She’s Not Cheap…She’s Thrifty

She’s Not Cheap…She’s Thrifty

Have I mentioned that my wife is thrifty?  Thrifty in a never throw anything away, kind of way, not thrifty in a never buy stuff, kind of way.

I have been chastised for throwing away a used paper towel.  “There was still some clean up left in it!”

I have been shunned for tossing a Popsicle stick. “I may need it to prop up the plant on the window sill!”

I have learned to leave a glass with two ounces of water covered by a paper napkin alone.  “I wasn’t done with that water...and what happened to the napkin!!?”

In our garage we have a 29 year old stroller/ baby carriage, state of the art in its day, garbage today, because “One of my kids may want it someday!” (No way in hell)

I almost tossed a VCR tape re-winder away…OMG did the you-know-what hit the fan.

So when I saw this in the dish drain next to the sink, did I throw it in the trash? 

I may be a slow learner, but eventually I do learn, I left it to dry.

I know the last straw when I see it.

Decisions Decisions

Decisions Decisions

Life is tough.  Yesterday might have been one of the best ever on the Jersey Shore.  The water was 70 degrees, calm as a lake but with an occasional breaker suitable for body surfing.  The water was clear enough to see bottom for up to eight feet away.  The air was warm, the sun bright and the breeze light but coming directly off the ocean providing an air conditioner effect.

However.

There was also a golf championship on TV.  “The Open” actually the “British Open” but the Brits get a bit ruffled about that moniker so the TV has to refer to it as “The Open.”  Anyway “The Open” is one of my favorite tournaments because the courses in the British Isles are so interesting and challenging.  Today’s final featured Phil Mickelson, one of my favorites against Henrik Stenson.  It was an amazing match, great golf by two players who were simply head and shoulders above every other contestant this week.

Phil

The beach or golf?  What to do, what to do?

I did both.  A half hour on the beach or in the water, then race back to the apt. to watch the golf for a half hour.

Eventually Stenson prevailed over Phil even though both players shot a better score than anyone else on this day.  I like Phil because he has a great attitude, has an exciting playing style, and he signs autographs at tournaments until everyone that wants one gets one.

Phil did not lose this tournament, he played well enough to win just about any match; Stenson simply played better.

Anyway, between running back and forth from the ocean to the TV, I got almost as much exercise as any golfer.

It was a win for Stenson, and a win win for me.

Stenson

RACISM LIVES

RACISM LIVES

This post from July 2012 seems appropriate given recent news.  I believe all lives matter, but I understand the current emphasis on Black Lives matter.  I do not believe police actions toward blacks are necessarily race related, but I am white...I'm pretty sure if  I was not I would better understand the frustration that has fomented the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

We have made many strides towards ending racism in this country during my lifetime.  We now have a black president, many black CEOs, teachers, doctors, and lawyers.  I guess racism is a thing of the past.  There are no more segregated restrooms or restaurants and no forced seating on the back of the bus…and yet…

Chris Rock, my favorite comedian since we lost George Carlin, claims there isn’t a single white person that would change places with him, and, he states emphatically, “I’M RICH!”

Is there still racism in this country?

Several years ago a doctor in our town was arrested for getting belligerent with a police officer.  It turns out he was pulled over in his new BMW three times in one month.  His only offence was DWB (driving while black) he took offence at this offence.

I had a friend at work, Cliff, who was from Panama.  He was a large gentle giant of a man with a quick wit and a big heart. He was very black.  We both lived in Jersey and passed through the same train terminal in Newark every day.  I was talking to him one very hot summer day and mentioned that I would probably stop at the Newark station liquor store to get a cold beer for the train ride home.

Cliff said that he would like a beer as well, but the Newark cops do not allow him to carry an open can of beer through the station.

“What?  I do it all the time, the store puts the container in a plain brown bag and the cops never say anything.”

“You mean they never say anything to YOU.”

“Huh?”

Cliff pulled his glasses down over his nose and peered at me with a stare that said, “You’re kidding right?”

I looked back into his large black stare and it finally hit me… “Oh…duh…DAMN!”

I also worked closely and became good friends with anAfrican-American African-Belizian a black man from Belize. Frank was my go to guy when I didn’t understand something related to our brokerage business.  He knew everything and could explain it so even I could understand it.  We worked a similar schedule and often went to lunch together.

One day in the cafeteria, Frank passed by the dish of the day, fried chicken, and that day’s desert special, fresh watermelon.

“Damn that looks good; I wish I could order it.”

“So what is the problem?  Go ahead and buy it if you want.”

“I guess; but people would make jokes.”

Imagine, an intelligent man not wanting to order the food he likes because he did not want to appear stereotyped!  That is when it became clear to me just how deep and insidious racism still is in the good old USA.

Chris Rock is right, I would like to be rich and famous, but I’m not ready to change places with him.  As only Chris Rock could say it: 

“I think I’ll just see where this white thing takes me.”