Chuck the Blogger Guy

Flying with stupidity.

I just boarded a plane leaving Boston. Took my assigned seat and sat next to a thirty-something professional looking woman reading a book. Since I was going to be sitting next to her elbow to elbow for the next two and a half hours I would attempt to start up a conversation. I asked her what she was reading. It’s a book of astronomy, she answered. Then went on to say she teaches astronomy at Wellesley. She continued to say she was on her way to visit an observatory located in the mountains of Arizona.

Then with unabashed ignorance I asked the astronomer lady, Wellesley? Is that a boy’s private prep school here in Boston? Then the conversation came to a sudden halt. She then tilted her face towards her book and said nothing. I did discover later Wellesley was a prestigious woman’s college at that time near Boston. Never the less I surmised I said something wrong. So I sat silent for a brief moment. Then the man sitting in front of me turned around and was talking to the Astronomer woman as if he knew her. So, I suggested to the man if he wishes to sit in my seat I would switch places assuming they knew each other. Which they did.

But before I could switch places the other man sitting in front of the Astronomy teacher suggested he switch places. And so she went forward one row and the fourth person came back and sat in the window seat next to me.

So then I started the conversation all over again. The man who took the seat next to me, I discovered, was a test pilot for the Air Force. So this time I let my seatmate do all the talking. But as the conversation continued I asked if he had read Tom Wolf’s book “The Right Stuff. Then the conversation went forward. Then I asked if he read James Michener book, “Space.” He had. Now the conversation was really happening. But then the Astronomer lady I insulted had turned around wanting to offer a comment or two of her own in regards to the test pilot’s and my conversation. At that point I could only smile. Then I asked the test pilot if he knew Chuck Yeager, the famed X-15 test pilot, or any of the other high flying and rocketing test pilots. I don’t remember if he said he did but the conversation continued with the three of us. Me, the Astronomer, and the test pilot. Such enjoyment we had for the next two and a half hours.

I have no sympathy for the very rich.
For me the rich and famous hold no fantasy or curiosity. Movies, books, TV shows, People Magazine articles, and any other writings of the very rich interest me not. Jeff Bezos, the Walton family, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, or Jamie Dimon. Their riches came from either good luck or shameless cunning. Mostly knowing how to milk the system with its loopholes and get away with it. Most of all their fortunes came from you and me. High risk investments they generously offer that quickly tank. Or offer only low yielding bank accounts that pay less than one-percent plus adding on high monthly service charges. In addition to that, making absurdly high interests ‘Payday’ loans. Or marketing online cheap and throw-away disposable junk they sell at Wal-mart or on Amazon. Forcing manufacturers to lower their prices to the point they are forced to send manufacturing off-shore. Not to mention billions fast food restaurants make from minimum wage workers.
Having said all this I have no problem taxing the rich or highly profitable corporations. The process is simple. We would be taking back money that is rightfully ours. Then take the money and put into fixing roads and bridges, cleaning air and water, building better schools, hiring more teachers, creating renewable energy along with better paying jobs, paying for health care for all, and generally building a strong and safe America.
I don’t like bad laws protecting the rich and their money in off-shore banks. So let’s tax them and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. Putting smart and healthy Americans to work.

 
 
I wish to speak of a matter that is important.

After much observation it is crucial I bring this to your attention. But first I had witnessed my concerns first hand. I had noticed this in hotels, restaurants, airports, rest stops, casinos, theaters, truck and family stops, churches, in people’s homes, and even in little wooden buildings out back. All institutions placing paper correctly on the holder. And I am talking how toilet paper rolls off. Sheba, my hidden spouse, insists on placing the TP on the holder so the paper rolls backwards. Rolls down the backside between the wall and the holder. Never the less I have observed and was taught to place the paper on the holder to roll outward toward the intended paper user. And again I observed what housekeeping services do for all the locations I mentioned above. Other than our house all location place TP to roll outward. So, what is wrong with Sheba? I have to take the roll off and turn it around so paper rolls outward. What am I to do with Sheba? It’s so frustrating. I just don’t get it.

The road most traveled.

There is this road, a turnpike, between Stillwater and Tulsa.  About a sixty minute drive.  A drive filled with pits and potholes.  A road that would benefit from Biden’s infrastructure spending plan.  However the insulting thing is it is a Pay-as-you-go turnpike.  A driver has to feed the toll plaza three times for a total of about six bucks.  All for what?  Maybe flat tires or bent tire rims.  The three for four years we have been traveling on this pike, we have never seen any patch or repair.  The wide pits and holes almost drive you off the road.  A very good reason to buy an old Range Rover.  So, bounce and sway while holding on while gritting your teeth. 

Book report.
This is a series of mystery murder books that I can only describe as danger with humor. Sort of ‘Murder-Lite. Never the less, the leading character is Andy Carpenter a “want-to-be” retired trial attorney living in Patterson, New Jersey with his wife, Lori a retired police officer, , and son Ricky along with two rescue dogs. Having retired several times in the past as a very successful defense attorney, Andy Carpenter is reluctantly drawn back into service. However, Andy’s first love is his rescue dog organization. But occasionally gets caught up in someone’s desperate need to be defended against a murder charge. So he often caves in and agrees to defend the accused.
But it’s the some-what dead pan and self effacing banter in-your-face Jersey guy humor dialogue between himself, his wife, his bruising body guard, and various police officers is what carries much of the story. I love the sarcasm and humor along with the mystery. The book series is written by David Rosenfelt. So, here are four Andy Carpenter books I had recently read over the past two years. You will notice some books have a Christmas connection.
Deck the Hounds, An Andy Carpenter mystery by David Rosenfelt, fiction 2018
Muzzled, an Andy Carpenter mystery by David Rosenfelt, fiction 2020
Silent Bite, An Andy Carpenter mystery by David Rosenfelt. Fiction 2020
The Twelve dogs of Christmas, an Andy Carpenter mystery by David Rosenfelt. Fiction 2016
Read them. You might like them. I certainly did.

Suspicious activity?
I continue to receive calls from a stern voice woman leaving messages in my voice mail that I need to talk to one of their representatives about suspicious activity with my SS account. Calling from a number that doesn’t exist. But being the savvy person I am, I chose to ignore her frantic plea. “You need to press ONE now and talk to an advisor right now,” she demands with an angry grade school teacher’s voice. And this last was the umpteenth time call from this desperate woman who wants me to heed her command.
What I am waiting for is a call from a Taylor Swift sounding soft spoken thirty-something advising me they accidently deposited a million dollars in my bank account. And go ahead and spend it. “It was our mistake.” Have a nice day.