A LAST HURRAH

 

At this point of my life, I think back about all that I have done, however there are still some things that I want to do but not enough Time left.

People have asked me if I have had any regrets for what I have done, and in all do respect the only regret that I have is not being a better student in high school. My high school days were all about making friends. Studies, played a secondary role and were important enough only to the point that I moved from grade to grade with those friends. I truly wanted to go to college, but grades and money were the two stoppers. My parents could financially send me off to college, but my contribution was more then I could afford.  I ended up working and going to school at night, but that didn't work so well. My education actually began when I started my job at SAS. Not only did SAS give me the opportunity to experience different cultures, but it also paid for any formal education that I wanted.  Lucky me.  That's how it all began, I started  to get the formal training I WANTED, in the subjects I WANTED to know about.  The perfect solution. Over the 40 period with SAS I enrolled into classes such as...........Business and Corporate law, Real Estate financing, Accounting and Finance, Tax solutions, Building and Architecture, and many other related subjects.  I also was sent, by SAS, to the University of Lund in Sweden for an intense course on the Swedish language. That, in itself, was the most fun since I stayed, in the house of my then bosses mother where no English was spoken.  The other students in the class were from countries around the world, working for different Swedish companies. Marrying a Swede, did help somewhat over the years, even though she, coming from Stockholm, found it a bit cumbersome speaking with a person with a "Skane" accent (southern Sweden} she swore I was half Danish. Oh, well, that's life.

MY LAST OPINION

Before I begin, let me first say, that what you will read is totally "the way I see things". I am not trying to change your thoughts or understanding, All I want you to do is consider the thoughts, I do not want you to try to change my mind. This is the way, I see and understand the system. If you wish to comment on some items, you are welcome to send me an email.  If I , in your opinion , misunderstand  something, let me know, I am open to reviewing. Having said that don't try to convince me that your opinion is the correct information.........

 The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches to make sure no individual or group will have too much power:

I'm sure that most of you know the workings of the first two, the executive branch and the legislature branch .   The one that I am presently concerned about is the Judicial branch.  I have always been taught and thought to be true is that this group of 9 unelected but nominated by the president and approved by the senate  people, were to be non-political in their opinions but were to interpret and abide by the constitution of the USA. in handing down opinions. They selected 9 as an odd number so that their would never, be a split decision, resulting in a tie. Now, we know the position is held for Life and I'm sure there is good reason for it, but differ with this rule.

 I believe it should have a ten year term limit. Since their job is to be a judge of the constitution, they must be able to interpret what the writers of the constitution were thinking at the time of the writing, as to rights of the people.

After the 10 year term, they will automatically be sent to a court of appeals to serve the  for life, while a judge from the court of appeals will then be selected by the President to serve on the Supreme court for a period of 10 years

. 

What we have seen out of this ideologically based Supreme Court is that the six justices nominated by Republican presidents are leaning their values to the right the three justices nominated by democratic presidents seem to lean somewhat to the left, however this is not the first time in history that we've had this kind ideology of Supreme Court. In the late 1800s early 1900s there was a similar 

 situation. It also leaned to the right and was pro-business, anti-labor and antiregulatory to the point of libertarianism. It frequently struck down state laws based on regulations the court found burdensome or interfering with liberty rights. That theory developed a highly activist court spinning doctrine from general Bill of Rights language and themselves imagining new rights that fit the justices' goals. 

THE TIME HAS COME

It is now time to realize that this blog has reached its no return point.  Readership over the past two years has spiraled downward and I can only see three reasons for that.  1. people are just not interested in my opinion of the present and future situation,  2.  People are no longer interested in my past, or 3 and the most probable is that people are just passing on.  Whatever the reason, it makes no sense for me to continue since my original reason for creating this blog has now been completed.  The blog has been turned into a book of sort.  Now to complete the dedication page and the cover, self publish the book and print out only enough for my immediate family.

My last thoughts, though are to those of you that has over the years occupied some of your valuable time to just open this up. I hope I have been able to give you a little look into my life growing up in an Italian family as an only child.

Thank You,

Vito     

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MY TAKE ON INFLATION

 

I don't know how many of you have looked into something like this.....or if any of you are really interested to but here is my take on INFLATION and the causes of .

When I personally look at inflation, I immediately think of food and fuel,  why,  simply because I need those two items almost daily.......but this thought is relayed into many more items..........the human is attached to and not willing to give up.  It all starts with greed.......greed of corporations, to produce revenue for themselves and their stock holders.

Prices have risen, at a pace beyond all expectations and will never rescind, simply because the public will not let it.  We will continue to pay these high prices because  we have convinced ourselves that this is something we can not or better yet WILL NOT live without.   We will continue to complain about the high cost but are unwilling to actually act at doing something to lower the cost. People continue to drive.....because that's what we do. In continuing to drive we will still drive those big gas guzzling vehicles i.e. SUVs, high powered cars and big flashy car,  because that's who we are. You are not going to catch me driving some little 4 cylinder undersized, not noticeable car just to save what we consider a few bucks. Your not going to catch me using public transportation, because I want to go when I'm ready to go not five, ten or fifteen minuets from now..  Your not going to catch me searching out a less expensive gas station to save ten cents a gallon or having to stand on a line for an extra fifteen minutes, compared to the station that I have been going to for years and they know me. I'm not going to give up any conveniences just to save a few pennies...............but I sure am going to complain about it and expect the government to do something about it.  Now, ask yourself that most inconvenient question........just what do you want the government to do in this.........our chosen capitalistic society. The government can't tell me what to do. Well, my friends you want to have your cake and eat it too.............then let those businesses raise there prices beyond what they already have, settle back, and complain, and continue to pay the cost.  

Same goes for food, clothing, all the way down to your Starbucks coffee. Coffee was once $2 a cup, then it was $2.05. then $2.10 we complained but we had to have it so now that it cost $4.00 a cup we continue to pay.  Who do we blame......not ourselves because we are not willing to give it up, we have to have our Starbucks fix each morning and afternoon.  So now the greed of the corporations to make more for themselves and their stockholders are placed on the shoulders of the greed our society has built for itself.   Now,, you're going to ask yourself, how do I get out of this rut, how do I get back to some kind of normality?  Here are my personal suggestions.

1.  search out the less costly .  Big food stores demand a profit of at lease 40% on all items and that could be increased by shelf location, or brand name. Buy the store brands, search the lower shelves or higher shelves...........not the eye level shelf.

2. when possible buy at a smaller market or Mom and Pop store where the profit margin is usually less, and customer service is greater.

3.buy your coffee at a smaller shop, or a smaller drive thru (try McDonalds coffee) or the small independently owned. Starbucks is known to be over-roasted occasionally to the burnt level. If Latte's are your thing, it relies mostly on hot milk , otherwise coffee is coffee, unless you are a coffee expert.

4.Buy your gasoline at a place that offers other things for sale. i.e. Costco, Some food stores. Ir is usually a few cents less expensive, rather than the EXXON, MOBILE, CHEVRON type places.  Most of all drive a little less. If public transportation is available to your work place, take it......you'll save on parking also.  ride share when possible. or use delivery services.

Now, of course these are only my opinions and should only be considered by those that are constantly complaining about the government doing something rather then putting the blame on the true culprit........yourself or greedy corporations. 

AS LONG AS WE SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT............WHATEVER THEY DO.........WE WILL NOT SEE ANY REDUCTION OF ANYTHING, SO ACT AND STOP  BITCHING !!!!!!!

 

GETTING RID OF TRASH CAN BE FUN.

Sweden is known for many things most of all sexy, beautiful  women. I grew up hearing " Stockholm , the city of free love".  Take it from me, that's not the way it really was. On the other hand, the women are definitely beautiful.  I just read the below noted about another Swedish City, Malmo and had to share it with you.  I checked it out with a friend that lives there and he has confirmed it.  When you click on the below link, it will send you to a redirected page.  Very interesting article 

https://www.insider.com/sexy

SUMMER FINALLY WITHIN SITE.

I have recently checked the upcoming weather and finally discovered,

summer is in site.   Better get out more shorts and T-shirts.

Vito

THE DAY

 

I am now single digit days away from celebrating yet another birthday. In this case, my 86th.  OH how ever, did I make it this far.  I sort of hope it continues on for some more years...................just to be able to write more blogs, and finish my book. 

I see that our House of Representatives, have now voted........down party lines........for somewhat of a type of gun control. It's very sad to see that few Republicans can understand, that this is NOT a ban on weapons, just a control of certain weapons. The bill will now go to the Senate, where the rumor is that it will be voted down, here again simply by party lines, neither party really has the needed majority.  It seems to me that, the Republicans go down hard on abortions with the excuse that we are killing lives ( unborn lives) in a true sense, but after birth, they couldn't care less what happens to these poor souls, even to the extent that they have voted down putting money into the budget of mental health. Wish I knew exactly what they wanted, but understandable since, they themselves do not know. Very difficult to really understand, the rationale. In these old eyes, the Republican party is no longer the GRAND OLD PARTY.  It simply has become the party of ignorance, NO and You do it my way,   REGARDLESS !!!!  Personally, I don't care if you are a Democrat , Republican or Independent,  makes no difference, I just ask for you to use the brain, you were given and to look realistically at both ends of the straw so that you understand the total problem..............before.......... you make any decision. It seems that most Republicans only have the ability to look at one end of the straw.

We are suppose to be a society of intelligent people, working as one to be able to continue to be an intelligent society, and still be able to have an independent opinion. 

I watched the Jan6 panel show last night........the first of  several more to come. If this isn't enough for some half-brained Republicans to change their mind, I'm afraid they will just go down in history as TOTALLY brainless with the balance of the party. 

LIFE IS ABOUT CHANGE

Each day that passes,  has now become more then just a day.  It has become a chore and is only remembered by ....................what you throw away. 

The Swedes have a word for cleaning in the latter part of life.  It is called    döstädning.  It simply is getting everything in order.  I use it as getting"  RID OF ALL THE STUFF COLLECTED OVER ALL THE YEARS".   My philosophy is that if you didn't use it, look for it, or cared about it for the past 5 years,  you will not miss it for the next 10.  Interesting part is that I have found a way to fill up both my recyclable and my garbage containers for the next 6 months.  That way I'm getting my monies worth for sanitation plus I am now able to see parts of my once 1800 sq ft corporate office, known as.........my basement, or lower level of my 3 level house. 

Since retiring from SAS in December of 1994 I have started six businesses all of which I was hoping to pass on to either my children or my grandchildren I got the businesses started and then apparently lost interest in each one of them one by one but the remnants of each one of these businesses is still resting on my corporate floor. If I was only able to see in the future and see how much wasted money was going to be put into these businesses I would have never done it.  I would have gone back to the golf course so they say. 

Of the six businesses that I started four of them had the potential to succeed and become very successful if only the time and the thought was really put into them I regret some of those moves but life is what it is. Now there is nothing left to them except memories and a lot of advertising material that I have no idea what to use it for. 

THE DAY HAS NOW ARRIVED

Happy Birthday to me, able to make it one more year.  Guess I'll go and have my coffee.

See you soon.

Old Man  Vito

 

       

???

 

Living in covid pandemic for the past two and a half years has certainly taught me a lot about myself.

I have adopted the ability to read and investigate.  Something that I have passed over for years. Prior to this pandemic, I read something and if it sounded reasonable, I accepted it. If it sounded stupid, I left it up to common sense (and I was usually right). If it REALLY sounded over the top, I simply passed it over as something the conservatives would say.  Now, I have found that, by investigation I'm now able to fact check.........and it occupies my time.

I have discovered that after only 153 days this year we have had 233 mass shootings, I ask you and myself, what kind of society do we live in. It certainly isn't the kind, I grew up in.  At first, I took it as a republican thing, but now I find it's more a immaturity thing since the act is deriving from people usually under the age of 18 using an assault type weapon.  I believe most are children with parents, that don't care, don't know or just turn their heads.  Parents of these young people, I would bet are Republican, minimal educated, and screamers for the second amendment , which, of cause most think they know about but apparently read and know little  about the three words  " to bare arms" . This amendment was adopted  by our fore fathers to the constitution in  1791.............that alone should want people to THINK about the meaning. I'm willing to bet that those screamers of constitutional rights have no idea WHY IT was adopted, let along that our fore fathers could even begin to  visualize , the weapons of the future.  Even as I write this blog, mass shootings are taking place.  Two that I have just heard about in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.  Now, the total number for this year has just been reported as 242.  When will this stop! Why can't our politicians get there head out of their ass and get something done.  I keep hearing that it's a mental  thing,  are Americans that more mentally deficient than people of other nations?  Can this be the cause ..............or can it be our hate for one in other?  I suggest, very strongly that people take a real concentrated look at the ballet this year and vote out all the politicians that refuse to act on the real cause.  If we really feel that it's a mental thing, perhaps the conservatives should  rethink why they cut that money from the budget and reinstate it.  Sorry friends, to go on and on with this subject but I'm just very afraid of what the end result will be if it continues.

SPRINGTIME DECK

Spring has sprung

the grass has rise

wonder where the boidies is

IN THE MIDDLE OF MARGOT'S DECK GARDEN;

Once again I present Margot's little piece of heaven,.................our deck. Margot is not very happy with the late planting season, but I'm sure she will get over it as soon as the weather improves and she can see her little buds growing and glowing.  These were planted about 2 weeks ago but it has been a very raining month with little sunshine to really speak about. 

SUMMERTIME

Shorts , t-shirt, sandals. There's just something with sunshine and warmth that brings out the good in people.  Seems to make people more cheerful.  Don't know exactly what it is.  Me, personally, spending 20 minutes in warm sunshine either makes me very mellow and makes me urge for nappy time or it gives me that old..................spring time romantic feeling that I recall from a much earlier time of my life.  At any rate, I need sun to beat into these old bones.  Then, of course, I ask myself, what the hell am I doing in Seattle??????  a city know for people that carry an umbrella, where ever they go,  just in case of a little sprinkle. On my first arrival, it was for the friendliness of the people, and the beautiful , well groomed areas of outdoors. Less and less of that is now in place...............but for me, I am totally hooked onto those areas I still feel safe in.  Outside of those areas, I know longer visit or spend time. I once was very compassionate for the homeless, now it's at the point where my compassion has disappeared and can hardly tolerate where we are as a society.  Our elected officials, have tried many different ways of handling these situations, however, I see no real improvement, so I have basically resolved to live out the rest of my time, in the best way for me and my family.

Anyway, enough complaining for the day, Think I'll have a cup of coffee and relax on my deck..............until dinner time.

See you all soon.

Vito         

WHO'S THAT MASKED MAN

 

The very first thing that I want to do on this blog is to make a correction from two postings ago. At that time I wrote that I joined SAS in April of 1966 the correction is I joined the SAS in April of 1956. In 1966 I was actually on my way to Seattle to open up the station for the first time.

ARE WE NOW RETURNING TO ...........NORMALITY???

This Saturday, the state of Washington has received permission to take our masks off.................EXCEPT for entering hospitals, or any type of public transportation along with any private business that wishes to retain the masks on deal.  It is now considered {"up to you"} if you want to still wear one.   I give notice NOW,  I WILL STILL wear a mask inside most stores.  Reason......

#1  I do not know if I have covid, and do not want to be a spreader

#2  I do NOT trust my fellow man on whether they have c ovid.  After the past two years of seeing how stupid people reacted to mask and restrictions, my trust have reach a low point. Some people only like to make rules for other.............but not for themselves.

#3 Better safe than sorry.  If people do not like me in my mask........tough sh**.

STILL IN PANDEMIC MODE FOR CLEANING

Still going through STUFF in closets and recently found a Christmas present from my son from about 5-6 years back.  Original label still on and fits like a glove.  Perhaps it's time has come to be worn. People will certainly notice as this is a dated item being the "OLD MARINERS COLORS"

Another item added to my .......replenished wardrobe  What else will I find.  (talk about skeletons in a closet)..............WOW   JUST FOUND THE HAT TO GO ALONG WITH THIS!!!!!!!!

EVEN IN A PANDEMIC.......SOME PEOPLE NEVER STOP LEARNING.

Over two years now into this Pandemic and the one thing I have found amazing is that there are some folks just unable.....or just unwilling to adjust their lives to adapt. We've all heard about these people, most are either flying on our planes or in our stores but Ignorance, seems to control their lives.

A NEW LOOK

Now that our grandsons have reached the age of 25 years old they have heard over and over again how times have drastically changed from me growing up, to them growing up.  The change of my blog will be slight, but there will be a change.  I will concentrate more on present day and future activity, keeping politics to a very little amount, but I will also retain the looking back aspect just to keep humor high. So, my friends I hope you will continue to look over this blog I hope you will continue to look back a short distance in the past but also lend your ear to my concerns about the present and the future if you, want you can let me know by emailing me and give me your aspect. I do sincerely hope that you will continue to receive this blog, in the humor it will always represent.

Vito

HMMMMMMMMMMMM

Today I find myself celebrating Margot's birthday at the Tulalip Indian casino. That ended up as it usually does a very very nice lunch and a considerable donation to the native American tribal foundation. For the tax records, that donation becomes a negative towards any earnings that might eventually come so you might say we can get some of it back.............. Regardless how small.

GETTING OLD IS TOUGH

I'm at the time of my life when running errands count...as going out.

Or when I momentarily forget a word, I pause slightly and say...." sorry l seem to have forgotten the word".    That way I am thought to be bilingual instead of an idiot, or senile.

PANDEMIC

                                                                     ***********

This two year pandemic have certainly changed our inner selves. Getting dressed to go out is so very special that as soon as I come home now, I look forward to changing into my " homeless" look.

The idea, of course, is to feel as relaxed as possible but still presentable if someone happens to drop by.  Margot, on the other hand, does not appreciate the way I look, to the extent that, she will not let me go out to even pick up the mail.

I must now add, much to my surprise, those clothes are now prisoners of war.  The pants has a large hole in the crotch, which I have now been able to sew up with.................white thread.   The sweater was missing in action, but recently discovered  in pieces used in the cleaning of oily objects in the garage.  Wonder, how that  happened ?  Anyway, life will go on and I must now locate some other  "homeless look" clothes .  Must be somewhere in my closet, of vintage 1955 clothes (some that still have the original tags on them from the seventies.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME FUN VIDEOS????

Several years ago, I was into taking some of my photos and turning them into fun videos. It was an interest to me at that time and I found it most satisfying.  Since then, I have found other things to test my interest on.  Just in case anyone of you are interested to see some of these, try going to 

   www.youtube.com     and searching for these  under    vitoonfilm ..........sit back and relax.

CHANGES TO COME.

I have explained, many time before, the reason for starting this blog.  It was a way to tell my twin grandsons, who are now 26 years old, about how it was growing up in an Italian family as an only child,  living, learning and surviving in a suburb of  New York.  Very interesting life. Now that they have heard this many times and the fact that it is now being made into a book, my blog is about to take on a few minor changes. It will focus on the present day living as an old man, with occasional memories of the past.  In addition, I may even list some of the things, collected in my life, for a cost of shipping. Who knows where this could lead to.                   

Vito   

 

BTW.  If you are looking for a good morning pick me up, coffee.  Give Angelino's a try.

    

www.angelinoscoffee.com

We nurture every one of our coffees – from bean to brew.

What are

 

Well my friends we are already into the year 2022. At the end of 2021 I told myself that I wanted to spend the New Year writing more, this is true,  I have spent more time on my book then I have on my blog. Now I have started to receive emails from people that have followed me on my blog wondering if I'm dead or alive. Especially sure I'm alive and I do promise and hopefully I'll be able to write a little more into my blog than I have for the past two or three years. 

I've given a lot of thought about the possibility of reducing my time on Face Book to a minimum and spending more time on my blog. It seems that most of my friends are presently on FB but I am hoping that they join me on this type of media.  What do you think??                                

TRUTH NEVER SAID BETTER

This sent to me by a friend, and I was given permission to reprint.  could it be said better?  don't think so.  

When at a store checkout the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags in future because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days. "The cashier  responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."  She was right --  our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The  shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.   We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got blunt.  But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.  We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets.  But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 2200watts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room, and the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the  size of the county of Yorkshire. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not polystyrene or plastic bubble wrap.  

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country.  We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn’t expect to have out of season products flown thousands of air miles around the world. We actually cooked food that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrapping and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.  But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people caught a train or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we oldies were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Remember:  Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off...

TIMES HAVE CHANGED................LOOKING BACK COULD BE THE NEW NORM. 

I have a personal feeling as to when times did change, and it wasn't all done with the pandemic. Those that know me know exactly what I mean by that. Should they be looked at further.............or should I just sit on them and aggravate myself to no end.  Hard decision but I guess only time will tell.  

I've done many things in the past, some that I'm proud of, some not so much.  Where do I draw the line? Some were my fault, some not, where does that fault line lay.  After all growing up was in a totally different time under totally different circumstances.  Some would say a totally different world, and after all is said and done, those times certainly were more pleasant.

Well, I will start this New Year with sort of a promise,  to be more considerate for writing and also to spend more time dealing with reality and the everyday concerns.  I might even consider running for a political office.  That certainly would surprise a lot of people....................an old fart with NEW ideas.

What a blast!!!!!!!Stay tuned.

Vito