26th
December
2020
Once upon a time, we would line up just after midnight, outside. At dawn, the most magical day of retail commerce in a calendar year would begin: Boxing Day. Those of you who are younger believe that Black Friday is the day of peak commerce (it might be; I don’t have the supporting numbers). But for many of us, if we wanted a big ticket treasure (think large screen TV), then the 26th was circled in red.
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posted in economy, pets |
16th
December
2020
The new car went for its first visit to the dealership, this afternoon. Apparently all went well.
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posted in economy, health |
22nd
September
2020
Already mid afternoon, and all seems well. That is, the electricity is on, the rain is barely aggressive, and the breeze is about right for an autumn afternoon. I want to get these observations out there, before things go south (or is it north).
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posted in economy |
15th
September
2020
Shortly before dawn, I received notice that my company was going out of business. Acquired by a hedge fund, in the south. And worse, my investment would never be recovered.
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posted in economy, sports |
14th
September
2020
If you doubt my desire to put the pandemic behind me, consider this: today I visited three different stores (albeit all in the same mall). I practiced hygiene, with their mandatory hand sanitizer stations. I masked up, although nobody would have recognized me in any case. I didn’t dilly-dally, because I had already planned out my purchases. You see: proof that I’m not a risk taker, in these troubled times. Now, can we get a vaccine ready for folks, so that I can revert to my old, careless ways? Thank you.
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posted in economy, politics |
26th
August
2020
And on the third try, after untold difficulties, ****-later completed the contracted delivery. No explanation offered; the near monopoly provided shelter from the stormy gaze of a disappointed client, as the delivery envelope was jammed into the railing on my front step. At least it wasn’t raining, and the dog was asleep. Seriously, I live one hour from their warehouse, and the “we do not care” attitude should be stencilled on the side of their nondescript delivery vehicle.
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posted in economy |
24th
August
2020
The old maxim about land being valuable because “they aren’t making any more of it” is particularly true when you live on a smallish island. Even more so when that island has been settled for a long time. First, let me tell you a story.
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posted in economy |
22nd
August
2020
It’s Saturday night. For many, here on my Island, this is one of the most important Saturday night: the GC&S race (Gold Cup & Saucer) will go, this evening. Definitely scaled down from other years, when that “two minute mile” set the tone for the whole week in the city.
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posted in economy, education |
17th
August
2020
The passage of another day without my main laptop isn’t as painful as I would have predicted. Oh sure, there are email accounts that will need to be checked, eventually. And my ongoing family tree work suffers from my not having access to my software. But, really, isn’t this period of “not knowing” just a bit better than having to accept my eventual upgrade to Win 10. After all, I’ve managed to put off for years (literally). A bit longer won’t hurt.
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posted in economy |
8th
July
2020
The path to a new vehicle edges on. I’m a bystander, but the process keeps me interested. After checking with a local bank, and with the dealer, and with a crystal ball (maybe), the decision has been made. The new rig will be a purchase, not a lease, using a combination of funds from a deep pocket and the terms offered by the dealership. The math is pretty simple; a calculator dance, mainly. After all the numbers are crunched, one is better off owning than leasing. Something about that end result, where your money is gone, but you have a rig that you’ve learned to love, close at hand.
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posted in economy |
