"One good teacher is worth a thousand lawyers" (Anon)

       My former student, Bob Fox, has fortunately been in touch with me for a long time, through emails, breakfasts, and lunches, and ice cream, and I am very grateful for his having me for a friend, and for reminding me of you, my former students, and events of 50 and 60 years ago. In addition, Bob has been a faithful reader of my blog which I have been writing since 2007; and as I recall, he has read my book "Memoirs of a Tail Gunner."  But all my memories pale in comparison with thoughts of my 30 year career as a teacher and a coach at North Shore High School.  I took a very special joy in coming to my classes each morning and finding in front of me a class filled with teenaged shining morning faces, even though they went to bed too late the night before-- out partying and forgetting about their homework. I really didn't care about that. I felt very fortunate to have chosen teaching English to young people and relishing that experience after my very different experiences in WWII.  When I entered Columbia University, I knew nothing. Nothing at all. And I knew I knew nothing. I wanted to be an actor or a journalist.  But a new universe opened up to me when I read Shelley, and Keats, and Wordsworth, and Coleridge, and especially, Shakespeare.  I knew then that I had to convey my love of English literature to high school age students and hope by some process of osmosis that they would share in that love. And for 30 years and 30 new classes I was able to remember what I learned in college and now I remember how beautiful and wondrous it was to teach you. You and I have gone on in years, and we can look back, and relive those days when all of us were many years younger--and innocent.

 

          I've been feeling a little restless these days wanting to teach something.  Well, not just something--more like one of Shakespeare's plays.  I've been reading "As You Like It" lately and I think that is the one to teach.  It's about a girl playing a boy playing a girl.  Wasn't there a movie with a theme like that?  I forget the actress's name as well.  Anybody who knows can send me a comment on it.  The only book I want to use is called "No Fear Shakespeare".  It has Shakespeare on one side of the page and modern English on the other side.  There is a published "As You Like It" in that series that costs $5.95.  Last year it was a dollar less.  I figure on charging each resident (over 55) $36 to take the course.  There has been a big turnover in Huntington Lakes and I have no inkling of how many people I would get.  I won't have the class if fewer than 12 sign up.  I'll check with the clubhouse about when I might begin this class.  It will be the only one that is academic.  I hope it will be epidemic.

"The Golden Rule is that there are no golden rules." (Shaw)

.....I've been reading articles in the newspapers lately about the Second Amendment.  As for me, I see no need for anyone to have a gun that spouts as many slugs as you like in just a few seconds.  Why can't the NRA just settle for the old fashioned one gun with only six bullets--like the cowboys used to wear on their belt where everyone could see it--even criminals.  Even 007 carries one--tho' it is hidden.  I don't believe the founding fathers ever dreamed of the kind of weapons available to our military.  Even in WWII, I fired a gun filled with 50caliber bullets on a lengthy magazine containing hundreds of bullets which I slung over my shoulder. 

 

.....Right now I'm more concerned with my First Amendment rights to free speech.  I have the right to write whatever comes to mind, even if it concerns President Obama.  I don't mean that President Obama would ever be concerned about what I write on this blog.  My meaning is that someone might object or disagree with what I write about Obama--or anyone else, like Beyoncé for example. So what?  My writing is protected by the First Amendment.  You can tell that the Founding Fathers ( and possibly Mothers) were immediately concerned about saying whatever they wanted to say and whenever they wanted to say it.  And that is the reason for the very first amendment to the Constitution.  Not that I have anything to say at the moment.  But it's Passover and I could say something provocative about it, and I'll see if anyone disagrees and wishes my protected blog be banned.

 

.....First of all, there are several questionable events attributed to Passover.  I don't think the Jewish people at the time had access to gefilte fish or chopped liver.  Going back in time, I don't believe Moses was found floating in the Nile while tucked in a basket.  I don't believe that the Angel of Death "passed over" the Jewish houses and landed on Egyptian houses  (altho' it seems that that Angel got lost and has been active over Huntington Lakes lately).  And as for Manischevitz matzos and wine--forget about it.

"Time heals all wounds" (Anonymous)

.....I went on the link called "design" on this blog and discovered that I have 457 alltime posts, and 46,248 "pageviews".  I have no idea what that means, but it does sound impressive.  I know that JR will have the answer in one of his comments.  I also know that since 2007 I have published 11 books containing all of those posts as well as all the comments.  I believe they would make very interesting reading, but who will buy even one of those books?  And they are for sale on Amazon.  I also have published a book of poetry--all the poems that appear at the end of my "Memoirs".  I believe that I have every right to be proud of this accomplishment, and so if there are no objections--I will be.

 

.....Yesterday, RH+ and I went to Friendlys' restaurant and met with Bob Fox and his wife.  I was Bob's mentor and soccer coach.  He is now 70, but I have him beat by 19 years.  I also have a right to be proud of Bob; he was not much in high school, but since then has had a sterling teaching career, and he is a brilliant guy.  Right now he refs basketball games and golfs.  He looks great! If I did not know him, I would have to guess that he would be in his 50s.  At the moment he seems to know more about coach Phil Bergovoy than I do, and since PB and I are supposed to be the best of friends, I have not heard from him in awhile, and I miss him and his wisdom sorely.  I know now that he has been in Sarasota, and If I had known that a month or so ago, I would have driven there to see him. 

.....New and former readers (I was going to write "old readers" but thought the better of it) You may or may not have known that my grandson, Adam, JR's son was married to his Thai love a few months ago, and only a week or so afterward, Tucky got word that her mother was dying, so she flew back to Thailand only to find that she was too late.  Immigration would not let her come back to the States because she didn't fill out the F-word required papers.  They said perhaps nine months; well it's been at least that long and this is the email message I got from Joel today:

Tucky had an interview at the Embassy in Bangkok, which is the final step in her visa process. They told her that they would be sending her the visa within a week. She has booked a flight back to DC, arriving 4 April! Will the ordeal be over?

I believe that the ordeal will, indeed be over and the lovebirds will be reunited.  A Happy Passover gift.

"...any man's death diminisheth me, for I am involved in mankind; therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." (Donne)

      After yesterday's sad and emotional day we went to bed early and woke up early. When the funeral ended and Irv was ensconced in a wall we went back to Irv's apartment where we had lots of food--such as bagels and cream cheese and lox.  It was there that I thought briefly about dying.  It's not that I'm afraid to die; I just don't want to be there when it happens  Inasmuch as it was so early this morning,  we decided we might as well go out for breakfast and do a few errands.  We needed a wall clock for the kitchen because the last one died of a broken hand.  In addition to that, RH+ always wanted a TV in the kitchen so that she could have some "noise" for company while having her breakfast; and usually at that hour I was fast asleep.  We had a young man from Comcast to come over and do whatever had to be done so that the TV operated--and he made it come to life.  Speaking of life I asked him how old he was and he admitted to 25.  He thought I was 53 and I gave him high grades on the telephone survey while he was here.  I had the phone on speaker so that he could hear what I said, and when the survey was over, he said he loved what I said about him and that I should keep my money because he didn't want any of it! I told him, no thanks, I don't operate that way so I gave him 30 bucks and a $10 tip.

 

     Since it is now "March Madness" I went into the living room and watched basketball games for awhile, although basketball is kind of low on my favorite things list. Meanwhile Rho went out to Publix and restocked our fridge and pantry with food, Mallomars, Oreos, and potato chips.  We have to eat early because we have to go to an event put on at the Boomers' club to which we are members, though not real boomers.  We're not boomers, but I haven't a clue as what we are--unless Greatest Generationists.  However, we have no club by that name.  Most of the Greatest Generationists who once lived here have passed on.  To who knows where?

 

     Tomorrow we are going to the Maltz Theatre in Jupiter to see "Thoroughly Modern Millie; a show I have not seen before. It takes about 45 minutes to drive there, and before we get there we usually stop at the First Watch Café for breakfast.  It's a great place for breakfast and lunch and the food is generally of the southwest flavor.  Since southwest food is thoroughly low on my list of foods, I just order bacon and eggs.  Speaking of food, we are going with two other couples to Passover dinner at a local restaurant who will provide us with a rabbi or a canter before we dine on gefilte fish, chopped liver and Manischevitz Wine--what else?

"Perhaps one has to be very old before one learns to be amused rather that shocked." (Pearl Buck)

     Today was the day of Irv Forman's funeral.  I would say there were about 200 people in the chapel.  When the speeches were over, we drove with a police escort to the cemetery where Irv was "buried" in a wall.  Of course, he was my very good friend and neighbor for 60 years and it's tough to lose someone like that from my life.  Irv's children and mine grew up and went to school together in East Meadow, NY.  I saw Merrill and Robin again, Irv's kids, after a very long time.  Of the four families whose kids grew up and finally left an empty nest, it was time to retire after a lifetime of work. So, Eric, Irv, Murray and I all moved to Florida and still continued to socialize.  Now all are gone except me, and I don't expect to leave anytime soon.  But it is moments like this that defines life as fragile as it is.  So as one grows old, seeking joy is of the highest prerogative.

 

     As I heard two of the children's talks about their father, they succeeded in showing that Irv led a very full life, first serving in the Navy, then a policeman for 20 years and then a gym teacher for another ten.  But by no means did their talks only dwell on Irv's working life; they told about his character and love for his family.  All this, led me to review what I accomplished in my own life.  In doing so, I came to the conclusion that I have led a most remarkable and extraordinary life--one that, perhaps, has been like no other because of its multi-tasked variety.  I needn't go on to recount the details.  I'll leave that to my children and my wife--and hopefully a former student or two to reveal it to those who don't know about it at my own funeral.  And please--no gifts nor lengthy applause.

"When there is plenty of wine, sorrow and worry take wing." (Ovid)

          Just recently I was reprimanded for using a font too difficult to read.  I think I remember that blog--I believe it was light orange or yellow.  My friend was correct, and I will be sure to use font colors (like this one) that do not call on the eyeballs to be overworked.  The 15th of March was the Ides; today is the 17th and St. Patrick's Day, so I'm switching from brown font to green.  'The wearin' o' the green' is very important to the Irish culture on this day.  St. Patrick (c AD 385-461) was the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland.  He explained the holy trinity to the pagans there by the use of the shamrock, a sort of three-leaf green clover).  This day is celebrated by parades and lots of drinking.  The pubs in Ireland were once closed on St. Patrick's Day to discourage drunkenness, but that ban was soon overturned.  Mayor Bloomberg of New York has recently banned the 19oz sodas--but that too, will soon be lifted because it probably is unconstitutional.  I'll be going to New York in June and I would hate to have to settle for an 8oz glass of diet coke with my meal.  Which reminds me; I have to try on my tux because it will be a requirement at this wedding.  Anyway, have a Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

 

           Well, enough of the green; we don't want to overdo it.  Passover is coming shortly and maybe we ought to be thinking "red".  I think it was the Red Sea that Moses had God to help him part so that the Egyptian soldiers could not drag the Jews back to slavery.  Jews were never very good at slavery, anyway; so what would be the point of bringing them back?  Leaving the Jews go would create jobs for the Egyptian economy and Cleopatra (or was it the Pharaoh) could run for a second term and most likely win.  Speaking of winning, we are going to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on Tuesday with the Men's club.  We will be going by bus, of course, and I will be taking my scooter--not the walker--so that I can quickly go from the penny to the two cent slots.  Perhaps I can win a small fortune--like Tevye asked of God.  After all, it wouldn't affect some "...vast eternal plan". 

"Beware the Ides of March" (Shakespeare)

     Well, the Ides of March has come around again.  In 44BC it came around for Julius Caesar, but it wasn't a very nice day for him.  His "Congress" was meeting that day and his wife's premonition caused her to beg him not to go.  And again, just before he went into the Chamber, a blind seer told him to beware of the Ides of March.  But did he listen to them?  No, he didn't because he thought perhaps the Senators would offer him a crown to become a King instead of just a plain old Emperor. It so happened that he refused the crown three times, but that was probably just a ruse while he waited for them to make him King one more time so that they could let the thousands of Romans know by lofting the white smoke from the chimney--excuse me, that's done only for a new Pontiff's election.  Anyway, even every schoolboy knows what happened next.  He was shot to death while watching a play--excuse me, he was stabbed to death on the Capitol steps. Even by his good friend, Brutus.  Every schoolboy knows that when that happened, Caesar said, "Et tu Brute" which in Latin means "And you, too Brutus!"  This lesson to be learned is, don't trust even your best friend.  Especially not on March 15.

 

     Bad things have led up to this day in 2013, let alone two-thousand and fifty-seven years ago.  When daylight savings time ended, our kitchen clock stopped working.  We bought a new one from Walmart, but we couldn't get the battery in so we had to return it.  It was made in China and they obviously know very little about batteries.  We also bought a new TV from Walmart but it was impossible to attach the stand to the TV monitor with the screws that came in the box, so we had to return it.  Next, we bought a beauty of a TV from Target; the clerk told us that all we had to do in order to get channels to work was to just plug it into a wall socket--which we did--and, of course we got nothing. Comcast is coming next week and for $30 they will install a cable box for us so that RH+ can watch TV in the kitchen while she is eating breakfast.  We will buy nothing else until this day passes.  After all, Passover is coming next Monday and we didn't want to put an Ides curse on the Manishevitz wine.  How full of briers is this workaday world.

"If at first you don't succeed....:(Anon)

     Well you can talk about sequestrians and fiscal cliffs, and medicare vouchers, and health care, and gun control, and immigration and all that pleases you to vent, but whatever is, is.  Our government is locked in a perpetual vault; the Democrats, it seems, is a party of one and the remainder of the blokes who hold the keys are plutocrats; you can bet your bottom dollar on that if you have a bottom dollar.  Their interest is in holding power and getting reelected so that they can continue to hold their insatiable love of power.  Of course they depend mightily on the mighty dollar from the selfish motives of the NRA and others like them who do not want to give up their money making machines.  Otherwise, why continue to protect the wealthy from paying the taxes garnered and cherished by their own money making machines?  Why are hospital bills so high?  The CEOs make millions of dollars every year, that's why. You may pay $12 for a pill while it sells for ten cents in Walmart. 

 

     I know I may have a reader, or three, who will be bent out of shape because of my assessments above. I know one reader who became so incensed at my "diabolical" portrayal of the people he had faith in that he decided not to read my blog.  (No, not you coach). There are lots of blogs around, and I  suspect he went to one that made him purr.  It's all a lot like religion.  Perhaps someone believes Jesus is a God and another was not brought up to worship that way.  Now Jesus may truly be the son of God.  I'm not saying, no.  I say, "Show me the money."

 

     Oh, let's go to more mundane things.  As some of you know, I've had several different "careers" but I will only discuss one at this time.  I have been the lead performer in three operettas and several B'way musicals along with a few "in-house" shows sprinkled in since 1983. So, I've been active in the performing arts for the past 30 years.  I have also taught a dozen Shakespeare courses here as a service to the community.  I was supposed to sing a number in this year's "in-house show, but I was dropped only a week or so ago.  I was told the show was "too long". My song lasted 1 minute and 52 seconds.  I strongly believe I was dropped because the "directors" did not want to see a walker on the stage.  So, my theatre career is over. Must be new worlds to conquer out there.

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows he is a fool." (AYLI)

     Exactly what is going on here?  Twenty-two little children shot to death in their classrooms and the NRA is still claiming their rights under the second amendment which apparently they have adopted as their Bible and what's in it as their scripture.  So the NRA is a new religion and their god is their president.  The second amendment  protects the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms in a well-regulated militia.  Webster describes a militia as 1. An army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.  And 2. A part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in an emergency.  I don't think we have such a militia.  I don't feel we should deny members of the NRA the right to bear a weapon if it makes them feel invulnerable--but certainly not the kind of weapon that is meant only for war--not for hunting. They love to use the mantra, "Guns don't kill people; people kill people".  Yeah, but people kill people with guns, not with bows and arrows.  An automatic weapon was used to kill innocent children, and caused grief that will never go away for families of those children. 

 

     And what are the fools up to in Congress?  Absolutely nothing it seems; except for one guy who (a red-stater) of course) filibustered for 13 hours because he didn't want drones to be dropped on Americans in America.  He finally stopped munching on his snickers bar when he was told that this was never going to happen.  I wonder?  If you go to the restroom while filibustering, do you lose your place?  Now the two parties are arguing over taxes and the debt and Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security.  Obama wants to raise taxes on the wealthy.  (The GOP says NO). And why not?  Kids coming out of high school and college are overnight millionaires if they are skilled in basketball or football or baseball and are picked high in the draft. But millionaires and billionaires contribute mightily to the election coffers of the guys who vote against taxing them. 

 

     What are the fools in Arkansas doing?  Their redcoats have passes the most restrictive abortion code in the country.  The solution to this is to have a lotto drawing among the fools who voted for this obvious unconstitutional bill and the winner by law gets to adopt the baby and bring it up and then thank goodness that it wasn't aborted.  And just keep drawings going just like that.

"I am gone,but I am here." (Much Ado About Nothing)

     Why am I back writing posts on this blog? (Incidentally, "blog" and "posts" are interchangeable.)  Well, I suppose I'll have to answer my own question.  I've been severely depresses and my PTSD wakes me up in the middle of the night and I'm thinking I have to dress for the next mission--and then I fall back to sleep, only to wake again thinking I'm late, and I quickly realize I'm in bed with a woman, so this must not be WWII.  The only time I'm in bed with a woman there in England is when I'm on leave--if I'm lucky. 

 

     You may ask why I'm depressed.  Well, I've had so many illnesses--medical and physical in the last few years, and it has been a real struggle to fight my way through them.  I have, but I no longer swim, or play racketball or tennis, or golf...and I could go on with the basic list required of senior retirees. I don't even have the energy required to teach another Shakespeare play here; something I enjoyed doing.   My most appreciative accomplishment which would not have been possible with the computer has been the publishing of eleven books--not counting the poetry.  I wrote my "memoirs" and enough of these blogs for ten more books since 2007.  I'm fortunate to have found a publisher who does not charge for publishing a book.  It only costs the price of a proof copy. Strangely enough I have earned some royalties, but don't tell the IRS.  Another activity in which I have been deeply involved is performing in musicals in our 600 seat Theatre of the Performing Arts.  I don't believe the powers that be will tolerate someone as ancient as I am with a walker to appear on stage shocking the audience.

"You and I are past our dancing days." (Romeo and Juliet)

     RH+ needs to have some "noise" while she's in the kitchen alone.  There's a passthrough to the dining room where we could fit a 19" TV.

We went to Walmart and bought a really nice TV with great color for $128 and brought it home anxious to see how it works for her.  We took the thing out of its box and the stand had to be attached to the bottom of the TV.  The thing must have been made in China or India or Pakistan--or even in Afghanistan by the Talaban because we spent about a half hour trying to attach the stand to the monitor with two tiny screws.  We found it impossible to accomplish the task so we returned it to Walmart and now RH+ has no noise in the kitchen to keep her company.  Next stop--Best Buy.  Stay tuned.   

 

     The good news is that I no longer have to bout with COPT.  Consequently I have no illnesses to speak of and can live as a normal person does.  Except for the fact that I still need a walker.  Oh well, I suppose it comes with the territory. However, I get compliments from people who can't believe I'm 89.  I can't believe it either.  I look in the mirror every morning and say to myself "Are you still here?"

 

     I am vain sufficiently to say I get quite a few compliments from members who were at the Boomers' Club Oscar Night in our ballroom where I was asked to sing a few bars of "Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof. And so I did, and so I got a Standing O from the 300 people who were there.  And a lady in our elevator recognized me today and said I was "fabulous"!  I know. I know. I also received a birthday card from a young lady who was in my class at Sea Cliff H.S. in 1954.  She wrote a note inside saying that I changed her life. She closed with the words, "I love you".  She must be in her 60s by now.  Did you really expect me to keep all this to myself? Ah, well, since no one is reading this, what does it matter?

"First thing we do is kill all the lawyers." (Shakespeare)

     Well, I finally figured out how to get to my email and this blog from Windows 8 in less than a half hour.  So far, very, very few comments.  I guess my readership and my youth have fled, much to my chagrin.  The news is this: Rhoda is the stage manager of the coming "InHouse" show.  She is an A+ at that job having had experience in shows since 1984.  The problem is that this show is a bummer and I can't wait to see and hear the audience reaction.  I hope they don't come out saying that this is the best show they've ever seen.  If so, I believe they all have had a lobotomy.  The fact is that the president of the board at Huntington Lakes insisted that we get as many residents involved as we can by staging a review type show.  Well, we got a lot of residents--too many--so as to make the show too long and some who had songs were cut, including the Baron.  What ignominy!  Thirty years of performing in the shows here and this is the first time I was dumped in order to save time.  The director who is inexperienced to say the least left some terrible stuff in the show.  Friends, I guess.  Funny thing is when I did "My Fair Lady" we had a bigger cast than this InHouse show has now, so that the president of the HLI Board doesn't know his ass from his elbow.  He's a lawyer, and it so happens that Shakespeare said "Kill all the Lawyers!"  and Shakespeare was the Google of his era.

 

     My printer still doesn't print from the internet.  I called the techie and told him I'd par $13.57 to fix it, and he replied, "It's a Deal".  He must really need the money.  Speaking of money, do you think those blithering idiots in Congress who are elected to run the government will ever use their infinitesimal brains to do something right for a change and not worry about getting elected again.  They won't starve to death if they don't win.  And if they don't win, it will demonstrate that constituents don't like the guy, anyway.  Let's face it Americans; we have a Plutocracy, not a Democracy.  What am I talking about?  I don't have enough facts to make political judgments.  I'm simply using runaway anger and emotion...not a good way to think.

"I find the medicine worse than the malady" (Beaumont)

     I've been working very long and hard trying to figure out Windows 8.  XP was a snap and enjoyable, but this W8 is a horror!  Every time I try to get to where I want to go on the computer, I have to sign in everywhere with my user name and password, and it still doesn't take me to the right place--my home page Xfinity.com where I can access my email.  Also my printer will not print anything from my internet pages.  I paid the geek $150 to set up my new PC; he worked for two hours on it, so I figure he also had problems with Windows 8.  But at least he could have done a better job with my printer.  Frankly, I didn't want to spend $150 to set things up and in order but once he started, there  was nothing I could do.  I expected to pay the geek $15.37.

     Perhaps I am having problems solving the issues with my new computer because I recently turned 89.  Next February 27 I will turn 90!  Who knew!  Dr. Oz said that the leading cause of death in the 90s was frailty.  And here I thought the leading cause of death in your 90s was being in your 90s.  But now that I have gotten rid of my bout with ailments since December, I feel pretty feisty.  I plan to live beyond 90 because RH+ is in charge of my medication department.  She plucks down my pills wherever I happen to be at the times when I need them.  If she doesn't survive me,  I'll have a helluva time figuring out the pill issue.  In fact, I'd probably dump them all in a pile on the kitchen table and divide them into three different piles for mornings, noons, and nights.  How else?

"The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune" (Wm. S)

     Today I got a bill from my bank's credit card for $8968.  The problem is that I never use that card and I don't know anything about this "purchase".  I haven't got a clue as to how someone was able to spend this much on a card I never ever use.  I called the bank and they blocked the card--too late for that purchase.  Maybe they will have to eat that money because I'm not paying it.  I'll rob that bank first; I have my starter's pistol and it makes a very loud noise.  I could wear a mask, but it spoils my looks and I'm sure that it will show up on their hidden cameras and eventually on Facebook and U-Tube.  They can't arrest me for using a starter's pistol--it's only used to start races like the 100 yd. dash so it is not an armed weapon with real bullets.  Anyway, I wonder what someone could buy for $8968??

 

     Last Wednesday was my 89th birthday, and I realized that I was really a little oldish.  I own two canes, a three wheel and a two wheel walker, and an electric scooter; and, oh yes--a 1999 Malibu with 92000 miles on it.  I have all of these devices because I'm the kind of guy who needs to live in a bubble.  Since leaving a cruise ship last December, I've had pneumonia, I fell and spent three days in the hospital and a couple of weeks in the Manor Care rehab. Then I developed a urinary infection and a nurse had to come each day to administer anti-biotics from an IV!  After that experience I started coughing spasms several times a day and was diagnosed with COPD.  That along with PTSD didn't do me much good.  I'm just getting over that and wondering what affliction is on its way.  I feel like Job.  And now the bank says I owe then $8968!  There must be a reason for all this misery, and I think I know what it is; I'm friggin' old! (But I'm avoiding the alternative--as long as I am able. Give me a little credit folks.)

Beware the Ides of Anything!

     I believe you not only ought to beware the Ides of March, but also every other Ides that comes along in one's life.  That has been my whole problem--not bewaring sufficiently.  Of course, during WWII I bewore a whole lot and thus I survived but not too many guys I knew did, and so they missed a helluva lot of Ides that they might have had an opportunity to be beware of.  (I hope my readership is able to follow my train of thought before they run out of track.) 

 

     For example, my Dell computer died of hard drive cancer, and I went to Best Buy and bought an HP that was equipped with Windows 8 when I had been using Windows XP for several years.  I ought to have been more beware.  Windows 8 is more confusing to me than RH+ is on many an occasion.  It takes me more than an hour to find my email and this blog.  It seems I now have another blog like this floating around in cyberspace and I can't find my way back here.  Hopefully, my friends will not have the same problem--this address, I trust is www.homeoftheredbaron.blogspot.com and the other address which somehow insinuated itself on this computer without and invitation and has a "9" in it thus: www.homeoftheredbaron9.blogspot.com.  Before this Windows 8 I was moderately compos mentus, but now I am "non".

 

     Somehow I believe  I got too involved with Congress and I am obviously under computer sequestration-- or secastration.  Depends on how you look at it. And, oh yes, I was supposed to be in this year's "Inhouse Show" singing "Send in the Clowns" but I got dumped because the show was too long...damn Ides of March again!  The ignominious of it all!!

Beware the Ides of March!!