THE BEST OF TIMES

TIME IS THE ONLY THING LEFT

Something I have always said that I wanted to do before that day comes, Is that I wanted to write a book about my life. I don’t know who would be interested enough to read it, But it’s always been in the back of my mind to do. Something just struck me though, that’s what I have been doing all of this time, It’s just that it’s called a blog. If I look back over all the postings of my blog, it’s in essence, a story of my life. How stupid of me to suddenly realize that. Writing that book was the last thing on my bucket list, so now that I’ve settled that, the only thing left is time to enjoy my memories. 

BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE 

in the past year, several people have asked me what I considered to be the best years of my life. I’ve put a lot of thought into this and it comes down to be a choice of basically three times of my life, My school years, My work years and my retirement years. Of these three categories, there have been some great ups and downs that have to be considered. My school years consisted of basically 12 years. My work years I could narrow down to 40 years and my retirement years so far amount to 30 years. That leaves seven years, five of which I was age 0 to 5 and then they were two years in the military. Just looking over this list, I guess the best times can be narrowed down to the 40 years of working and the 30 years of retirement as the most fun packed years. Of the two, I have to definitely give the 40 years of working the number one spot. The things that I’ve done, The people I have met And the places I have seen, By far still remain deep in my memory. OH, to relive those times. 

89, WHERE DOES ONE GO NOW 

At the beginning of this post, I’m seven months away from reaching that point of 90. Where does one go now? If I ask that question in a sense of traveling, I think my traveling days are well behind me. And when I mean, travel, I mean, literally transiting the globe. I’m thankful and happy every morning that I wake up and see daylight. Each morning the first questions I have for Margot is “ What’s the plan for today?” And I keep getting the same reply, “No plan we’ll just play it by ear.” In some ways that can be very exciting however, in some ways, it’s quite boring. Not surprisingly, The next question is “what’s for dinner tonight?” The reply, Up to now has always been” Whatever you make” For some reason, the reply is now a choice of three or four really tasteful items. Wonder why the sudden change? 

JUST FOR FUN

I went to the doctor last week for my yearly examination and after the examination, he told me that I had thin legs, Coincidentally that happens to be my gangster name. He also advised that I should begin wearing a helmet,in case I happen to fall. That just makes me really feel stupid so now I carry a skateboard. A little known fact is that a woman lives to A medium age of 95 a man has an average age of 85, At 89 I’m contemplating the transition. During this visit, the doctor suggested that I go down to the lab to have some blood work. I checked at the lab and they told me that it would be about a 20 minute wait there were five people ahead of me. That’s when I asked if there was any chance that I could be pushed up a bit because it didn’t sound like I had that much time left. When I finally got in, the nurse, took a look at my veins and says “my God man you’ve got the biggest vein that I’ve ever seen in my life, Which of course made me quite proud as that was the best thing that I’ve heard in the past 60 years “ I got a little nervous with the amount of blood that she was actually taking from me, So I mentioned to her” I hope you leave enough for me to get to my car“ She chuckled and told me that she was leaving enough for me to get in my car and get out of the parking lot. That’s when our responsibilities stops.”

As far as social media is concerned, you can follow me on the bulletin board at Kroger or on “my chart”.

JUST CANT HELP MYSELF 

I tried very hard to end this post without saying anything about our present administration. That seems to be an impossibility so I will just end it very simply for all you cult members that may read this post, With a little thought of mine. 

The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never select the dumbest one to lead them. 

Vito 

GETTING OLDER BY THE MINUTE

 

It’s funny when you have enough time on your hands and nothing to do you tend to think back over the years. Eliminating those years that I was in high school when I graduated at 18, I could hardly wait until I was 21, when I was 21 I could hardly wait until I was 30, Then reaching 30, I could only wait until I reached 50 this went on for many years after that. Now I’m 89 I sure wish I was 21 again. If for no other reason just to be able to do the things that I did at 21 that I simply can’t do now, what an adjustment to life. But reality has set into this old mind, And I just have to admit that after 60 it’s all downhill. Life starts to make that turn and there you are. Will I reach 90? There Is only one that knows the answer to that and I just have to put my faith into that person and hope for the best. Luckily, I’m still able to get around. I can get up in the morning, I can shower, I can cook breakfast, I’m able to turn the TV on and understand what they are talking about, And best of all I still remember everything that they’re talking about. Sure, I have to use a cane every so often to keep my balance, but I guess it gives me a little bit of elegance. I guess most importantly, I have my wits about me where I can continue writing this blog and it actually makes sense not only to me, but some of those that read it. That’s more than I can say about people that are in very important positions in the world. Those that can’t even put a sentence together that makes any sense. Maybe I should run for president, The hell with that garbage, Just give me an iPad and a little bit of time I’m able to straighten out everything. I take that part back, I’m able to make sense of what I’m thinking of. I’m more than happy now just to be able to think back and remember those things that brought me happiness and fun. Like most Italians, the one thing that brings me joy is La Familia. I wish there was more time to be able to spend with my family but taking any consideration of their lives and doing the things that they enjoy compared to spending time doing nothing with this old man should be their first concern.

I’ve always been interested in wanting to write a story or a book about my life and growing up. Started to do this several times and for one reason or another I gave up on it. Sometime ago, my daughter bought me a book that is basically nothing more than questions and by me writing down the answer, to these questions. It will be my story. Some questions I found quite interesting. When was I born?, How much did I weigh when I was born?, What was popular movies when I was born, who was some of my friends in school? What subjects did I like in school and it goes on and on. All I simply have to do is to answer these questions and magically, the story of my life is written. 

One question in particular that I found to be interesting was if I was able to spend my dinner time with five people in the world who would they be? So so many names come to mind. I personally would need two dinners, One with those that have passed on, One with those that are still here. My past on dinners would be with

JFK

Joe DiMaggio

Albert Einstein

Marilyn Monroe

Frank Sinatra

My dinner with those that are still here would be with

Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama

Paul Krugman

Richard Rubenstein

Sebastian Maniscalco

A good conversation for me is to get many many different views on a particular subject. Then I would settle mainly on the best one which probably would come from me, or that’s what I want to think.

Now, I know that dinner with either of these groups is totally impossible, and the actual dinner would be with several additional people, and will go unnamed for obvious reasons.

ON TO OTHER THINGS 

There is an old expression that constantly comes into mine during this day and age. It’s just the two word exclamation” Shit happens”. Each and every day that I roll over open up my eyes and see that I’m still on earth that expression comes to my mind. I’m living in the day and age of shit happens. Every time that I happen to turn on the TV, expecting to hear something interesting a bell goes off in my head, shit happens. Things just don’t seem to go the way I personally feel that they should, I have to take into consideration that perhaps in the minds of other people things are happening the way that they feel it should. I don’t deprive them of this thought everybody is entitled to their own thoughts, It’s just that in my view we are presently living in a”Shit happens world” Whose fault is it? I haven’t the slightest idea. How do I fix it? I haven’t the slightest idea. Can I just sit back and live with it? I haven’t the slightest idea, The only thing that I’m sure of is that I have to find that way. In my mind, the only true way to fix it is very simply to VOTE BLUE .

It’s now the middle of September no real rain has started so I guess it’s time for me to get off the couch unravel the hose and water all of the plants out in the front of the house today. They are still blooming and there’s nothing that makes Margot happier than to see blooming flowers. Another old saying that I know” Happy wife, happy life”” 

That’s it for now my friends I will start another posting in a few days. Meanwhile, enjoy life as it is.

Vito 

SPECIAL THINGS

It’s been longer than I Intended since my last posting and I usually start my postings off, talking about the moron that leaves no doubt in my mind that he is a cult leader, Mr. shit for brains. He is succeeding at driving this country of ours into becoming part of the fourth world. No longer are we the country that people risk their lives to Come to, but now we find that it’s becoming the country that people will leave. I’m now questioning myself on why is it necessary for me to spend so much time talking about  someone that I am totally, totally against rather than spending more time talking about things people are interested in. I’m not part of moron 47th Cult As some of my friends could possibly be, and there is no way that I can control that. Since I’m in the autumn part of my life, why spend time wasted on this piece of crap.

ON TO BETTER THINGS 

In reading over some of these posts, I’ve come to the conclusion that my fingers just don’t move fast enough for me to type, so I have begun speaking these blogs. That has now led me to learn two things about myself that I was not really aware of. 

1. That my New York accent has never disappeared

2. That I totally have to relocate myself in this house to find that quiet spot, Since this machine picks up any sound of anything that happens and adds it into the blog so if some of this doesn’t make sense, it’s because the TV is on and this machine picks up some of that background noise.

Funny thing about that, In our kitchen, we have an Alexa machine so I always know or am able to get the correct answer to a question, when my wife isn’t there to give me the answer. I find it quite amusing to live in a house, with two women eagerly ready to give me what they think, the correct answer is to enjoying life. I use Alexa quite often rather than going to Google. My daily schedule is even set up and Alexa will give me weather, Traffic advisory, Time it will take me to get somewhere, Plus headline news. What a great Life. I no longer have to waste time writing shopping list. I can just ask Alexa to add this to my shopping list and while I am in the store, I take out my phone ask what’s on my shopping list and low and behold, I get the answer. The crazy thing about that is people look at me as if I’m actually talking to my wife on the phone. I don’t know how this is done, but Alexa apparently knows where items are located in the store, I can simply say Maria cookies and Alexa will come back and say isle 8 Lower shelf. Technology is great. 

Last week, Margot and I decided to go to the mall and she wanted to take advantage of her 30% discount coupon from Macy’s. While she was shopping, I decided to sit at Starbucks have a cup of coffee and watch the crowd walk past, Being in a old Playful mood I decided to have some fun with a couple of teenage boys that I saw walking past me with their baseball caps on backwards. I stopped them, excuse myself and asked them what store They had purchased their caps in. They looked at me with a curious, look in their eye, Told me that it could be purchased at any store. I continued the conversation by asking if it was a special kind of cap that I had to ask for seeing that the bill of the cap was in the back instead of the front. Again they looked at each other with curiosity in their eyes. I told them that I saw many people walking past that  were wearing the same cap, noting again that the bill of the cap was in the back of the head rather than in the front of the head, And that I wanted to buy one of these. They were very courteous when they told me that I could just go in and ask the clerk working in the hat department for exactly what I wanted and that they would be able to help me, Then they started to walk off, giggling under their breath. What fun old people are. I can only guess what their conversation would be with other people further in the day.

SUMMER IS STILL ACTIVE 

It’s now the middle of August, still another month to go but I’m beginning to feel the change, especially in the morning hours. I got use to sitting on the deck at 8am, having my coffee, I’m now beginning to feel the change in the weather, having the need for a sweater for an hour or so. Taking a look at the forecast for the next week or so it looks as though I’m gonna be able to sit out there in my bathing suit and have my coffee in the morning that should keep the neighbors occupied. But September is beginning to roll in on us and the heat of August will disappear. I’m wondering how many more Augusts are left for me.

Well, my friends, This blog has kept me occupied kept me thinking about days gone by, And occasionally, what the next days in the future will look like. I’ll still get up in the morning get my coffee turn on the TV check to see What the president administration is up to and then begin my day. Stay tuned for the next blog posting.

Vito 

STILL AROUND

The count is now 161 days and the country is beginning to become slightly better than a third world nation.  The orange man and his MAGA CULT MEMBERS are NOT MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. THEY ARE MAKING AMERICA ENGULFED WITH CHAOS. Every day that I am lucky enough To wake up and get out of bed, brings another day of uncertainty. The man definitely wants to be king and rule with his golden wand, The interesting thing is, There are people that actually are dumb enough to agree with him and all his ignorance. What in the world are they Thinking about. Just proves that it truly is a cult leader, leading the parade of cult members with no ability to be able to think for themselves. The sad thing is that they live amongst us.

In my intellectual opinion, Which is far above about 20% of the nations population, Is that the orange man is ignorant of true fact, Lies about everything that comes out of his mouth, Daydreams about ignorance, And has a mental disorder called narcissistic, personality disorder. Regardless of what you may think he is a totally failed business person. All it will take to prove this is to just look back over the businesses that he has started and see if any of them have actually lasted. His airline has failed, His university has failed,His casinos have failed,Most of his hotels have failed,Which just proves my point. He started to riches was created only by his father giving him money, It was certainly not earned. As a matter of fact, he cheated his brother out of his share. He again, in my opinion, if you’re low enough to cheat your own family, then you don’t give a damn about anybody else. He has even gone to the extent of cheating on his first two wives even while one of them was in the hospital, giving birth to his child. How low can you get?  Have no fear there will be more to come on this failed person the leader of a cult.

CHEZ VITO 

One of my readers have recently asked if I personally have made any of these recipes. A simple answer is NO. Now to be perfectly honest with you, I must admit that I am not really a cook. There are things that I do quite well, However, so can everyone else. I do consider myself an expert in the task of boiling water, My boiling water can be compared only to the best ever. I’m also quite good at making anything that comes from a box where I just add water, oil and a couple of eggs. So the simple answer to any question that you may have is that these recipes actually come from a cookbook where I copy and paste into this blog. I rely totally on you to make it taste delicious. Before I list these recipes, I read the comments about people that have baked them, and apparently the woman that reviewed this recipe said that her husband loved it so much that she makes it once a week. Boooooooooorrrrrrrrrriiiinnnggggggg.

The actual reason why I add recipes to this blog is because several people have requested that I do so and I’m here to grant the wishes ,wherever possible , of my readers

This baked potato casserole features creamy mashed potatoes loaded with Cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions for a comforting side dish. Read More: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231699/easy-loaded-baked-potato

BACK TO THE FUN STUFF 

I really have to admit how much I like Zoom. After my last zoom reunion with my high school classmates zoom is the only way to go. I suggest more people use zoom when they are trying to get groups of people together. This particular zoom meeting brought back people that I was in high school with 70 years ago. Talk about lasting friendships. On that subject, there are many different types of friendships, There’s the forever friendship which this certainly was one, There’s a casual friendship, which could be a friendship made with your next-door neighbor or a person down the street or even a person that you have met in a different city but still keep in touch with, Regardless friendships are very important to the life lock in individuals. Friendships can also be the kind where you meet someone a dozen years ago, Send them birthday cards or Christmas cards or whatever talk to them occasionally Or it can be the kind of friendship when one might meet every week or two weeks either for lunch or coffee together. But friendships is a necessity of life, if not just for the socializing. Every person needs some kind of a friendship. Have you ever tried to analyze your friendships? Give it a try you might make an interesting discovery.

It now looks like summer has arrived.

Margot’s deck flowers are in full bloom now 

And fills her day up taking care of them.

Too bad I can’t figure out how to conserve space and place the pictures side by side. Anyway here’s Margot’s flower patch on the deck.

Well, my friends, enjoy the summer days 

Vito 

TIME PASSES ON

 

It is now 154 days into the new administration. In my opinion, 154 days of chaos. Each day brings a new thought into the brain of our president. Each day that thought changes at least five times. Here again, In my opinion, the man is a total wacko. I still personally believe that those that follow this man and his thoughts Are members of a cult. I get a lot of backwash about this, but that is my opinion and my opinion alone. DJT suffers from narcissistic personality disorder no doubt. It has never been my intention, nor will it ever be my intention To make this blog about a person that wants to make this country, a part of a dictatorship, So on two other subjects.

ONE FOLLOWERS REQUEST 

I recently was approached by one of my followers of this blog, and as if it was possible for me to include a recipe in each one of my blogs? I told her that I would try to do that and here’s the first one.

These easy cheesy potatoes are baked in a creamy mozzarella and Cheddar cheese sauce for a crowd-pleasing casserole that's comfort food at its best! Read More: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/272525/grandmas-cheesy-potatoes/?

Hopefully,If you clicked on the above noted navigational bar, it will bring up the recipe for a great tasting cheesy potato dish. Give it a try!

ONE DAY AT A TIME 

Today July 2 there was a zoom meeting reunion with my high school graduation group. Nine people attended and it was a blast. It was so nice to see all that showed up. Out of the nine, I’m still in touch with six of them either on Facebook, or email. I have also talked on the phone with a few. It is true, that real friends are forever. It was arranged by Rich Rubinstein, who I believe would have made a great U.S. President. Right after the meeting, I immediately went to my bookshelf picked out my 1955 PATCHES YEARBOOK JUST TO REMINISCE. It seems that Rich was the top of I will class from the freshman year and had the honor of writing, The winning senior essay “THE FINAL MOVEMENT”. A true leader at work. As a thumb through each page of this yearbook, So many fantastic memories were running through my head and here they were 70 years later coming back to life. Oh, what a wonderful four years to look back over. Now at 89 years old, I’m hoping to be able to see these friends a few more times. 

Banner We all revere

Fair blue and white

Symbol of you Woodmere

Temple of light

Long May your honored halls

Echo the truth

May you within your walls

Molded sturdy youth

Now the time to part

Oh Alma mater, we

Bespeak from depth of heart

Eternal loyalty

Memories will rise anew

Year after year

Binding us forever to

our beloved Woodmere

Here’s to another reunion, my friends. 

THE BLOG LIVES ON

If you like the blog, please subscribe and share it with your friends 

 Vito

REMEMBER WHEN

 

In many of my past blog postings, I have mentioned about how my parents taught me to always look forward, Never look back.  I’ve tried my whole life and in some respect that has always worked out. Now comes the time of life when if you look forward, it’s the inevitable, looking back is the fun time of life.  So now I have set my life on looking back and enjoying the rest of my life thinking of my past, Hot damn, let the good Time roll.

High school was a good time of my life. I must admit , I was not the greatest of students, and it seemed that my peers were more important than the subjects that I was learning. Junior high school, was where several elementary schools combine their students and they all were sent to the same junior high school. Some new friends were developed new friendships began. The junior high school was only two years of my life.. High school was four years and this was when I really began to show my extrovert and develop friendships, Some of which still Remain to this day. I guess the first big happening was learning to drive and having my dad get me my first car in 1936 Chevrolet with two doors and a rumble seat. I remembered double dating and going to the drive-in movie with two good friends, sitting in the rumble seat which you can say was quite revealing make out sessions for them, but it was always fun. I remember the guys conjugating on the side road next to the school, comparing their cars almost on the daily basis. There was one guy by the name of Joe German who was a motorcycle freak similar to Fonzi in the TV series. My car and sports was a good part of my life. I was on both the basketball team and the baseball team. I remember playing Junior varsity basketball and one day being called up by our coach Harold Hall joined the varsity team however, most of my varsity years were spent sitting on the bench and it was just occasionally that I would get in to a game when we were tons of points ahead of the other team and our star player, Harry Manners, was taken out of the game.    I remember the times I would be sitting on the bench and the crowd would begin to shout” We want Vito we want Vito” Perhaps it was because I was the only person on the team that would dribble the ball down to the corner and throw a hook shot which occasionally made contact with the basket, What a thrill.                                                                                                                                                                    Friday night was basketball night and it was inevitable that after the game many of the kids would head for Shores For hamburgers and pop But many would end up at my house where my mother would be baking pizza for the gang. I remember my dad sitting in his usual seat at the head of the table with his bottle of Reingold beer With as many as eight or 10 of my friends sitting around the table or in the living room, waiting for another pizza to come through the kitchen door into the dining room. THOSE were the days.                                                                                                                                                           Now, As far as studies were concerned, I was perhaps a C+ at the very best. Nearing graduation there was a possibility that I would have to attend summer school for English and may not graduate with my peers, but rather in August after I finish repeating English fourth year. I clearly remember four of my friends, taking me into their hands and telling me that they would not let this happen, We were all gonna graduate at the same time. They sat me down and drilled and drilled and drilled differences between nouns pronouns prepositions into my head, And yes, it worked. Thanks for those friends.

I think back to those days now and compare myself to who we have now leading this country. We have a person that I must say, has very little knowledge of anything, Has many failings, speaks like a seven-year-old, Is a convicted felon and has even bankrupt several casinos how can anyone possibly bankrupt a casino? We all know the house always wins.  Just think even with my little failing (Not literally) Compared to him, I could have been president of the. United States. 

I’m not sure exactly about What this video is, Since I put it in such a long time ago, but I’m sure there was a reason for it and I’m sure that you will like it. Open it up and enjoy.

 https://youtu.be/nIhhhmUDYGM?si=gLKJjD0MJ_6zlfkY

Until the next posting, Stay healthy, Stay safe And enjoy life.

Vito 

LOOKING BACK

Before I actually get into the real meat of this particular posting, I just want to pass on one piece of how I actually feel about this administration after 100 days. My observations simply point to this administration trying to take over both the legislative and judicial branch of government and placing them under the executive branch..being as narcissistic as Trump is, he’s afraid of going down in history as a one page of a history book. He wants to have a whole chapter of a history book, He’s a very scared man and does not want to be forgotten. Well, Donnie, in my opinion for what you are doing to this country you don’t deserve a paragraph. I sincerely hope that the next president, whether it be republican or democrat, comes in and changes all that you have done back to normality, You have to realize that you do not rule the world, even though you may think so. You cannot go to the Persian Gulf and change the name,  you know you cannot go and change things just because your name is Trump. I for one refuse to think of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America I refuse to think of the possibility of the Persian Gulf as the Gulf of Arabia, I refuse to think of Greenland as any context other than Greenland now what do you say about that? For those of you that want to follow along with all of his ridiculous thinking God bless you you may do this, but you’re heading for a cliff and you’re gonna fall over the cliff. I refuse to fall over this cliff with you, sit back and think about what is happening , and once again I am a free, thinking person able to think of things myself and not a sheep being herded, to the slaughter house. 

ANOTHER TOPIC 

Recently, I was advised that the high school friend had passed away. His name was Skip Seaman. A very close friend of mine and a member of our small group asked me to place this on my blog, hoping that those of you that knew Skip could be informed. Skip…… Go forward and remain in peace. To his lovely wife, Teddy our sincere condolences for your loss.

WHAT IS TIPPING

Something that has irritated me for years is the “tipping “ syndrome. I have always been taught that tipping is done for the “extra service “ performed, except if the person is working for tips only. 

My wife has always told me to take the tax double it and that becomes the tip but then again she thinks money grows on trees. Luckily, I have calculated our savings to be able to have enough money to live up to the age of 100 at that point of my life who cares what kind of tip I leave take it or leave it. Now, If tipping is as I understand it for extra service, Do I leave a tip if I go to Papa John’s and order a pizza they make the pizza the way they make the pizza it’s not a special way my putting different toppings on the pizza is that adding extra service? And I’m the one that’s cooking it do I tip myself? If I go to McDonald’s to get a hamburger to take home and eat, do I tip, If I go to the gas station and have to pump my own gas, do I tip? There’s something of interest that I found out about tipping from one of our grandsons, Who for a period of time was a waiter at an Italian restaurant. If you put a tip on your credit card at the time of payment, the tip is shared amongst the waiter, Bus boy, Chef and the owner of the restaurant, however, if you give cash as a tip, then the waiter gets the full tip just something to remember for the future. Another reason for us always to make sure we have a few extra dollars in cash. Now it seems like no matter what kind of a store you go into, it’s Either listed on your bill we posted at the cash register, advising you of the size of your tip. The least amount of tip is now five dollars, and the suggested amounts  are 7, 10, or 15. Depending on the total amount of the bill. 

Stay safe

Vito