2016 Winter February 13 Saturday

(Happy Birthday Margaret)

36 degrees (feels like 28 degrees) this morning, walk 34:40 minutes

My sister, Margaret, has a birthday today.  Happy birthday Margaret!  

Windows.  We were talking about how so many houses now seem to not have good windows, rooms build with small windows etc. without any real access to see the outside or of get any kind of natural light. 

Of course, in this city, it may be because no one wants to look outside and see the commercial businesses with their huge billboards and bright lights, junk etc.  that are allowed to intrude on residential areas. 

However, it appears to be epidemic in all houses.  Actually, I think it is probably just a cost saving thing, a big to-do is made about windows in the living room etc.

Anyway, we miss windows.  One thing I never liked about this house is the lack of windows in the bedrooms etc..  

Of course, minimizing windows could be considered a safety measure or even an energy saving building method.  

I’d put my money on the theory it saves money (or rather makes more profit) for the builder to leave them out.

Our so called “best estimate” on our “closing costs” etc. was “off” by about 35% of course, on the low side.  So much for “best estimates”.  I think the best alternative is just to save like heck and pay cash for your house!   Otherwise, you are at their mercy.  

In all fairness of course, some of this was the double cross by Allstate Insurance in tripling our homeowners insurance (there was still an increase, but it was less because we are switching insurance companies).  

We were hopeful about our new city, but I was disappointed by the old style, intrusive utility application.  I feel like the new city is still back in the prehistoric past on their utility application.  The information requested was not only an invasion of privacy, but also dangerous in the information they requested providing an opening for identity theft etc.

Not only that, but you apparently have to go in person to make a deposit. 

They just appear to be about 100 years in the past.  

Fortunately the city appears to believe in protecting residential areas from intrusion by commercial businesses and their planning practices are a little more up to date.  Also, they do have an active program of bike and pedestrian paths and public recreation facilities. 

In the last phases of moving out, still have a lot to do, but it is manageable.  

Listening to a “Great Course” presentation on the Civil War.  It is excellent, I am enjoying it and learning some new things, or or at least a different aspect.  

I am always surprised (although I probably shouldn’t be) by how much the present reflects the past.  

Even though this is 150+ years ago, it seems like human behavior, at the very basic, remains he same and I can actually see the same type people now in the behavior of people 150 years ago.   The issues have changed somewhat, although even some of them haven’t changed much.

Interesting “Field Day” at work yesterday.  That is what I really like about my job, I never know what to expect!

That’s it for now, Saturday, February 13, 2016.