I've commented on my declining abilities in playing softball and accordingly I have reduced my playing time. I do like physical activity which is really a productive time killer. Working out and swimming at the gym fills some of that time but it's not what you'd call fun. One day I'd like to take up golf but it doesn't come naturally to me. That doesn't seem to stop the majority of golfers I've seen at driving ranges and golf courses.
So what else is out there? Basketball (never that good - too much running); Hockey (you need ice and huge gloves); Lacrosse (not a weekend sport for the middle aged); Soccer (foreign to me); Tennis (possibly..played recently and did OK. Would like to play more doubles)..There are other "sports" like jogging, boxing, karate & dodge ball - but who cares?
So that takes me into one of the possibilities. Our 3-person family was together this weekend to celebrate a birthday and we decided to go bowling!! Yes, bowling. Mmmmm, time killing potential I think. We actually have the equipment as we had been on leagues years ago and there are a couple of local bowling alleys. Caution - when you go to "open bowling" on a rainy weekend you may have a few kids to deal with. The lanes are now controlled by computer scoring and automatic "bumpers" that pop up when one of those cute six year olds KICKS the 6-lb ball down the lane. They don't always reach the pins. I used the kids' free-for-all behavior as an excuse for my mediocre performance, however, I still did have fun.
Not thinking of joining a league or anything drastic but I would like to find some time to go bowl when the median age is over 14. I guess you have to go at night but then I've seen they turn out the lights for midnight bowl. I'm not sure if you can consider this a sport as you can drink alcohol while playing and it actually improves your performance. Speaking of which I have to mention our family's youngest non-regular bowler bowled a 144 (ok, not a great score but he had 5 strikes)..Damn, those bumpers really work!!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Triple play follow up
You may recall from a few weeks ago I was bombarded with calls to sign up for Optimum on line's phone service. I gave up at that time and signed up and was told "you ain't gotta do nothing"..well, not completely true. Two weeks after that call I had a visit from the Optimum/Cablevision installer which brings me into today's Time Killing.
You always wonder before a service man shows up how the call will go.. I had my doubts that this cable phone installation would be as smooth as they promise. I had my visions and of course most didn't surface. The truck pulled up at the end of the promised time frame (which is OK as he called earlier)..I was prepared to do Nothing even though I had in my pocket a schematic of our cable hook-up scenario (my son prepared this).. I didn't show the guy right away as he said he had to do a special hook up with a second modem in the garage. OK, here we go - holes in the house, split cables and electronics subjected to the elements. Turns out that we didn't have to do that since I did find the elusive phone jack outlet in the living room. I felt like an idiot that I didn't know where our phone jacks were - jeeeze, that's my job. Turns out the installer was relieved and appreciative as he had been arguing with the dispatcher about having to set up this special garage scenario..This made me sweaty as at that moment I had no tv, no phone and no internet..I knew to be patient but the sales promise of not having to do nothin' wasn't quite accurate.
I found jacks, I ran wires, I moved furniture, I logged on to the web for the tech and cleaned up.. OK, big deal. I couldn't just sit there and this guy had a very good disposition and handled many of my inane questions with patience and assured me all will be well. He also had a thick Irish brogue which gave the whole thing a sense of lightheartedness as in "sit down laddie, you don't have to do nothin.'"
You always wonder before a service man shows up how the call will go.. I had my doubts that this cable phone installation would be as smooth as they promise. I had my visions and of course most didn't surface. The truck pulled up at the end of the promised time frame (which is OK as he called earlier)..I was prepared to do Nothing even though I had in my pocket a schematic of our cable hook-up scenario (my son prepared this).. I didn't show the guy right away as he said he had to do a special hook up with a second modem in the garage. OK, here we go - holes in the house, split cables and electronics subjected to the elements. Turns out that we didn't have to do that since I did find the elusive phone jack outlet in the living room. I felt like an idiot that I didn't know where our phone jacks were - jeeeze, that's my job. Turns out the installer was relieved and appreciative as he had been arguing with the dispatcher about having to set up this special garage scenario..This made me sweaty as at that moment I had no tv, no phone and no internet..I knew to be patient but the sales promise of not having to do nothin' wasn't quite accurate.
I found jacks, I ran wires, I moved furniture, I logged on to the web for the tech and cleaned up.. OK, big deal. I couldn't just sit there and this guy had a very good disposition and handled many of my inane questions with patience and assured me all will be well. He also had a thick Irish brogue which gave the whole thing a sense of lightheartedness as in "sit down laddie, you don't have to do nothin.'"
Monday, July 20, 2009
Survive this
I have to admit that a part of time killing involves watching too much tv. It's gotten worse with the technical advances in hi-def resolution. Even the crappiest shows look pretty good. There are some re-runs I like (Sopranos) that seem to be bloated or artificially stretched to accommodate the HD "look". Everyone looks like they gained 40 lbs and became bow-legged (I wonder if anyone ever noticed that?)
There's so much on TV now it's hard to not find something to watch. There are all sorts of categories including sports, movies, reality, games/contests. There are also those one-hour dramas that have initials that everyone screws up - CSI, SVU. There are some oddball genres of reality that I've run across...I've seen enough of those crab fishermen yanking in those damn crab pots in the Bering Sea. Yes, it's interesting but every show seems just like the last one - engine trouble, the greenhorn who needs to hustle, the captain smoking too many cigarettes, the ice building on the deck, empty pots, giant waves knocking the hell out of the crew, etc. There IS a point to that, however, since they can make a ton of money for 9 days work so risking their lives makes some sense. It's the same for the Ice Road truck guys and the crazy loggers.
The latest time killing discovery is this show Survivorman. I kept seeing it listed but never took a look. It's what you think. They drop off this nut in the middle of nowhere with a boy scout knife, a flint and a video camera. There's no safety net and he agrees to survive for a couple of days without getting eaten by alligators or grizzly bears. He has to make his way back to a pre-determined point of pick up (if he can).
I have to admit to being mildly entertained but I had NO sympathy for this guy. He asked for this and I assume the Discovery Channel is paying him something but there's no point in doing this.. I guess people say it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Of course this guy eats anything on the ground and we are supposed to be impressed. OK, It's true, my idea of roughing it is staying at a Motel Six without an elevator OR going for the final video challenge question on the Cash Cab (now there's a show)..
There's so much on TV now it's hard to not find something to watch. There are all sorts of categories including sports, movies, reality, games/contests. There are also those one-hour dramas that have initials that everyone screws up - CSI, SVU. There are some oddball genres of reality that I've run across...I've seen enough of those crab fishermen yanking in those damn crab pots in the Bering Sea. Yes, it's interesting but every show seems just like the last one - engine trouble, the greenhorn who needs to hustle, the captain smoking too many cigarettes, the ice building on the deck, empty pots, giant waves knocking the hell out of the crew, etc. There IS a point to that, however, since they can make a ton of money for 9 days work so risking their lives makes some sense. It's the same for the Ice Road truck guys and the crazy loggers.
The latest time killing discovery is this show Survivorman. I kept seeing it listed but never took a look. It's what you think. They drop off this nut in the middle of nowhere with a boy scout knife, a flint and a video camera. There's no safety net and he agrees to survive for a couple of days without getting eaten by alligators or grizzly bears. He has to make his way back to a pre-determined point of pick up (if he can).
I have to admit to being mildly entertained but I had NO sympathy for this guy. He asked for this and I assume the Discovery Channel is paying him something but there's no point in doing this.. I guess people say it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Of course this guy eats anything on the ground and we are supposed to be impressed. OK, It's true, my idea of roughing it is staying at a Motel Six without an elevator OR going for the final video challenge question on the Cash Cab (now there's a show)..
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Not Avon calling
One of the rarer time killing events is when someone rings your doorbell.. This is something you are oblivious to when you're at your "job"..Sometimes it's just a courtesy ring from Fedex or UPS as they drop a package - no need to respond...Sometimes it's a neighbor which is always welcome unless they are giving away kittens..AND, sometimes it's some kind of petition signing which always makes me suspicious as in the end they want money to save trees or whales. (I killed three trees myself this year alone)..The most recent and awkward bell-ringing episodes have been the religious types..
Having been raised Catholic I just don't know much about religion or the Bible so when I answered the door last week and saw two very churchy women I knew they weren't selling cookies or saving whales and I felt uneasy about discussing the possible apocalypse. They had their pamphlets in hand which they offered but I think their goal was to spread the word and maybe get a donation for those 12-page booklets that resembled my catechism booklets I had as a child..
I wanted them to go away but I didn't want to be rude. I asked myself the question "what would my mother do?".. that didn't help so I listened and refused the booklet. I almost said something about the signs in our neighborhood that say "no solicitation" but I didn't want to seem obnoxious. They soon got the message that I wasn't a good target and wished me well. I felt OK about that and they went on their way..I wondered what the other neighbors would do.. I felt the urge to peek down the block. I figured that was the end - I figured wrong..
A few days later I saw two more bell ringers as I was in my garage.. I don't think they saw me so being the grown up I am I ducked into the house and laid low as the doorbell started to ring. I couldn't bear to tip toe through another 4 minute sales pitch and trying to be polite. It was the best thing for me to lay low in our family room looking through the crack in the blinds.. While waiting I was dusting the window sill so I felt efficient..I also felt like I now needed to go into the Jehovah's Witness protection program!!
Having been raised Catholic I just don't know much about religion or the Bible so when I answered the door last week and saw two very churchy women I knew they weren't selling cookies or saving whales and I felt uneasy about discussing the possible apocalypse. They had their pamphlets in hand which they offered but I think their goal was to spread the word and maybe get a donation for those 12-page booklets that resembled my catechism booklets I had as a child..
I wanted them to go away but I didn't want to be rude. I asked myself the question "what would my mother do?".. that didn't help so I listened and refused the booklet. I almost said something about the signs in our neighborhood that say "no solicitation" but I didn't want to seem obnoxious. They soon got the message that I wasn't a good target and wished me well. I felt OK about that and they went on their way..I wondered what the other neighbors would do.. I felt the urge to peek down the block. I figured that was the end - I figured wrong..
A few days later I saw two more bell ringers as I was in my garage.. I don't think they saw me so being the grown up I am I ducked into the house and laid low as the doorbell started to ring. I couldn't bear to tip toe through another 4 minute sales pitch and trying to be polite. It was the best thing for me to lay low in our family room looking through the crack in the blinds.. While waiting I was dusting the window sill so I felt efficient..I also felt like I now needed to go into the Jehovah's Witness protection program!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Matinees
I think one of the better time-killing discoveries is how nice it is to go to the movies during the daytime. Now I don't just mean taking in the 3pm or 5pm showings (which are nice) but the 10 30 or 11 am early discounted shows. Being an early riser, it's never an issue to get to the theater by those morning times and now I even have my wife (and faithful movie companion) acclimated to this same schedule. I know she doesn't share the save aversion to crowds but indulges me since I seem to do better when my neuroses are at a low level. Something so nice about a theater with 6 people in there. There is NO chance that there will be coughing, talking, seat kicking and inappropriate laughing. I may have touched on this in earlier entries but it is a big part of time killing this summer.
We were curious to see this bizarro movie, Bruno. I was surprised my wife wanted to see it so I was on board for the 11 am show yesterday. As expected, about 11 cars in the 16-theater parking lot, no ticket lines, no food lines, no ticket taker and of course the requisite 6-8 people in the theater. It turned out they all laughed in the appropriate places. There weren't a ton of laughs but when there WAS one, it was intense. Overall the movie was worth seeing (I won't go into details)...I just caught a discussion of the movie on the beginning of one of my least favorite shows - "Let's all talk over each other and interrupt the hell out of each other" otherwise known as "The View"..To hear Barbara Walters' review of this movie was comical.. they should add it to the movie's ending.
We've seen quite a few matinees this summer as my wife and I now have some of the same weekdays off (yeeeehaaaa for the floundering economy). To supplement these pleasant outings we also have one or two Netflix movies waiting to be viewed most times. We've yet to watch these during daylight (Matinee) hours but these blu-ray beauties are ready when we are and they meet all the neurotic criteria...no lines, no noises, no seat kicking, coughing, etc..Just need one of those 'Tony Soprano' Movie/Media rooms with the cushy chairs and popcorn machine...Nobody dares to talk, cough or kick your chair in that room!
We were curious to see this bizarro movie, Bruno. I was surprised my wife wanted to see it so I was on board for the 11 am show yesterday. As expected, about 11 cars in the 16-theater parking lot, no ticket lines, no food lines, no ticket taker and of course the requisite 6-8 people in the theater. It turned out they all laughed in the appropriate places. There weren't a ton of laughs but when there WAS one, it was intense. Overall the movie was worth seeing (I won't go into details)...I just caught a discussion of the movie on the beginning of one of my least favorite shows - "Let's all talk over each other and interrupt the hell out of each other" otherwise known as "The View"..To hear Barbara Walters' review of this movie was comical.. they should add it to the movie's ending.
We've seen quite a few matinees this summer as my wife and I now have some of the same weekdays off (yeeeehaaaa for the floundering economy). To supplement these pleasant outings we also have one or two Netflix movies waiting to be viewed most times. We've yet to watch these during daylight (Matinee) hours but these blu-ray beauties are ready when we are and they meet all the neurotic criteria...no lines, no noises, no seat kicking, coughing, etc..Just need one of those 'Tony Soprano' Movie/Media rooms with the cushy chairs and popcorn machine...Nobody dares to talk, cough or kick your chair in that room!
Friday, July 10, 2009
You don't gotta do nothin'
As expected, the Optimum (Cablevision) sales person called again today. Just for the record, I missed the morning call as I was out and knew that the 3 pm ring had to be HIM. I thought when I answered he'd spout something like "well, it's about time." No such luck. It was one of those sales office auto dialers when you answer there is that 5 second delay until the seller gets on the phone. I'm sure he had no idea (as previously stated) that he'd called me over 200 times.
So I decided to give it a shot. I realized that this person was the same person I spoke to a few months ago. That wasn't a good feeling because he was unable then to answer some of my technical questions. I even said to him we'd spoken before. It didn't phase him. He probably speaks to 84 people a day like me. I gave him an "A" for effort and a C+ for execution. I corrected him on my name pronounciation (for no reason) at least 3 times.. I gave up on that and I also asked him to stop hyping the overkilled rewards program where we can see a free movie (only on a Tuesday) once a month at certain theaters..There were other perks too but I just want all my crap to work correctly. I don't want to kill any time waiting for service calls..
I'll cut through the details (which I like to do).. The overall package will clearly save me some money ($100/month) so that's why I agreed to it. I gave up on the tech questions and figure I'll talk to the installer when he comes here in 2 weeks. I was assured that they (Optimum) will take care of all the landline cancellation and transferrence of my existing phone numbers. To quote my main man -- "You don't gotta do nothin"... Ahhhhh, that's soothing..
So I decided to give it a shot. I realized that this person was the same person I spoke to a few months ago. That wasn't a good feeling because he was unable then to answer some of my technical questions. I even said to him we'd spoken before. It didn't phase him. He probably speaks to 84 people a day like me. I gave him an "A" for effort and a C+ for execution. I corrected him on my name pronounciation (for no reason) at least 3 times.. I gave up on that and I also asked him to stop hyping the overkilled rewards program where we can see a free movie (only on a Tuesday) once a month at certain theaters..There were other perks too but I just want all my crap to work correctly. I don't want to kill any time waiting for service calls..
I'll cut through the details (which I like to do).. The overall package will clearly save me some money ($100/month) so that's why I agreed to it. I gave up on the tech questions and figure I'll talk to the installer when he comes here in 2 weeks. I was assured that they (Optimum) will take care of all the landline cancellation and transferrence of my existing phone numbers. To quote my main man -- "You don't gotta do nothin"... Ahhhhh, that's soothing..
Thursday, July 9, 2009
rrrrrrrring, it's US
I have had no less than 200 calls from our local cable company (Cablevision) trying to get me to sign up for their "triple play" deal which includes TV, Cable and Phone. I have two of the three and I have held out on the phone service.. (I heard things)..Since I've been home I have had the time-killing opportunity of looking at the caller ID and if it's Optimum (Cablevision) I don't answer. Now it's become an obsession, however, I am thinking of switching over to save $100 a month on my useless landline carrier..I keep thinking, OK, I will answer next time they call. Well, they called about 25 minutes ago and I didn't answer. I need rehearsal time to ask all the key questions. I'd love to know how much money they've spend on their recent advertising campaign. It's all over the TV - in multiple languages, newspaper and radio, inserts in the freakin Pennysaver and of course direct mail brochures..I am wondering when (and if) I answer their next call if I can riff with the sales person..
"Sayyyyyy, you called me more than 200 times, do I get some kind of annoyance discount?" I'm sure they will be responsive and sympathetic. I actually DID talk to someone there about 3 months ago and he couldn't answer one technical question I had so my fear of change kicked in. Sure, I've got cable phone now but my DVR stopped working and my internet is flakey. I need to have better answers..It's a crap shoot who answers and a bigger crap shoot as to who shows up at the house.. (damn, and I will have to hide all my illegal splitters or bribe the tech to stay out of Optimum jail).. Oh, God, there's the phone now... stay tuned..
"Sayyyyyy, you called me more than 200 times, do I get some kind of annoyance discount?" I'm sure they will be responsive and sympathetic. I actually DID talk to someone there about 3 months ago and he couldn't answer one technical question I had so my fear of change kicked in. Sure, I've got cable phone now but my DVR stopped working and my internet is flakey. I need to have better answers..It's a crap shoot who answers and a bigger crap shoot as to who shows up at the house.. (damn, and I will have to hide all my illegal splitters or bribe the tech to stay out of Optimum jail).. Oh, God, there's the phone now... stay tuned..
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Betty, we hardly knew ye
Oh to have the time to watch the Michael Jackson memorial. It hasn't started yet and actually I am not planning on watching. I'll wait until it's covered on the "Soup" to get the real details..OK, so of course the Today show is promoting this - they are out in LA and have reporters all over the place. One reporter - whom I've never seen - filed a report of where MJ may be laid to rest. He was in front of some kind of Pine Lawnish building and said many celebrities were buried there. He ran down a list of names of Hollywood elite including Betty White (Hollywood elite?).. It caught my attention for some reason. The reason? I just saw Betty White on Super Password and I actually thought mmmmmmm, the last of the Golden Girls and the great Sue Ann Nivens from the Mary Tyler Moore show. So when I heard she was dead and buried I wondered just how recent this Super Password show was.. Perhaps her death was upstaged by the passing of Karl Malden??
Betty Lives.. Trusty Meredith Viera popped in and apologized. That reporter was meaning to say Bette Davis was buried there..Phew, that was close..
Betty Lives.. Trusty Meredith Viera popped in and apologized. That reporter was meaning to say Bette Davis was buried there..Phew, that was close..
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lights, camera, nausea
Going to the movies is a standard time killing undertaking for me... We usually take one trip to the theater each week - if there's something to see. The last few weeks we saw some good science fiction (not my favorite) in Star Trek; action movie in The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3; comedy in Whatever Works by my favorite director Woody Allen. All these were entertaining and I took something from it. Today we switched gears and saw a new documentary (I love documentaries). This one was titled Food, Inc.
It was an interesting, informative movie about everything that goes into the foods that we eat. I knew what I was in for and purposely didn't buy any M&Ms going into the theater. It does seem that most of what we eat is corn based. I think you can make anything out of corn - even diapers and batteries. There was plenty of footage of slaughterhouses where cows, pigs and chickens met their untimely ends. You may need to divert your eyes as they decapitate the chickens in some kind of Willy Wonka-esque head removal machine.
There were the usual villains in a story like this who naturally refused to be interviewed. I was hoping to hear from some suits from Monsanto, Tyson and Perdue. I'm sure Frank Perdue or one of his surviving sons could have lightened up the mood of this morbid reality check. Their current TV ads are so warm and fuzzy with their chickens who they named..Picture their prize hen Hazel sliding into the decapitator and having her throat cut, having her blood drained and a farewell wish from one of the boys "see ya at KFC, Hazel."
It was an interesting, informative movie about everything that goes into the foods that we eat. I knew what I was in for and purposely didn't buy any M&Ms going into the theater. It does seem that most of what we eat is corn based. I think you can make anything out of corn - even diapers and batteries. There was plenty of footage of slaughterhouses where cows, pigs and chickens met their untimely ends. You may need to divert your eyes as they decapitate the chickens in some kind of Willy Wonka-esque head removal machine.
There were the usual villains in a story like this who naturally refused to be interviewed. I was hoping to hear from some suits from Monsanto, Tyson and Perdue. I'm sure Frank Perdue or one of his surviving sons could have lightened up the mood of this morbid reality check. Their current TV ads are so warm and fuzzy with their chickens who they named..Picture their prize hen Hazel sliding into the decapitator and having her throat cut, having her blood drained and a farewell wish from one of the boys "see ya at KFC, Hazel."
Thursday, July 2, 2009
...and the livin is easy
I don't know why I am paying so much attention to the weather. It's something a bored retired guy would do (uh oh). I cannot remember any time period when it's rained so much and temperatures have been so non-summerlike. I notice the rest of the country is boiling while we are living in some kind of rain forest. The lawns are deep green and the shrubs and flowers are growing amok..So who cares? I have to admit in a weird way I like it. I am trying to establish a new record for not turning on our precious central AC system. I had it fired up and checked out in May and it's now July and I haven't used it. Now I am seeing just how far I can take it. Just knowing it's there is comforting but I've been experimenting with ceiling fans and open window/cross ventilation solutions. My mother would be happy and comfortable..."ahhhhhhhh, feel that breeze? It's the nicest part of the day.."
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Senator Stuart Smalley?
What a weird news period the past few weeks. I had to kill some time watching shows I normally avoid - all the morning and magazine shows. The warm up was Ed McMahon's death followed by Farrah and then the most newsy - Michael Jackson. This Michael Jackson issue will be playing until Thanksgiving. But wait, there's MORE! If you watch these shows now you get BILLY Mays. That's right the ultimate bearded, loud talking pitchman made minor headlines after dying after MJ.. And no it wasn't related to a rough airline landing.
To me my favorite news story of this summer is Al Franken was named the junior senator for the state of Minnesota. This after a long, complicated vote recount. He got in by something like 300 votes..I always liked Al from SNL..How could you not.. he's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it, people like him...
To me my favorite news story of this summer is Al Franken was named the junior senator for the state of Minnesota. This after a long, complicated vote recount. He got in by something like 300 votes..I always liked Al from SNL..How could you not.. he's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it, people like him...
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