Rant #3,825: The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin

I went another week without shaving.

I finally shaved it all off this morning.

Usually, I shave every Sunday and Thursday each week, but I haven't been on that schedule since my family's vacation.

I never liked to shave, and after more than 50 years of shaving, my views haven't changed one bit.

I don't know who I take after in my family as far as the need to shave is concerned.

My father needed to shave about once a week, and I am happy to say that my son doesn't have to shave very often either.

Me, I really could shave every day, but even when I was working full time, I shaved three days a week.

Now, I have semi-retired my razor as I am semi-retired myself, but I still have to do it twice a week.

Why haven't I been doing it on schedule lately?

The vacation we had actually is a good excuse--I think during our 12 days away, I must have shaved four or five times--but I also think there are other things involved.

Nothing much of any special circumstances has happened to myself and my family lately, other than my nephew's engagement party two weeks ago, so I have just given my face a rest from shaving.

Honestly, I would have shaved yesterday if my family and I had gone out to a restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday, but we can hopefully get out tomorrow.

We weren't able to celebrate on her big day because of the work schedules my wife and our son have, so I figured we could push it further into the week.

And let's be honest about it--

When it comes to shaving, I can be very, very lazy.

I shaved this morning because, honestly, it was itching, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I don't look too good with a beard, so it was probably better off that I didnt let it go any further.

And happily, I am not one of thise guys who feel that their body should be completely hairless.

Even though I don't have too much hair on my head, it would take me like an hour a day to shave the other hair away.

Oh, how I wish that hair would grow in my head!

No such luck.

If I had a penny for every time I have shaved in my life ...

I figure i would have about $28,000 or so based on all the years I have been shaving and the amount of shaving I have done each year since I began to shave when I was 15 years of age.

"Just a penny for my thoughts"--

But with pennies, as of yesterday, not being made anymore, it makes that saying even more pricey.

"Just a nickel for my thoughts" ...

It just doesn't have the same ring to it ... but boy, if I had a nickel every time I shaved ...

I would have five times the amount I had for a penny a shave--

And maybe i could actually retire ...

Then, I wouldn't have to shave at all.

Rant #3,824: Potpourri

I remember on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," the writers created a running joke out of the word "potpourri," with the emphasis on the "P-O-T" of the word, pronouncing it like you would say 'pot,' which wasn't the intention or meaning of the word--

But it got past the censors, all right.

The definition I am going for here is "an amalgam of things," and that is what I strived to do on Veterans Day.

Let me explain.

Yesterday, we honored all of our veterans on Veterans Day, and we owe our fighting men and women quite a bit--

Including the freedom to do pretty much what we want to do when we want to do it.

Yes, "freedom" is the word here, along with "potpourri," because due to the gallantry of our past and present warfighters, I could do what I wanted to do--

I had the freedom to do a potpourri of things on this day.

Among them were--

I took my son back and forth to work yesterday, but in between, I did a lot of other things to bide my time.

I did have a little work to do, which i got out of the way as quickly as possible.

I spoke to my aunt over the phone for a substantial amount of time, with each of us catching up on the other one's recent activities.

I digitized a record I had been wanting to do for some time, a double album from 1970 that features 30 hits from that era.

It was put out by Post Records in unison with WSAI, then a top-40 radio station which still broadcasts to this day from Cincinnati, Ohio.

The LP, "Command Performance," features everything from "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne to "Something's Burning" by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition to "Jean" by Oliver and everything in between, and it was fun digitizing the 30 songs to listen to in my car at a later time.

Waiting in my car for my son, I listened to a good part of two LPs by the comedy team of Marty Allen and Steve Rossi.

Allen and Rossi were a clear cross between Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis, and they were an extremely popular act on TV and in Las Vegas in the early 1960s through the early 1970s.

What they did that both Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis didn't do on a regular basis was to put out comedy LPs.

Allen and Rossi put out, I think, seven such LPs from the early 1960s through the latter part of that decade, and I happen to have a few of them in my collection.

I recently digitized what I have, and I finally got a chance to listen to them in the car.

The comedy is very basic, but it is eternally funny, even 60 years later. 

And it is clean, although there is some mild innuendo thst doesn't ruffle any feathers.

After listening to these LPs, I have another comedy record lined up--

This is a Woody Allen LP, when he was actually funny--

In fact, as I remember it, it is one of the funniest comedy albums I have ever heard, so I can't wait to revisit it.

Woody Allen ... what happened to you?

So, those are just a few of the things I did on Veterans Day.

I did a true "potpourri" of things, and it was fun.

And most importantly, all day, I thought of my late father, a very proud Marine.

Talking about proud, i am, to this day, very proud of him and for his few years of service during the Korean War, and afterward, being the male leader of our family.

And that is really what Veterans Day is all about.

I really miss him.

Rant #3,823: The Family Stone

First, happy birthday to my beautiful wife.

Her birthday was yesterday, on a tough Monday, when we had to wake up early and go to my retinologist.

She was born on the Marine Corps' birthday, and her father was a Marine, and she celebrated her latest birthday on what was the 250th birthday of the Corps.

We had gifts and cake and all the usual stuff associated with her birthday, and honestly, I wish I could give her more.

But our son and I did what we could.

Otherwise, the last couple of days have been a whirlwind for myself and my family.

On Thursday night, out of the blue, I experienced terrible pain on my left side, I had trouble walking, was throwing up, and my wife took me to the hospital.

I have kidney stones, and I was experiencing a major flare up. 

My wife drove me to a local hospital, and I was still feeling a lot of distress when we arrived there.

They did a lot of tests on me, hooked me up to different machines and gadgets, and after about six hours, I was finally put in a room, and pretty much conked out.

Friday morning, I was feeling much better as I was pumped up with morphine and other painkillers.

I could not eat, just in case I would have needed a procedure to remove the stones, but it was determined that I had a flareup that did not need surgery, and that I possibly could pass the stones myself--at home.

It was actually one stone in particular that was in question, but by 3 pm on Friday, I was discharged.

I was told that the flareup could have been exacerbated by the tough week I had had; let me tell you, you don't even know the half of it, as I experienced what was probably the toughest week that I had in 2025.

So basically, I went home, with a game plan:

To really take it easy ...

Or actually act like I am actually retired.

I did nothing over the weekend; a little driving, but nothing else.

On Saturday morning, I felt a little strange but not sick, and I went to the bathroom--

And I might--or might not--have passed the stone, or a partial stone. I won't get into how I know, but if you have had this yourself, you kind of just sort of know.

Let's hope i am correct.

I still feel a little strange--not sick but not myself--but I am OK.

And did it mention that the hospital mixed up the medicine that they prescribed me with someone else's?

I had it out with them over the phone, but let's just say they sent me on a wild goose chase--

Not good when you just spent about 18 hours in the hospital, without eating, further stressing me out.

But now, I feel a bit strange, but not ill, so I think that this was an omen, one telling me to take it easy.

Some of that is out if my control, but I just have to take it down a notch or two or three.

I don't feel that I am old, just that I am not 25 anymore.

And on Monday, at the retinologist, I was told that in December, I will need a procedure to repair a partially torn retina.

Just what i need during the holiday season.

i went through this with my left leg a couple of years ago during the holiday season, and now i am going to have another surgery right before the holidays, but it has to be done, so that's that.

On Facebook, an old friend from Rochdale Village put up a bar mitzvah photo from 55 years ago, and there I was, with a full head of hair.

I had never seen the photo before, and it got me to thinking ...

Yes, that is me, but I was just 13 years old then.

Physically, I am the same person i was back then, but mentally, physically and emotionally, I am a completely different person.

And at age 68 ... well, I am not 13 anymore.

If I knew then what I know now ...

But it would have taken all of the "fun" from the ensuing 55 years.

Happy birthday to my wife.

That is "fun."

That is the type of "fun" I really need.

Rant #3,822: Boo (5)

I finally finished the stories I had to write up related to the national convention my work had this week.

No, I am not used to 16 hour days at this point in time, but this week was virtually rubbed out by this event.

I finally finished yesterday afternoon, and that was a real burden off my shoulders.

And no, I am not going to go on and on about what happened in New York City on Tuesday.

I think that short Rant I put up on Wednesday pretty much said it all.

But I will post a warning, based on what I am seeing.

People are fed up.

No matter what good President Trump has accomplished, the latest debacle--the government closure, into its record-breaking fifth week--might be the situation that breaks the president's--and the Republicans'--back.

Trump promised plenty that had to do with our pocketbook when he ean again, but as of now, he hasn't delivered.

Prices are way up on everything, people are losing their jobs, and people are going hungry.

Sure, the shutdown is both the Republicans and the Democrats' fault.

But the president shows no "immediacy" to get things settled.

And with people losing their jobs, and his reluctance to continue funding the SNAP/WIC program during the shutdown, it sends out a very bad, callous message--

Especially when he is building a new ballroom in the White House.

It is a modern retelling of "Let them eat cake," but in this case, many of us can't even afford that cake.

If nothing else, the government shutdown is bad P.R. for the president and the Republicans, and remember: Trump might be a popular president, but he can't run again--

And he is making it pretty impossible for whoever runs on the Republican ticket to gain the confidence of Americans.

The very reason he was elected--people's pocketbooks--has seemingly been forgotten, and if I were a betting man, I wouldn't put my money on any mass Republican wins anytime soon.

Look what happened in New York and New Jersey the other day--

Could this be foreshadowing things to come?

Anyway, I will, once again, not be st my usual perch on Monday. 

I have to go to my retinologist in Monday to check on the condition of my right eye and its partly detached retina.

It hasn't gotten any worse, nor has it gotten any better, so we are just going to have to "see" where this takes me.

So, I will "see" you, hopefully, on Tuesday.

Have a great weekend, and wish me well!

(And there is more to this story, but it will wait until next week.)

Rant #3,811: Boo (4)

I am in the middle of the heavy workload that I described to you the other day, but I had to find the time to write about what happened in New York City yesterday.

Here is what I posted in Facebook, and i am going to leave it at that, because in its brevity, it says it all.

"It is now time for the good people of New York City to leave the city for good.

I predict an exodus today like the so-called "White Flight" of the early 1970s, when people saw whst was happening in the city and started to get out, moving to Long Island and elsewhere.

And for my fellow Jews ... get out, and get out now! You have an avowed anti-Semite for your mayor ...  a supporter of Hamas. How can you survive in such an environment?

The city is dead."

Rant #3,810: Boo (3)

I have a hell of a two days in front of me today and tomorrow, as I have to cover full-day, eight-hour meetings the next two days.

So today is going to be a reading day, and i don't know about tomorrow.

But before I present the next chapter of my unpublished novel, let me put this thought out there for you to ponder.

The NBA's New York Knicks just put out their theme game schedule, and while groups like Fillipinos and Frechmen have their own nights, there is one glaring omission.

No Jewish American Heritage Night ...

If you look at this list, it is quite evident why Jews are not being celebrated at the Garden.

Of course, if you know your NBA history, there would be no NBA without Jewish players, coaches and those in the front office.

It is a complete and total insult, because the team's greatest coach, Red Holzman, was Jewish.

More anti-Semitism in places thst you might not think it would exist in.

And that is why today is such an important day, in particular in New York City.

A vote for garbage is a clear vote in favor of anti-Semitism, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel.

As a society, we cannot condemn these attitudes.

GET OUT AND VOTE!

I will let you think about this for the time being, and I will speak to you again later this week.

36

Abraham Lincoln Panim read the plaque over and over to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. After a few minutes of doing this, he heard a door open, and saw his mother come out of the room.

The nurse went over to her, as Mrs. Panim looked clearly distressed, crying and shaking as the nurse led her to the couch to sit down.

“Can I get you something, m’am, maybe some water to calm you down?” said the nurse to Mrs. Panim.

 “No, no,” Mrs. Panim said through tears. “I will be OK.”

 “I pretty much expected your reaction. Mr. Panim is pretty sick, and he has been that way for awhile,” the nurse replied. “If you need anything, let me know.”

Abraham Lincoln Panim rushed over to his mother, but the nurse stood between him and his mother.

“It is your time to see your father. Are you ready to see him now?” the nurse asked.

“Yes, yes,” Abraham Lincoln Panim said, as he put his hands through his hair again.

“Do you have a mirror? I need to make sure—“

“This is not a beauty pageant,” the nurse replied. “Go in like you are.”

Abraham Lincoln Panim followed the nurse to the door, and as he did, he instinctively pushed up his scarf over his face, exactly as he had worn it when he had a rat face.

The nurse opened the door, and Abraham Lincoln Panim entered. He looked to the left, and his father was lying on what looked like a large hospital bed, with tubes and nozzles coming out of seemingly every part of his body.

With all the machinery covering his father, he could barely see his father’s face, and barely could see his eyes.

“Abraham Lincoln Panim, please come closer to me so I can see you,” his father said, and his son moved closer to him so he could see him better.

“How are you doing dad?” Abraham Lincoln Panim asked.

“I can barely hear you,” Mr. Panim said in a very breathy voice. “Why do you have that scarf over your face?”

“Well—“

“Please take it off. Your mother told me all about it, and I know all about what you look like now.”

“Abraham Lincoln Panim almost ripped the scarf off his face, and it dropped to floor, exposing his full face to his father to see.

“So dad, what do you think?”

“What do I think about what?”

“What do you think about how I look? Aren’t I—“

“That is not important now,” his father said, followed by numerous coughs. Abraham Lincoln Panim was ready to go out to get the nurse, but the coughing stopped.

“I’m doing as good as I possibly could be, with all of these things coming out of me,” his father said. “Now tell me about you.”

“Dad, you still haven’t told me how I look.”

“Well, I will answer that when you tell me how I look.”

His father then started coughing again.

When the coughing stopped, Abraham Lincoln Panim asked his father, “Why did you leave--”

“I was a coward,” his father said through more coughing. “I saw you as me, going through a good part of your life with a rat face. I remember what I went through … I just could not do it again.”

“So you just left us? I never knew you, but do you know what you did to mom?”

“Yes, I do. I really do. And I was sorry, I told her so today. You don’t know how many times I wanted to come back to the two of you, but I just couldn’t. I was scared, I was a coward. I thought that the money I sent each month made up for me not being there, but I was a fool. I missed out on so much.”

“And we missed out, especially mom. Do you know we used to walk in the park when I was a kid, and I always thought she was looking for you when we were there. You said in your letter to us that you often saw us from afar in the park. Why didn’t you ever come up to us, contact us … I mean, you were so close.”

“Yet so far,” his father said, followed by more coughs. “In my mind, I was thousands of miles away from you, even though there were times I was just a few feet from the two of you. I am just so sorry for what I have done to both of you.”

There was a pause in talking, and then Abraham Lincoln Panim said, “Now dad, what do you think about me … your are ‘impressed,’ aren’t you--?”

“Look, I know that you became a teacher. Mom says that you are a good teacher. That is really what I am concerned about. You became a—“

Before his father could finish his sentence, he began to cough uncontrollably, and the nurse came into the room, walking over to Abraham Lincoln Panim.

“I am sorry, but his health is very bad,” she said in a whisper. “I can only give you a few minutes with him. He is weak. I can’t give you any more. Please say your goodbyes and meet your mother in the foyer.”

Abraham Lincoln watched the nurse go back out the door, and when she left, he said to his father, “Dad, what did I become? Please let me know, what did I become?”

The nurse peaked her head through the door. “Young man, you have to leave now.”

“But dad did not finish what he was saying—what did I become dad, what did I become?”

The nurse came over to Abraham Lincoln Panm, put her hand firmly and forcefully on his shoulder, and tried to lead him out of the room. He resisted.

“I just want to know what my father said I had become. That is all I want to know.”

“Look, I am sorry, you must leave now,” the nurse said. Mrs. Panim, much more composed than before, came into the room, and she had to lead her son out.

As they left the room and the nurse closed the door, Mr. Panim, still thinking his son was in the room, said in almost a whisper,

“A success.”

Mr. Panim coughed some more, and then closed his eyes.

Abraham Lincoln Panim and his mother never heard what Mr. Panim said, as the door had closed behind them when he answered his son’s question.

“What was I, what was I?” Abraham Lincoln Panim continued to scream out as his mother put her hand on his shoulder.

“Keep that thought. Maybe the next time we visit, your father will answer you,” she said to her son.

The nurse turned to them as she showed them out the door.

“If there is a next time,” she said, as Mrs. Panim and Abraham Lincoln Panim walked out the door and walked home.

They didn’t say a word between them.

Rant #3,809: Boo (2)

How was your Halloween?

Mine actually begins today, when the association I work for has their annual three-day national meeting.

It is being held in Virginia, and I will cover it remotely.

Today, we do a test to make sure everything is copacetic, related to visuals, sound, etc.

Tomorrow and Wednesday, it gets down to the real nitty gritty, as I have daily eight-hour meetings to sit through, and then, write about.

It really isn't easy to do, pretty much puts me out of commission for at least three days, and it greatly impacts what I do here each day.

But it is my job, so I gotta do what I gotta do.

And one of the main topics of discussion is going to be the continuing-and-seemingly-never-ending government shutdown.

This cataclysm is greatly impacting Americans in so many ways, and our elected legislators do not see that compromise will be the tonic for the end of this nonsense.

Both sides are at fault, and it really is hurting the little guy the most.

Put these legislators in a room, lock them in, and tell them that they can't get out until this thing is settled.

And take away their salaries and health benefits until they begrudgingly come to an agreement.

And with Election Day tomorrow, maybe it is time to use the power that we have and get rid of these completely inept lawmakers once and for all when their terms are over and done with and they run again.

Ridiculous ... it is beyond comprehension that this situation has gone on for weeks now without resolution.

One side says the other side is at fault, and at this point, nobody cares.

Just settle this thing!

Hopefully someone will listen, and this thing will get settled--

Which would be great for a number of reasons, including that I won't hear about it much at the meeting I am covering the next few days.

More on all of this tomorrow.