tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90305812024-03-23T10:51:51.467-07:00Merle's Secular LifeThe Observations of a Retired Guy about the life I live.Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.comBlogger1325125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-82483114233529395002014-04-20T08:47:00.001-07:002014-04-20T08:47:37.744-07:00 Mrs. Sneed and I went to the grocery the other night. When we went to our car after shopping, the lot was empty in our row and only one car was in the row adjacent to us. That car was two spots closer to the store and in the adjacent row.
I unloaded our bags and glanced around for the nearest cart corral. It was some distance away at the end of the aisle and I Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-91859878616304561142014-03-13T12:19:00.003-07:002014-03-15T19:01:05.347-07:00Health insurance, you can't live with it.......you get it.
For the most part I enjoy good health, especially for an older guy. I take a cholesterol-lowering drug and that's about the extent of my regular medical needs. For the most part, I don't use my insurance that much. That doesn't mean that they haven't got a way too screw me, though.
My insurance insists that I order Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-86613726430498117442014-02-20T17:32:00.002-07:002014-02-20T17:40:18.321-07:00
This box of produce was sitting in the middle of the street in Little Italy in Boston. We never figured out why.
Mom makes emotional 911 call after baby is kidnapped!
That is the actual headline for an actual news story. Accompanying the headline and story, was the audio of the call.
When did making 911 calls available to the public get started? I know it has been Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-67209140990309951192014-02-07T19:05:00.002-07:002014-02-07T19:05:32.658-07:00
I need 2 tires for my bike and I found just what I wanted on Amazon. I selected quantity "2" and checked out. Smooth as silk, be here on Friday (today) and free shipping.
This afternoon a FEDEX guy came to the door with a big box. My tires I presumed. It was my tires, minus an 's'. The box contained not tires, but a single tire. There was room for two, Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-10759940818150011992014-02-01T13:36:00.003-07:002014-02-01T14:00:00.668-07:00
The internet of my days.
Some people believe that the great social divides in this country center on rich/poor or the rising immigrant population. Maybe they do, but for me the greatest divide is between those who have only known the information age and minimal customer service skills and those of us from the olden days.
We might have been badly informed back in the day, but we Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-30578981249252365032014-01-21T20:25:00.002-07:002014-01-21T20:25:45.114-07:00
Mrs. Sneed and I just trekked up to southern Nevada to do a couple of days of bicycling. It was great, but the drive to and from is a slough. Two hours to Phoenix and then 4+ hours through the desert with only Kingman, AZ to break it up.
On our first day we rode the River Mountains Loop, which is 34 miles, beginning in Boulder City, NV, through Henderson, down to Lake Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-74483088257183147922014-01-03T19:26:00.001-07:002014-01-03T19:55:43.079-07:00
Back when I was a working stiff, I used to hear people say that they are more busy in retirement than they were when they worked. That mystified me when I was on the outside of geezerdom. Now, I sort of get what they mean.
I'm not really busier these days, but I definitely find ways to spend my time. I think it has to do with my life being less structured since I don't work.&Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-83394235592629888222013-12-24T11:23:00.002-07:002013-12-24T11:23:41.970-07:00It's Christmas Eve. Even for a non-religious guy, Christmas is fun to celebrate...mostly. The pressure to buy, buy, buy, gives me the creeps.
Mrs. Sneed is in the midst of cleaning and preparing for our family party which begins at 6 tonight. I'm trying to help a bit, but I'm not that much help really.
For instance, I tried to fix a small plumbing issue in the Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-26325576824709890872012-12-29T12:19:00.003-07:002012-12-29T12:19:56.213-07:00
Sneedlets of every size and shape
Even if you haven't heard of the Pareto principle by its formal name, you probably have heard of the 80/20 rule. You know, 80% of the effects are the result of 20% of causes. It is not exact, but is generally correct in a lot of cases.
For instance, worldwide, 80% of income is earned by 20% of earners. In the US the top 25% of Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-3917399102829020652012-12-26T11:55:00.002-07:002012-12-26T11:55:33.833-07:00
One of the worst aspects of government is their ability to pass laws that they cannot or will not enforce.
In that regard, has their ever been a more widely mocked edict than the National Do Not Call Registry? The Sneeds get unwanted calls all day, every day.
Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-60737413598413735312012-12-16T09:01:00.003-07:002012-12-16T09:14:46.251-07:00
Not the mountain in question. I took this on our cruise to Alaska.
No matter what someone tries to do or build these days, there is a group to oppose it for one reason or another. The arguments of the opposition range from the valid to the specious, depending upon your point of view. Some seem reasonable until you let the emotion clear and think about it a bit.
Here in the Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-51104832007697403562012-12-14T10:17:00.002-07:002012-12-14T10:21:12.792-07:00
Seattle's iconic sign
It is a story as old as the automobile and probably older. They used to hang horse thieves.
A guy runs into his local pizza shop, either leaving his truck running at the curb or leaving it with the keys in the ignition. A passing ne'er-do-well jumps into the unattended vehicle and the chase is on.
A short time later the local cops catch up with the thief Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-50111024957026657872012-12-11T08:46:00.001-07:002012-12-11T08:46:11.701-07:00
The elusive Glacial Alligator spotted in Tracy Fjord
How are all of these changes in our healthcare system working out for you? Here at Casa Sneed, not so good.
We receive our health insurance from the pension plan of my former employer, Tedious Systems. It has never been a bargain, but as of late the costs have become downright onerous.
Recently, Tedious Systems was bought Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-80656364458419401202012-12-10T11:15:00.000-07:002012-12-10T11:15:00.498-07:00Retired Guy and I mean it this time...mostly
I took this picture of a Bald Eagle on a raft trip we took in Juneau in September.
As the title to this post suggests my days at Ace Hardware are behind me. Effective just prior to Thanksgiving, I left. Mostly, I left because I'm too damn old to stand all day, but also because, after federal, state and social security taxes, I was left with next to nothing Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-81950303583420443372012-08-14T07:32:00.002-07:002012-08-14T19:47:30.995-07:00Mrs. Sneed has always wanted to kayak, don't ask me why. Kayaking is not something the locals are really big on around here. Costco sell kayaks, but that is about your only choice around these parts when shopping for your kayak-related needs.
Maybe if you live in Ohio or New York or even a place like jolly old London, you can just load up the family kayak and have a paddle or Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-5851519888042064002012-08-12T14:01:00.002-07:002012-08-12T14:02:24.671-07:00 Good news, my unfortunate incarceration has ended! For the record, I wasn't even there when things went down.
Life at Casa Sneed goes on. We are leaving in 2 weeks time for a cruise of Alaska's inner passage, followed by a couple of days in Seattle with Mrs. Sneed's sister and brother-in-law. Should be fun.
I'm still at the hardware store, but have lowered the number of Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-130616325669233602012-03-16T08:27:00.000-07:002012-03-16T08:27:08.885-07:00
Two guys who understand the concept of posing for a picture.
I had the rare pleasure of spending the day with my oldest son and young Aiden yesterday. We dropped off their car at the dealership for some routine maintenance and then headed out to the golf course.
The trip to the dealership, twelve miles one way, was a blast from the past for me. When I last worked Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-46045658703979486532012-03-15T09:03:00.000-07:002012-03-15T09:03:04.066-07:00 Our little Piper had to have minor surgery yesterday to have tubes put into her ears. She suffers from ear infections. Yikes! Luckily things went well.
Here is an ethical dilemma for you.
Suppose a former employer sent you a letter saying that they we giving you $3500 to help pay for your health insurance premiums. Also suppose that you think you are not Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-10840007652285128202012-03-13T10:02:00.001-07:002012-03-13T18:13:43.839-07:00The court order barring me from the internets expired recently, so I thought I would resume posting. Perhaps by now longtime readers have come to their senses and no one will care anymore.
Much has happened over these past three months.
Mrs. Sneed has settled into a retirement routine. She worked at her old job 6 days in February and that served to reinforce her decision to retire. Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-73838349324165564462011-12-24T12:53:00.002-07:002011-12-24T15:51:21.709-07:00
MW Sneed staff makes a holiday delivery
The Merle Wayne Sneed organization is always alert to current trends. It helps keep us on the cutting edge of societal mores.
Just this morning a staff member wondered what type of luxury car our readers are buying for loved ones this holiday? Television advertising indicates that the giving of luxury autos as holiday gifts is Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-55728096738953895032011-12-10T12:52:00.000-07:002011-12-10T12:52:03.395-07:00
I came home from work last night at a few minutes past six. Mrs. Sneed and I planned on going out again, so I parked my car in the driveway, rather than in the garage. Shortly thereafter, Miss Riley arrived with her mom to pick up Piper, who stays with Mrs. Sneed on Thursday and Friday.
Riley marched in and announced that my car belongs in the garage, not in the driveway. Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-16145276754436616492011-12-02T07:20:00.002-07:002011-12-02T08:25:46.404-07:00 It's raining and 40ish this morning. This is fairly typical for this time of the year.
A headline in the Hooterville Daily Dish a day or two from now, when it has stopped raining, will remind us that no matter how much rain we get, the drought persists. The Dish loves its bad news.
Desert dwellers have a hard time discerning drought, since it is hot and dry most of theMerle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-57880781580572291262011-11-24T13:36:00.001-07:002011-11-24T21:16:58.638-07:00A happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
Mrs. Sneed, our son Tim and I will be leaving for our daughter's house in a few minutes for our annual Thanksgiving ritual. Thanksgiving is bittersweet for the Sneed family.
Our little Christian was born on 11/23 and he would have been 16 yesterday. Christian left us much too soon, nine years ago, taken suddenly, with no time Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-19115994793263126182011-11-21T10:20:00.002-07:002011-11-21T10:41:33.432-07:00It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.--Frederick Douglas
Zero
One
Two
Three (more or less)
Today is Miss Riley's 3rd birthday. I suppose I could love her more, but I don't know how.
This is an actual conversation we had yesterday.
The scene opens with me in the bathroom, door closed.
A tiny knock at the door and then;
"Grandpa, what are you Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030581.post-20435848426547195432011-11-13T10:47:00.002-07:002011-11-13T17:11:17.707-07:00
"A man builds a fine house; and now
he has a master, and a task for life; he is to furnish, watch, show it,
and keep it in repair, the rest of his days."--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ah, the joys of home ownership.
Earlier this year, I noticed signs in the bathroom of termites. Pretending that I did not see them, didn't make them disappear. Always my first plan of attack.
I Merle Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01228809667893921954noreply@blogger.com5