It was an early up and out for me today, and only because I wanted to make a quick stop at Hy-Vee just after they opened to purchase several more packages of beef which were deeply discounted, and fortunately there were only two left, so I grabbed the both of them. Yes, sometimes being early, does pay off whenever there are items on sale. I normally don’t eat that much beef other than during the wintertime when it’s used for the hearty goulash I make which gets me warmed up on these cold nights, and the nice thing about it, a leftover pot will last for days in the fridge.
Once I arrived at office, I went straight back to my darkened corner to get my Sunday morning contemplative session started, and for whatever reason, it was even more fulfilling than the last, for which I became all the more thankful and grateful. I know I’ve mentioned this many times when insisting my returning to a form of prayer I’d walked away from decades ago, ended up being one of the very positive things that came out of our pandemic, and only because our churches were closed and I had to find a better way of connecting with the Higher Power. Once again, bad things come from good things as long as we look and reach for them.
After my session was over, it was already time for me to head out to St. Paul Lutheran and get prepared for this morning’s Service. I did manage to run thru a few pieces on the piano and organ, and just before they started, I played something nice on their organ which was being very kind to me today, so if it continues working like it was this morning, I’ll definitely be playing it more often, just to keep their organ lovers happy. I was pleasantly surprised when having counted over sixty people in attendance, so hopefully the word is getting out about the great job Pastor Jane Harris is doing for their community of faith. Good for her, and good for them. I’m coming to believe that the more people there are, the better job I do on their keyboards, and likely because I can hear more of them singing. It may sound strange, but that’s how it used to be when I played at a much larger church a number of years ago.
When I arrived back at office, I discovered I’d missed a call that came in while my cell phone was on mute, so I returned the one that had come in from an out of town client of mine whom I’d not spoken with in several months, and pretty much the bulk of our conversation centered around people we know who get paid far more than they’re worth, and unfortunately their numbers are growing. I insisted once again that meritocracy is going to be the culprit that’ll end up destroying our middle class, and once that happens, we’ll be in the same bucket as all the many other countries containing a small percentage of well-offs, and all the rest are left struggling.
China is already having a problem with their younger generation who’re embracing what they call ‘Tang Ping’ which translates into ‘lying flat’. ‘Lying flat’ is pretty much a rejection of the pressures the Chinese society is placing on them to overwork and over-achieve, but in the end, they find themselves in ‘gerbil mill’ positions which offer no advancements, so they’re stuck in dead-end jobs for the rest of their lives. I’m afraid their ‘Tang Ping’ has also been catching on here in the United States because since the pandemic, I’ve noticed where many more people are jumping from job to job, along with demanding higher wages and better benefits. Actually, I don’t blame them because if a person can’t see at least a glimmer of light at the end of many years of hard work, then you’re asking yourself, “Why bother?” Right? There’s another Chinese saying I read some time ago which refers to how people are treated after they’re too old to work, and it goes something like, ‘When a mule can’t work a day’s job any longer, it’s sent home to be eaten.’ Sounds pretty harsh to me.
As much as I wanted to get back to my little/big project and start working again, I figured it best I just take the rest of the afternoon off and get some putzing done, which sent me on another chase looking for vintage items and components which I’ll be putting to use at a later date. Most of what I was looking for, I managed to find except one thing I’ll end up having to purchase new.
I’m sure all of you have had the same thing happen when looking for something you know you have stored-away, and in the process, you end up finding things you’d forgotten about, and for sure today was another example, and lucky for me, I now don’t have to buy a clothes closet rod bracket because I found exactly what I was certain I’d end up having to buy.
From time to time my dear friend asks me when I’m going to get back to working on those two apartments I have above my building, and for whatever reason, she keeps saying she can ‘see’ me living up there. Well, if that would come to pass, I’d have to convert both apartments into one large living unit, and only because I’m a fanatic about being in need of oodles of natural light entering in.
Most people don’t either remember or realize that back when they built those downtown 2-storied storefronts back in the 1800’s, many of those upper areas were specifically designed as the residents of the business owners, which would make perfect sense because all a person would have to do, is close up shop, and walk a tall flight of stairs and you’re home. The Delaware Building which is that half-block long building on the north side of 2nd St. NE, is a classic example of living units above, and most of those business owners either lived up there, or one of their workers. Since our old office was located in one of them, I can assure you that stretch of buildings is built like a German pillbox, and I can guarantee you it contains far more concrete and brick than wood, so if there’d be a fire in one of them, it could be easily contained. Yes, it’s quite the beauty.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Science of the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance.
