Strangely Fascinating, 10 Years Later

Zowie Bowie - Pic courtesy of tumblr.com

by Trebor Snillor

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Ah changes are taking the pace I'm going through

David Bowie, Changes

Today is icky and cold, a little overcast. Starbucks is overrun with people like me seeking a warm-up. The one week forecast shows all manner of ups and downs, almost like weather imitating life. My long weekend seems much abbreviated by the fact that I’m moving out of my kitchen into the dining room. A new kitchen is coming in the next few weeks.

This blog celebrated a 10 year anniversary 3 weeks ago, which went pretty well unnoticed even by me. In 2005, I had grandiose plans for this to be an income-producing eZine. It failed spectacularly at that and I even considered killing it off a couple of years ago. Now it has survived almost more as a personal journal than any kind of social-cultural commentary.

THESE 10 YEARS

In 10 years, some things have changed (but not remarkably for me). I was a strident anti-Bush lefty in 2005 – now my reaction to most things political is “meh”. One of the certain joys of being an old, single man is that you can care a little bit less about things. I used to think the world hung in the balance and now I’m not even sure anything really matters at all. By the time we (as a society) ever can distinguish our asses from our elbows I’ll be long dead. I’m thinking cremation and not burial – my ashes should be free.

There are things that simultaneously annoy and amuse me. We have a black President and white Republicans are eager to say racism is over. We have gay marriage in 37 states – many of the same people think homophobia made the exit with racism. Wrong on both counts – the ism’s are alive and well. To quote Truman Capote, “A faggot is the homosexual gentleman who just left the room”. The recent events in Ferguson MO make it clear that nothing is exactly clear with race either. We humans are works in progress; we have an amazing capacity for self-delusion.

I’m strangely fascinated that my life is so much the same as 2005.. Same job, same house, same single status. I’ve had several relatives expire and a brother move 2000 miles away. I’ve had some pets die; have had some friends disappear just from the ebb of jobs and the flow of mundane circumstances. A good friend (and constant lunch companion) just retired from my company.. am envying his new independence. I’m remodeling and refurnishing my house so necessity demands a steady, real paycheck for now.

CONCLUSION

I’m probably a bit under the influence of a gray sky. I’m optimistic at the very base of it all – nowhere near standing on a window ledge. To quote the Rolling Stones, “Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind”. I still have a whole collection of dreams, but they’re no longer the Technicolor extravaganzas that they were.

I think if I can achieve financial independence and 10 years of pre-senile awareness I might still mark a couple of things off my bucket list.. Am realizing how depressing this preceding blog post seems -- not at all appropriate for a man getting a new kitchen. I’m now shifting into my “optimism” gear – I intend to tackle that bucket list! No excuses – not even a gray sky.

© 2015 Snillor Productions

Mi Cocina and Me

Aiming for this, will we get there? - Pic courtesy of Trebor

by Trebor Snillor

Today

Today we’re having blue sky and temps in the low 60’s. Everyone is energized including me. I’ve already shopped at Trader Joe’s and dropped off several items at Goodwill. Who knows what other momentous things might happen?

Mi Cocina

I’m a little bit nervous because I just contracted to have my whole kitchen gutted and replaced with a new, modern kitchen. Mind you: I’ve lived with the current kitchen for 24 years -- it is the original 1945 kitchen. The cabinet wood is so old, it’s splitting up the middle. Rats have found an opening from the crawl space and visit my cabinet interior at night. I have ONE, count’em one drawer for utensils. The time is right for a refresh.

But add to this – I’m a very private person who doesn’t like strangers in my house. The schedule is set for a long 7 week period to demolish and rebuild the one room. My neighbors will love the giant Pod that gets parked on my curb – my street is already narrow and lacking space for curb parking.

My fridge and microwave will move probably to the dining room while the remodel takes place. I’ll be eating off Chinette plates and tossing food in the trash. What’s not to love?? The aforementioned nightmare of logistics is why I put it off for almost one quarter of a century.

Never Again

Never again will I buy “this old house”. I want new, newish or old that’s already been completely remodeled. I was never gung-ho about remodeling, and this experience has reinforced that feeling. A crumbling old house can give you access to a close-in neighborhood for a bargain price – that it did. But it’s a deal with El Diablo as you confront a leaky roof, drafty rooms, creepy cabinets, no insulation, doors that stick and .. (Shall I go on?). I’m also not particularly handy with a hammer or a drill. I’m as likely to do a lot of damage as I am to fix something. I pay contractors out the wazoo to save my property from the damage my hands might do. The sum total of my practical knowledge is “Right Tighty Lefty Loosie”. That does not bode well for do-it-yourself.

The Two Doug’s

I’m reminded of the “two Doug’s” who revamped their kitchen in North Dallas. “It was so easy” they said as I looked at the appallingly misaligned tiles. It looked like it was done by a child or a chimp – either one grown bored of finger painting and looking for other free-form expression. I might ask, what is the point of do-it-yourself if it looks like crap? You saved a few dollars and have a standing monument to your own inadequacy. There are apprenticeships and trade schools for a reason – nothing is as easy as it looks. Stick to your day job people!

I Digress

My new kitchen is supposed to have maple cabinets, quartz counters, porcelain tile and new stainless appliances. It all remains to be seen.. When I had a garage built 10 years ago the contractor and I very nearly came to blows in the front yard. He had forgotten a detail in the contract and I was seeing red. We got around that issue but were wary of each other from that point. Circling distrust is not a good vantage point with a contractor.

Drawing a Conclusion

I will try to maintain peace and civility this time around. I will look forward to the new kitchen. And as God is my witness I will never, ever buy a crumbling old house again!

© 2015 Snillor Productions

Park Cities People

Rich SOB's shop here - Pic courtesy of Wikipedia

by Trebor Snillor

Today is a bright, beautiful, bitterly cold day. It’s what I call a Colorado Day where the near freezing tempefrature belies the welcoming blueness of the sky. Still, we are all loving it. Sun and cold is way better than rain and cold. Today I might be seen as Mr. Grouch as I hit on a couple of negative topics. I’m basically positive overall but I have to grouse at the excesses of rich people.

Dodd Frank Debacle

Scott Burns is a center-conservative, financial columnist whose pragmatic viewpoints I’ve come to highly respect. In today’s paper, he points out that Citibanc lobbyists have succeeded in having Congress repeal the Dodd Frank derivatives legislation. The DF Act was the single, fairly tepid reaction to the 2008 Recession.. it sought to eliminate the reckless trading that caused the 2008 real estate melt-down. I have to caution anyone who’s currently banking on house-value appreciation – watch your step. It’s amazing, even outrageous that Congress and Citibanc can put us at such risk when we’re still fixing what happened 7 years ago. The “Too Big to Fail” banks can return to the casino with our money. If they win, they pocket the gains. If they lose, we bail them out again.

Park Cities Being Pissy

In this week’s “Dallas Observer”, author Eric Nicholson points out the many ways in which the residents of University and Highland Park make arrogant *sses out of themselves. Without replaying his story I’ll hit the highlights. Park Cities (PC) tried to block a high-rise on Cole Avenue from being built. The high-rise is Dallas property -- actually only a mid-rise. It would help our tax base and improve the whole area. Fortunately a judge threw out Park Cities’ worthless lawsuit. PC has tried to reroute Love Field flight paths – this effort is currently stalled. (Also thank goodness). PC celebrated “Banned Books” by trying to ban additional books – this effort was stymied too. Free speech advocates can breathe with relief. Unfortunately Park Cities has gotten their way a couple of times. All the broad Dallas Avenues get strangled down to one lane as they stretch thru the elite neighborhoods. Mockingbird goes from 4 lanes to nearly a hike ‘n bike trail. They soon intend to reduce the default speed limit to 25 mph. In yet another area of contention they’ve banished redevelopment of Preston Town Center – they fear that riff-raff will want to sneak their way into PC schools without paying the property tax dues.

The Rich They Are Different

I drive down HP’s Beverly Drive every day to work. Mockingbird would be a more direct route, but see above reference to choked off streets. I’ve been ticketed for going 3 miles over a school zone limit. A coworker said I could challenge that in court if I wanted – it’s in the margin of radar detection error. They later cited me for rolling thru a stop sign also. Both happened in my beat up older car. Can’t help but think if I were in a new Lexus with an Armstrong address it would be a warning or nothing at all. As it stands I’ve paid for $400 of their beautiful median posies.

Fort Worth and Austin have rich people who actually engage with the “little people”.. it has helped both cities to prosper and have vibrant downtowns. The rich people of Dallas have walled themselves off in exclusionary luxury. “Suck it Dallas – we don’t need your scuzzy parks and schools when we have country clubs and academies”. Arrogant bastards. I sometimes window shop at the Highland Park Knox Street stores since Apple is nearby. The Knox Street Restoration Hardware store had a book on display – “The Rich – They Are Different”. They certainly are; they truly think money puts them above common decency or common sense.

OK you guys in Park Cities. I see by your many Christmas lights and “He is Risen” signs that you’re Christian. You know that He said, “It’s easier for a camel to step through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven”. Enjoy the elitist Heaven you have here because you’re snarky attitude won’t gain you very easy admission to anywhere else.

© 2015 Snillor Productions