Sunday, January 25, 2015

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah V)

.....I'm teaching a new class called "Fun With Shakespeare" and we are reading "Hamlet". The last class that I taught here was in 2009.  Same title.  Same play.  Of course I am teaching this on a high level--on a college level.  Why am I doing this while I have to sit at a table, I don't really know.  I just felt like doing some teaching. I didn't know how many "students" would show up to register, but I guessed about 12. It was 8!  Should I have such a class for 8 or should I cancel the class? I decided that I could not disappoint 8 students, so I began the class.  I gave them books called "No Fear Shakespeare" with the Bard on one side of the page, and modern English on the other side.  I brought a dagger to the first class two weeks ago on Friday from 3 to 4:30 and I threatened to cut their throats if they read the modern English before I asked them to.  I would never give such a book to a high school class, but these were elderly people who never went to college.  I couldn't believe that out of about 5000 residents in this community only 8 people showed up for the class!  And so I decided that the rest of them were down at the pools discussing restaurants and doctors.
.....It took me a very long time to write the above news without making a typo.  So now I think I'll give myself a break and just type and let the errors fall where they may.  The latest news I got about my ex sister-in-law, Norma, was not the best that I have been hoping for.  After all, she is 93.  I was married to her sister for 30 years, so you can understand that I grew very fond of her.  I was amazed at the way she accepted RH+ whenever the two had occasion to meet after her sister and I were divorced.  She must have realized that it wasn't my fault.  My ex went to California one day to "find herself" and never came back.  I have never found whether she found herself or not.
But I will give my ex her due: she was a good wife for 30 years; she raised four outstanding kids; so I suppose that after 30 years, she could do what her heart told her to do.  May her sister, Norma, be blessed.
.....I wish I knew what the problem is.  I think if one American citizen leaves the country to go fight with ISIS or Al Quaida, they should be given a choice: never come back or if they come back, let them in and try them as traitors--because that is what they are.  Or they may be given a third choice--come back and get their genitals dipped  in boiling oil.  If there is anything else I can think of, I'll mention it in a future posting on this blog.  I really would like to be appointed as Secretary of Testicle Affairs............

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

"The time is out of joint" (Hamlet)

.....Ok, so I haven't posted anything on this blog for a few days.  Been very busy with other things.  Such as preparing to teach a Fun With Shakespeare class since 2009.  I've been planning to teach Hamlet, my favorite of his plays.  Perhaps I see some of me in Hamlet.  I think that meeting the ghost of his father is a PTSD experience.  Actually, I'm not in any way anxious to meet a ghost of any sort.  Since 2009 it seems that the residents of this community have changed from an educated 55+ group to one that is solely interested in sitting by the pools and discussing restaurants they've discovered and doctors.  I am used to having as many as 45 senior students.  This time only 8 have registered.  I aimed for at least 12 before I would teach a class, but what the hell, 8s ok I've decided because I like teaching Hamlet.  So getting involved in this venture is what has interrupted my attention to this blog.  Just expect a little more time between each posting.
.....Now, about ISIS and other terrorists groups who entertain themselves by shooting "infidels" and/or lopping off heads.  So what's the problem with these heads of state? (no pun intended. OK so it's intended) ,,,,,,Don't they see what's coming and the need to do something about it, Now?  If I were a king of some country--say like ours perhaps.  Constitution or not, if some citizen decided to join the Muslim thugs, he should not be permitted to return in order to commit his (or her) thuggery  They are traitors, and what have we done to traitors since the Revolutionary War?  So, if we know who you are, and you leave the country, and you learn how to become
a S.O.B, don't expect to return.  What's wrong with that?
.....My ex sister-in-law is in a bad way now.  Perhaps her time has come--as it comes to everyone.  I really like and respect Norma and the news I get is that she is under hospice at home...in California. If I needed to know, I would know that she is at least two years older than I, and I hope she will recover from whatever it is she is suffering from, and stay with her nieces, Robin and Bonny--and her sister Thelma for a few more years.  Ninety something is too young to leave us.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

"Young men think old men are fools; but old men know young men are fools" (Boileau)

.....About 10-15 years ago, I told my kids to sock away as much money as they could afford.  And the reason for this?  I just knew that by the time they were of retirement age, $100,000 would not be enough to allow them to live in the same way they were living.  So, as of these days, one would need in the red zone about $275,00 if the wanted to live well.  In retirement where would the money go?  Well, eating out quite often.  The wife has cooked lont enough, she feels.  So, then the oven becomes a big flower pot.  Then of course, there are cruises. Every retiree needs to go on a cruise.  Gas prices have gone sky high, and money is easily lost in nearby casinos.  If any of your grandchildren are sending their kids (my great-children. I have teo now) to college, tuition eats cash like a vampire suchs blood! I could go on, but it's too late now to "sock it away."
.....Just got an email today from Jimmy Zurer. I can't believe I have one more former studed from North Shore High reading my blog-although I don't see what's interesting in it.  But Jim reminds me that next Friday I'm going to teach "Hamlet" to some elderly people here.  When I say "some elderly" I'm talking about 8 who have registered.  Imagine.  Of the 5000 people who live in Huntington Lakes, only 8 people signed up. Perhqpq 5h3yr jot interewted in Whalespeare, or the $47.50 price tag is scaring them.  See?  They failed to sock it away.  Eight people, when about 10 or 15 years ago, I got about 45 signees on aferage in eadh class that I taught.  I was only going to hold a class unless there were 12, but 8 would give me something to do on Frifays.
.....The other day I went to my neurologist and when I left, he gave RH+a prescription fir me to go to a pyst ed facility to get some, well,--phys ed.  Now, all my life I've been pumping iron, swimming a milek, and jogging 5-10 miles. Besides this kind of exercise, I've spent 30 years, indoors and outdoors coaching soccer and track running and jogging and practicing with the boys. All this exercise got me into shape to run 26 mile marathons. Which I did before retiring to Florida to get a rest.  Now, I'm to schedule phys ed for an hour twice a week. I JUST WANT TO REST.  I'll be 91 next mongth and I want to be left alone.  Is it too much to ask, or do I skip the exercise?