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Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024

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I'm Only the Trombone Player

by Richard ~ Thankful!!

Rated: E · Book · Activity · #2207577

So playing the trombone wasn't getting me in enough trouble?

I need someplace to write down the often confusing thoughts that enter my mind, while my stories give voice to the characters that wander through periodically, this is the place for my voice. Join me if you wish, comment if you wish, all are welcomed and appreciated.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre เลียม Enga

Jan 8, 2024 at 11:47pm
In response to "So, It Costs Me Money To Pay My Tab?"

I use cash except for large purchases when I use my debit card.

The ATM machines in Thailand charge 220 baht no matter how much or how little I take out. I take out the max... 20.000 baht. The fee is therefore 1.1%.

I boycott card-only places in general and absolutely in Montana. They discriminate against the poor. Here in Udon Thani many Thais use "Line" to send or receive payment. Even many small operations have that. I still use baht. Street vendors sell produce for as little as 5 baht. It would be silly to use anything but cash. If a person refuses to carry up to 500 baht (~$14) I have no sympathy. Theft here is uncommon; assault is almost unheard of. Honesty is the rule. "Finders-keepers" is not acceptable.

I rarely see foreigners at the local market. There are many staying in the condos where I reside. I don't understand. Perhaps, I'm assuming here, it's a matter of convenience and comfort. They are used to canned food and processed food and produce that looks pretty. And... peanut butter and hazelnut spread must be bought regardless of the exorbitant price. They bring their culture of personal comfort with them.

What does that rant have to do with your blog entry?

Credit is delaying the pain unless one pays it off every month. I don't buy what I can't afford. I don't go into debt. I live well by living well within my means.

Fortunately we don't have tipping here or "mandatory tipping" which I consider criminal. That would be a whole nother blog entry!

Jellyfish in Morocco

Jan 8, 2024 at 3:34pm
In response to "So, It Costs Me Money To Pay My Tab?"

Recently I used my credit card to buy some foreign currency at a place which charges no commission. When I got my Credit Card bill, I had been charged £3.00 for the privaledge of using my credit card - not interest, mind, just for using it. So it literally cost me money to change money in to other money

tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J

Jan 8, 2024 at 11:58am
In response to "So, It Costs Me Money To Pay My Tab?"

In most retail businesses, the cost of transactions is also figured into their costs and what they charge.

Robert Waltz

Jan 8, 2024 at 10:06am
In response to "So, It Costs Me Money To Pay My Tab?"

I rarely see discounts for using cash, but I know they happen. I try to avoid such establishments if I can. I use a credit card for just about everything, and yet I don't pay even one cent in interest, because I treat it like a debit card, paying it off in full every cycle.

Actually, because of cash rewards, they pay me. This likely comes out of other peoples' interest payments and merchant processing fee. Thanks, people paying interest!

3 Like

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 8, 2023 at 1:15pm
In response to "Without a Compass Day - What direction are you going?"

I don't fear getting lost as long as I have the time. As long as little roads lead to big roads I'm okay.

2 Like

Sumojo

Nov 26, 2023 at 6:33pm
In response to "Without a Compass Day - What direction are you going?"

I usually fear the feeling of being lost.it’s so easy to do in the Australian bush. But the only time I relished the feeling was when we were in our first years of travelling in South East Asian countries. We (my husband and I) were in our sixties then, never having had the opportunity before to travel because of work and kids, would find ourselves lost in the big cities daily. It didn’t really matter because so long as we had a little money for a taxi and the address of our cheap hotel we would be able to find our back to our few belongings.

3 Like

Prosperous Snow celebrating

Nov 6, 2023 at 1:51pm
In response to "Without a Compass Day - What direction are you going?"

Since I have no sense of direction and get lost even in small towns. I would have to set down and hope someone was looking for me.

1 Like

AnotherDreamer

Nov 6, 2023 at 11:39am
In response to "Without a Compass Day - What direction are you going?"

About the above...that was when I lived in Oregon near Crater Lake. Being lost in Alaska would have been different because we had no hounds or electric poles. Just stay put.

2 Like

AnotherDreamer

Nov 6, 2023 at 11:36am
In response to "Without a Compass Day - What direction are you going?"

Down that is something I was taught never to do. (I was told to stay put) If I didn't come home someone would let the hounds find me. When I was lost in the forest I climbed the highest tree and looked for electric poles then followed them .

2 Like

Robert Waltz

Nov 2, 2023 at 11:10pm
In response to "National Men Make Dinner Day"

My mom was... not the best cook. My dad was old-fashioned enough to proclaim it Not His Job, but he stepped up when he had to, though he didn't have much experience.

Thus, I learned to cook in self-defense. But I enjoy doing it, most of the time.

1 Like

May 30, 2020 at 1:42pm

#984622

To Goal Or Not To Goal?

I began setting monthly goals, about three months ago. Over the course of those months I managed to make those goals. Sometimes by the skin of my teeth, but I can still say I made them. Having them set in stone so to speak on "Destination: Goal Zone"

, was and is a big help. I am also participating in the "Habit Heroes "

, which has gotten me somewhat back on track schedule wise … no more late night TV bingeing.

This month, barring a miracle, I am not going to make my goals. Not so much for lack of trying. I've spent more then enough time at the keyboard to have completed everything I needed to complete. The will and drive to actually complete anything is lost in a sea of ennui, much of it caused by the circumstances going on around me.

The world is going to you know where in a handbasket and doesn't look to be turning around any time soon. Feeling powerless to control that spiral is in many ways debilitating.

Professionally, something I worked to build all my life is being torn apart by a force I can't begin to understand how to fight. Politics, I can fight, funding problems, I can fight. How do I put one hundred students in a room today, tomorrow or whenever and make music? How do I do that if I can never put students together in a room?

Personally, how do you handle finding out someone you thought you knew and loved isn't who you thought they were? How do you deal with knowing they've lied and deceived you for their entire lifetime? How does one deal with knowing they don't deserve the wonderful gift they've received?

Sorry, I know this is more rant than blog post. Hopefully, June will be better, though this will be the first June in 15 years I won't be conducting the band at Graduation, so it's already wearing on me.

5 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

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