No retirement in view

I had set a date to retire finally from working as freelance planning engineer and that date is two days from now. But clients are pressuring me to take new projects, money no problem. If I do not work, what shall I do? Tai-chi in the park? My wife is busy tending her hundred years old mother, and my over-worked daughters. but me?  I wonder.  Nice anecdote: I remember seeing older guys getting on the bus to go home from the San Francisco financial district…thousand yard stares, rumpled suits, briefcases.  I thought they looked ancient.  They were probably 50.  I remember listening to this new band on my Sony Walkman on the bus.  One of those ancient guys asked me what I was listening to.  I told him, it was the Police.  He laughed and asked me if I liked the Firemen and the Garbagemen to.  I didn’t think he was funny, nor would have Gordon Sumner, aka Sting.

Disarmament

 I am reading Winston Churchill's book of WWII. The winners of WWI were convinced that universal disarmament would make impossible a new mechanized war. Shalom Achshav "Peace Now" (peace at all cost) Israeli utopist movement did not learn a thing. Churchill writes that the Oxford students club resolution that they refuse to fight for King and Country convinced the Duce and the Fuhrer that England will not resist.   

"...widespread western devotion to disarmament and dedication to peace were two of several reasons why democratic statesmen could not respond decisively to Hitler's threat. 

... Allied failure to bring defeat home to the German people in 1918-19 generated a resentment which contributed to interwar instability and Hitler's rise."

Hunger in Argentina?

Argentina, once top exporter of meat and corn (maize) us not producing enough to supply its own population. Now, the export of corn has been forbidden. Sad. 

My replacement is already on the job

 

This morning: terrible pains while trying to get up from the bed and walk. Lower back pain. Four acamol tablets (an over-the-counter painkiller and anti-inflammatory.) My granddaughters Emma and Shaked are learning to walk, they will run while I complete my time. 

Raging Epidemic

 

Republican Luke Letlow, 41, had been elected to Louisiana’s 5th district and was due to be sworn in on Sunday. Died of the coronavirus. 

I have lower back pains. It may be a vaccine after effect. It is already 3 PM and am starting my daily work. 

My City, Kfar Saba, the Best of Israel

 

Kfar Saba was above average in 30 out of 42 life quality measurements, leading the country in terms of life expectancy (84.8 years), job positions that match employees' fields of study (74.5%), housing density (0.68%), satisfaction with the area of residence (95.3%), satisfaction with the housing (91.8%), satisfaction with the cleanliness of the area, satisfaction with economic situation (73.2%), Internet usage (93.8%) and the lowest rate of part-time workers who don't want to be part-time workers (0.4%).

I had an apartment in Petach Tikva, a city with large population of Hungarian Jews. My wife hates that city and made me move here. Sometimes women improve the lives of their men. She certainly does. 

Angels protect Me

 I missed the registration for the anti-corona vaccination because the government estimated that in Kfar Saba most would not want it. Resulted that all the city ran to reserve a place in the queue and in no time all the places were taken up till end of March! People learned that I, this worthless and bitter old fart, was left unprotected, and suddenly they were phoning and mailing and offering their places and help me to get one. I did know I had so many friends and protectors. They care for me more than I do for myself.  

P/S: It's done. I received the first dose.