One week ago, the remnants of Hurricane Ida came to Philadelphia. The downpour started in late afternoon and did not let up for hours. When we went to bed at 10:30, the parking lot lines were visible, so the river was behaving itself. One hour later, a car alarm woke us up. We moved to the other bedroom, but as soon as we snuggled under the covers, the building fire alarm went off. Fire? Really?... Read more →
Well folks, someone stole our checking account number. Isn't that fun? I found this out when I noticed that a weird e-check had been sent to our account. The check number was off, so I looked at the check image. It was for $33 and change, submitted by a company called Perfect Service Systems. They spelled my last name wrong, but they had our correct address. And right there on the bottom of the check... Read more →
I know it's been awhile, and I hate to return with this cautionary tale, but that's what's happening. I balance my checkbook every month, right down to the penny. I was almost done this month when I noticed a weird check on my statement for $34.31. It was numbered way out of sequence. I looked at the check image and was even more confused. It was an e-check, one of those deals where you authorize... Read more →
Well, the storm has passed - this one, anyway. More are forecast over the next couple days, but this one was a doozy! Thunder and lightning (very, very frightening), wind and heavy rain, and - of course - hail the size of garbanzo beans. We already got an email from the property management firm advising folks to move their cars from the riverside parking lot in case of flooding. But that's not what I want... Read more →
I went grocery shopping Monday afternoon. Normally Joe does the grocery shopping, even before March 14, when the world was young. When we first heard of the pandemic possibility, he went out and stocked up on hunker-down foods, so we were totally prepared, almost to survivalist levels. HAHAHAHAHA! Be that as it may, Joe continued to brave the grocery store. The first couple of times after the lockdown, he'd put on the mask and gloves... Read more →
In the midst of this madness, I try to remember how fortunate I am. I'm employed and can work from home. I have Joe and SonnyeBoy. We have plenty of food. We can make our rent, car payment, bills. Entertainment galore. I'm two weeks out from the last time I was around lots of people and three weeks out from the last time I was in a big crowd and so far I'm not sick.... Read more →
I stumbled out to get some breakfast this morning and our favorite area radio station was playing Frank Zappa's 1966 song "Trouble Every Day." The chorus is "And there's no way to delay that trouble comin' every day." How appropriate. Tuesday, March 10. I got a phone call and text informing me that the King of Prussia office was closed on the 10th and 11th due to an abundance of caution et cetera et cetera.... Read more →
Well, the power just went out. Dang, I thought we'd escape that particular eventuality, but no. Anyway, I'm connected to the interwebz courtesy of my iPhone personal hotspot - thank God for unlimited data! - but that's not going to last long given my iPhone was only at 70% when the lights crashed. So, to recap. This is one bad nasty storm. It wasn't supposed to snow this far south, but the storm had other... Read more →
I've been stewing about this since I first read about it on the Clown College Graduates Facebook page. Big Apple Circus Clown Grandma Resigns A lot of wonderful people are very good friends with Barry Lubin, and they were understandably shocked and saddened by the news. I get this, I really do. It's a terrible thing to wrap your mind around - that your dear friend could do this heinous thing. Sarah Silverman discussed this... Read more →
Well. Once again, a deranged man with an arsenal has murdered people. How many will it take before we stop sending thoughts and prayers and start determining how we can stop these terrorists? And yes, I believe that these people are terrorists. They cause terror; their sole purpose is to kill as many people -- men, women, children -- as they can. I do not give a shit whether they are affiliated with a radical... Read more →