Reg's Thoughts for the Day

Penny for your thoughts...

2006-07-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Lincoln penny.
- was once made of copper, now is made of zinc (due to cost of copper)
- for every 1 cent penny made, 0.83 cents of zinc is used and 0.57 cents are used for production costs

so,

it takes 1.3 cents to make a 1 cent penny... :-)

How can we discipline this kid?

2006-04-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know what started it but the Pastry decided to create weird raspberry noises yesterday.

Pastry: (raspberry)!

Both her mother and I look at her and are about to reprimand her. Her eyes get a little wide and she realizes we don't approve of such noises so without missing a beat:

Pastry: I love you!

So you can imagine the rest of the night. This girl is EVIL!

Sage Advice...

2005-12-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

One of pastryauntSF's friends got some advice about friendship and women the other day (this is paraphrased) from her mother:

"You can't trust grown (Asian) women with bangs. " Her reasoning was that they try to play the cute, docile asian female role with the bangs but underneath lurks evil...

This got me thinking about another piece of asian motherly advice that a friend relayed to me a long time ago:

The 3 requirements for the ideal wife:

1. Long neck - not sure why
2. Has to have older brothers - so they'll know how to take shit from men.
3. Pale skin - that darker skin is peasant blood from working in the fields.

Any other sage advice out there. Let the commentary begin. Mind you the above advice was not given by anyone in the immediate or extended pastry family.

Heard on NPR today...

2005-10-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

NPR had a story about people evacuating south florida because of Hurricane Wilma. They interviewed this lady who was driving to her mother's home in Georgia:

"...(taking) just the necessities. A couple of changes of clothes, my medicine and the TV."

- only in America.

BTW
Most of you will have read pastrymom's blog today, so you can pass the word about the answer to the question, "When are you guys gonna have another one?"

Katrina Commentary...

2005-09-09T05:52:00.000-07:00

Been on the sidelines for much of this. There is so much greater eloquence about the subject out there. The only thing I would have to add is the further disappointment in the leadership of this country. The government leaders that we have come to admire were visionaries not reactionaries. I hope that the country finally wakes up.

Just a couple of links:

Anderson Coooper interview

Keith Olbermann commentary (this was GOOD!). This is the text link. Search for the video.

Another year...

2005-08-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

August 24th is a very unusual date in that I know 3 people from the same building complex born on that date. Two live on the same floor. So

Happy Birthday to

PastryAuntNY - see you in a few days
BrooklynJay - have fun at Foxwoods
Judy (Linda's sister/Sophia's Aunt) - we never talk so i have no idea what you are doing...:-)

Good morning....

2005-08-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

Just this morning.

colleague: your daughter is so cute.
me: thanks. she would be cuter if she slept through the night.

colleague: your daughter...she's beautiful. your wife must be very pretty.
me: thanks and she is

colleague: ok see you later
me: have a good day.

Did she just insult me?

pros and cons of visitors

2005-08-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

Pros
- playmates for pastry
- gifts for the pastry
- smiles for the pastry

Cons
- more cooking
- more cleaning
- wonder about remarks made by the visitors
- more stress for the pastrymom
- extra driving/entertainment duties for the pastrymom/dad
- pastry sleep/naps screwed up
- more crap to store
- loss of vacation time

so

visitors = good for pastry but bad for pastryparents.

And the moral of the story is...

2005-07-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

I learn a lot by doing rather than by reading. As such, from time to time I make decisions, which in retrospect, are somewhat foolhardy and some may call stupid. Pastry mom and I get sucked into the packaging and the cool factor. The key is learning from your mistakes and what have I learned from my mistakes? I cannot speak for pastrymom but (this will be a recurring topic):

1. Never buy a combo DVD/TV. I got one and I can play the regular Blockbuster DVDs and the Wiggles for pastry but if I need to watch a chinese VCD or DVD, good fucking luck. Get the TV and buy the cheap all region all media format player from the local shady asian video store and enjoy the cool movies.

2. Never buy a Phillips plasma TV if you get comcast cable. For some stupid reason, the comcast DVI-D signal is not compatible with Phillips plasma TVs. What the fuck? And trust me the DVI-D signal is WAY better than the component video.

3. The cordless hand vac (aka Dustbuster) is more useful than the more powerful corded one. If you're gonna need something more powerful than the dustbuster to do the job then you might as well pull out the regular-sized vacuum.

4. Mounting a plasma over the fireplace may seem like a good idea until you realize that you can't hide the cables because it's a firehazard.

5. Hiring Chinese workers to install plumbing and fixtures with instructions that are written in English is just begging for trouble. Our prayers have been answered oh so many times...

6. Tree bark mulch hides a lot of your gardening errors.

7. The water pik shower massager head that pastrymom wrote about in her previous blog is truly the best showerhead under $60.

8. Best Buy may be cheaper but the after purchase service SUCKS. We called their service department about #2 about a year ago and they still haven't shown up.

9. Nature's Miracle - for all your pet waste needs

...

Money Isn't Everything...

2005-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Incorrigible's aunt jumped in front of a subway train a few months ago and after a prolonged hospitalization passed away over the weekend. Her reasons for doing that will be buried with her although there is speculation about why.

I saw someone today who OD'ed on some pills 2 weeks ago. This guy suffered a stroke about a year ago and thought he would make some sort of recovery where he would walk again but got frustrated with his condition and decided to try and "change his fate."

What drives someone to actually try the act? Both pastrymom and I have contemplated ending it all at some time in the past. I don't quite remember the circumstances but I remember standing in the kitchen and looking at the collection of knives and wondering if I should or if I could.

It is not hard to imagine someone thinking about suicide but to come up with a plan and to enact it requires something extra. A friend of mine once said that he cannot forgive anyone who commits suicide. "It's the most selfish thing someone can do." I hear his voice everytime the thought or the discussion of suicide comes up.

My father is battling cancer. He is a shell of his former self. He has been depressed and I don't see him that often because he lives on the other coast. I wonder at times what goes on in his head because he's just one of those people who doesn't open up. I have seen rare displays of sadness and remember him crying only twice in my lifetime: during my grandmother's wake and at the bedside right before his surgery when he stated "I am worthless."

My brother and sister and I would have long discussions in the past about him. Despite many setbacks and failures he suffered, he remained so optimistic (at least outwardly) about the future. For that he will always have my admiration. He is visiting us this week and appears to be in better spirits...the pastry will do that. Maybe the shell is filling up.

Emily Grows to Category 4

2005-07-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Saw that on the on-line news today...thought it to be appropo.

New Yorker (cont'd)

2005-07-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the comments from the gallery. I have not lived in NYC for almost 10 years. People ask me if I miss it and I can say I really don't. I guess in the mind of the current New Yorkers, I have lost my status as a "New Yorker." I can accept that. However, I do reserve the right to question whether or not someone can call him/herself a New Yorker.

New Yorkers have an edge that is distinct. You don't realize it until it's pointed out. I remember meeting a bunch of my college roommates' friends in Connecticut one summer and after about 15 min during which I did not say much, one of them asked if I was from New York. When I asked how he knew, he said "you can tell." This happened a couple of other times at that period of time of my life--it doesn't happen anymore, so I guess I've lost "it."

Distinctive NY things (things you cannot get anywhere else)

knish w/ mustard and onions (hot dog with onions)
Gray's Papaya
South Wind rice rolls/dumplings
70 mph cab ride in mid-town traffic (better than any thrill ride at Six Flags)
getting squished into a bus or subway car
folding a slice of pizza in half to eat
jamaican beef patties

"New Yorker"

2005-06-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

I had a "discussion" once about being a "New Yorker."
What does that mean?
What defines it?
How long do you have to live there before you become one?
Do you lose the status if you leave?
Are there stages to becoming a New Yorker?
Are there rites of passage?
Are there distinctive phrases or slang that are distinctly NY?

Chime in all...

Pool Exercise...

2005-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Before we proceed with the the why's of being single, I guess I should ask those who are single if they enjoy being single and if they want to remain single.

Oh about the pool of eligibles for you Jay. Just a mathematics exercise, I got to work early this AM...:-)

-> ~280 million in the US of which 52 million are females in the 20-44 age group.

let's say 50% are married (actually a little less)

-> ~26 million

let's cut out the >40 and the <25 group so drop by 1/3

-> 17 million

1/3 are overweight ( I know you don't like fat chicks)

-> ~12.3 million

50% republican (according to the last election, less)

-> ~6.15 million

2% vegetarian (can't trust anyone who doesn't eat meat)

-> ~6.01 million

1-5% are lesbian (let's use 3%)

-> ~5.8 million

50% religious (but I think a good percentage of them go to church to "hook up.")

-> ~2.9 million

So the pool starts at 2.9 million prior to any Gwyneth Paltrow and Yankee fans.

2.9 million is a healthy number, isn't it?

Father's Day Thoughts...

2005-06-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

My second father's day (some thoughts from the past 2 years):

- "Oh, sheet" was what the pastry uttered when she stumbled while standing in the shopping cart.

What did she just say!? Where did she learn this?. I would rather have had my daughter learn where to shit before she learns how say it. Worst of all, everyone is gonna point fingers at me for teaching her "bad words." I am not saying I teach her only g-rated material but I know I don't teach her stuff that can be fined by the FCC. On the other hand, she did say it in the right context... :-)

- Pastry got into an altercation with another little one a few months back at the mall. She got nudged/pushed so this other kid can get to whatever Pastry was playing with but Pastry didn't take it and pushed back. Rumble!!!

Coming from NYC, I've got to be proud. Kick these pansy suburban asses!!!

- "Bacon"..."French Fries"..."ice cream"..."chips"

Looking forward to having a lot of father/daughter meals together in the future...

- "poo-poo" then the face...then the smile

Gotcha! Parents are so gullible.

- "okay?" as pastry pats mom on the shoulder while mom is suffering through another migraine...

Thanks for taking care of mom so dad doesn't have to come home from work...

- Dancing naked before bathtime

OK to do at home but I hope you're not gonna do this professionally...

- Opening the door and hearing the pitter-patter of feet running to greet me, then the big smile and then hugging my leg.

Does she really have to grow up?

Worms...

2005-06-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

All the worms are wiggling out. So I called Jay's blog an "excuse manifesto" for the single. He asked me to clarify. The argument from the single people will be "easy for him to say, he's married." Before every single person out there gets all riled up, this is just a discussion and an exploration. Keep that in mind. (Jay's words in Italics).

"In my opinion, there's several reasons for this.

One is that as you get older, the pool of eligible people gets smaller. Either you're too old, they're too young, or they're already in a relationship.

That is not necessarily true. Plenty of older people date far younger people and it's not just celebrities and it's not just middle-aged men. The younger people who are maturing start to expand their age restrictions and the older folks have no age restrictions. So the age pool actually gets bigger as you get older. Think back 10 years, 5 years and compare to now and ask yourself "how young/old would I date?"

Out of the remaining eligible people more than half you're probably not attracted to, physically, for one reason or another. Then, out of the eligible people that make the cut, more than half are probably not attracted to you, physically.

This argument remains for any age so the actual number (from the expansion of the age pool) remains expanded

You now have a group of eligible people with whom you share a mutual physical attraction - you now have to see if that magic thing called "chemistry" is right.

Making lemons out of lemonade

Then you have the "Deal Breakers" - your own set of personal principals that you won't bend for anyone (me - no Yankees fans, no Republicans, no religious fanatics, etc.) - which cuts the pool down even further.

There are deal breakers and there are deal breakers. If you really like someone and the chemistry is right the deal breakers somehow (miraculously) disappear.

And there's the whole problem of how to go about meeting eligible people.

In college it was easy. There's a giant pool of single people, your age, who are at the same place in life you're at and, probably, looking for the same things you are.

(BTW...don't need the 1st comma, 2nd "at" and can probably get rid of the you are (both the contracted and the extended versions)

What do you do when you're single and no longer in college? What do you do to meet single people? Do the bar scene? Aunt hookup's? Friend hookup's? Internet Dating sites? At work? Mail order a significant other? Overseas trips to 3rd world countries where citizens are desperate for Americans with green cards?

How about all of the above.

And then, even after meeting them, there's the whole "dating" thing which takes a lot of time. Not all freaks and crazies show themselves right away. You have to go through a weeding out process which, sometimes, takes years.

This from the guy who's attracted to freaks and crazies.

You also have to find out if the "chemistry" is right too. (see above)

Do you want the same things?
Relationship: In it for Shits and Giggles/Looking for Marriage?
Family: Kids/no kids?
Living: City/Suburbs?

Do you like the same things?
Music: Cult groups/No Polyphonic Spree "Deal Breaker" Rule?
Food: Meat/No Vegetarian "Deal Breaker" Rule?
Movies: Gwyneth Paltrow/No Gwyneth Paltrow "Deal Breaker" Rule?

This is true. Except the Gwyneth Paltrow thing. I think it should be the Maxwell Caulfield Rule.

Pastrymom and I have had discussions about this and we wonder:

1. Why are some people attracted to people that everyone else sees are not right for him/her? They date the same type of guy/girl over and over again just to see the same thing happen over and over again. Einstein (who, I hear, never used flashcards) said (this is a paraphrase): Stupidity is doing the same exact thing over and over and expecting a different result.

One

2005-06-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Why do I have so many single friends? Most of them are normal and should be with people. Yeah, they all have their quirks but nothing that should be "deal breakers." All have good souls (I think.) Are they just picky? unwilling to sacrifice their current "comfort"? inflexible? sexually confused? Still want to "play the field?" Waiting/hoping for something "better"? or all of the above.

...thoughts to chew on. any responses?

Maybe I should just throw some names out and have people chime in on why...

Phoenix Rising...

2005-06-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

The donut house proprietor wants me to resurrect this blog. Do I really want to do that?...

Taps...

2005-03-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

This will be the last entry for me...Unfortunately, I cannot be totally free to write down what my thoughts are. I fear offending and causing more problems than I need. A 15 minute blog can turn into a lifelong ordeal of consequences. The constant need to edit even a short blog so as to make it as bland as possible is stifling. I have already witnessed the end of lifelong friendships because of blogging. This tool is used for the most part for people to vent about life.

Blogging can be a good tool for some people to vent and share ideas and thoughts...it is useless to me.

Driving

2005-02-17T17:22:00.000-08:00

So I was stuck in traffic the other day when I started reflecting...

I couldn't wait to learn to drive. I took the driver's ed with Mr. (I shit you not) Holler, who lived up to his name. He was some English teacher in NJ who was a St. Louis Cardinal's fan so not only did we have to endure his constant yelling/berating, we'd have to sit through his rants about the Cards. I got my license and every chance I got, I'd try to get behind the wheel. That was so long ago. Now I fight (unsuccessfully) not to drive.

Driving itself is OK but it's the traffic, I hate. Traffic can be flowing at 60-70 mph and I would still get aggravated because I don't like to be boxed in like "Frogger." I had a car sophomore year in college and was driving home 5+ hours almost every other weekend for 2-3 mos. I took the backroads of Central NY, observed the scenery and enjoyed the sense of freedom.

Life wasn't as complicated then...my cynicism was not as strong. The world was mine for the taking - I had ideas and dreams about making a difference but like most of my friends (and some now) no direction and no plans. Ideas and dreams are great but planning and implementation are probably more important. As I got older, my ideas and dreams became more focused, which I guess is a necessary evil for survival. Your thought processes change from "what can I do" to "what should I do." I was able to correct my compass but I can't help but be nostalgic for that time.

I wouldn't want to live in that time again because it truly was a difficult time, but there was a peculiar strength from being so innocent and naive. I do wish I could get that optimism back for longer than it takes to write this blog.

Fatherhood...the transforming moment

2005-02-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

A year and a half ago the lives of my wife and I were turned completely around (hers started 9 mos prior as she will tell you). The emotional spectrum one goes through in preparation for parenthood is incredible. Excitement, fear, tears of joy, tears of pain, anger, frustation, fatigue, sadness, etc...

I think a definition of courage is "the desire to be a GOOD parent." Anyone can be a parent - you can do it the traditional way with sperm and egg or more modern means with adoption. But, it takes special courage to be a good parent. It is hard to define what being a "good" parent. There are tons of books and millions of opinions but none are "right" or "correct." So you're kind of on a high-wire without a net and that is courage. The problem is you don't realize that you need this special courage until you have the child. Think about it, 24-7 worrying about how to feed and clothe a child, hoping that the child never gets seriously sick or ill or injured, education, etc. Non-parents will not understand the feeling/anxiety.

My wife, I think, is doing a fantastic job with my daughter and she will tell you that I should do more and I agree. However, as a parent, the feeling is there isn't enough things you can do for your child. If resources and time were limitless, then my daughter would have everything(except an Arabian nights themed sweet sixteen party).

I am enjoying my daughter more and more as she gets older and more engaging. The best moment of the day is when I open the door and she is running towards me with the biggest smile only to stop short of hugging me (that's our little teasing game). It's priceless and it will be one of my fondest memories when I am older.

I have no idea if I am a good father or not but I knew I started thinking like a father the other day when I was watching TV. One of those "Girls Gone Wild" infomercials came on and, in the past, I enjoyed the visuals, but this time, all I could think of was "God, I'd kill my daughter if she did anything like this." :-)

Thinking v. Knowing

2005-01-31T08:08:00.000-08:00

We communicate in various ways: verbally, silently and recently electronically. E-mails and blackberries have expedited our communications and also eliminated the dyslexic mail(middle)man. Good or bad this is how we have "evolved." So we gain the thumb skills of blackberry and the ability to leave messages in 15 secs on an answering machine but we've forgotten how to take someone's number and write a message.

One of the most irritating things is when I call someone and a family member or roommate answers and asks that I call back so I can leave it on the answering machine. Are we so freaking lazy so that we cannot write down 10 numbers and a name?

Recent work-related phone call:
Rings about 8 times (so either answering machine is off or someone is ignoring the call-waiting):
voice: "hello" (guess it's the call waiting)
Me: " can i speak w/ ????, please?"
voice: "I don't think she's home." (think? or know?)
Me: "Ok, can I leave her a message."
voice: "yeah" (if you must)
me: "This is ----, please have her call me at..."
voice: "I think she has your number." (so I really don't have to take it down, asshole)
Me: "You think or do you know? because it is important that she call me back."
voice: "(sighs)...hold on...let me find a pen..."
Me: "ok" (god forbid you get off your fat ass to write down 5 letters and 10 numbers)

I "think" I was interrupting her conversation with her friend about make-up or how fat a pair of jeans made her look. I "know" she was being a lazy ass! BTW...she's obviously fat because all she does is sit on her ass and talk on the phone. I think the only other time she ever uses a pen was to write a message for her mom to pick up chee-tos and twinkies...or maybe she just left the list on the answering machine...:-)

Pressure

2005-01-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

This blogging thing has become an obsession with a certain member of my household and I have been "encouraged" to keep up with my blogging...

This has been one of the busiest weeks ever at work and I was "on the edge" for a few moments on Tuesday. One of those pressure cooker weeks where you find out what you're made of. I am here blogging, so I came out of it OK. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

I guess we're always under some kind of pressure. I think the last time there was no pressure placed upon me was in 4th grade. Since then it's just been a constant wave of expectations and questions about those expectations...good grades...good schools...good friends...good job...good career...good family...good life...even good death - I even have to die the right way in order for my life insurance policy to be valid.

Sometimes you just wonder why you put yourself throught the disappointments and the hard work when you really don't have to. We study to get good grades so we can go to a good school so we can get a good job so we can have a "good life." What is a "good life?" Is it material wealth? Is it contributing to society? Is it rising up in society? Since I am not really all that religious, getting through the pearly gates is not the drive for me to live "a good and productive life". When my heart stops beating and my brainwaves stop waving, I'm gone. So why am I doing all this!?

Whiny!? Depressed!? Cynical!? Nah! This rant is just a moment in time. I got two lemons...time to make some lemonade

Prelude to a Thought...

2005-01-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

Joining the blogging world is a bit weird. As some of you who personally know me, I have written long stream of consciousness letters prior to the widespread use of e-mail. Those in my generation saw tremendous change in technology and information. I guess blogging is just the current phase.

so on we go....

USPS...

I can't think of anything more absurd than a dyslexic mailman which is what I think I have. My home address is 1368 and I keep getting the mail of 1386 or 1638. Kind of irritating since not only do I get my own junk mail, now I have to sort through someone else's. I don't need extra offers to have 0% Visa or free compact discs. I see my mailman every so often and he's always listening to his walkman while he is busy screwing up the neighborhood mail...wonder if his headphones are on the right way...maybe those mail trucks with the steering wheel on the right side are made especially for him and his kind.

I hear they read your magazines before they actually deliver them...obviously my mailman only looks at the pictures since he can't read the articles in MHF magazine.