Random Thoughts

It’s been a week of settling in. The house is mostly set up, I just need to empty boxes. Do they bother cleaning rentals these days, before move in? Didn’t really do that here.

So I’m a bit sore.

As I grow older, every ailment spawns a specialist. These doctors are fastidious about staying in their lane. Case in point; I went for my physical, and as I wiped out on my bike a few weeks earlier, I asked him to look at my shoulder. He said maybe I could consult an orthopedist. Really? Dude couldn’t bend it a bit and declare that maybe it’s sprained?

I’m a fan of self service. No reason whatsoever I can’t look at my blood test and see if something needs inspection. They show the number and the acceptable range. I’d also like to see pharmacies, like they have in other countries, where you can rock up to them, tell them your symptoms, and they’ll sell you a drug. The same damn one a doctor would give you.

Biking has been tough at the new house. There’s a great ‘combination’ walk/bike path 1/2 mile away or so. That’s the good thing. Bad thing? It’s uphill to get there. Tough warmup.

Speaking of moving; from behind the Zman’s green door:

When I first moved to Lagos, friends would come for  visit and I would take them on a ghetto tour. The reaction was always the same. The closer we got to the heart of darkness, the less they talked. Inner city black poverty is something they know about in a hypothetical sense. When they saw the reality of it, they were at a loss for words because they lacked the mental constructs for it. They also stopped visiting.

The Zman

DC was the same. Outside the imperial areas, it’s poor and dysfunctional. That crime often oozes to the nice areas. I’ve known a few souls that bought fixer-uppers. Sort of a settler type gentrification thing. Very weird visiting them. One time, whilst leaving, there was a huge bust across the street. Lots of dudes on their knees with their hands behind their heads.

Even though you could score a row house cheap, it would have to be renovated. Then there’s location, location, location. And these ones location was…uh…sub par.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I can’t stand that radio ad I hear every day. That lilting, lazy diction and enunciation of a half ghetto accent turns me off. What happened to the dude with the deep voice and spoke English properly?

Lot of blogs warning that you better start stocking up. Both BCE and Peter at Bayou Renaissance had pieces. It’s wise to keep a deep pantry, especially with durable goods like rice, beans, pasta, etc. Now that I’m settled in a place, I need to do some shopping. That said, you need to rotate stuff. I threw out a ton of long expired food and medicines.

Like the Men at Work song goes; ’the signs were there you should’ve bought connections before’

There was a book I read years ago called “The Great Reckoning“. Had a chapter called “When the music stops”. Worth reading. Think about what happens when cards that provide the gibs stop working. Those with eyes ought to see.

Apparently Snoop Dog will be giving color commentary for the Olympics. The money quote:

“We don’t know what the heck is going to happen every day,” Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics production, said in a statement, “but we know he will add his unique perspective to our re-imagined Olympic primetime show.”

Molly Solomon, executive producer

Good lord, there’s that word – “Re-Imagined”. They don’t know what is going to happen? I can guess. Hear that sound Molly? That’s the sound of inevitability. That’s the sound of your career blowing up.

Who am I kidding? She’ll get an award. As for me, I couldn’t care less what old Snoop has to say about anything.

I can’t find my gloves, and it’s been cold walking the dogs. So I used these:

They actually work well. They keep my fingers warm enough. At least they stop them from freezing. And the grippy parts work well with the leather leashes I use. If memory serves, they came in a three pack.

I found this on Didact’s site. Cracked me up. Behold:

Jethro was that size, but not as furry. I have a pic somewhere of him looking at the camera with his eyes glowing like that. He’d lay down at whatever door I was near. When he was at the front door, if he sensed something he’d growl that amazing I’ll-eat-your-soul, deep bass growl. Last thing you want to hear when in a house you shouldn’t be in

Closing on the house manana. I think I’ll celebrate by heading south and spending the weekend relaxing.