It Continues

Today, Washington Mutual (WAMU) was shut down by the Feds and then acquired by JP Morgan/Chase. I saw this info on the TV at the gym (Club Med Gym, Montparnasse). The gym has many gorgeous, large flat screen TVs but they have no sound, so you have to read the sub-titles. So, I read about my bank, WAMU.

Since I had no ability to do anything, change anything, I just continued my workout, but with a little bit more tension in my neck.

When I got home, I checked the internet and it is true. It continues!

Where will it stop?

We went to our WICE conversation group in the afternoon and tried to explain it to the french.
Why did we have adjustable rate loans? Everyone knows this is stupid.
Why did people try to borrow more than they could pay back? Ditto.
Why did the banks sell, repackage and resell these loans, each time making money, but making the entire system weaker? Ditto
Why are Americans so interested in having so much stuff? Why can't they just enjoy their lives?

I can't justify it, I can only explain it.

Apocalypse NOW

The sky is falling.

It’s all happening at once.

First, Hurricane IKE hits Texas. My sister lives in Houston and lost power (it’s still out after 5 days with an ETA of at least 5 more days), water and a large window. Impossible to live in the house, as it is 100 degrees and 100 % humidity and there’s no air conditioning. The people waiting in gas lines are protected by the police. Everyone is lining up for FEMA handouts of ice and water.

The hurricane itself was pretty scary, according to my sister, but the aftermath is worse. The streets are littered, windows are broken, there is no security for their house. They stayed with friends, then in a hotel. Every meal is in a restaurant or at someone’s home that has gotten their power back. She says that there are streets where one side has power and the other side doesn’t.

And, if that’s not enough, now the financial markets are tumbling. Lehman Brothers, an historic and honorable company has filed for bankruptcy. We have holdings with the company, but I see that 25,000 employees will be without jobs and there will be many more shareholders who are "holding the bag" after the day is done.

AIG was almost next. Merrill was bought by B of A. Where will it end?

I've forgotten to mention that our friends could not get to Paris from London because the Channel Tunnel had a fire in it over the weekend is only operating at 30% capacity.

Luckily, the cave is filled with "grocery store' variety Bordeaux, a small compensation for our week's losses. We’ll all recover, somehow.

Hurricane IKE

is scaring me.

My sister lives in Houston.

Hard to be in Paris and watch it all on CNN

Solving The Mystery of Life

In my jet lagged state, I've been lying in bed (4 AM) trying to remember what kinetic energy is.

The Garbage Disposer (or lack thereof...)

I think that Americans take the garbage disposer for granted.

I've always had one.

When there are leftovers such as carrot tops, tomato stems, eggshells or other stuff to get rid of, I just put them down the left-hand side of the sink, flick the switch, hit the cold water and it's all gone... down the drain!

Not in France.

We've just returned after a long trip to the US. I've gotten used to that silly garbage disposal. It takes care of just about everything. (No artichoke leaves, celery stings or walnut shells, please).

Tonight, after dinner, I've been busily picking up stray strands of pasta, tomato seeds, etc, making sure that it doesn't go down the drain, possibly clogging it.

I don't think that the garbage disposal appliance is available in France. I do know that I miss having one.

First Crop -- 2013

It started out as a seed. Aidan, who loves avocados, ate it two summers ago. I decided to try to grow a plant from it.

I put toothpicks into the center of the seed and placed it in a glass of water in a sunny spot in the kitchen. Within weeks, roots started to appear. After a few more weeks, a small stem broke through the top of the seed.

Over the course of two years, I've kept it in the sunny spot, and when we're gone, Neda kept the glass full of water. I counted the leaves as they emerged, one, two, pretty soon there were eight or nine.

Last summer, I thought it was time to plant the avocado in the yard. I went to the nursery for information. The nursery woman told me that there were still many steps that needed to be completed before planting.

First, I would need to transfer the plant to a pot. She told me what type of soil, food, and when to water it.

She also told me something very important. Avocados need sun, but it must be acclimated slowly. Over the last year, I've moved the plant in and out of the sun, giving it a little more time outside each day. This summer, it stayed outside all the time and it has flourished.


Safely in the ground

Yesterday it was time. Terry cleared a place in the sunniest spot we have. It has an ocean view, a nice extra. We watered the plant and planted it. So far, so good.

The woman at the nursery told me that it takes seven years for an avocado to produce fruit. I guess that means we should have our first crop in about five more years now.