It's not quite the "pits of the world," as John McEnroe might put

But Vegas is damned close. A perfectly dreadful one horse town in a half-horse state. Oh my, am I glad to be out of there.

New Town, New Life

Again, I’ve been remiss in writing for this venue. As it was a promise to myself to do so, I really have no excuse, except a period in which I was moving.

 Yes, I’ve done it: No longer in that piece of crap, immature city in a piece of crap immature state, Las Vegas. I am indeed, almost settled in Portland, Oregon. It’s a good thousand miles from there, my ex-wife and all of the drama that goes with her. In fact, I even have a new cell phone number and obviously a new landline, as well as a new address. At this point, as far as I know, she hasn’t a clue as to where I’m living. 

I’m also living about four blocks from my youngest son, town that’s close to being Greenwich Village of the 60s and earlier; and not far from where my older son and his wife visit her parents several times a year. 

I’ve only been here ten days or so, and I recount the journey to you in the next few days.

In the interim, thanks for continuing to stop by and I hope you continue to do so.

A Post Pharmaceutical (Prescribed) Addled Inanity

It is 2:12 in the morning. It's taken me a bit time to just write first sentences, such as it is.

A cigaret dangling from my lips I think about the event of the day. Well, there were no events, really. This seems a truly odd comment or post or evacuation of inanity.

As readers know, I'm ill for some time. That has passed, but the remnants of my bout with this ailment are apparently a cough. Now that's complicated by a possible side effect from blood pressure meds. Without reiterating my odyssey in ailments.

Ah, a cough so bad it pulled all the muscles on my right side rib cage and cracked a rib as well. A couple of weeks ago the ways almost unbearable and the doc prescribed Tramadol. All of the painkillers have nasty side effects…you can look it up.

The cough that caused this has not subsided, but only subsided. I gave a home remedy cough syrup a try, but today went back to over the counter. Every time I could the muscles hurt like hell, but the OTC version of the remedy seems not to be controlling it.

Dear reader, please excuse me, as it it late at night, well, early in the morning and "painkillers" do make one a little nuts.

After days of dread pain in my side, exacerbated by coughing, the side feels better…tonight I just awoke that early hour and thought I'd write something. Rex is more sensible, the stirred a bit and went back to sleep. He is old them I by 7 years, dog years.

Smoking of course is not good for coughing, but I continuing to take a puff now and then.

The perplexing issue is that I have, for the past three or four days, felt remarkably fatigued. I do not know if this stress bouncing of my forthcoming move to Portland, continued concern about an attack by my ex-wife, or simply meds.

Whatever it is, I'll get it figured out. An acquaintance in the apartment complex asked me if living without a care while being ill made things worse. Absolutely not. I've an eye issue and the meds make me less alert. Walking two miles round trip to pick up cough remedies (when I'm not making my own….and the one I have is almost clearly better than I discuss a few ago…and cigarettes. I do really abhor cars.

It is indeed Friday and I am one day closer to moving.

The Sequestered Life

Again, it has been far too long since my last update to this venue. In my own defense, I have been pyschologically destroyed by the "sequester." In fact, I probably will require psychotropics to deal with. Seriously, folks, you probably know that the sequester will have little or no impact on you, most likely the latter. Yeah, it's here, and yeah, if you're flying, it's going to take a bit more time to get through the airport and some government employees have been furloughed…but it's the the media frenzy of the moment. So tiresome this sort thing. My life, however, is changing. I'm recovered after six weeks of illness and have now begun to explore what will be my new home, Portland, Oregon. It appears a mini-San Francisco, quite earthy and cosmopolitan and quite lovely. I am relishing this new adventure next month. It will reinvigorate me…and also remove me from my ex-wife and the potential dangers she presents and do by about 1000 miles. How grand.

Life Changes

It has been two weeks since I've posted anything, and I have an excuse. Though I abhor discussions of health, I've been ill and today is the first day I've felt like writing anything. It was the flu six weeks ago, which left me with a cough so violent I pulled muscles in my abdomen. Before I continue, I want to impart what I've learned from that illness. First, my closest friends have been just great, calling, running some errands, etc. And, my sons checked in almost daily, as did my sister. Second, over the counter cough syrup is a waste of money and not especially effective, especially for me. I now make my own with a base of thick sugar syrup and some spices including Cayenne pepper, ginger and lemon. That is all but gone now, so let me update you on my life these days, such as it is. Life is, unusually quiet, though I have rather a momentous change on the horizon. When I was ill, my sons thought, given my age, it might be best to have me move near one of them. To make a long story short, at the end of April, my oldest will be flying out here to help me pack up into a U-Haul and we'll drive to Portland together where I'll rent my younger sons "older" house, i.e. the one he first bought and now serves as a rental. How odd I find it to be moving at the age of 70, and having the move be a life-changing experience. I've never lived in the Pacific Northwest and look forward, with relish, to the adventure. I will be living in a small house, with a bus stop a block away and just three blocks away from a grocery store and other commercial outlets as well as a movie theatre. And, to think, I didn't think there were anymore adventures left in my life. The move, of course, will remove me from striking distance of my ex-wife, who, in all fairness, I must say, has been remarkably quiet over the past few weeks. She has a boyfriend and I suppose that is the reason. But whatever the reason, it will certainly remove some of the underlying stress in my life. Needless to say, it will be great to have family within walking distance.

Valentine's Day

Ah, Valentine's Day. Yet another "Hallmark Holiday," designed to sell product, love and sex. Come to think of it, that's what bordellos do 365 days a year. Forgotten, of course, is Valentinus, of which there were a few: a bunch of Christian saints, some martyred for various offenses of the absurd. I am grateful that on this day, I've bought no gifts, sent no cards, with the exception of my two Grandkids and the women who manage my apartment complex for who Rex brought over a box of candy and card. These women "take care" of me. If I don't show up with Rex before noon daily (he likes to visit his "girlfriends"), the call the apartment to make certain all's okay. To show one's sentiment and affections these days, or rather on this day, more than $6 billion will be spent. It is not that I'm not a Romantic; but it is that I'm an old "beat," who believes that affection's shown through words and deeds, not dollars…that would be my last ex-wife, frankly. Without showers of gifts and dinner out, the holiday meant nothing to her. We were almost on the same side of the fence there: It's never meant anything to me. I count myself as fortunate that there are no women in the life these days, romantically anyway. Were there, I would have to contend with this nonsense, and my objections would be met with anger and argument. Oh, I yearn for those "beat" days, those old days when women were easier going, if I recall, or at least those I knew and weren't bent on expensive travel, dinners and so forth. I remain that old time Village guy.