Rant #4,045: Why Pick On Me?

I am on a real bad streak this year ...

And this time, it has nothing to do with my physical health, it has to do with my mental health, but directly--

It has to do with my car.

I have a 2020 Kia Optima, which means I have a six-year-old car that still runs pretty well.

But the elements can get to it, and this is what happened recently.

In my neck of the woods, they are doing a tremendous repaving project, one that stretches for several miles on the main road in my area--Route 110--and work which, evidently, stretches for miles up and down the road.

They tore off the top pavement, and are in the process of replacing it with brand new pavement, a project which has been taking several weeks to complete.

I use that road just about every day to transport my son back and forth to work and for many other things where I need my car to get from Point A to Point B.

Well, the road has been very torn up during the day, with the work to replace the top pavement being done at night, late at night when we are all in our beds and asleep.

Anyway, driving that road with the top pavement off during the day has been daunting, to say the least, with reams of smoke from what they have left us to drive on rising into the air, making our cars absolutely filthy, and making many drivers drive 10 miles slower than they normally drive.

Those are nuisances, to be honest with you, and most of us can handle these things.

But my car ran into something that it could not fend off.

Several days ago--I don't know how many days ago--a pebble or rock must have been spurted out by a car ahead of me, and it hit my windshield in a bizarre place, right behind the part of the window to the rear of my rear-view mirror in the middle of the windshield.

I suppose it happened during the evening, because it is a spot one never really looks at, and I have no idea how long the front window of the car has been damaged.

The fact of the matter is that the only reason I even saw it--since it is directly behind the mirror--was that during a day last week, I guess I looked in the mirror, and saw this cut in the window creeping behind the mirror.

Again, I have no idea when it happened, but it happened ...

And in the succeeding days, I saw that it was spreading.

I took the car to the local glass place--yes, that one--and they told me that I had to contact my car insurance, and that after that was done, I would be set up with an appointment.

So I contacted my insurance, and everything was set up for yesterday ...

And of course, based on this black cloud hovering over me, it took a minute or two during the appointment to realize that this was not going to be as easy as it appeared to be.

The technician came on time, took one look at the windshield, and told me--

"I can't do it. The cut has to be the size of a quarter, and we can shoot resin into it, which would prevent it from spreading, but since the cut has spread, what you need is a complete windshield replacement."

He told me that the local glass place site--which is the one I originally took it to--would call me "quickly" to set up another appointment, and he then drove off.

Of course, they never called me--I gave it a good hour--and then I called them, where I had to go through an AI assistant, who, on the third request, finally got me to a human operator.

I made a new appointment for Friday, but this appointment will cost me not only time, but dollars, too.

After I made the appointment, I received a text shortly thereafter alerting me that based on my insurance and my deductible, I would have to pay $500 out of pocket to get it done.

The original fix, using resin, would have cost me nothing, but since this is a much bigger job, it is going to cost me $500 to get it done ...

And they wanted payment NOW, so I used my credit card, which I only use in dire emergencies--

I guess that this is one of those dire emergencies.

As I am writing this, the appointment is coming up on Friday morning, so I just hope that this can be fixed.

But now I have a credit card bill, and while that might boost my credit, it will tap into money that I will have to locate, and pay this thing off as quickly as possible.

I just cannot win, everything I do that is right is wrong, and this cloud continues to hang over me as we enter the last six weeks of this horrid year.

And this time, it has to do with a pebble or rock that probably was the size of a coin that did this.

Heck, I drove 2,100 miles round-trip this summer on vacation, and never had one measly problem.

Now, close to home, I get hit.

Why pick on me?

I just don't know, but again, this year cannot end soon enough.

Rant #4,044: My Dad

Today is Veterans Day, the day we honor all of our veterans--past and present--for their service to our nation.

Me, I am the son of a member of the Marine Corps during the Korean War, the son-in-law of another Marine Corps member during the same conflict--yes, we do believe that their paths crossed, perhaps at Camp Lejeune, N.C.--and the brother-in-law of a Navy veteran.

I have also written about military stores for 30 years, so I am pretty much part of a family that has been shaped by the military, to a certain degree.

Why we only give our veterans one day a year to celebrate them is troubling. 

Other groups get an entire month, and we give our vets one measly day.

That is just so wrong, and the services have replied, with the entirety of November being celebrated as "Salute To Service Month."

Most of us aren't aware of this--of course, the media has something to do with that--but it does exist, and the military services celebrate it during the month's 30 days.

They hold special events highlighting veterans, they have special giveaways just for these service members, and it exists as a cumulative efforts by the services to honor true Americans who sacrifice so much to protect our country and our way of life.

I have written about this special celebration, and it is kind of sad that the general public does not know about it, but that is the way things work at times.

So, I am spreading the word here, because you might not read about this anywhere else.

And on this day, I do think of my late father, whose birthday is November 30, the last day of "Salute To Service Month."

Here is what I wrote about Veterans Day in Rant #1,552, on November 12, 2015, in a slightly edited version:

“Today is Veterans Day, and I hope you celebrated it the right way, by honoring our troops in some way.

My father only talked about his time in the Marines during the Korean War when asked to. He told all the funny stories--and there were plenty--about his time in the service. If you want to believe all these stories, he was a cross between Sgt. Bilko and Valentino during this time stationed in places like Camp Lejeune and Opa Locka and Cuba.

But there was also a dark side to all this, and that stuff never came up as much.

He told some stories here and there about his time in the Marines which weren't funny, and really kind of sad.

I have heard from my aunt that when he came home on leave, he wasn't the same guy he was when he left.

But that was more than 70 years ago, and I guess he learned to handle it, by telling the funny stories--which I believe probably weren't all true, but based on things that really happened--and forgetting the not so funny stories when pressed about it.

My father never went to Korea. One of the not so funny stories he told is that two sets of papers were drawn on him, one to send him there, one not. The Marines thought there was some monkey business on his part, and threw him in jail for a time until they could sort it out.

So yes, according to my father, they never apologized for doing this to him, and he has a prison record in the Marines. I don't know if it was ever expunged or not, but according to him, his time in the brig is still on the books.

Even though he never went to war, he was there to serve, and his contribution should not be downgraded because he never went to the battle line. You always need a solid backbone at home, and he provided that, and he would have gone if called upon.

Well I guess that that about says it all about Veterans Day, at least for me. My father is my hero, and he will be forever.”

Yes, my father has been gone a couple of years now, up in heaven with my mom.

He might not have been a war hero, but he was, is, and always will be the ultimate hero to me.

Have a good Veterans Day, and never forget the troops that sacrifice so much for the way of life, and freedom, that we enjoy.

Rant #4,043: Baby I'm Amazed

I went to the doctor yesterday, found out some answers to questions that I had, and I continue to learn to live with this malady, and will continue to learn to live with it in the days, months and years to come.

The examination went as well as could be expected, so that is good.

But I don't want to talk about ME today--

I want to focus on my wife on her special day--

Today is her XXth birthday.

I am not going to tell you the number birthday it is, but it is something of a milestone birthday, so it is special.

She wanted to keep it low-key, so that is exactly what we are going to do.

No party ...

When we can coordinate things as per her and my son't work schedule, we will go out to a restaurant of my wife's choice to celebrate the occasion.

My son and I bought my wife some gifts, and I hope that she enjoys them.

I have to tell you, I am a very lucky guy.

There is NO WAY that my wife looks her actual age ...

She goes to the gym six days a week, and keeps in excellent shape.

Me, I am falling apart, but she is a real marvel.

She watches what she eats, watches what my son and I eat--to a certain level--and she keeps a nice home, even though she has gone back to the workforce in recent weeks.

We have been married for 33-going-on-34 years, and my wife is really the glue that holds our little family together.

Marrying her was the best thing I ever did, and I love her dearly.

So today is her special day, and I hope she has as easy a day as possible.

She deserves it, and really, I wish i could give her more ...

But I am just happy to be here with her to celebrate her special day.

So here's to my wife--

The greatest woman on the face of the earth!

Rant #4,042: Promises In the Dark

God knows that I needed an easy, strife-free weekend, and that is what I had this past Saturday and Sunday.

After the tumult of the previous weekend, I needed two relaxing days, and I pretty much got what I wanted, and needed.

Today, it is back to the same old, same old, as I have another examination of my right eye scheduled for this afternoon.

I don't know what else they will find when examining my right eye, but honestly, I have learned to do the best I can with what I have.

I work, I drive--even at night--I do the chores I have to do ...

Just about everything I did before the surgery that didn't work I do now.

Yes, I miss the vision of this eye greatly, but I am managing the best that I can.

Today, when I go back to the doctor, I do have some questions for him related to the eye, and the answers to those questions are really why I am looking forward to the appointment.

The shock of losing the vision of my right eye is off--

Now, in order to get on with my life, I have a few questions that need answering, such as--

My driver's license needs to be renewed next year; do I do anything different when applying for the new license, since I have sight in only one eye?

Can I resume my daily low-impact exercises?

Can I push a shopping cart in the supermarket?

Can I lift heavy bags of groceries?

I wish I didn't have to ask these questions, but I really have to do so, if for nothing else than my own peace of mind.

The question about the driver's license is extremely important; the others are more quality-of-life things than anything else.

But all of them need to be asked, and today is the time to ask them.

Otherwise, I am OK, or as good as I am going to be under the circumstances.

I have a lot of life to live, and this impediment won't stop me from living that life, and living it to the fullest.

Let's see what the doctor has to say about these things, and anything else related to my right eye.

I need to see clearly, now, about these questions I have, and I am sure my doctor can provide some insight into the answers that I am looking for.

I do need some clarity, so maybe, today is the day for me to get what I need.

Once these things are off my head, I know I will feel a whole lot better.

Rant #4,041: Dear God

Back to the cemetery we go ...

You would think we were still in Halloween mode, but that stuff has been over for a few days ...

But back I go to the cemetery.

Let me tell you why.

Going back to September and more than 20 Rants ago, I told you about all the stuff going on with my mother's grave, which was supposed to be maintained, but wasn't.

I went over to the grave a few times since her burial and the unveiling of her stone, but I had not been there in several months, and the grave became, quite frankly. dilapidated.

I made it plain to the cemetery staff that this was wrong, my sister had some problems dealing with them, too, but everything was supposed to be taken care of during their planting season, which is right now in the fall of the calendar year.

I am summarizing all of this, it was more involved than what I described, but it was supposed to be taken care of by now--

And evidently, it was.

A few weeks back, I received a letter from the cemetery, alerting me that the planting season had begun, and that my mother's grave was on the list of those sites where replanting of yew bushes was to proceed.

Them, earlier this week, I received another letter from the cemetery, which amounted to an invoice telling me that the yews were planted--

But nothing on the invoice indicating the cost of the cleanup of the site and the planting.

So I called them, to find out what the cost was.

All I wanted to know was the cost, which I planned to take care of once I found out how much it was, but all I got was--

Another round of agita.

I called, dialed "zero" for operator as I was prompted to do, and all I received were further prompts to tell me that the operator was busy, and that I should hold on where I was.

Finally, after about 10 minutes of this, I was told to hold on again--

And then I was promptly disconnected.

I called back again, and used a different prompt--

The one for purchase of a cemetery plot.

I guess since the prompt on their end read dollar signs, I was picked up immediately.

I told the fellow that picked up why I put in the call to him and not the operator, and he said he would direct me to the proper party.

He said he would put me on hold, some garish, un-cemetery-like music was played that more appropriate for a disco then a cemetery, and then--

I was promptly disconnected again.

I called the cemetery back just as promptly, and pushed the prompt for plot sales again, and I got the same person I spoke to before.

He said he was sorry, and said to hold on again, and he would direct me to the right person.

I hung on the phone, and then a woman picked up.

"There is something wrong with your phone system," I said. "The operator prompt does not work, and I had to go to a different prompt for me to get to you."

"We have 10 operators working here now, and the system is working," she told me.

"No it is not," I said. "What I went through is proof of that, holding for 10 minutes and then being disconnected. And by the way, that hold music is completely inappropriate for a cemetery."

No sorry, no nothing.

"Look, I just want to find out about this invoice without prices that you sent me," and then I told the woman all of the particulars.

"That is all I want to know, what this costs, so I can take care of it here and now ...

"And I should not have had to go through all of this nonsense to get this done."

She told me that the yews had been planted, and that I would receive an invoice for this work early next year.

Fine and good. That is all I wanted to know.

"Look, I want you to understand what I went through. You should know that your system is not working correctly, to be aware of the problem--"

"I will let them know here," she replied, and then I got off the phone with her, hoping never to have to call the cemetery for any reason ever again.

Look, if a cemetery gives you any problems, you simply can't say that you will "take your business elsewhere," and for obvious reasons.

But it seems that every time I have to deal with this place, all I get is a bad case of agita, because no accountability is ever taken.

And besides that, what company, what organization, what enterprise sends out an invoice with no dollar amounts on it, anyway?

Sorry people, this is not the world I was born into.

Inappropriateness, and incompetency appear to be celebrated, while doing the right thing is ...

Well, just not done anymore.

Sure, this might be a minor incident for some of you, but again, this is my mom's resting place, and it should not have been in the dilapidated state it was in to begin with.

She didn't deserve that treatment, and neither did myself or my sister for trying to find out why this was the situation to begin with.

No one should have to deal with this type of behavior, but when it comes to a cemetery where your parents are buried, I mean, what can you do?

The situation appears now to be taken care of ...

It is "dead and buried" in a matter of speaking, but I, personally, won't bury it in the recesses of my brain anytime soon.

My mom deserved more, and better.

Have a nice weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.

Rant #4,040: Blinded By the Light

I am just going to say this now, one time, and I am not going to harp on this at all.

What is done is done.

“The tragedy of your times, my young friends, is that you may get exactly what you want ... ."

And we sure did!

(I thank my Facebook "friend" F.Z. for alerting me to that quote, from the Monkees' movie "Head." Funny how perceptive the film, which came out in 1968, still is today.)

Yes, that is just the way I feel.

I kind of knew what the outcome was going to be, because of the dumbed-down population, but you always hope for the best, and hope to be surprised.

Again, when I do that, I always get what I hoped wouldn't happen, but it seems to always play out just like I thought it would.

OK ... move on to other things.

I am doing as well as I could be doing with one eye operating and one eye not.

I have found some things that I cannot do anymore, or at least not do with the ease I once did them with.

One of the worst things is that I am having a little trouble reading the newspaper.

I really have to focus on reading the print of the newspaper--

Even the comic section is a bit of a chore.

And the smaller print, like in the sports section ...

Fuggedaboudit!

But somehow, I am plowing through with this as best as I can.

Also, going from one light pattern to another can be handled, but it takes a moment or two for my eye(s) to get up to snuff on this, so I am managing.

For instance, if I go into dark and then immediately go into light, it takes a couple of seconds for me to get attuned to the light change.

The one surprise is that my peripheral vision has not changed at all.

I thought that that would be one of the obvious drawbacks of using one eye rather than two, but no problems have surfaced in that regard at all.

Yes, I am driving, and while I was never a speed demon, I do drive a bit slower now, and in the dark, I drive even a bit slower.

They are doing a lot of construction around where I live, so it isn't just me who has slowed down a bit on the major road we have here, so I guess my car doesn't stick out from the others.

And yes, my eyes get tired more easily.

Doing what I am doing, including work, tires out my eyes a bit, and by the end of the day, I've pretty much had it.

And I have gotten used to using a variety of eye drops, which have to applied a couple of times a day. 

It is a nuisance, but it keeps my vision in as top a shape as possible.

But otherwise, it's the same old, same old, with a couple of glitches, and I am thankful for that.

So while I am far from happy with the situation, I am certainly managing.

On Monday, I go back to the eye doctor for another checkup, and I am hoping for the best, but I know that my blindness isn't going to change, perhaps for the rest of my lifetime.

It is a sad situation, but I guess there is always something worse.

I can see that clearly, even with one eye.

Rant #4,039: Knock, Knock, Who's There

Here I am.

Butchered, ripped open, sewn shut, one eye works, one eye doesn't ...

But I am still here, still alive, and still around to tantalize you with my thoughts and ideas.

And I am still collecting records like there was no tomorrow.

I do not consider myself a pack rat.

I have always collected things ...

Baseball cards, comics, and records became my true passion during my college years, and I haven't stopped.

We always had music in the home.

My mother was a huge Broadway show person, so she used to buy all the LPs of the latest shows that she and my father saw, everything from "Fiddler On the Roof" to "Hair."

And we always had the radio on to the Top 40 stations of the day, like WMCA and WABC, and all of the others.

My sister and I always had records, bought by my mother, but later, when we were getting into our own stuff and likes and dislikes, we would buy our own records--

Everything from the Monkees to the Cowsills to the Strawberry Alarm Clock.

When my sister married, she basically gave me her record collection, and I went on from there through college and beyond.

Just the other day, I went to my local record store, where it is such a friendly atmosphere, and you can talk to those who own the place and work there about anything and everything under the sun.

It is almost a real-life example of "Floyd's Barber Shop" on the old "Andy Griffith Show," where people used to wander in, not just to get a haircut, but to discuss whatever was going on in Mayberry at that moment.

It is the same atmosphere at this record store.

I have so many records, that I basically have just about everything I want or need, and when I go to the record store, I buy things that are a little left of center, things that catch my fancy that are kind of off the beaten path.

On my latest visit to the store, I bought a couple of things that are kind of out there, if you know what I mean:

"Inner Views," a psychedelic odyssey by the late, very well known anti-drug rocker Sonny Bono. This is a solo album without Cher, it is extremely dated, but since I already had it on CD--it was released several years ago with a lot of bonus material--it was a nice find, and now i can listen to it as it was originally intended.

"You Got What It Takes," one of the final American LPs by the Dave Clark Five. I am a passionate fan of this act--have been since they came on the scene during the "British Invasion--and yes, I already have the album, but in stereo. This is the mono version, not too easy to find, but the DC5 always sounded better in mono, anyway.

I also bought a few singles, by the likes of Every Father's Teenage Son (don't ask, but it is on the fabled Buddah Records label, The Grass Roots (a promo copy of one of their singles), Keith Barbour ("Echo Park," a completely forgotten semi-hit), and Simon Crum (I loved the name of this rockabilly band).

Fun, fun, fun, and I can't wait to listen to this stuff!

It is very relaxing, and when I digitize it, I can listen to all of it in the car.

The past year has been horrible for myself and my family, and listening to records like this puts me in a better frame of mind, and relaxes me.

And God knows I need to relax, because I have learned that there is always something new I have to deal with around every corner.

Listening to this stuff puts me in a way better frame of mind, and it helps me cope with whatever ails me.

I will never stop collecting records--

Not just to have them, but to marvel at how things so simple can make me feel almost brand new.