There's a young man who grew up in Verona and never forgot it. He went to elementary school with our younger son before his family moved to California. He kept in touch with my son with letters (this was long before email) and whenever he was back east, he would visit Verona.
His visits were always unannounced. He'd ring the bell and there he was. Why us? Well, he felt very strongly about the relationship he had with our younger son. In fact, when our son got married in Israel in 1985 this young man showed up announced there, too. More surprising because he had given us a wedding gift to carry to Israel. Then he appeared in person.
Here's another notable item about this young man. Although he never graduated from Verona High School he felt he had to come to one of the school's reunions. His attachment to Verona knows no bounds.
After a number of these “surprise” visits, we laid down a ground rule. You can't just pop in on us without warning. Please call first and if we can, we will see you.
This week he called. He was in the metro area for a family function and wanted to stop by and say hello. His 10-year-old daughter was with him and he showed her the elementary school he went to and introduced her to his first grade teacher, who is still on the job. Then he visited another former elementary school friend before coming to us.
My wife brought him up to date on our son’s Israeli family and showed him the latest pictures. Then we sent him on his way.
You know he'll be baaaack!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Beating the System
Faithful readers will recall that on March 23rd I gave my wife a formula for completing a 600-page library book before it had to be returned, which was a maximum of 17 days.
We figured she had to read at least 40 pages a day to beat the deadline. We created the challenge to fight off our tendency to fall asleep while reading, particularly during mid-afternoon. At our age, that's easy to do.
I'm happy to report my wife completed the book yesterday in 16 days at an average rate of 37.3 pages a day. The book was “The Invisible Bridge,” a novel by Julie Orringer about Hungarian Jews in the late 1930s through World War II. She said it was a really good book, which helped motivate her to finish on time.
Now it's my turn, since I was next in line for the same book.
I face the same challenge, completing this book in the same 17-day span. Will I find it as interesting as she did and be able to read a significant number of pages each day before I nod off? I'm accepting the challenge.
I'm not used to reading books of this length but if it's as engaging as my wife says it is, chances are I'll enjoy it and keep my eyes open for reasonable periods of time. One of the reasons I'm a slow reader is because I don't like to skim, particularly if I'm enjoying the writing.
So to get ready for my read-a-thon, I'm taking a nap.
We figured she had to read at least 40 pages a day to beat the deadline. We created the challenge to fight off our tendency to fall asleep while reading, particularly during mid-afternoon. At our age, that's easy to do.
I'm happy to report my wife completed the book yesterday in 16 days at an average rate of 37.3 pages a day. The book was “The Invisible Bridge,” a novel by Julie Orringer about Hungarian Jews in the late 1930s through World War II. She said it was a really good book, which helped motivate her to finish on time.
Now it's my turn, since I was next in line for the same book.
I face the same challenge, completing this book in the same 17-day span. Will I find it as interesting as she did and be able to read a significant number of pages each day before I nod off? I'm accepting the challenge.
I'm not used to reading books of this length but if it's as engaging as my wife says it is, chances are I'll enjoy it and keep my eyes open for reasonable periods of time. One of the reasons I'm a slow reader is because I don't like to skim, particularly if I'm enjoying the writing.
So to get ready for my read-a-thon, I'm taking a nap.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Bad News/Good News
I decided to renew my driver's license today. But when my wife and I arrived at the Motor Vehicle Commission it was jammed. A very nice officer told us “the system is down, statewide.”
Statewide? In all 21 New Jersey counties? Sounds drastic. There were no obvious signs of any other power outages.
Options: wait it out or come back later. Seems like a simple enough choice. But the larger issue to me is once again our innocent dependence on electricity to run everything.
I didn't bother asking why “the system was down” or why the glitch affected every MVC station in New Jersey. They probably wouldn't know anyway. (The dog ate my PC?) (Mice in the infrastructure?) And apparently there were no manual backup systems to process all the people who wanted to register vehicles, renew licenses or conduct other motor vehicle type business.
As it happened we were meeting a friend for lunch in the vicinity. So while my wife chatted up the woman next to her I discussed where to meet for lunch. Just then the announcement was made that “the system is back up.”
So I got my new license and my GPS directed us to the restaurant where we met our friend and all worked out OK.
But you have to wonder. We're all so accepting these days that when “systems” go down they eventually will come back up.
What if they don't? Hmmmm.
Statewide? In all 21 New Jersey counties? Sounds drastic. There were no obvious signs of any other power outages.
Options: wait it out or come back later. Seems like a simple enough choice. But the larger issue to me is once again our innocent dependence on electricity to run everything.
I didn't bother asking why “the system was down” or why the glitch affected every MVC station in New Jersey. They probably wouldn't know anyway. (The dog ate my PC?) (Mice in the infrastructure?) And apparently there were no manual backup systems to process all the people who wanted to register vehicles, renew licenses or conduct other motor vehicle type business.
As it happened we were meeting a friend for lunch in the vicinity. So while my wife chatted up the woman next to her I discussed where to meet for lunch. Just then the announcement was made that “the system is back up.”
So I got my new license and my GPS directed us to the restaurant where we met our friend and all worked out OK.
But you have to wonder. We're all so accepting these days that when “systems” go down they eventually will come back up.
What if they don't? Hmmmm.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Who's Calling?
I answered the phone this afternoon and a recorded voice said: “This is an important message from card services...” I hung up.
Wait a minute, I thought, if this is such an important message why am I getting a recording? Wouldn't you think “important” information should be conveyed by an important person? Or any “live” person, for that matter.
How about those telemarketing calls where they can't pronounce your name correctly. Mr. Fryd-man? It's pronounced Freed-man but I don't tell them that, I just hang up.
Got one for Mr. Fryd-man later in the day. Caller said he was from some foundation and wanted to know if I suffered from a particular disease. Hung up quickly before I caught it.
The phone rings at supper and it's from a guy taking a survey on behalf of my auto dealer. Wanted to know if I was satisfied with my recent service. I said yes and then he asks if I'd answer a few more questions. Look, I said, I told you I was satisfied and that's all you need to know. Hung up.
Then there's the call your caller ID shows as “unavailable.” Already I'm on guard. If it's a real person they'll often greet you by name with a rising inflection at the end. “Mr. Friedman?” If you're calling my number who do you expect -- Godzilla? And I love it when they start by asking “how are you today?” None of your business, I think, hanging up.
It has to be hard making cold calls for whatever reason on unsuspecting persons. I can only imagine how discouraging it must be for the caller, particularly if their compensation depends on results.
Nevertheless, I don't like those calls and do not respond kindly to them. Call me a grouch or whatever but those calls are an intrusion on my time which I value more and more every day.
Wait a minute, I thought, if this is such an important message why am I getting a recording? Wouldn't you think “important” information should be conveyed by an important person? Or any “live” person, for that matter.
How about those telemarketing calls where they can't pronounce your name correctly. Mr. Fryd-man? It's pronounced Freed-man but I don't tell them that, I just hang up.
Got one for Mr. Fryd-man later in the day. Caller said he was from some foundation and wanted to know if I suffered from a particular disease. Hung up quickly before I caught it.
The phone rings at supper and it's from a guy taking a survey on behalf of my auto dealer. Wanted to know if I was satisfied with my recent service. I said yes and then he asks if I'd answer a few more questions. Look, I said, I told you I was satisfied and that's all you need to know. Hung up.
Then there's the call your caller ID shows as “unavailable.” Already I'm on guard. If it's a real person they'll often greet you by name with a rising inflection at the end. “Mr. Friedman?” If you're calling my number who do you expect -- Godzilla? And I love it when they start by asking “how are you today?” None of your business, I think, hanging up.
It has to be hard making cold calls for whatever reason on unsuspecting persons. I can only imagine how discouraging it must be for the caller, particularly if their compensation depends on results.
Nevertheless, I don't like those calls and do not respond kindly to them. Call me a grouch or whatever but those calls are an intrusion on my time which I value more and more every day.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Books by the Pound
I'm sure one of the selling points of an e-book is its weight. You almost don't care how many pages the book has as long as you can hold only one page at a time.
This brings us to tonight's topic: weighty books, literally weighty.
My wife went to the library today to pick up the latest Jean Auel book about our pre-historic ancestors. She had reserved it anticipating a reasonable wait for her turn. Turns out there was no wait but plenty of weight. She took one look at the 750 pages and said, no thanks.
It's not just how long it takes to wade through all those pages, but holding a 750-pager can be exhausting.
When I was commuting to New York by bus I always had a hard-cover book with me. But I had standards. I had to be able to hold it comfortably and it had to fit into my briefcase without adding undue weight. I called them “bus books” and they rarely exceeded 300 pages.
Even then I usually fell asleep just before we entered the Lincoln Tunnel. It was a short but refreshing nap but it set me up for the rest of the day and then I looked forward to resuming the story on the way home.
If you've read any of those writerly essays stressing the importance of keeping your work succinct and to the point you have to wonder about authors who pile it on and the publishers who accept their work.
Do authors still get paid by the word? My word!
This brings us to tonight's topic: weighty books, literally weighty.
My wife went to the library today to pick up the latest Jean Auel book about our pre-historic ancestors. She had reserved it anticipating a reasonable wait for her turn. Turns out there was no wait but plenty of weight. She took one look at the 750 pages and said, no thanks.
It's not just how long it takes to wade through all those pages, but holding a 750-pager can be exhausting.
When I was commuting to New York by bus I always had a hard-cover book with me. But I had standards. I had to be able to hold it comfortably and it had to fit into my briefcase without adding undue weight. I called them “bus books” and they rarely exceeded 300 pages.
Even then I usually fell asleep just before we entered the Lincoln Tunnel. It was a short but refreshing nap but it set me up for the rest of the day and then I looked forward to resuming the story on the way home.
If you've read any of those writerly essays stressing the importance of keeping your work succinct and to the point you have to wonder about authors who pile it on and the publishers who accept their work.
Do authors still get paid by the word? My word!
Monday, April 4, 2011
The "Late" MRI
As advertised, I had my MRI today. Despite dire warnings from MRI veterans the noise and the closeness of the magnet didn't bother me.
What did bother me was the delay in getting started. What's with the medical profession that they schedule you for an appointment, tell you to get there 10 to 15 minutes in advance and then keep you waiting for another half hour or more. It's like the airlines all scheduling morning takeoffs at the same time. Ridiculous.
Hey, my time is valuable, too. At least it used to be. I've often thought of billing doctors for the time they've kept me waiting at the same rate I used to bill my consulting clients. And I wouldn't accept their insurance plans either. Cash on the barrel head, buddy. Of course I never had the guts to do it.
Anyway, the MRI's done and I'll know the results after I have another opportunity to fidget in my doctor's waiting room. Then more sitting in the exam room until he finally shows up.
Don't get me wrong, I love my doctor. I just wish he and others in the medical profession could learn to schedule appointments more efficiently.
Blowin' in the wind, Marv, blowin' in the wind.
What did bother me was the delay in getting started. What's with the medical profession that they schedule you for an appointment, tell you to get there 10 to 15 minutes in advance and then keep you waiting for another half hour or more. It's like the airlines all scheduling morning takeoffs at the same time. Ridiculous.
Hey, my time is valuable, too. At least it used to be. I've often thought of billing doctors for the time they've kept me waiting at the same rate I used to bill my consulting clients. And I wouldn't accept their insurance plans either. Cash on the barrel head, buddy. Of course I never had the guts to do it.
Anyway, the MRI's done and I'll know the results after I have another opportunity to fidget in my doctor's waiting room. Then more sitting in the exam room until he finally shows up.
Don't get me wrong, I love my doctor. I just wish he and others in the medical profession could learn to schedule appointments more efficiently.
Blowin' in the wind, Marv, blowin' in the wind.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
I'm Ex-Gen
I've decided to become a member of Ex-Gen.
I made that up, of course, because I've run out of Gens to be in. So I'm opting out of all of them. It's very liberating, when you think about it.
I don't have to follow any Gen styles or buy any Gen stuff or go to any Gen resorts or restaurants or bars. I can stay home and eat and drink all I want without having to impress anyone.
Think of all the money I'm saving to say nothing of relieving the pressure to show off my chops as a member of this Gen or that.
You might like to join me. Instant membership on application. No fees. No initiation rites. Just kick back and relax.
So good luck to all you still-Gen'ers. I'm outta here.
I made that up, of course, because I've run out of Gens to be in. So I'm opting out of all of them. It's very liberating, when you think about it.
I don't have to follow any Gen styles or buy any Gen stuff or go to any Gen resorts or restaurants or bars. I can stay home and eat and drink all I want without having to impress anyone.
Think of all the money I'm saving to say nothing of relieving the pressure to show off my chops as a member of this Gen or that.
You might like to join me. Instant membership on application. No fees. No initiation rites. Just kick back and relax.
So good luck to all you still-Gen'ers. I'm outta here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)