NYC Journal

How can the headline that Inflation is within “spitting-distance” of the FED’s target be correct when housing prices are north of 5%?

Pretty much a lie in my book. Pretty much I say inflation will be around until there is no housing shortage.

I got my propane tank refilled for $20.00. Pretty much the cheapest price is at my local tool rental establishment.

I raided and hosed Shop Rite taking advantage of a 5 pound limit on USDA choice T-Bone steaks, 10 ears of corn for $2.00, and 99 cent grapes using Labor Day coupons. Original bill over $72.00, but my cost was less than $40.00, so I saved over $32.00.

This first set of coupons came in a flyer delivered to my mailbox, but I have a second chance to load up on more T-Bone steaks for $6.99 a pound, 5 pound limit. I will load up the truck.

Right now I have a pair of steaks in the fridge, and another pair in the freezer. I hope to add another two pair to the freezer, but I have to wait to Sunday for the other coupon to kick in.

10 ears is a lot of corn for two people. We are not cattle getting fattened up for slaughter. I can grill all the corn, and then we can make a nice corn salid.

Hanging out with Andrew the old hippy was great. We visited a boat yard where he use to work in West Haverstraw. Pretty much I get insights and wisdom.

Andy told me about an Naked Dude Ranch near Lake Minnewaska where he would take girls on a date. I kidded around as it was a smart way to get to see the goods. Placed on a large Granite outcropping a stream fed into a pool.

Andrew saw the draw of moving north, but then also said that Peekskill is a bit of a paradise. He did not see Kingston as a nice place, even though it is a center for a large writing community. We talked about the isolation and other drawbacks like forest fires, droughts, floods, and power outages.

Services basically are better where we live. Understandable in locations that are remote and less population the services fall off. Even so, I reminded Andrew of the forest fire that jumped Washington Street by Blue Mountain Preserve, and tere was a drought and another forest fire just west of West Point.

Andy also showed me his guest house which is about the size of my garage (400 square feet). He pointed out that all the little cottages started out as being about the size of a one car garage, about 10x20, but then went through various multiple expansions and additions. Construction was full 2x4 but on 24 inch centers and not 16 inch centers.

His house and guest house was offered for $35K 35 years ago. When they called to inquire there was an immediate price drop, and pretty much the transaction was without lawyers or real estate agents, so it was like buying a stick of gum at a 7-11. The house might date back to 1929.

I treated Andrew to a sandwich for lunch, actually half a hero called a “Bear Mountain” sold at Bennie’s Brown Bag a sandwich only storefront built into a house. I ordered the hero without any mayo. It came with breaded carmelized onions as a topping and needed no other condiments. The meat was grilled roast beef served hot and in a big portion, big enough for 2 people.

Yum-yum the grandson would say.

“Maggie” walked to the train station and is meeting a friend in Cold Spring just north of us.

I have to check the garden for ripe produce. We think these purple baby-carrots need harvesting. They are the size of my skinny pinky and I have 4 square feet of them planted every 2 inches. These are a plant and forget type of farming, and the yeild is kinda big. I think I can freeze them. The mini carrots are not bland like orange carrots. Mighty good and next year I will plant more.

Cal
 
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My garage uses these terra-cotta like cinder blocks for walls and the exterior is stuccoed.

Devil Christian tells me if I build a second level I likely would have to build interior walls of 2x6 or 2x8’s to support a second floor. If I did this I could still have a two car garage, and perhaps a second story “loft.”

Pretty much with barn doors I want to construct it would look like a carriage house, and provide almost 400 square feet. I already have a 100 amp service in the garage.

This is an idea that would preserve the grounds. I could also build off a deck off the second floor.. After seeing Andrew’s guest house it made me think. Perhaps an adaptation of Devil Dan’s idea of just building a studio, but without loosing land, and going vertical.

Anyways another possibility…

Cal
 
Social Security sent me a notice because shortly I will be at full retirement age of 66 years 8 months.

They state that a typical 65 year old today will live to 85; one out of three 65 year olds will live until at least 90; and about one in 7 will live until at least age 95.

I have longevity in my genes and have a high probability of being one of those who exceed 95, and according to a longevity survey that asks about education, income, diet, exercise, personality, medical history, and BMI I have an estimated life expectancy of 111 years.

My day who was an illegal immigrant, poor and illiterate lived to 94, but in a worn out body in pain for decades.

Longevity: a blessing; and a curse.

Cal
 
Went to the Woodstock-New Paltz Arts And Crafts Fair at the Ulster County Fairgrounds.

After the fair we drove to Accord and Kerhonkson. Accord has a historic village, but is no more than a Post Office, a fire house, and a mini market. These two towns are near Mohonk, the Mountain House. Not too far from New Paltz, but somehow remote.

It dawned on us how the winters could be challenging. Snow has been light the past few years, but there can be ice storms and severe emergencies.

“Maggie” asked me about what Andrew told me yesterday. He lived in Ellenville on the other side of Mohonk

Understand that Andy is 77, and his thoughts are that Peekskill is a paradise; Kingston is a bigger city than Peekskill and has bigger problems; the winters can be isolating; and there are bigger risks of floods, fires and droughts.

Certainly is beautiful and peaceful though. We are thinking of renting to get a taste, but Peekskill seems like the safer home base as we age. Now we are thinking maybe a “camp” which in Vermont terms is a 3 season shack of sorts to have an escape/retreat/sanctuary.

Peekskill would be for comfort, luxury, and security. Renting before buying as a trial seems wise, but it seems we are digging in further, and we really find peace in this section west of New Paltz that lays between Lake Minnewaska and Catskill State Park.

The drive to Kingston from Kerhonkson is about a half hour.

At the fair I bought my friend Dave a fifth of boutique Bourbon made from locally grown corn and gains from Black Button Distillery. Made in Rochester.

Last night on the guitar I got really smooth and fluid. Seemed like I was flying on autopilot. I got caught up in “flow” that pure form of creativity that becomes a bit of an outpouring.

I was playing my “Snakehead” Tele that has a very heavy one-piece body that might be fir that was old barn wood that displays worm holes. Somehow I have bonded well into this guitar. Anyways it speaks to me and is a lively guitar in my hands.

It was a pleasant day, overcast with some very slight misting, along with cool weather. Not so many people of color up there. We kinda stand out.

Snarky Joe though is correct: the further north you go, the more it feels like the south.

Cal
 
Wow. Just got an E-mail reminder about a meeting with my probation officer. Obviously a mistake, but how did my name get into this loop? AI?

What happens when I don’t show up? Somehow I got profiled as a felon? Am I on some watch list?

The last time I got mistakenly profiled was in 2007-2008 because I made some big luxury purchases using a credit card, and paid it off immediately. Somehow back then I got mistakenly profiled as a Mega-Millionaire or even perhaps a billionaire.

Since then I have maintained a small digital footprint. My worry was getting kidnapped and pretty much there would be no one to rescue me because there is no money at that level. Back then I got 4 invites to meet with Mayor Bloomberg. I only met him once and he is the shortest billionaire I ever met. The other three times I snubbed him and had better things to do. LOL.

I got all these A-List invites where I could be in the circle of socialites, dignitaries and heads of state. Really crazy…

Seriously I locked down my credit. Anyways this kind of stuff for some unknown reason happens to me all the time, when all I’m trying to do is “mind my own business.”

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

“Maggie” bought a local upstate newspaper at a local market, kinda on the scale of the Peekskill Herald. $1.00 for a print newspaper.

Evidently a housing shortage exists up by Lake Minnewaska. Lots of limits and curbing of rentals are being discussed.

It was interesting to see the lay of the land Accord/Kerhonkson to Kingston. The burbs of Kingston were quite affluent, and Maggie had an eye on the homes made of fieldstone around Stone Ridge. Kinda majestic. There were a lot of these field stone houses, very old, and already of McMansion proportions even though built during colonial times.

I kinda see what Andrew stated: Kingston is a larger city than Peekskill and along with the increase in size comes bigger problems. Peekskill is so small, only 25K residents, that crime is kinda limited. Also know that the crime and poverty that exists is kinda at the downtown. We are at the extreme other end of the city and rather remote from downtown.

Generally there are only two murders a year in Peekskill. They always seem to be at or very near the downtown. This year the two murders happened within a month of each other.

There are other river cities like Newbough that have serious poverty and a great amount of violent crime. Yonkers is another one. Kingston is divided into three sections, but the fort section that dates back to colonial times when Kingston was the capitol of New York is a very nice area.

The midtown is big and working class, the downtown is waterfront where a canal from the west brought in cheap coal from the west. Not the best place maybe to be with global warming, but this is an artsy area with old commercial spaces.

The Woodstock Center for Photography relocated to Kingston (midtown). I will fact check, but I think Kingston has 35K residents. There is a lot of business there and a good amount of young people, many from NYC. Pretty much most of Kingston is a sprawling midtown.

Seems like Covid created a really big mass migration into the Hudson Valley. Not really a well kept secrete anymore. There are HGTV like programs that glamorize specifically the small town Hudson Valley life which somehow we stumbled into. We were both wise and lucky. The low lying fruit opportunity is now vanished.

I still see fixer uppers, but these are kinda run down and are the kind of homes that lack any good bones and kinda need major updating. I’m up to the task, but Maggie feels her age of 71 and does not want to do this.

I see keeping and maintaining our little “bunker” in Peekskill. It has “legs” and the necessary infrastructure and enough city convenience, but I also see the trend and investment opportunity. I have the tools to actually take on a project, and I think it would be mighty cool to have a retreat to springboard my fitness.

I’m in no rush. Understand that Maggie’s mom lived to 95. She is highly likely to be one of those one in 7 who will live beyond 95. I think we have the time…

A while back, a few years ago, she asked, “What are we going to do when our house is done?” I already am thinking ahead to that time…

Cal
 
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So I think I will visit the my local cops to see if I have a criminal record. I kinda want to know if I’m a wanted fugitive.

Pretty much the probation office is in a state I’ve never even drove through. Is there another “Calvin” that is a bad boy?

If this is a spoof, pretty much I will hammer someone if I can.

I want to know if my identity was stolen. My credit already is frozen from back in 2007-2008.

Anyways the smut queen in me wants to know what is going on.

I will quote my old boss who was mentally ill and had rage attacks, “I don’t mean to be nasty…”

The “reminder” was received 2:08 AM EST.

Has “Do Not Reply.”

Still kinda vague around of info presented. No header or footer in the message. Hmmmm…

Anyways life is full of surprises… Pretty much I don’t want some mistaken identity become a live arrest warrant and somehow get cuffed by mistake by the law.

I already feel like a fugitive.

Cal
 
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SMUT: Pretty much I have a “Name-Sake” who is a 24 year old who lives in California. Same first and last name.

Then I looked up my first and middle name and discovered a headline story about a 57 year old man in the proper state’s probation office who had a verbal confrontation at work escalate into a fist fight.

I was likely sent the E-mail by mistake. Take me off the possible future fugitive list. Pretty smart not to use my last name.

My other name-sake ID’ed 6 people.

BTW there are all these click bait intrusive data mining sites that eventually lead to paid subscriptions if you want to be a stalker.

So pretty much another case of mistaken identity…

I forgot the time mistaken identity and racial profiling could of been like in The Rolling Stones song “Heart Breaker.” I was about 13 years old and two NYPD cops had their guns drawn on me at point blank range. These were two very scared cops that could of shot me dead.

I figure it was Tommy TXX who live in Rosendale Queens either killed a cop or Kung-Fu’ed a cop.

Every time I hear that song I remember almost getting killed. One cop moved behind me to an assassination position where I could not see him. Literally a gun held to my head I imagine. One wrong move and I would of been killed.

What if the flight instinct kicked in? If I turned to look at the cop behind me would I have been shot in the face?

Also at Grumman there was this skinny bitch Latino named “Max” who was a Harley biker that kinda was my twin. At times I get mistaken as a Latino. I once met him in Plant 2 which was an aircraft factory building 1/4 mile long, and an 1/8th mile wide. He was a “Pony” cart driver that rode this propane powered cart to move around parts to various parts of the plant.

Everyone knew him, and some people said hello to me calling me “Max.”

Also some people believe I’m bi-racial.

Mystery solved. I’m safe.

“Maggie” jokes around that the old “Calvin,” meaning me, could have been the “Calvin” in the other state, except right here in New York.

Cal
 
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Off to the bank to drop off a check and then load up on 5 more pounds of USDA select T-Bone steaks: $6.99 a pound.

Anyways, I think there is a deeper meaning to today’s mistaken identity confusion. If you are me it pays to lay low and not draw a lot of attention. Trouble seems to come my way enough times, and I keep on dodging bullets.

If you are me it is hard to hide out. I stand out too much.

Cal
 
On my ride to buy T-bone steaks I heard a story on NPR that was cute. Basically because of and during the Covid lockdown this unemployed guy somehow rescues a rat and then kinda learns that they are highly intelligent and full of surprises. Somehow due to a string of logical deductive events rat culture kinda invades his life and of course this interferes with and becomes imbalance.

But the unfolding of the story, as strange as it sounds, becomes understandable.

The conclusion is all this strange behavior and culture evolved to handle things that this guy was unable to deal with, social isolation, identity, boredom, and motivations.

So in the end he realizes that he is not really dealing with his issues and his life. As strange as the story is, it kinda relates to our behaviors that universally are very similar: being stuck; avoidance; obsessive behavior; and of course deviance.

Made me think. Made me reflect.

I have to check if I heard right. Is NYC having a “Rat Summit” next week?

Time to fact check…

Cal
 
Phil,

As far as the numbers go they don’t lie, but why do I feel safer, more at ease, and less crazy in Peekskill?

The numbers suggest a lot more risk than I feel.

BTW your post is mighty clever and addresses a good question: which city is the safer place?

Anyways I accept that I somewhat downplay the violence and killing to a localized area.

I like/love your comment. Fact is I could get killed anywhere. I don’t live in fear though.

Cal
 
In Kerhonkson I saw some once color photography displayed in a nice restaurant bar in their downtown.

Nice images that I found engaging that were sparse, lonely, and displayed nice composition: Digital. I thought of how no autofocus would be required because of the landscapes and still life’s. A bit of rural decay I found edgy and attractive.

Then I felt the inspiration of going manuel focus on my SL2 and going insane again, except this time as a color photographer.

I know if i use Jon Cone’s color inks that it is the cheap way to print for almost just the cost of the paper.

Understand that if I use the “Gloss-Overcoat” from B&W K7 that color prints can be “hardened” for handling to create limited editions or a folio as a book. Anyways this is the best presentation of my work, it requires less infrastructure, and uses what I already have.

Hmmm… Perhaps time to start something new and go a little crazy.

Cal
 
Gearing up to have spare tires for my road bike. Bigger wheels, lighter wheels, and 24mm wide tires.

Basically cheating a little, and no need for the comfort of fatter 1.8 inch wide tires on the Newsboy. The about 80 ride to Poughkeepsie and back from Brewster is paved, no need for a gravel tire.

The Ti Basso road bike (Litespeed Classic in disguise) has a meager weight. Bonus for cheating. This old man will take any available help. I am old. LOL.

If I’m beating myself up, might as well cheat as much as possible. It is the American way. LOL.

Snarky Joe and Phil might not approve but I ordered a pair of TUFO S-33’s in all black. I have a set on the bike now on my old racing wheels that have a wired 32 spoke wheel with butted spokes. I’m using what I have. The spare set of rims that AJ gifted me I’ll use to stretch and test these tubulars.

In the past I’ve had good luck with the S-33’s. I rode the skinny versions though that were only 21mm wide.

Cal
 
Tuesday the DADGBD sets of strings arrive. Kinda stoked. The HOG is turning out to be a really great guitar. I’m stoked.

Now that I’m thinking about it, my obsessive thinking is that having both “E” strings unbalance when compared to the middle 4 strings on the HOG translates likely to be just a function of resonance. These slightly heavier strings designed for lowered “E” strings will likely provide additional drive to the very top and very bottom strings to shuffle and rebalance the tone.

It would be alright to have a slight overkill on the two “E” strings. Pretty easy to compensate, and not so bad to have a bold and pronounced top and bottom. Should be great, and is mucho clever. Could also speed up the pounding/beating in of a still rather newish guitar (about a decade old, but went unplayed).

Lots of inspiration is happening. I guess I am free and mucho happy. Retirement is great.

Cal
 
T-bone steaks, grilled young sweet corn, with caramelized purple onions that I spiked with a crushed clove of garlic.

Tried a little tenderness to heal the hollow we feel.

I told “Maggie” I feel like kidnapping the grandson I miss him so much, the grand daughter at 10 kinda grew up overnight, and I don’t want to miss out.

But all the kids are in a much better place. The dad is being more social in a family kinda way, and they are happy, meanwhile we are kinda suffering a bit and feel a bit left out. We understand…

The emergency calls every day from her daughter Maggie misses, even though it was endless. Now they are happy and unified we are on the sidelines.

We are happy to have our lives back, but we have hollow feelings also. Such is life and we must make the most of it. It is a funny situation…

So I had the time to really relish a really wonderful dinner. I feel the warmth of the sun from the walkout window as a day with very confused weather matches the day. Rain, clouds and now sun.

Just got to make the best of it. Still happy-happy, but something is missing.

Cal
 
Back when I was in Iraq, my mom was incredibly anxious about my safety, but it was statistically more dangerous to live in the Albuquerque area than it was to be in combat in Fallujah, Iraq. It's the devil you know versus the devil you don't. Safety is merely a perception. If you go by the numbers, even counting the more violent neighborhoods in NYC, it's still one of the safest places to live in this country, and it's possibly the safest of the largest cities in the world within countries that aren't run by autocracies.
That's why I call it Disneyland in comparison to Philadelphia.
Phil
 
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