Jose proposed only $500 for the Honda due to...

engine problems, smog problems, battery problems, and he spent $100 to determine this.  I told him to put the Honda back where he got it and I would give him his $500 back.  His son suggested that they buy the car for $500 and then they would fix the engine, smog, and battery.  I said ok since I don't want to fool around with the machine any more.  We'll complete the transfer title when he gets the Honda to pass smog.

I could have taken the Honda to the SCAQMD and gotten $1K to junk it, but I don't want to even do that, assuming the program is still in operation.

Moving on.  I ate well at Lancer's liver and onions, drove to VDM and picked up the Compaq computer and edited the iTunes library a lot.  All purchased songs are gone, all .wav songs are goon, all comedy songs are gone, and I will edit a lot of the duplicates out until there are less than 25,000 songs total.  Then I will start a new iTunes account and up load all the music and get it converted to a good format and then download it to a new computer data base, I hope.

Work today at 2pm.  Do the fax to sce, scwd, and all pure pay off, then property taxes and income taxes can be completed and the estate can go to the court for final distribution.

Keep up the positive attitude.

Sold Honda to Jose, $500 down, smog and battery

to be passed, then duplicate title change tomorrow at 11am.  Very good chicken dinner at Lancer's, bought and will return a new Microsoft Touch Mouse, bought a second copy of Last of the Mohicans to watch tonight.

Called Inga and all is well.  She asked me about the financial guy and the status of the estate.  I have to return the Alter Reality cards via USPS tomorrow, pay scwd, all pure pool service, and get the fax to SCE to get a refund for Marion's final electric bill.  Then the property taxes and income taxes and anything else to be completed by the accountant, and then the request for a court date for a final distribution of the assets of the estate.

Monday am up at 9am when Jose called about car

Going to see Jose with registration in hand and needing duplicate title for the wonderful Honda soon.  Other chores to follow.

Sunday PM shift disagreement over video time

Sequin said the kids had to "earn" the right to play video games, despite no video game time for Sky Unit all am shift due to no video games brought in by staff for the kids to use.  My question:  Do the kids have to earn the right to read books, watch movies, play cards, or play outside?  How come video games are the first thing taken away when the kids do something "wrong", but it is fine for the kids to have to spend 8 hours on a weekend day or 4 hours on a school day only being able to watch sports on tv which the staff want to watch?

The kids did computers, iPads, and xbox games from 5:30 to 10pm.  All else was well.

Saturday night I appologized to the kids for my error

I had to apologize before the whole group for thinking that my games were stolen.  I couldn't think of any other explanation.

Otherwise a good evening and all is well.

Friday night I thought my xbox games were gone...

Not so.  I had left them at home unattended.  We still searched some of the kids rooms and acted as if the kids had stolen them, not at my request, but I didn't protest either.

Otherwise all was well.

Good Thanksgiving Day at vdm. Normal day

Kids went to the movies, ate turkey and such, and had a quiet pm.  I'm done here for now.

Happy Thanksgiving Day. Washing clothes...

Good night at vdm last night.  Kids all content and not upset or angry or explosive.

My car is running well and I am so grateful I don't know how to express it in words.

I feel well, I love my family, I like work and where I live.

Now to check out the door thing for my car's heater.

Monday rested, Tuesday as well...

Got Alex's Dragon Ball z game to him, filled car with $62 of gas, ate well of fried chicken at Lancer's, and watched 2012 the movie and then the director's commentary. 

Slept from 2am to 8am, did more computer stuff, archived files, toured the web, and so on.

Now debating going to Lancer's for lunch or liver and onions for dinner.  I also would like to check out the dvds at the cd rom store.

I doubt Howard will call me before Thanksgiving, giving more to be thankful for and time to do the fax to sce, pay all pure, and pay scwd, do the property taxes, or have the accountant do them, and pay any remaining bills due to Marion.

Time will tell.

I am irritated that the NYTimes took me for $35 and won't let me cancel the online subscription.  I want to write a letter to the editor about this unjust thing.  Perhaps to the WA PO, or the New York Daily News.  We'll see.

Good day at work. Feeling well before 2 days off.

The supervision goes with the kid, not on the unit.  If all the kids are occupied productively on one unit, then the staff should be on that unit.  Too often on VDM 12 kids are on one unit and only 3 staff on that unit.  Staff should go with the kid.

Do the bills tomorrow am, see the accoutant, and have a great 2 days off.

Take the game over to Alex, as well.

Get the heater adjusted on the Ford.

Up at 8am Sat. Computer stuff and chores.

Do the fax, pick up dvd at ups, deliver gba cartridge to Alexandro, have a great day, as usual.

I'm bothered by my anger at James over sandwhich

James asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, at which point I offered him a kitchen made sandwhich.  He refused it and asked for a hand made sandwich, which I made.  He refused that sandwich and said he wanted to make his own sandwich.  I told the supervisor, Jonathan, who checked with the lead, who said the kids couldn't make their own sandwiches, so James ate the sandwich I made him.

What bothers me is that I was angry that he refused both sandwiches I offered him, one after I made it just for him.  He dislikes too much jelly on his sandwich, and he scrapes the excess jelly off the sandwich.  Why do I get angry when a kid like this does what he does?

Other than that, a good night.  Lots of computers, xbox, playstation, iPad, and Fire.

No swallowing issues Friday night because I took the meds on time, I hope.

Up at 6am feeling well, but tired a bit. Do the fax

and get it to SCE, the all pure, and the scwd.  Meet the accountant Monday, or so. 

Note to self:  Feed tuna mayonnaise and you will have instant tuna salad.

Take the meds every night to help avoid the difficulty swallowing you had last night.

Up at 8am, good breakfast, computers working well

Waiting impatiently for the confirming email for the cards I bought last night for Nick.  I must have done it on the Compaq computer so it doesn't show up on my two other computers.

Feeling well.  Need to do the fax to so cal edison, pay all pure, pay scwd, pay Marion's income taxes, pay Marion's property taxes, and settle with the city of Santa Clarita, or what ever.  Start soon.

Do more laundry, clean house and car, feel well, and exercise more. 

Be happy and healthy as possible, as always.

Up at 7am feeling well. The Fire is good. All is ok.

Getting ready to wash clothes, clean the apartment, do the bills, and get ready for work.  I am very happy with my life at this moment.
I love my tools.
I am thankful to the max for my family in NJ, PA, and WV.
I am thankful for my positive physical health.
I am thankful for my positive emotional attitude and health, as far as I can tell.
I am thankful for my wonderful apartment for only $422 per month, in a security building, with a washer and dryer down stairs, a quite and considerate group of tenants, a good parking place, and a clean and quiet building, which has been thus for a long time.
I am thankful for my wonderful Ford Taurus.
I am thankful for my Friends, Harold, Les, Allan, and Derick in Idaho.
I am grateful for all that I have now.  I don't deserve it in the sense that I have earned it, but I appreciate it, and it won't last forever.

Be of good cheer, or at least try to be.

I have the Fire and I like it a lot. For $200 is great.

Got another u/a, did the kidney ultra sound, at a Lancer's liver and onions, got the micro usb cable to directly copy data to the Fire, shopped well at Wal Mart, feeling well, except for a bit anxious re the results of the kidney ultra sound.

Talked to Harold half an hour, who has moved in with a girl friend who is the same age as I am.  There's no fool like an old fool, he said with only a touch of envy in his heart.  That must be why I re joined E Harmony.  Hal will probably be on a cruise with his mother for the next two weeks, then we can do video Skype or Face Time calls.  I'll go see him as soon as I can get some time off again.

I really want to re connect with Les and Allan.  I'll see when soon.

Not any progress on losing weight.  Still eating for health, and my knees hurt a lot up and down stairs.  We'll see.

Up at 9am waiting impatiently for the Kindle Fire.

Out last night with AJ, Rey, and Alex.  I ordered a $25 GBA game for Alex on Amazon, bought $86 worth of dvds, (New York) for me, helped Alex with his Android phone loading a GBA rom on it, called Rey on Facebook Skype, showed AJ how to dl you tube music and save it as mp3s, and how to work his printer.  Dinner at that outdoor hamburger place and all was well. 

Dinner for me at Bob's, and the patty melt was good, but not great.  I have to start watching what I eat pretty soon.  I think when I get the Up from Jawbone.

Be at Kaiser for the ultra scan at 245 pm, do laundry here while waiting for the Kindle Fire, and watch New York and Atlas Shrugged, and four other recent dvds, and watch some of the newly purchased tv shows on iTunes.

I am looking forward to what I can store, access and watch on the Fire.  Can I access the Android app store or only the Amazon App Store?  Can I access the Amazon Video downloads of movies and tv shows I have stored on my computers?  Can I play or convert and play iTunes non protected videos, or protected videos?  Time will tell.

Pay scwd, all pure, and fax to sce for the refund. 

Keep up the good work, clean the house, detail the car, try to get the heater temp raised and the engine idle lowered on the Taurus, and call Les Soss and Allan Casanova soon.

Work hard at having a good day.

Monday morning, up at 9am making calls to ...

Called Harold, Reynaldo, AJ, and Howard Schnee.  One week to complete paying debts on Marion's estate account.

To meet the three guys tonight for dinner and computer skype and music stuff.

Waiting impatiently for the Kindle Fire to be shipped and here tomorrow am.

Now to shower and go to Lancer's for breakfast or lunch, as wanted.

Frustrating day at home, so far. Dinner and a movie next.

Downloaded a program from tucows and it seems to have corrupted my system badly.  It installs itself as the default search browser and I'm having a hard time getting rid of it.  My iTunes is corruptd and won't sync my iphone, and it abends when doing simple app updates.  Adobe Reader won't read.  It too abends.

I called Inga to tell her all was well, but I can't fix her loneliness issue.

I can't find Harold Blanton, but I will try the Georgia number now.

Then to Lancer's for dinner and then In time the movie and call Howard tomorrow and complete the estate checking account details. 

Nice Saturday. Breakfast at Henri's, shopped at Frys

Feeling well and rested after NYC.  Perhaps a trip to Bowers Museum tomorrow.  Terra Cotta Warriors on display there.

Call and or write Harold at his last address.  Check the Georgia number as well.

I should be able to return the old Nano to Apple and get a new Nano back from them, so I can take the new Nano back soon.  I also want the LOTM dvd from VDM soon.

Call Inga Sunday noon about.  Check on the kp apt on Monday now.  C U Later.

Up at 7am after a quick sleep. Computer futures

Updating iPhone, iPad, iPods, and all other up datable devices.  I recall Paul Thurrott and Andrew Zarian talking about the future of computing.  My thoughts:

You need a large screen to compute properly.  Big text, bright pictures, extra detail, good keyboard, powerful ac driven cpu with large hard drives, probably a nas, raid storage, cloud storage, and definitely internet access and storage.  All of this, and more, can only be done on a powerful desktop, not a laptop, or a tablet, or a phone mobile device.  To be sure, we need portable devices and hand held devices, but the main job of a computer is not to run apps, be they Apple, Android, or Windows phone or Win8 apps.  Apps are small, portable programs that do specific tasks.  Computer programs are large, complex programs that download, convert, process, print, or otherwise output data for better use of the user.

An app is to a complete physical exam by a trained physician as a blood pressure test is to a complete physical exam by the team at the hospital, including labs, diagnostic imaging, and such.  I'll add more as I think of it.

Home at last, thank God almighty, I'm home at last.

6.5 hours from JFK on Jet Blue and I made it to Burbank.  Saw some of NYC as I left on the NYC Air Porter to JFK.  Good flight, but longer than the one back east.

Shopped for milk, cheese, candy, humus and frozen food.  Very tired legs now.  No shuttle back home since the flight was a bit late either on the schedule or in real life, or both.  Still home safe and sound and thankful a lot.

Tomorrow wash clothes, shave, pay bills, and be happy to be home.  Thank God it is over.

Now Friday 10:30am, preparing to go to NYC...

Spent yesterday, Thursday, 11-10-11 in NYC walking the streets with Marie.  We went to:

Times Square,
the Diamond District,
Central Park and Central Park Zoo,
A seafood reasturant for bites and drinks,
Shopping at several stores, and walked about 5 miles overall.

I was very tired but happy.  A great day.

Now, after breakfast with Dick and Inga, I'm getting ready to take the bus into NYC Port Authority and then to JFK and then the 6:30 pm red eye to Burbank.

I've had a great time in NJ and hope to come back in my Ford Taurus after I retire.  Time will tell.

Breakfast at Forked River, new Nano watch and all

Good day again. Drove to Freehold Apple Store again  to buy new Nano to test  out.  So far, not bad.  Not sure if I will keep it, but we'll see.  Got Dick's printer to work, all systems go, NYC tomorrow and home Friday pm.  I'm looking forward to being home, but a bit sad to leave here.

Dinner in Philly with Terry and Larry and Gail and ...

Eric, the doctors, and Ingrid and Ward, the great grandchildren and Uncle Bill.  Good tour on a double decked bus of Philly and a fine trip to and from here to Philly and back.  Hope to go to NYC tomorrow with Marie and then Thursday here and Friday I leave out of JFK at 6pm to go home on the Red Eye.

NJ tour with Bob and Linda.

Saw Lakehurst from a distance. Dinner at Applebee's, to Philly tomorrow with Inga.

Dinner with Linda, Bruce, and Marie. Lucky me.

Met Linda and Bob and had dinner at Marie's beautiful house.  They have a beautiful house and dog and cat.  Now to sleep and see about Philly tomorrow.

Breakfast with Inga, drove to Apple store in Freehold

Visited Marie and Bruce and their great standard poodle.  Good trip to Freehold.  Good breakfast with Inga and dinner at 2 McRibs.  All is well.

Linda and Bob here tomorrow, dinner at Marie's, perhaps drive to Philly with Inga Monday or Tuesday.  Looking forward to more vacation time.

Saturday 8:30am, about to eat breakfast and NYC!

Sleeping and eating well.  I want to drive around Tom's River a bit, eat breakfast, or possibly 2 McRibs, and go to NYC.  I don't want to stand on line for more than an hour for no guarantee of a bargain.  I could tour NYC or go to the Apple Store, or go any where.  Leaving soon.

Good Friday in NJ. Rented Hundai, drove in NJ

Dick and I got the rental, talked a lot, and drove us and Inga around rural NJ.  Dinner at a sports bar and talked a lot with Inga.  I will investigate annuity and life insurance for me.  All else if well.  NYC, Phantom, or Hair, or West Side Story on Broadway tomorrow.  Linda will be here Sunday, perhaps Inga and I to Philly Monday, Tuesday is open now, Wednesday return the car, Thursday to NYC again, and Friday back to JFK and home by Friday night at 10pm.

I'm quite satisfied so far with my trip.  A good experience and a learning experience.  I love my family and am very happy to have them.  I hope to see them a lot more once I retire and drive out here and have more time to spend with them.

I want to look into transportation for Inga on a weekly and monthly basis with one of the local cab or transportation organizations.  This bothers her a lot, as it would me.  She should have the money and should have her independence as much as possible.  We'll see.

Walked Alantic City boardwalk with Inga and Marie

Nice drive to Atlantic City.  Good lunch at PF Chang and a couple of hours later home in Beachwood, NJ.  Time to rent a car tomorrow.  Perhaps Phantom on Saturday at 2pm and Philadelphia on Monday, or so.  Marie is similar to me, as is Inga, no surprise.  Having a very good time.

Dinner with Inga and Dick. Alantic City tomorrow.

All seems to be well.  Good dinner of angel hair pasta, meatballs, and Ragu spaghetti sauce and a salad.

Now time to catch up on the net, check out the rental cars, and sleep well tonight.

Safely enscounced in Inga's spare bedroom.

Good flight to JSK, difficult ride to Tom's River.  Talked with Inga and Marie and then slept for three hours.  I feel well now and am ready to begin my vacation.

Must have left the charger cable for the Nikon at vdm

I still have the 10 mp Sanyo and my iPhone so all is not lost.  Now to go buy stuff and eat two McRibs and begin my latest trip of a lifetime.

Be outside at 6:15 pm, or so.

Double check it once.

Have a great flight and trip.

1:30 pm. Final prep for shuttle and flight to NYC

I can't find LOTM, but I have a ton of stuff to occupy me on the flight for 5 hours tonight.  I probably won't be able to watch a dvd on the laptop in my middle seat anyway.

I'll go out to buy more socks and underwear for the trip soon.  I also want two McRibs before the flight.

I feel alert and alive.  Some might describe it as anxious or nervous.  I think it is a good state of alertness designed by nature to keep us on our toes in times that are important to us, not necessarily existentially important.

The shuttle to the airport should be outside my building between 6:20 and 6:35pm.  Be there or be square.

Now to go pay the rent and give Greg the key to my mail box.  I should get a box of dvds about November 8, 2011 as well.  bye for now.

Tuesday, 9:30am. Getting ready for 6PM shuttle...

Got meds and hair cut.  Now final packing and get ready for the shuttle.