The Narcisi Winery: It’s like having a little piece of Italy, right in your backyard

Two days ago, several of us from the Primetime Center took a little road trip to Gibsonia, roughly 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh—and home to the Narcisi Winery.  The weather could not have been more perfect, around 60F and not a cloud in the sky.

It’s a family owned business, and the buildings (restaurant, winery, ampitheater, assorted gazebos & grape arbors) made it feel like we’d arrived in Italy.  It was beautiful.

Based on reviews I read online, I was all set to order the Roasted Eggplant Parmigiana; but once we were seated, I wound up eating half the warm bread at our table and was carb’d out.  (It was delicious, served with olive oil, parmesan cheese & crushed red pepper for dipping—I think we went through 3 loaves!)

The server recommended I try one of their dinner salads, and said their steak salad got high praise.  I said I had difficulty with most steaks because of a jaw dysfunction, but she told me it was very tender, a cut between a ribeye and filet mignon, and the chef would cook it special.  I said okay.

Hands down, it was the best meal I’ve had this year.  And probably the best steak salad I’ve eaten in my lifetime. 

Afterwards, a few of us did some wine tasting at the taster’s bar, and the sommelier was so kind finding me a wine I enjoyed, I wound up buying a bottle to take home.

Here’s a couple pics of our outing: 

My friend Evvie & myself, waiting for our food to arrive and doing what we do best (chatting and noshing)

This isn’t a great picture of Geri, but I wanted to include everything behind her—a tremendous stone fireplace and tapestries of Italy that adorned the stucco walls

Here’s that steak salad I talked about earlier, the greens were delicious in a peppery garlic marinade. It was pretty much perfection

After our meal and after the wine tasting, we went outside to explore the grounds.  Do you remember that scene in ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ where the kids and their parents are let loose in the factory, licking fruit-flavored walls and eating candy flowers and such?

I was reminded of that here, with half the seniors in our group exploring the arbors, stuffing their mouths and purses with grapes!

And finally, here’s that bottle of wine I brought home.  Given current events, I may open it this weekend, and do some reflecting.  Stay safe, everyone.

A road trip to Mineo’s with the Golden Bachelor and some wonderful ladies

Recently I headed up to the senior center for our next outing to Mineo’s, a pizza house in Allison Park (and rated one of the ten best in Pittsburgh).  The shuttle wasn’t scheduled to pick us up until 11am, but you’re expected to be there 30 minutes early just in case.

After I arrived, said hello to everyone and got a cup of water, I sat down at one of the tables in the Community Room.  Gary got up from across the room to join me.  Oh no.  He’s a nice person, but a little soft in the head if you know what I mean.  He’s also very hard of hearing.  You have to SHOUT when you talk to him.

He says “Hello, are you going to Mineo’s today?”  I say “YES GARY.  I AM GOING TOO.”  He says “My name is Gary—what’s yours?”  Ugh—on our last outing together to Mt. Washington, no matter how many times I told him my name, he called me Chuck.  I say “IT’S DOUG, GARY.  DOUG.”   He says “Jeff?”  I say “DOUG!”  He says “Stan?”  I say “DOUG!!”  He says “George?”   I just stare at him.  I’m done.

He says “I worked at Heinz for 45 years, but I’m retired!  I got a pickle phone, a pickle clock, a pickle watch, a pickle tie-clip, a pickle PAPER clip, a pickle paper weight, a pickle—“   I say “YOU GOT A PICKLE BALL, GARY?”   He says “What? There’s no such thing!”

No offense, but I had enough of Gary.  I decided to wait in the vestibule with the ladies for our ride.  I don’t know why they all stand out there, it’s not like first come first served.  (When the shuttle arrives, the driver calls your name from a clipboard.)  Anyway, there’s a bench in the entrance where Geri, Pearl & another woman are sitting.  A dozen other ladies are standing there talking quietly, when one (Rose) says “I’m going to stand next to the man with all the girlfriends.”  

Rose pats my arm and says “Can you handle one more?” and winks at a couple of the other ladies, and they laugh.  Rose says “So how many girls do you have?”

I said “It’s really not that many.  Evvie, Geri & Pearl.  But Pearl is more like a big sister, she’s my neighbor at the Tiffany.”   One of the ladies says “What about the one you refer to as the widow?”  I say “The Widow Marple.  She lives in West Virginia, so I don’t see her often.  She’s an old classmate.”

Rose says “I suppose you’re going to tell us you like all these ladies the same?”  I say “Oh no.  Evvie comes first.  Then Geri, then the Widow Marple, then Pearl.”   Geri says “Well, at least I’m second on his list!”  Pearl says “Hello, did you forget Elaine?  She’s coming today and I thought you liked her best!”  I say “I love Elaine!  Okay, Evvie first, THEN Elaine, Geri is third now, then the Widow, then Pearl.”

Without saying a word, Geri gets up from the bench, walks over to me, slugs me in the arm, then sits back down.  The other women burst out laughing.  Right then, Elaine walks in and (in her soft voice) says “What did I miss?”  and the women laughed even harder.

Here’s some pics of these terrific ladies mentioned above:

This is Evvie who I love dearly; no matter what mood I’m in, she makes me happy the moment I see her

Geri is in the center of these two little Indians from our trip to the Pow Wow. She’s teeny-tiny, funny as she is feisty, and I’d give anything to have half her energy

Here’s my friend Diana aka the Widow Marple, from our tour of a West Virginia asylum in July. 

(She didn’t go with us, but she WAS mentioned up above and I’ve been looking for a reason to share this nice photo of her)

My neighbor Pearl, standing in this odd little “hobbit house” behind Mineo’s.  It’s faux rock (like they use in movies) and even Mrs. Mineo doesn’t know who built it or why!  Pearl looks ready to move in

Alas, no photos of Elaine.  She’s a very private person.  (Try to imagine a pint-sized Jane Wyman with salt n’ pepper hair, Ked sneakers and an oversized denim jacket.)  At the restaurant, she saved me the seat next to her and it made my day.  

Here was my lunch order, a “John’s Special”—homemade sausage, gouda cheese, green peppers & big mushrooms.  I ate 2 rich slices and brought the rest home for dinner for 2 nights.  

It was certainly tasty, but Scotty’s Pizza in my old hometown is still my favorite pie!

Meanwhile, at the Pow Wow… Hiya!

This week, several of us from our senior center had the opportunity to attend the 44th Annual Pow Wow in Dorseyville Pa. (in Indian—I mean Indiana Township).  The day started cloudy but warm, but minutes after arriving the temperature fell 15 degrees and the rain moved in.

Luckily, one of the vendors there (a lovely woman from the Cheyenne tribe) hooked me up with this Indian serape blanket that kept me warm & dry.  It came with a note of authenticity, y’know!

I feel like a chooch that I didn’t take more photos other than the few below.  There were tents galore with Native American jewelry, blankets, bows & arrows, peace pipes, tomahawks, medicine pouches, leather goods… there was this camel leather tabletop teepee (with a fireproof base to burn sage) I must’ve picked up and set down 25 times.  I wish I’d bought it.

Strangely, the only food available at this indigenous shindig was fry bread, corn chili & buffalo burgers.  I was hoping to bring home some eats but other than some venison jerky (uh…no) there was no more to be found. 

I’m just glad we ate early, after the first break in the Indian dancing, the line for food stretched half a mile!

Speaking of dancing, I now have a slow drumbeat and ear-worm caught in my noggin:  HIYA!  Hiya hiya hiya….

Golden Age women—enter the circle and perform your dance!

Golden Age men—it is your turn to join the circle and dance!

Young warriors—gather in the circle, and dance!

Couples newly joined it is your turn to dance!  (I loved this young woman’s dress, her rows of hollow tubes played windsong)

All tribes enter the circle and dance!

And last, the fire keeper dances in the rain

Photo of the Day: Lunch is served, with a little guilt & pepper

Here’s a recent lunch I had at the Senior Center.  A steakburger, diced potatoes, cantaloupe and “broccoli slaw”.   I’ve never eaten or heard of broccoli slaw before, and I can’t say I loved it, but it DID taste very healthy.  And the steakburger was delicious.

In fact, that burger was probably in my top ten list of all-time favorite burgers, it was that good.  And trust me, I’ve eaten a LOT of burgers in my lifetime! 

The Center has lunches Mon-Fri, I usually attend a couple of them.  Last week my first lunch was a spicy sausage sandwich with peppers, cooked spinach with sliced onions, a watermelon salad with feta cheese crumbles and butterscotch cake.  I announced it was the best lunch I’d ever eaten there, and they seemed to get a big kick out of that.  (I think they included my comment on a feedback form.)  I meant what I said! 

My second lunch (on Friday) was grilled salmon, roll & butter, a “rice & carrot” bake, tomato bisque soup and chopped melon for dessert.  I was taken aback, it was restaurant quality, all of it.  And no lie, the best soup I’ve ever eaten.  Many people said the same and asked for seconds & thirds.

Lunches are free, if you’re over 60 years old, a registered member of the center and you let them know a minimum of 2 days in advance.  We get a lunch menu on the first of every month.

A $3.00 contribution is suggested if you want to donate, but it’s not required.  No one has ever asked me to, but there’s only been 2-3 times I didn’t donate to the “lunch box”, a small wooden box with a lock outside the dining room.  (The lunches are funded by the Pa Dept of Aging & state lottery, our donations go towards the center.)

To be very honest, it was a real adjustment for me at the start, going there alone to attend these lunches.  I have more than enough money to eat at local restaurants, and these meals feel close to handouts.  What would my dad say?

But my reasons for going weren’t to save a buck; it was loneliness plain & simple.  And now that I’ve made some friends there, I can appreciate the lunches for their nutrition.

I just have to watch the sweets.  A couple weeks ago, I went to Courtney’s office after lunch to talk about an upcoming outing.  When I returned to my seat in the dining room, most of the people had left, but one of the ladies left these candies with my keys and papers. 

Why did she do that?  Well, I am the Casanova of California Avenue!

The lobster roll & the take-charge guy (who isn’t really a take-charge guy)

A couple days ago, the senior center had an outing scheduled for Redfin Blues, a seafood restaurant on the waterfront, on the North Shore.  We were told to show up at the center early, as a lot of people were going and there’d probably be two shuttles.

I looked at the online menu the night before, and noted something at the bottom:  “No separate checks will be written for groups of 10 or more people, the total will be divided equally on debit/credit cards used for payment.  NO EXCEPTIONS.”

When I got to the center and asked how many were going, they said around 20.  I told them what it said on the menu about groups of 10 or more, and several people spoke right up, saying that wouldn’t do.  The center said “No worries, you’ll get separate checks!”

Nope!  More on that later.

I rode on the second shuttle (you didn’t get to choose) and sat in the far back.  A tall black woman (Janet) sat across the aisle from me and shouted “We got ourselves a man on here!  We got ourselves a man!”

Midway there, one of the ladies in the front said “Who wants to hear a dirty joke?”  A chorus of women’s voices shouted yes, and the first woman said “Lorena Bobbitt remarried and decided to chop off her second’s husband doodle too.  But she missed and only cut his thigh.  So instead of being charged with a felony, what was she charged with?  A miss-da-weiner.  Get it?  Not a misdemeanor, a miss-da-weiner!”   The women on the shuttle cackled with laughter, and Janet shouted “I don’t think Mister Man liked that!  Did you think that was funny Mister Man?”  

I wondered how things were on that first shuttle.

When we got there, we formed a long line outside and a young man & woman (both with ponytails) asked how many.  When someone in our group said 17, they told us they had a firm “one check only” rule.  A couple of the ladies in line said “Oh no…”  so I said “No no—NO.  We five in the back are a separate table.”

The young man said “Okay, but that still leaves a dozen.”  I said “The 5 women IN FRONT of us are a separate table too.  Don’t move any tables together.”   

After we were seated, one of the ladies (Elaine, who I really like) said “Doug, thank you for being our take-charge guy!”  I told her she was welcome, but I wondered why no one else spoke up?  A few minutes later my friend Pearl came over and said “I wanted to sit with Elaine, but you have me at that table with 7 people!” 

I told Pearl she was free to move to any table she wanted, hasn’t she done this before?  She said “Yes but you’re the take-charge guy.”   No—I wasn’t!

Anyway, a few more pictures; here’s the main dining area, right on the river.

Some of the diners arrived by boat.  I left my private yacht at home.

My lunch, a lobster roll & fries.  After taking a bite, I guess I made a face (it was fishier than expected) because my friend Eva said “You should only order those in Maine.”  It was alright!

“Doug, are you still hungry?  I can’t eat this fish and don’t want to take it home, I have a half reuben waiting for me!”   (Thanks Eva, I do love beer-battered cod!)

And finally, my friend Pearl (on the left in the red dress) and Elaine go for a walk on the bicycle path after our meal.  I really do like that Elaine, I hope we see her again.

Next week we’re going to the Oakmont Bakery & Cafe, I was told it’s the cleanest place to eat in the city and to bring my sweet tooth.  But on September 23rd the center is taking a road trip to someplace REALLY special.  I can’t wait to share it.

Just your average guy, and according to Social Security…

Recently I learned that the Social Security Administration considers 78.5 or 78 ½ years old as the life expectancy for the average American male in 2023.  For women it’s a couple years more.

If I should be so fortunate to live that long, that means I now have a little over 16 1/2 years remaining on this planet. 

That doesn't seem like a long time, but certainly more than my parents had. 

My dad died at age 63, my mom at 64.  After I hit my sixties, I feel like every day I’m here is a blessing.

Anyway, it's gotten me to thinking again about when to take social security.  I'm currently eligible to apply in 3 months.  Should I wait?  Financial dinosaurs like Suzie Orman or Dave Ramsey will tell you the amount you receive will increase by 7-8% every year so you should try to hold off until FRA (full retirement age) or better yet, age 70.

Not so fast, says the Social Security Administration.  You’re not penalized for taking it early or rewarded for taking it late.  We just try to average it out so you get the same amount in the end.

(Unless you make it to your mid-80s, that is.  That’s when you beat the odds and waiting to collect pays off.)

Well, thanks to the Social Security website, I can see at a glance what that monthly amount will be depending on the age I start.

Forsaking cost of living increases and such, and going with the current 2023 estimates above, if I know I'm going to be departing at age 78.5, does it pay to wait?

If I take Social Security at 62... that's $1581.00 a month.

1581 x (12 months x 16.5 years or 198 months) =  $313,038.00 total paid to me by the time I croak at 78 1/2 years old.

If I wait and take Social Security at 64... that's $1796.00 a month.

1796 x (12 months x 14.5 years or 174 months) =  $312,504.00 total paid to me by the age of 78 1/2, hardly any difference at all.

If I wait and take Social Security at 67... that's $2246.00 a month.

2246 x (12 months x 11.5 years or 138 months) =  $309,948.00 total paid to me by the age of 78.5.

If I take Social Security at 70... that's $2785.00 a month.

2785 x (12 months x 08.5 years or 102 months) =  $284,070.00 total paid to me by the age of 78.5.  

Whoops, I shouldn’t have waited to age 70 to collect.  But what if I live to age 80?

From age 62 to age 80 = 1581 x  216 months = $341,496.00

From age 64 to age 80 = 1796 x  192 months = $344,832.00

From age 67 to age 80 = 2246 x  156 months = $350,376.00

From age 70 to age 80 = 2785 x  120 months = $334,200.00

Hmm… it STILL doesn’t make that big a difference.  But what if I live to age 85?

From age 62 to age 85 = 1581 x  276 months = $436,356.00

From age 64 to age 85 = 1796 x  252 months = $452,292.00

From age 67 to age 85 = 2246 x  216 months = $485,136.00

From age 70 to age 85 = 2785 x  180 months = $501,300.00

So if you live to 85 or more…. it DOES pay to wait to start.  Well, as long as you don’t need to spend down your assets so Medicaid will kick in and cover your long-term care because you neglected to buy LTC insurance 20 years earlier.

Am I missing something?  Unless you’re still working, or are pretty certain you’re living into your mid-eighties and beyond, it makes little difference to wait.  So why do these so-called experts encourage you to delay? 

If you’re on Social Security, did you wait to collect yours?  I have yet to meet an early retiree who regretted taking it at 62.

I suppose I’m fortunate I don’t need the money yet.  Still, when it’s sitting there on a table, waiting for you to claim it… it’s tempting!

 

The Senior Center and the not-quite-senior Doug: is there a problem?

Recently a couple other bloggers mentioned their respective senior centers, so I thought I’d share the one in my own neighborhood I joined a month ago.

It’s exactly 0.6 miles from my apartment building.  There’s a couple residents in my building who are members and go almost daily, and ride the bus there.  They’re over 65, so PAT Transit is free for them.

I still have to pay, so I walk to save the $2.75 bus fare.  I don’t mind, I need the exercise anyway!

The center is a former Lutheran Church, run by three women—Courtney, Bridget, and my old friend & former coworker Elisa who I’ve known since the ‘80s.

Courtney is surprisingly young and can’t be a day over 30, but she’s pretty wonderful.  I felt like we were old friends after my first day there.  Bridget is 10 years older, with crinkly eyes and a wide smile.  So much kindness.   

As for Elisa, it’s a funny dynamic—we both used to work for the Department of Aging in the late 80’s thru the 1990s. I always considered us around the same age; I was born the last day of October, 1961.  Elisa was born the first week of February, 1964.  There’s only 2 years, 3 months age difference there.  But at the center I’m considered one of Allegheny County’s Aging (you’re required to be 60+ to join) and she works there.

At least Elisa doesn’t treat me like an older person—yesterday I walked up there just to have lunch and chat, and teased Geri (one of the other members) I was following her in the market a couple days prior and what was with all the bottled water in her cart?  Some of us like to drink water too, y’know.  Elisa said “Geri if you hold him down I’ll kick him.”  

The old Lutheran Church, now the Prime Time Activity Center

So from what I’ve seen, there’s around 4 women to every man.  The men tend to be a couple years younger and don’t socialize as much.  There’s one guy I like, but I think I blew it.  His name is Mike, he’s 5-6 years older than me and is probably a foot taller as well.  Seriously, he’s a lanky 6 1/2 feet tall.

After I’d gone there a couple times for lunch (sitting alone at a table in the back) he introduced himself one day.  Like me, he has no kids and never married.  But after we finished eating, he offered to take my tray back for me and I declined and I think it offended him. 

A couple days later on “Movie Day”, we all gathered to watch A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks.  Mike sat beside me, but 15 minutes into the movie asked if I wanted to join him and a couple others in the exercise room for a board game and I said I was enjoying the film, no thanks. 

And then just yesterday, he approached me and asked if I wanted to join his Bible Study group.  Sorry, Mike I’m not interested.  Doggone it.

The center has 3-4 outings a month, shopping, museums and restaurants where you’re expected to pay your own way but the transportation there & back is provided.  In June it was the Heinz History Center, Bartram Bakery and the Three Rivers Casino. 

I didn’t go on the casino trip.  In July it’s the Dive Bar & Grille (a pretty upscale bar and restaurant) and lunch on the Gateway Clipper.  I’ve signed up for both.

The two most popular things at the center are Bingo on Monday & Friday, and an “Exercise Dance class” on Tuesdays & Thursdays.  That Bingo crowd is intense—they show up at noon, sit silently and wait until 12:30 when lunch is done.  IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO PLAY, FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CENTER TO GO.  Those players mean business!

There’s also Bible Study (cough), an Art Club, weekly meets with various reps to discuss the latest in Medicare and a nurse who does weekly blood pressure readings—followed by an “Ice Cream Social”.  Isn’t that quaint?  

Oh and there’s a weekly “Tech Tutoring” that I’ve never attended, I just roll my eyes at.  Meanwhile, at home I’m on Windows 7 and the rest of the world is on—I don’t know what the rest of the world is on, I’m stuck in the year 2011.

When I first signed up with the Center, I was told they served lunch 5 days a week.  There is officially no charge, but you’re invited to contribute $3.00.  You just have to give them 2 days notice as the exact number of lunches are ordered in advance.

I told them I wouldn’t be participating in the lunch program, I was only interested in the monthly outings.  They said that was no problem, but I soon found myself going to lunch there around twice a week.

Here’s the July lunch menu.

So a few days ago, I saw Teriyaki meatballs with scalloped potatoes and broccoli on the menu and called ahead as required.  When I went up for lunch and was standing in line, I told my friend Elisa I didn’t feel quite right.  She asked why, I said “Because I’m not poor, far from it.  I have a kitchen in my apartment full of food.”

She said “But here you’re with others and don’t have to eat alone.  That must get old.”  I said that was true, but at the same time…  I wasn’t REALLY an “old person” yet.

The woman setting out the trays smiled at me and said “Half the people in here don’t see themselves as old people either.”

 

A day at the Heinz Museum (and my first senior outing)

Well, it’s official.  This past Wednesday I returned to the local senior center, used my newly activated card to sign in and had a nice lunch of meatloaf, buttered yams, cauliflower and diced peaches.  Then I boarded an ACCESS bus with 5-6 others for the trip to the Heinz History Center.

I don’t know why, I suppose I’m still in denial, but I thought for sure the Access driver would take one look at me and tell me I wasn’t old enough to ride with the others.  But nope—he said “Doug Morris?”  I said yes.  He said “If you’re having trouble, I’ll help buckle you in.”

When we got to the center, the sign above the entrance read Adults $18.00, Senior Citizens (62 and up) $15.00.  The young man at the front said “Fifteen dollars, sir.”   But—but—fine!

Anyway, it was one of the coolest museums I’ve ever seen—6 floors of everything from the history of Heinz Foods (which began in Pittsburgh) to the sets from Mr.Rogers Neighborhood to the Lewis & Clark Expedition (which traveled thru Pittsburgh) to lifesize reproductions of city neighborhoods from the 1930s to Pittsburgh’s contributions to science in the 20th century.  And a lot of historical doodads everywhere you turned. 

Enough with my boring ramble, I’ll just share some of the photos I took.

Remember when Heinz Ketchup came in glass bottles?  This ‘sculpture’ stands around 20 feet tall and is made up of hundreds of them

A 1950s living room (notice those old roller skates in the upper left); it looked a lot cozier in person, without my camera’s glare.  The TV was airing Pittsburgh local news from the era, complete with 50s local commercials

A 1936 Ford Deluxe built with stainless steel in nearby Brackenridge and one of a kind, until those DeLoreans came along!

I almost flipped my lid when I saw this—Westinghouse’s ELEKTRO robot and his dog Sparky; built in the 1930s, it achieved worldwide fame.  It could smoke, play records on the turntable in it’s stomach and even vacuum your carpets!

Speaking of Sparky… here’s Westinghouse’s first electric chair with Tesla’s alternating current.

Your guess is as good as mine; with no plaque, I’m guessing a local heiress from the 1920s and the dress she was painted in. 

A reproduction of a 1930s Northside neighborhood; this was more amazing in person, with various sounds of kids, dogs & music, and clotheslines with wash hanging in the rear.  My older friend Pearl almost hopped that gate to get in.

  

A lifesize reproduction of Neil Armstrong in his astronaut suit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing

   

 

There’s me again, standing in front of a pair of Mohawk Indians and their lonnng canoe they’re carrying over their heads

And lastly, a fully restored trolley from a bygone era (with the brick road and metal rail it glided on, many of these embedded rails still exist in our city today). 

 

We were encouraged to climb on, and I was surprised at the roominess within; these electric cars were massive.  My friend Pearl opted for the driver’s seat.

Like the quote says, when in doubt go to the library

A couple days after my last post (where I’d just returned from a week at my sisters, and lamented I needed to make some changes in my life) I decided to take Joyce & Kim’s advice (2 of the very kind people who commented on that post) and went to my local library and applied for a card—and here it is.

I wasn’t looking to do more reading, but after checking out Avalon Library’s Monthly Event calendar they post locally, noticed they have a few events I might be interested in: a history book club, a mystery book club, and ‘Arthouse Cinema’ matinees on Friday & Saturdays, twice a month. 

The library was only 2 1/2 blocks from my apartment, with a babbling brook and koi pond in front, and several bronze statues of kids at play.  I was greeted inside by 2 librarians, Sharon & Heather who couldn’t have been nicer.

I asked about applying for a library card and said I was retired, lived alone and was thinking about joining one of their clubs.  (I didn’t tell them I wrestle with some social anxiety disorder.  I mean, I can mingle if I have to, but I’m a lot more comfortable when I’m alone or with just one person.)

As Sharon was filling out my paperwork, she looked at me and said “You look very familiar… have we met before?”  I assured her it was our first time meeting, I’d never been here before.  She turned back to her computer monitor and said “I know I know you.”   I said “Well.. I was winner of the 1978 Literary Award.” 

Arrgh!  Why do I do this?

Now Heather (the library’s administrator) came around the desk.  She said “Do tell!”  I laughed and said it was nothing really, but asked if she’d ever heard of the Bowlby Library.  Heather said “Yes!  We’ve exchanged books with them—it’s in a little town south of us, Waynesburg Pa.”  

I said I was born & raised there, and probably spent half my childhood at that library.  When I was in the 11th grade, the library selected one student from the surrounding high schools and presented us with an award at a formal banquet.  A month later, I even got a letter of congratulations from my congressman.

Heather said “Well, we have a celebrity here!”  Sharon said “I hoped you saved that letter!”  I said “Well it’s ancient history but I was just looking at it last night.. um, I have it in my Google Photos if you want to take a look.”   I pulled out my phone and showed it to them. 

They were very kind and acted like this was a big deal.  (It really wasn’t, even when I got it 45 years ago.)  Sharon said “Doug, would you like to apply for an opening we have here?” I said “You mean like a volunteer?”  She said “No, we already have volunteers.  This is for a library clerk like myself, 25 hours a week, $9.00 an hour.”

I said thank you for the invite, but I was retired.  Sharon said “Well I’m retired too, but here I am!”

I know it sounds like a good idea and all, and my declining makes me sound lazy, but here’s the facts.  This wouldn’t be extra income for me.  At the start of the year, I tell Pennie—my state’s health insurance agency—what my income will be for the year, within $500 or so.  For 2023 my guesstimate was around $30,000.  Based on that, my monthly health insurance premium of $883.79 is reduced to $152.00.

(And yes, an insurance plan for a pre-Medicare sixtysomething male in my state is $885.00 a month, and that’s just for a silver level plan.)

Any money I earn over my reported estimate (which I’ve already withdrawn from my retirement fund in January, like I do every year) would just raise my monthly insurance premium.  So… I’ll pass.  Also, I AM lazy. But still, their offer made my day.

Now if I can just work up the nerve to check out one of those clubs… we’ll see.

           

So what if I lose everything—I think I’ve found the perfect chair

Have you ever seen something and knew instantly you must have it?   For myself, it’s a rare thing.  I’m usually on the fence about most things, especially when it involves furniture or spending money. 

But since moving into my apartment in April 2017, I’ve been on the lookout for a particular leather chair.  And I’m pretty sure I found it, at the worst possible time.

There would be no compromises.  It HAD to be full grain, none of this “genuine leather” or bonded leather stuff.  Camel or tan only, no black or browns or burgundy.  No rivets, no highback-Wingbacks.  I didn’t want one of those overstuffed recliners with a kangaroo pouch sewn into it’s side for books and remotes either. 

(Yes I know they’re comfortable, but I wanted something more compact, stylish, fitting a city apartment.) 

I found something close at Pottery Barn, and requested leather samples.  But they were all too dark or cowpokey, and I would soon discover PB had an awful reputation with their leather chairs being outsourced (taking 3-4 months), doubled in price and having shoddy workmanship.

          

So I stopped looking.  A couple years passed, and then I came across this chair a month ago and knew it was the one.  I checked the depth, heighth, width, weight capacity, manufacturer, everything.  It’s a full grain, soft Italian leather with 31 customer reviews, half of them containing pictures, all of them praising it’s quality.  But there was one problem:

It was priced at $1,399.99.   I couldn’t bring myself to pay that much for a chair.

Then a couple weeks ago, I saw the chair had gone on sale for $200 off, $1199.99.  I sent the photo at the top to 3 people I knew I could trust their opinion.

My sister Shawn said “It looks exactly like the chair you’ve been looking for a long time.  I hope you don’t talk yourself out of buying it!”

My blog-friend Margaret said “It’s gorgeous and will go perfectly with your navy blue sofa.”

My friend Danielle said “It’s beautiful but peta!”

All 3 of their responses (even Danielle and her hippie squawk) was actually quite helpful.  I just needed some kind of… I dunno, sign to tell me to go for it.

Then I’m watching the evening news a couple nights ago, and they did another one of those “your average 401K investor” alerts because of the bear market we’ve fallen into, and stock portfolios losing 25% in value since January.

I haven’t looked at my own investments since January 10, when I sold some shares to keep my 2-year safe bucket full.  So I opened my account…

My portfolio is down $171,000.00 since January.  I’d estimated the loss would be half that amount.  I felt dizzy, this was scary.

Unlike most of the other bloggers I know, I do NOT have a partner, pension, annuity, equity, insurance or social security to fall back on.  (I’m not even eligible to claim social security for another 16 months.)  What if I lost that amount again, a couple times over?  My goose would be cooked.

I have my safe-bucket.  If I stick to a budget, I should have enough to carry me thru this bear market (if they last on average two years).  As for the chair… that’s the LAST thing I needed right now.

So this past Saturday I went on their website to have a final look and see if it was still on sale.  It was, and even lower in price—the chair was now $919.00, down $480 since the first time I saw it!   I couldn’t move my fingers fast enough.

The chair will arrive sometime between June 28 and July 4—I’m glad I didn’t wait, the sale ended yesterday and is now back at regular price. 

If I lose the rest of my money and wind up homeless, I’ll move into the alley behind the Tiffany (my apartment building) and appoint myself King of Cherry Alley—and this chair will become my throne!