1SE for June 2022
Posted July 1, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: 1 Sec Every Day, 1SE
Tags: 1 Second Everyday, 1SE, Video
Jet Blue
Posted June 17, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Reviews, Travel
Tags: Jet Blue, travel
Well last night we arrived on our flight from LAX to BOS on Jet Blue. Let me start with the good news. The flight departed on time and arrived on time. The flight was full as were the other flights we were on in the recent days.
For some reason, the airline couldn’t assign seats until we were at the gate. I don’t know what the problems were, but other airlines seem to be able to do it.
This aircraft was pitching their on board Wi-Fi. Lots of ads on the screen in front of you. Too bad the Wi-Fi didn’t work.
The flight last month on Delta had phone charging ports on the front of each seat. None on Jet Blue. Didn’t matter much because the Wi-Fi didn’t work.
This flight had flight status on the screen in front of you, telling your speed, altitude and position on a map. But you had to watch all the ads on what you could do on the Jet Blue app (if the Wi-Fi worked.)
There were no directions on how to watch any of the media (movies, tv shows, etc.)
Another good thing, when we were over NY somewhere the stewardess came around with the drink cart. Had our first cup of Dunkin coffee in a long while.
So here’s the deal killer for Jet Blue. After arriving on time at about 10 PM in BOS, we had to wait for over an hour to get our luggage. Now I understand why people don’t want to check bags. They made a couple of announcements about it. They said it would be another 25 minutes or so. GRRRR. Just what I wanted after spending 6 hours on an airplane to wait for an hour to get our bags.
Today, we pick up our rental car and head up to Vermont for the wedding.
TTFN
Bedpan Commando
Posted June 11, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Books, Reviews
Tags: books, Nurses, Review
I forget where I discovered this book. It is the story of a combat nurse serving in Europe during WW2 named June Wandrey. So this book was released in 1990.
The story starts with June boarding a troop ship heading to North Africa, Her journey takes her from Africa, to Sicily, Rome, France and finally to Germany at the end of the war.
The story is relayed through her letters to and from her family and friends back home in the US during WW2. Her unit was constantly on the move following the action of the war. Here’s a sample:
One of our Catholic nurses dated a war photographer who took her to meet the Pope. Pius was upset that she had come into his presence wearing pants. How sad that in his elegant surroundings he knew nothing of the life of a combat nurse. Maybe he thought she wore white silk hose and white starched uniforms in the muddy fields where she lived.
Click here to read the bio of June Wandry in Wikipedia. She certainly had an interesting life.
Click here to get the Kindle book from Amazon.
While we’re on the subject of Kindle. I tend to read Kindle books rather than paper books for a few reasons.
- I find them easier to read. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be and one can adjust the font size to make it easier to read.
- When I’ve finished with a book, I just delete. I don’t have room in our house to store old books.
- BTW Apple won’t let you buy a Kindle book from the Amazon App on iPhone or iPad. Apple wants you to buy the book for the Apple book reader. There is a work-around. Just go to amazon.com on the iPad browser app.
- Another reason for Kindle. The print version of this book is no longer available. The Kindle version lives on.
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Posted June 9, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Movies, Reviews
Tags: Downton, Movies
Last night, Paula and I went to the movies to see “Downton Abbey: A New Era” at the AMC theater in Torrance. We had previously seen all of the many episodes on PBS. So, we pretty much new what to expect.
We were also thinking of seeing the new “Top Gun” movie with Tom Cruise and all of the fighter pilots. We figured that Downton is probably at the end of its theater run, while Top Gun might be running a while longer.
The producers managed to get all of the actors for the main characters to return to do the movie sequel. Often times, actors seem to be busy with other projects and don’t have the time (or interest) to do the sequel. We went to a 4:15PM show on a Wednesday afternoon. I think there was about 6 people total in the theater. The parking lot was pretty much empty, too. We decided to do the early show so that restaurants would still be open when we finished the movie. Movie finished up about 6:30PM.
Okay, now for the SPOILER ALERT. Lord Grantham finds out that the family is due to inherit a nice villa in the south of France. So everyone heads down to France for some fun. Lord Grantham finds a picture of a young Violet Grantham which causes much consternation among the family.
We did dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in San Pedro called “Crazy Fish”. I had my usual Fish Tacos and Paula had a Salmon bowl. We each had a glass of white wine. At the beginning of the pandemic, the owners had set up an outdoor eating area. They have kept the area in operation. Nice to sit outside with a light cool breeze.
We would rate it about 7.5 out of 10 stars. Worth seeing, though one might want to wait until it hits the streaming market.
1 Second Everyday for May 2022
Posted May 31, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: 1 Sec Every Day, 1SE
Tags: 1SE
Mother’s Day
Posted May 6, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Family
Tags: Aging, Mary
So today we went up to Mary’s grave site to put some flowers on her grave. The site has a beautiful view. It is so peaceful to stand there and watch the world flow by.
We never could get Mary to give us any input on where she would like to be buried. So we were left with figuring it out for her. We could not get any input on what she would have liked to have for a funeral service. The only thing that she asked was to have Harold’s ashes interred with her, which we did.
We will be spending Mother’s Day here with our D-I-L and our grandkids. We will be doing a Mother’s Day brunch. Always nice to see the kids.
YouBreakIfix
Posted May 3, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Reviews
Tags: HP, iPhone, Laptops, tech
So on April 7, I took my laptop to youbreakifix to get it repaired. The case had split open. It seems that the battery was failing.
YoubreakIfix repair site was recommended by HP. Bad recommendation. (in my case this store was in Torrance CA
I received a message from them that they would need to order a replacement battery. Should be received within a week. That was almost a month ago. I try calling to get status. They don’t answer their phone and the voice mailbox is always full. No email listed to ask for status.
I will be needing my laptop for a trip we will be taking this month. So, I bought a new one from HP. I couldn’t wait any longer
So today, I went there to try to get back my laptop. There were about five people ahead of me in line to talk with the sales guy. Most seemed to be having problems with their phones. So he refused to go find my laptop. He said come back tomorrow.
I finally got to talk with the guy behind the counter. He scanned my receipt, he had non answer. When I complained about not answering the phone, he said he didn’t have time to answer the phone.
He was the only person working there today. Apparently, two people called in sick today. Probably sick of working for youbreakifix.
So, bottom line , if you are having a problem with your phone, PC or Mac, DO NOT GO TO YOUBREAKIFIX.
1 Second Everyday for April 2022
Posted May 1, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: 1 Sec Every Day
Tags: 1 Second Everyday
West Side Story
Posted April 27, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Films
Tags: Broadway, Movies, New York City, West Side Story
Last night Paula and I watched the new “West Side Story” on streaming video. Here are some of my thoughts. Generally, we enjoyed the film, the music, the dancing. Though it was a little bit long (2.5 hours)
So to fill in everyone who has not either seen the original film or broadway show, this is this story of two gangs of New York City around the mid to late 50’s. The groups are the Jets and the Sharks. The Sharks are the Puerto Ricans and the Jets are the white kids. They don’t like each other.
So Tony (who is Italian/American meets Maria (Puerto Rican) at a dance. They fall in love. The things get ugly in a hurry.
The film was directed by Steven Spielberg. Tony was played by Ansel Elgort. Maria was played by Rachel Elgort.
Ariana DeBose (Anita) won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
I was amazed all of the 50 something cars they managed to show in the film. It felt like going back in time.
Several actors who appeared in the 1961 version of West Side Story had roles in the remake including Rita Moreno, Harvey Evans and David Bean.
It was a fun film to watch, especially the opening where they show a bunch of gang members milling about then break into a beautifully choreographed dance number. Boy, those kids sure could dance.
Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Ocean View
Posted April 3, 2022 by joebowkerCategories: Los Angeles, San Pedro
Tags: Los Angeles
Today is Sunday and as usual we go to church at Ocean View Baptist Church. This is a post not about the church but about the view. It’s been pretty much overcast this week.
On a good day, one can see the mountains. Not today. One can barely see the harbor. If you look carefully, you can see ships anchored out side the harbor waiting to be unloaded.
I have been told by a friend that works at the port, that the Port of Los Angeles had been parking the ships out of sight from the shore to make it look like the backup is easing.
calherewecome 