend is done and it is back to work tomorrow. Sometimes I think the last two days have gone by so fast I wonder if there was a weekend. I didn't do anything that was fun, I'm not sure what is fun anymore anyway. When I was younger, I spent time with friends at the skating rink every weekend, we had a great time. Now that I am older and I am a care person for my handicapped wife, I don't have fun anymore, haven't had it for some time. So to fill in the few moments that I have, I go online looking for people to write to, pen pals if you will. I have found some interesting folks there. Mostly women write and that is fine, they share there lives with me and I try to share mine with them. Some of them are lonely, some are in marital situations that is not the best, and some just want to talk. Since I don't know them I can give them advice that is not biased. I can take events from my life, from what I have learned and pass it along to them. Those who are lonely are usually looking for a relationship. I keep them happy by talking to them, listening to their stories. When they find that somebody special, I know they will no longer need my services and I may or may not hear from them anymore. In that case I go looking for someone else who is in need of my attention. Some of these online aquaintences last for years and others last only a few months. That is fine with me because I was a part of their lives for awhile and I am satisfied that they are, hopefully, happy.
So I will end this weekend story and continue my search for another pen pal that I can be of assistance.

state of the art building

I work for a company that is building a " state of the art facility". This "new" building has been in the building stages for 17 plus years. I figure by the time it is finished I will have retired and moved on. Instead of finishing the process, the company does things to make it look good, as if looking good helps the company grow. Inside is a gourmet kitchen, marble floors and grand management offices. In the meantime the production is in a state of ineffeciant  operation that boggles the mind. The many products that are made there, are made on 60 plus year old equipment that is in need of repair. There is a 10 by 14 foot room that has just been completed, after it was started one year ago. There is nothing special about this room. It has air conditioning, vacuum system that is connected to a previous system and power for an old machine. The fact remains that it took one year to finish this room.
In the time it has taken to build this facility, the city has built an entertainment center that has a 13 screen theater, 120 apartments, sports center and several resturants. A large candy company built a distribution center and the golden arches has been torn down and rebuilt in less time than this company was able to build this  "state of the art" facility, which is still not completed. It takes more money to build something if it takes to much time, so aparently the owners have a lot of money to throw around, it would be nice if they would finish the building, pay their employees a decent  wage and benefits.
The operation of the company is extremely poor. Even though I admire the owners on their book smart operation, they don't know didly about how to run it to it's maximum capacity. The owners keep buying smaller operations, at a good price I would imagine, shut it down and move it to the main plant, then expect this old equipment to keep up. They have a warehouse, known as the black hole, where all this surplus equipment is stored. Once something is stored there it will never be seen again no matter how badly it is needed.
The only good thing I can say is I am glad I have a job, at least for the next couple of years.