Category: Miscellaneous

Westminster Abbey


William Shakepseare, Westminster Abbey, London, England

As you may have gathered from reading my blog, I am a voracious reader. I’m mainly enjoy reading fiction, but I will read almost anything. I even read candy wrappers I see on th ground.

I especially love to read novels. The novel to which I can most relate, although it is not my favorite, but I have read it four times, is Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy. Jude, the title character, tries to compensate for his lack of a forma education by immersing himsef in books that will provide him with a good education. For the longest time, I lacked a formal education, so I read all the books that would constitute a sound educational background. I also read the complete works of William Shakespear on my own. Eventually, I went back to school and majored in English.

As an English major, I discovered that I had already ready many of the required readings on my own. However, I did add more authors to my reading list of books read. I enjoyed reading the biographies of the authors I read. I soon discovered that many of them had something in common: They were all either buried or memorialized in Westmister Abbey. Back then, I thought I would enjoy going to Westminster Abbey to make a connection with those writers, but I never thought that would be possible.

Well, I have reached that point in my life where I was able to go to Westminster Abbey. I have never done much international travel, other than to Mexico to visit my family. My wife and daughter wanted to go to Rome last December. I was reluctant to go to Rome, mainly because of our language barrier. I suggested that we go to London, mainly because I was an English major and I speak English. My wife and daughter agreed.

My wife’s friend told she should prepare for the trip to England by watching the TV series The Crown. I realized then that I was doing it all wrong! I was watching Mr. Bean and Benny Hill!

So there we were in London, England, the birthplace of the English language. The streets were filled with lots of tourists, very few of whom were speaking English. But I have finally arrived at Westminster Abbey! I was enthralled, motivated, and inspired by being in the presence of so many great minds! I saw the names of many of the writers I had read. I had read most of them! Except for William Longfellow, Henry James, and T.S. Eliot, they were all English.

I took pictures of almost all the writers. Here’s a list of the writer’s whose name I saw at Westminster Abbey and that I had read at least once, in no particular order:

  • Geoffrey Chaucer
  • John Dryden
  • William Shakespeare
  • Thomas Stearns Eliot
  • Alfred Lord Tennyson
  • Robert Browning
  • Henry James
  • Robert Browning
  • Wystan Hugh Auden
  • George Elit (Mary Ann Evans)
  • Lewis Carrol
  • Oscar Wilde
  • Ted Hughes
  • D.H. Lawrence
  • Edward Lear
  • Wilfred Owen
  • Ben Johnson
  • Edmond Spencer
  • Jane Austen
  • Charlotte Bronte
  • Emily Jane Bronte
  • Anne Bronte
  • Samuel Johnson
  • Rudyard Kipling
  • Thomas Hardy
  • Charles Dickens
  • C.S. Lewis
  • William Blake
DDR

Tools


Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

When it comes to being useful around the house, I can do basic repairs. I come from a family of carpenters and mechanics, so I am fairly handy around the house. I used to be able to do basic auto repairs until the car manufacturers started computerizing all their systems. I have the basic tools I need for around the house: hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, socket wrenches, and assorted power tools.

However, if you do enough home and auto repairs, you eventually will need a very specialized tool that isn’t available on the market or doesn’t even exist. For example, sometimes I would have to pry something open, but a crowbar or a screwdriver was too thick to squeeze in. However, a table knife, but not a steak knife, would do the job. Sometimes, a paper clip would fit right in a small circular hole that no other tool could. And, of course, there’s my favorite! A wire coat hanger! I’ve used it as a car antenna that received very good reception. A hanger is also good for reaching into places where your hand and arm won’t fit; you can shape it so it will go directly to where you’re aiming. Coins also help in some situations because they come in different sizes, and I will find one that mets my needs.

What other objects have you used as tools when an existing tool wouldn’t do the job?

Olympics


Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I don’t know why, but I’ve always enjoyed watching the Olympics on TV. So I’ve been watching them as much as possible these past two weeks. I’m not even a sports fanatic. However, Olympic athletes are often inspiring role models, especially when they have overcome overwhelming odds to reach the Olympic finals of any event.

When I went to Mexico City in 1965, I was surprised by how much Mexico was preparing for the 1968 Olympics. They even had garbage cans all over the city with signs that asked everyone to keep Mexico City clean for the Olympics

I began running as a boy because I was inspired by the Olympic track and field events. I even attempted to become the best runner I could be. I never reached world-class level, but I enjoyed improving constantly. I still run to this day because I enjoy running on most days. It’s relaxing and gives me some time to meditate about my problems. On those especially hectic days, nothing relaxes me more than a run through my neighborhood.

DDR

Cariño


Photo by Sasha Kim on Pexels.com

The main difference between Mexicans in the U.S. and Mexico can be summed up in one word: cariño. I didn’t really notice until I went to Mexico with my sons. I guess I had noticed this cariño on previous trips, but I had forgotten all about that affection that Mexicans show one another more openly.

Mexicans in the U.S. are very affectionate, compared to the typical American, but their display of cariño keeps diminishing with each passing year as they assimilate into American culture. I could tell my sons were surprised by all the cariño they endured first hand. They just weren’t used to it!

Well, every time I go to Mexico, I have to get used to it, too. Once a Mexican finds out that you are his or her relative, you are guaranteed to be showered with affection. My cousins kept hugging and kissing my sons, which really embarrassed them. Especially when they also said things like, “My Baby!” My sons really blushed. Every time! After a while they realized that it was useless to try to avoid all this cariño.

Wow! So that’s what I went through on our trips to Mexico when I was younger!

DDR

Pemex


Pemex Gas Station

Pemex is the Mexican government-owned petroleum company that is a monopoly. They drill for oil, refine it, and then sell it in their own gas stations. When I drove to Mexico in July, Pemex sold gasoline for the same price as it did in December of 2007, the last time I drove down there. Meanwhile, gas in the U.S. practically doubled. This is about the only case that I can think of in which a government monopoly actually benefited citizens. As soon as I crossed the border, I saved money on gas. If gas in Mexico practically doubled as in the U.S., the Mexican economy would suffer greatly. It has already undergone a significant downturn due to unemployment, the housing crisis, and rising prices in the U.S., thereby causing Mexicans working in the U.S. to send less money home to Mexico. So, I, personally benefited from the fixed prices of gasoline in Mexico by paying less at the pump.

DDR