NYC Journal

[Calzone]

A power walk with “Maggie” some strength training, and some burgers with my next door neighbors.

A very low-key holiday for us. Likely a chance of rain over the next few days.

I love having a boring life and no responsibility. In other words it pays to be a lazy slacker. Maggie is coming on board too. She wants out of public life and taking care of others. The separation from the kids is difficult for her, but she is working through all this.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My friend Andrew I think is interesting to me because he is about the same age as my oldest brother, but the big difference is Andrew was a hippy and my brother was not.

Also Andrew and I are of the same mold: bold loners.

I figured out that not getting a RV is a bit of a relief, and pretty much this brings me to the 1966 C-10. “Maggie” thinks it is too big, but even though short bed Fleetsides and step sides short beds are in fashion, I like that my truck is counter trend.

People actually cut the frames and convert long beds into short beds. How crazy is that?

I think Maggie is a bit traumatized from the days of the Jeep. It was a brute, fast, and I drove it aggressively. The Audi I baby.

I guess if I just pull the head and get the truck roadworthy it would be just an old man’s truck, and there is nothing bad about that. 2 inch drop spindles on the front I figure would restore a bit of a rake of about an inch. The factory 2 inch rake is long gone, plus there seems to be an additional inch of spring sag, even though it had OEM optional aux. helper springs.

Know that this truck was used and rigged as a camper. This is why and how the rear organically got lowered. Oddly to get the truck to sit level the 15 by 2.35 front tires are mounted on the rear that are about an inch taller than the wide “G” 60 lower profile tires on the front. This levels the truck, which is a cool stance, but the width of the G-60’s makes steering at slow speeds difficult because there is no power steering.

I happen to like manual steering for driving. I feel more connected to the road, but parking and slow speeds require upper body strength. Had a Jeep CJ7 before my Scrambler, it had manual steering, but it also had a larger diameter steering wheel for additional leverage. My scrambler had a smaller steering wheel.

I would want to keep the faded white, now ivory colored, narrow steel rims, and run15x235 tires on all four wheels for the OEM look.

With a new oak bed (upgrade) and a matte or satin clear coat it would be a stunning head turner advertising itself as a survivor.

My daydream shifts, and this one is not only practical, it would not burn through a lot of capitol.

Perhaps Maggie will see the charm. I figure I would want to rewire the truck. The OEM wires are 58 years old. Painless make a new harness. Lots of small things to restore and upgrade.

Another big job would be to change the rear oil seal on the engine. Don’t know if the clutch got wet, so likely that job would follow.

With this road worthy cleanup and the dressing up with a clear coat to preserve the patina and a new bed, the truck would easily sell I think for $20K because its a survivor. Very little surface rust even, making the truck also a barn find. Surely lots of value added.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I am nearsighted, and I have an astigmatism. Without my glasses things only relatively close to me are in focused, and perhaps 10 feet away things appear like an impressionistic painting. I would not say I see in bokeh though, but mucho impressionistic.

My field of vision tends to be closer to a 28mm FOV, and since my field of sharpness is so close I kinda get the smooth OOF of say a Noct-Nikkor shot wide open.

I can see how pretty much I only need a wide and a 50mm FOV in 35mm. Pretty much a 35 and a 50; or a 28mm and a 50 is all I need.

A few years ago, my eye doctor mentioned that cataracts are only starting and pretty much the cloudiness has begun, but I have about a 95% transmission of light through my old lenses. He predicted perhaps a decade out I might need surgery.

Pretty much will happen to everyone eventually as they age: cataract surgery; one eye at a time. I learned from “Maggie” that Medicare only pays for basic surgery, and pretty much upgraded procedures and upgraded lenses have to be paid out of pocket.

In Maggie’s case these added costs amounted to be about $10K. I set up a HSA (Health Spending Account) with pre-tax dollars and have almost $10K sitting there for when it is my turn maybe 5-7 years out. I figure the money got taxed deferred and if the funds saved in my HSA are used for medical expenses pretty much I pay no taxes n the $10K.

Already I notice driving at night some of the light fall off, but it is minor. A life change is that I try to limit my night driving. Part of aging is living within limits.

My bounce back into fitness is now a slow build I am finding. So is the weight loss. All I can do is keep at it, and eventually I’ll get there. I think snow birding will be a great time to exploit milder temperatures to exercise. I have a mission to complete, and now is the time to execute my long-term plan.

Somehow the 1966 C-10 has advanced. Next year I think I’ll pull the head and see how far I can go to get the truck road worthy. Of course the truck runs, I likely will have to buy a new battery, but the idea is to get rid of the smoking caused by lack of valve seals.

There is a non running survivor that compares to my C-10, it is not running, but has a set of new tires to be a “roller.” Instead of new tires, my truck has an overhauled front and rear suspension and new steering. My truck runs if I start it. Without the blue smoke likely salable for $15K to the right buyer.

With tires, front disc brakes, 2 inch drop spindles, new oak bed, and a clear coat easily a $20K truck. The new oak bed kit costs about $1.5K.

Hmmm…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

A new windshield and rubber for my C-10 is about $200.00.

LMC Truck has an aftermarket catalog. Pretty much no shortage of repo parts. 1964-1966 Chey trucks are basically the same except for badge ID placements being the only markers to distinguish different years. This makes my 66 C-10 have a huge aftermarket supply. Parts are cheap-cheap-cheap.

A windshield, a new wooden bed (OEM wooden bed is rotted out; $1500.00 for an upgraded oak version), and a clear coat and the body is done.

I will have a hot old man’s truck. A survivor with 61K miles that’s 58 years old. How cool is that?

Off in another retirement daydream. This one is more practical and won’t drain the bank.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Gold is near $2.4K again…

I put the electric upright bass on consignment to raise cash. Pretty much I was informed that the economy was slowing, but I already knew that.

Robert Capa is buried nearby in Armawalk near Yorktown Heights. This is at a Quaker Cemetery, oddly Endre Erno Friedmann was Jewish, and is know as a Great War photographer, but he was also known as a man of peace.

He was entitled to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, but his family decided otherwise…

Know that the name Robert Capa was only an invention and a persona that later became an identity.

We went to CapaSpace which is part of a Quaker Meeting House to see an exhibit of a friend of a friend, a woman lawyer who was a public defender who photographer some of her clients who were women who had life sentences.

Inside And Out: Women With Life Sentances included hand written writing from the photographed women. Also included was their sentences and time behind bars. Lots of the writing involved remorse, redemption, wanting second chances, and displayed growth.

Kinda brutal: One was a woman who was a juvenile tried as an adult; another was Life Without Parole. Some of the women served the minimum term before getting paroled. For example 30 years to life; paroled after 32 years of incarceration. Some got released via pardons, but minimum sentences were first served.

The closing reception is July 21st and I’m thinking of attending. To get a life sentence pretty much the crime involved a homocide.

BTW the personal writing was more powerful than the photo’s. This artist received a Guggenheim.

7/26 and 7/27 is the Peekskill Film Fest. There is also some Gala we were invited to attend that is a benefit for the Peekskill Herald.

I got a library card today. Somehow we were pointed to a historian who works there. She will be doing some research about our house and our neighborhood right on the edge of the city.

“Maggie” and I pledged to start borrowing books written in Spanish. Our goal is to gain fluency. Pretty much at one time I was fluent. Also know I did not have an accent that identified me as a “Gringo.” I could read Spanish also, but with lack of use I am no longer fluent.

This local library card will also allow us to borrow books from any library in Westchester. The closer library in Buchanan is a really nice library perhaps a mile away.

So a lot is going on and a rather full day.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Wee-Gee, Robert Capa, and Calzone are persona’s.

I’m memorable, but I’m no legend.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Heat advisory today of 101. Some rain and this morning some really loud thunder.

We got a report from the “Creature” of 99 degree temperature. I suspect that the humidity down there is pretty high all the time.

So today we kinda have North Carolina weather. I already turned on the life support (mini-split) because of the oppressive humidity. “Maggie” suffers greatly under these conditions and is prone to heat exhaustion.

I looked into a new wiring harness for the C-10. One of the best ones made specifically for my year vehicle is about $800.00 and change.

Anyways, still a pretty big job to rewire the truck. Typically the heater controls need to get replaced, and the OEM units were not robust. These are the kinds of things that sooner or later will need to get addressed.

I ordered new catalogs from LMC for free.

Been reading a book that Andrew lent me called “Last Breath.” Pretty much it is about death, near death and being resurrected from things like drowning, avalanches, hypothermia that is the result of mostly extreame events. What makes it interesting is the biology and science.

The last story I read last night was about a snowboarder who in this case survived an avalanch. The slow suffocation he endured was a really dramatic story and was framed in a medical manner.

Another story was about a kayaker who drowned…

Did you know I had chronic fatigue syndrome. Pretty much you get addicted to adrenaline, but then the body runs out. There were days I got up ate, showered, and went back to bed. That was my entire day.

So here is Andrew, a 77 year old man dealing with some limits of aging, who is of the same mold as me. I knew he could relate to the characters in the book I gave him “Completely Insane.” In fact he already knew of these two men and had read their books/biographies.

I see the interest in pushing limits, in Andrew, in myself, and in the book I’m reading.

I’m raising some capitol. The upright bass is for sale, and I’m thinking of selling this small position I have in a gold miner that has been elevated. Pretty much gold miners are speculative, and the position is small. Their business model is very capitol intensive. Pretty much I was just sitting on a loss, but it recovered somewhat.

The economy is slowing, and having what I would call “extra” cash could lead to opportunities, especially if there is a recession. I’m kinda jumping the shark here and being prepared.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Just got back from a power walk. The engineered Patagonia wicking action of the T-shirt really helped. A strength workout and it will be a good day.

Saw many baby rabbits and many ground hogs.

The Santa Cruz HOG got noticeably louder last night. This guitar will never get as loud as my 1934 spec Model “F” because it is the additional treble response of the spruce top that provides perceived loudness because of clarity.

Really two very different guitars that have different emphasis: one has enhanced lows; and the other abundant highs.

Today is a good day to do bike maintenance and updates.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

It is like Death Valley up here. Glad we have life support (mini-splits). Also happy-happy we still did our power walk with heavy hands. The mini-splits were a great investment for the first floor, but now the inverter technology is being used on these U-shaped window units to gain efficiently.

The mechanicals are better situated to not transfere noise, and another bonus besides lower energy costs is that the window you can still open for ventilation when the air conditioner is not required. For the upstairs it kinda makes sense to go modular with U-shaped window units.

Our mini-splits are fitted in between the joists in the ceilings of the kitchen and dining room, only 2 zones, and pretty much the living room needs no air handler nor does the hallway/foyer.

Feels like that humid August stillness outside.

****************

At this point I feel no side effects from my med. Blood pressure is low even when drinking a coffee. The key here is pumping blood for a good hour and a half.

Mike our UPS driver I see all over. Pretty much after the layoffs they enlarged his route. Pretty much a cost cutting manner. Local businesses moan about things slowing down. I’m not inquiring, it just comes out in conversation.

The remodeling construction guys are still busy. This makes sense to me because of the housing “lockdown” where home owners don’t want to loose their record low interest rate mortgages, but at the same time new housing starts are down.

I don’t see the remodeling slowing down, even if there is a recession. The housing shortage and the housing “lockdown” is not going away for a decade or more, especially if you understand regression to the mean. Pretty much under-building happened for the 15 years after 2007-2008. Might take 15 years of overbuilding to balance things, but that is unrealistic. Perhaps the housing lockdown could extend to 20 years.

Over the long-long term I see home affordability problems. Many people will get left out. Homelessness will become a bigger problem as rents escalate.

*****************

It will be interesting to observe the likely growth spurt in my garden from the heat index and heavy watering.

Also my raising cash, and culling down, translates into having a position of keeping the rest of my treasures. I see inflation, scarcity, and a leaner time ahead. Mucho debt has to be paid down, any downturn will compound any debt, and debt by governments and households are at record levels.

Then on top of that the weather and politics are unstable, or in fact are deteriorating. Natural disasters follow “Broken Window Theory” which is when some kid playing breaks a neighbor’s window, the replacement is just that and is not really any economic gain. Pretty much treading water…

So in this type of economy, it pays to be one and done, not be a mass consumer, and pretty much not use contractors to do anymore remodeling. Pretty much the heavy lifting has already been performed, so we are in a good space. We got the work done before we got priced out.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Thinking of MFM as I cook sausage and peppers.

I’m kinda doing a “Diafine” like experiment by cooking the peppers separately from the onions. The peppers are thicker and I have them about 85-90 cooked where I want them. I figure the onions I like to be somewhat caramelized for some sweetness, but that layer of perfection and control is hard to do if cooking peppers and onions together.

The sausages I cook separately on the grill. BTW I added some Italian seasoning and a tiny bit of garlic powder to add some additional flavors, only a subtle amount.

Pretty much the peppers and onions go through a process of reduction as I slowly drive off moisture. Everything kinda shrinks down by about half by the time everything is cooked. The result is concentrated flavor.

I might have more caramelized purple onions than I need, but that is alright because I can zip them in a bag and freeze them for some other future use. Saves time…

*************

The bird I saw that I thought might have been an owl I now believe is called a “Northern Harrier” that is described as having an owl like face and glide close to the ground. Pretty much that is what I saw.

*************

Somehow I saved $18.60 by using CVS coupons and rewards. Knocked off about 30% off my full purchase price. Some of the coupons were going to expire tomorrow. Pretty much free money that is untaxed that I earn. I figure I’m accumulating wealth. At this p[oint I have accumulated lots of cool gear. I just want to keep it because I can’t really afford to replace things if I ever sell.

Pretty much when I bought this stuff it was to keep for the rest of my life.

****************

As I write this, I’m cooking. I believe I have the perfect 50/50 mix I want for my peppers and onions. The rate of shrinkage is different for each element. Should be extra good. I would define this meal as “Caramelized onions with peppers and grilled sausage.”

I think many photographers with good darkroom skills are also good cooks. Pretty much all it is is chemistry.

Call me a tease, but I just combined and added in the peppers. The peppers and carmelized onions are visually stunning looking. I should take a photograph. Now I’m doing the finishing cooking to blend flavors while I go grill the sausage.

This is going to be mucho good. Poor MFM.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Dinner was mighty great. My two part cooking that mimics Diafine actually was a clever idea.

I could see doing a house party and making a huge lasagna in a turkey tray with a layer of sausage and peppers.

It is a very different way to present the caramelized onions which I usually introduce into the sauce.

Pretty much could get accused of poisoning people because I am known to make stuff so good eating that some people overdose because they eat until they get sick.

I guess this Diafine method will add to the legend. Don’t tell anyone my secrete.

Cal

 

[MrFujicaman]

Thinking of MFM as I cook sausage and peppers.

I’m kinda doing a “Diafine” like experiment by cooking the peppers separately from the onions. The peppers are thicker and I have them about 85-90 cooked where I want them. I figure the onions I like to be somewhat caramelized for some sweetness, but that layer of perfection and control is hard to do if cooking peppers and onions together.

The sausages I cook separately on the grill. BTW I added some Italian seasoning and a tiny bit of garlic powder to add some additional flavors, only a subtle amount.

Pretty much the peppers and onions go through a process of reduction as I slowly drive off moisture. Everything kinda shrinks down by about half by the time everything is cooked. The result is concentrated flavor.

I might have more caramelized purple onions than I need, but that is alright because I can zip them in a bag and freeze them for some other future use. Saves time…

*************

The bird I saw that I thought might have been an owl I now believe is called a “Northern Harrier” that is described as having an owl like face and glide close to the ground. Pretty much that is what I saw.

*************

Somehow I saved $18.60 by using CVS coupons and rewards. Knocked off about 30% off my full purchase price. Some of the coupons were going to expire tomorrow. Pretty much free money that is untaxed that I earn. I figure I’m accumulating wealth. At this p[oint I have accumulated lots of cool gear. I just want to keep it because I can’t really afford to replace things if I ever sell.

Pretty much when I bought this stuff it was to keep for the rest of my life.

****************

As I write this, I’m cooking. I believe I have the perfect 50/50 mix I want for my peppers and onions. The rate of shrinkage is different for each element. Should be extra good. I would define this meal as “Caramelized onions with peppers and grilled sausage.”

I think many photographers with good darkroom skills are also good cooks. Pretty much all it is is chemistry.

Call me a tease, but I just combined and added in the peppers. The peppers and carmelized onions are visually stunning looking. I should take a photograph. Now I’m doing the finishing cooking to blend flavors while I go grill the sausage.

This is going to be mucho good. Poor MFM.

Cal

Sometimes I really hate you Cal......

 

[Calzone]

MFM,

You should try the Diafine method I outlined. The final cooking where the blending happens is amazing. Takes more time, but is worth the wait. No going back now to cooking together.

Anyways so satisfying. Wish you were in Peekskill so I can poison you with great food.

I know your weakness…

Cal

 

[DownUnder]

Diafine with a slug of gin added would make a super whammy cocktail.

Only the best gin, please. Nothing less than Tangueray.

Oops - I forgot neither of you over there drink alcohol. Good on you, more for me!

 

[Calzone]

Drove almost 200 miles today exploring first Catskill the village, and then Athens on the Hudson River. These are two small sleepy towns.

Catskill is situated on Catskill Creek which empties into the Hudson River, and Athens is 5 miles away. Pretty much Athens can be described as a sleepier version of Catskill. Also the downtown is smaller.

Lots of traffic on the thruway heading south, we figure vacationers heading home from the extended 4th of July vacation, but hardly any traffic heading north. EZ sailing for us doing 75-80 MPH going north.

The big city across the Hudson River to these tiny towns is Hudson via a bridge.

We cruised the neighborhoods looking at houses and the lay of the land.

In Athens we actually found a cute house for sale, but it is under contract. Oh-well…

We are not ready to sell our house anyways. We want our house to be kinda turnkey.

The real estate further north is a lot less money, and also the taxes are lower, especially since we now only like/love old houses. The small cottage we liked dates back to the 1840’s, but of course needed remodeling.

We love our current house, but of course there is the good, the bad, and the ugly. On the river not far from us is an incinerator that pretty much services a big chunk of Westchester. It’s ne of the reasons why our taxes are low for Westchester, but the outcome is that there is air pollution and not the best air quality.

Up north the taxes are less, and in fact the Athens cottage had a sewer hook up, but I saw a big propane tank on the side of the house. Hot air heating, which is really bad for my skin in the winter.

Anyways just a daydream and something to explore.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I guess I’m a bit of a chess player who thinks 3-4 moves ahead.

One fact is Peekskill is within the effects of the Gulfstream and benefits from a milder winter and less snow. Pretty much just a tad further north is a different climate. We are a Rivertown on the Hudson River 40 miles north of NYC, and this is a rather stratigic location because of being of commutable distance and having Metro-North as infrastructure.

Peekskill is a small city of 25K inhabitants, and of course it has its share of crime and problems. Overall though the taxes are extremely low for Westchester, but the taxes in Catskill are less than half.

Of course we would have a hard time walking away from the near record low interest rate on our mortgage well below 3%, but equity and appreciation might translate into no mortgage if we downsized slightly.

The trade off then would be having to renovate and restore yet another old house. The places we explore are the places NYC dwellers go to escape and vacation.

BTW I’m not liking forced hot air heating when I have hot water radiators now.

I think the convenience of where we live, makes up for more rural life further north. Pretty much that a much more rural life is just an hour and 15 minutes away, and it is a pleasant and scenic drive of highway driving.

In the rural areas getting groceries, getting to a Home Cheapo, or a Citibank is not so EZ-PZ. Peekskill being urban is best for a lazy-slacker. I also have first rate medical care 2 1/2 miles away.

I did learn that Hudson is a really great starting point to get on the Empire State Trailway.

It does seem that the Hudson Valley is where many established artist do converge, and that includes Peekskill. Really no other reason to move, but I’m not seeing downsizing further like “Maggie.” Our house is small enough.

Cal

 

[DownUnder]

Partner at home things a man who cooks, doesn't drink alcohol, thinks for himself and plans a lot, is well worth keeping.

Feel free to pass this on. From one who doesn't quite come up to the goal post, but is still trying...

 

[Calzone]

DU,

I had a lot of responsibility when I was just 13 years old. Pretty much I did my best to take care of a house, my 69 year old dad, and my younger brother. I grew up fast, and I also grew up alone. My older siblings kinda abandoned us and our poverty.

Five years later when he was 72 my dad became an invalid and I was his caretaker while going to college full-time and working part-time. My friends thought I might have died because I fell off the map.

My older siblings were selfish and pretty much should feel bad about themselves. We don’t talk, and they are dead to me.

This plays against the stereotype of a strong Chinese family. In fact I was the only strong one in my family. I could of used a hand, but did not really get any help.

There is this thing called suvivor’s guilt, and that also made my older siblings uncomfortable. They are responsible for their actions, but basically the bad feelings about themselves, and the discomfort between us, eventually pushed me and my little brother away.

I grew up alone, and I grew up fast. Had no choice. Had to be clever, adaptable, and creative. I came from nothing.

Somehow I grew past any bitterness and anger. I had plenty of that and was volatile, scary and dangerous. I’m an old man now who knows resilience.

My worries today are not really about me. I worry about others because I’m a caretaker.

I do know that our home in Peekskill has the potential to be the bunker we need to survive, but I also see that equity and appreciation could lead to a move further north in the Hudson Valley that could be an alternative lifestyle that is a different set of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Know because I have been cheated, that I make up for those times by being more playful now. I am now blessed with a mind that is forever young.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Today a heat index of 101 expected. Will do a power walk with “Maggie,” and then work on staining moldings. A second coat for some, and sanding and a first coat on others. The old moldings are organized into sets for each window. There are 4 windows in a rather small dining room.

I recognize that Maggie thinks of herself as a creative, but to me some of her thinking is closed and a bit rigid. A real artist has an approach that tends to be a world of ideas. possibilities and concept. Pretty much a bigger world than most people experience or live in, this form of thinking seems to be innate, and it tends to lead to abstractions.

I have this gift. This gift also makes me an independent thinker with a critical mind. Meanwhile Maggie with her PhD thinks she is an expert.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The way things are going with the housing shortage I not only think the shortage will persist 15-20 years (regression to the mean after underbuilding for a decade and a half since 2007-2008), but also that other constraints in Northern Westchester will boost my equity in an elevated manner.

Location-location-location they say in real estate as the three most important factors to consider.

One it is a rivertown set in a dramatic setting opposite mountains and a bay where wilderness and recreational areas are nearby.

Then it is commutable to NYC and has Metro North as infrastructure. About an hour train ride to Grand Central Station.

South of us is just suburbs, we are a city with a downtown, and to top it off Peekskill is “The Gateway To The Hudson Highlands” where the mountains begin in the Hudson Valley.

The Bear Mountain Bridge crosses the Hudson River, and on the west side of the river are two large connected state parks that are a wilderness. This is a place of old iron mines and a few ghost towns.

On an evolutionary curve, Peekskill has drawn in a good amount of artists, that make the city interesting and dynamic. It still is in an early state of development.

All this points to a potential of growth and value where I can see my equity and appreciation continuing to rise at a remarkable rate. The value of an old house is compounded by low taxes, and the character of old houses has its charm.

I think I have outlined many reasons why “time is my friend.” I believe our home might appreciate more than some homes we are interested in further north. Basically old cottages that are cozy modest homes with privacy and also access in creative art communities filled with old hippies like me.

A cool takeaway from yesterday is that “Maggie” now sees that going too small would be a mistake. She appreciates the privacy and wilderness right off our back-backyard, the water feature, the woods, the wildlife, and the diversity that provides tranquility.

I have had my arguments that we lived in a 650 square foot apartment for over a decade, and that style of clutter and being confined is not suitable to me.

I could be happier in a slightly smaller house, but it would have to have accommodations for my car and truck, as well as an reasonable studio work space.

Maggie and I don’t like homes newer than 1940. Pretty much only old homes for us.

Cal