Snarky Tom's Rants, Raves and Ruminations

I'm not going to rehash yesterday's events as much as fill-in some details. The 2.5 hours delay was due to mechanical problems on the Airbus A330 in Philadelphia. The passengers (us) waiting in Cancun had it considerably better than the poor saps in Philadelphia wishing to get to Cancun to start their vacations. First, the air conditioning was not working on the plane where the temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees. The passengers were all de-boarded. I refuse to use the phrase "deplaned". If you board a plane, you de-board, un-board, dis-board or just plain get off the plane. There really isn't a term for getting off a plane. Deplane was something Hervé Villechaize said at the beginning of Fantasy Island . Okay. He actually says Da Plane. I'm taking literary license here. There's a term for boats, embark and disembark. The captain on a ship does not say, "You may deboat the ship now." Or, "Please deship the QEII at this time." But...

Yes, it is Day 5. The last day of my 2014 Mexican (Cancun/Playa Del Carmen) vacation. Of course, the weather is beautiful exactly the opposite of the rest of the week. For the most part the sky is beautiful azure and not a threat of rain. But what is a needle in the eye is that we are in a delay. The US Airways flight at the time of check-in (Noon-ish) had not left Philadelphia airport yet. That's a 3 hour flight. The earliest the airship of fools can arrive will be about 4:30 p.m. The earliest we can get back to the states is 7:30 - 8 p.m. And, above it all, I think I'm coming down with a head cold. Why me? Why not, right? Next time I will have to do more research. Don't go south during hurricane season. Most of the rain we received this week stemmed from a hurricane-like storm in the Gulf on the west side of the Yucatán Peninsula. However, I am really thankful that we didn't travel to Bermuda last week or this week. I'm sure that vacation would have been immed...

Day 4: The penultimate vacation day for 2014, until Christmas. The day started like all the others. I got to sleep in while the rest of you slugs went to work. We ate breakfast and lunch at one of the 5 all you can eat places. We went to the shops again. We went to the pool again. We had an interesting turn of events at the pool. More to follow. We dined at the Brazilian themed, El Rodizio. We were sandwiched between two tables of Frenchmen. To my left, two young snooty arrogant attractive young ladies who just didn't get the idea behind Brazilian restaurant buffet. To my right, a family of five. Dad, Mom, two over 18 daughters and the elder daughter's paramour. They were late for the seating because they got lost because they were coming from a sister Iberostar property. They were the lesser of the snooties, but arrogant all the same. I don't hate the French, just everything about them. After another stellar meal, I paid to get Wi-Fi access in the room. If I knew this two ...

Day 3: Not as eventful or interesting as the prior two days We walked a lot. We had the same breakfast as the day before. After breakfast we walked to the Market Plaza...like the day before. We walked around twice maybe three times. It's a small ass Market Plaza. We people watched. And what you see when you don't have your shooting irons. We got back to the room...like the day before. We went to the pool...like the day before. And it started to rain...like the day before. We ate lunch at the same place..like the day before. Isn't vacationing fun? I feel like I'm in a bad version of Groundhog Day. However, a rainy paid vacation day off in Mexico beats the hell out of a dry, warm, nice sunny day at work in Bristol. The pool was enjoyable. Not too crowded. Not too drunk. Just the right amount of eye candy (I'm speaking solely of myself and TC.) You should see the livestock swimming and drinking in the pools. After we went back to the room for some wild lovemaking. ...

I think that's a Cowsills song or album title, but a very fitting title to Day 2 of my 2014 Autumn Mexican vacation. I'm writing this in the market plaza where the only Wi-Fi exists for miles. I'm smelling tobacco smoke blowing in from somewhere in this plaza where they allow people to smoke. No one has told the Mexicans or the Euro trash that smoking is a disgusting, smelly and unhealthy filthy habit or it's possible that they just...don't...care. Bastardos! After a nearly 24-30 hours of straight downpour, the rain finally let up enough to allow us (TC and I) to walk the beach and swim in the gigantic pool. We breakfasted as we will all week at one of the two all you can gorge yourself buffets, La Plaza o El Mercado, at the hotel. This hotel is partnered with a sister hotel, Paraiso Beach. Half the restaurants are on the one property and the other half on ours, but we share. How nice? I'm not sure I like that. I never got high marks for playing well or sharin...

I'm on vacation. This means I should be relaxed and enjoying myself. That hasn't started yet. Considering this day started at what we used to refer to as Oh Dark 30 or Zero Dark Thirty. Because of the recent film titled that that revels about the capture and subsequent justified execution of Osama Bin Laden, we now need to describe this ungodly hour as ACD, that is, Ass-Crack of Dawn. Today the ACD started at 2:30 a.m. I was in and out of the shower by 3 a.m. and on the road by 3:45 a.m. to the airport off-site parking. The second hand smoked scented shuttle dropped us at Terminal A by 4:15 a.m. 2 hours and 15 minutes before our flight only to find that we have a 45 minute wait for the USAir staff to arrive to work. Why do we need to be at the airport 2 hours before our flight when the baggage check-in people don't start work until 5 a.m? WTF? Being first in line we zipped through baggage check-in and headed to the anal probing station. At least that's what I was a...

Generally, I don't post Television program reviews, but I thought I'd give it a try. The first one is a current era whodunit. The second is an early twentieth century period piece. Gracepoint is the American version of the British TV whodunit, Broadchurch , that aired last year on BBC America. I watched the first episode of the mini-series. I was not disappointed. It appears the Fox mini-series is following the British series' script. The location has changed. Instead of a Welsh seaside town, it is set in northern Californian. The victim is a murdered preteen boy.  Gracepoint is a ten-episode series whereas Broadchurch was eight-episodes. The reason for the extra two episodes is because Broadchurch was originally created to be ten episodes long. However the British network ITV would only commission eight episodes, forcing the creators to cut two episodes. Fox allowed the creators free choice over how many episodes Gracepoint would be, so they chose to restore the miss...

Every now and again a phrase pops into my head for no reason whatsoever. However, this phrase popped into my head yesterday when a young woman, (who I just adore) who works at my company turned 34. Just last week another had turned 30. I am surrounded by thirtyish women. I got to thinking that when I was their age they were mere children. The realization that I am old enough to be their father was somewhat disheartening. Then I got to thinking a man my age could get involved with a woman their age. It's happened. Just look at the pictures posted here. I know. I'm not Nick Cage or Michael Douglas. But concerning me some people might call it creepy. Most would call it a wild-assed dream. Others, laughable and or a delirium caused by a prescription drug side effect. Most likely, if any thirtyish woman would be interested in me, it would be that they have a daddy complex or are desperate and/or crazy. Which is the way I like them anyway. But those who could get pass their gag r...

Hello, my friends. That's probably the nicest thing you'll read here in this blog today. Let's start with this post's title. You may agree with me. You may strongly disagree with me. I don't care either way. I have to stand up and say something. What the "Frank" is going on with the minds of the American public? I'm for entertainment. I enjoy the relaxation (most of the times) of television viewing. Lately, I'm finding less to watch. Is it my age? Maybe. Have my tastes change? Not really. Then why is there a lack of programs suitable for my viewing pleasure? Ahhh, there's the rub, Hamlet.  Reality TV. It seems you can't switch to a station that doesn't have their version of reality TV. TruTV has a bevy of World's Worse this and that. Not really reality TV and most of the times it is entertaining, but it illustrates and highlights the assholery (My word. Copyright. Copyright. Copyright. Don't try to steal it.) of the peo...

I'm back.  Hiatus over.  And let's start back with a rant on one of my most favorite things to hate.  Insurance companies.  You can't escape them.  They're on every TV network.  Commercials from Allstate, Cure, Farmers, GEICO, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Safeco, State Farm, et cetera.  You see their ads in magazines, online shopping and on the bus sides and stop kiosks and taxi domes.  Basically, we are beat over the head by their ads.  It doesn't bother me that they advertise or that we really would be screwed both legally and financially if we didn't subscribe...yes, subscribe, like a magazine, because once you pay for it; it's gone.  It bothers me that there's no return.  Even if you have a claim, you don't always benefit.  There's deductibles.  More out of pocket costs.  There's always the chance of a claim denial.  At least with a paper product you can wrap fish or cat poop in it. So what?...

Day 30, the last for this challenge for now - "Your highs and lows for the month" . OK.  Who says Daddy Tom doesn't come through on a commitment?  No, really, I want to know who says this thing because I'm going to hunt them down and kick their ever loving...Sorry, must work on those anger issues.  JK.  I'm am happy that I successfully completed a somewhat meaningless challenge with two of my favorite women, my sister, Sandi and my cousin, Marianne.  (I am not allowed to say my favorite cousin, because I'd have about 100 of them disappointed (relieved) or angry (really relieved) with me.  Also, kidding.  I'm a lovable stooge.  Well, on with the show. A lot has happened the last 30 days. Highs   I wrote 30 blogs and people actually read them...and possibly even liked them. I have grown closer to many family members. Kelsey Grammer is back on TV ( Partners ) My favorite Summer shows are back:  The Bridge, Masters of Sex,...

The Penultimate Day of this 30 Day Writing Challenge (That would make it the 29th Day.) Day 29 - "What are your goals for the next 30 days?" After the last soon to be 30 days, I'm going to start by slowing down on this writing business.  I like to take my time and well research my rants and ravings before I plow ahead. In no absolute order, here are my plans:   To start writing a new novel or short story.  I may even go as far as finish enough of something to self publish (something I have been toying with the last year or so) through Xlibris.com . Attend some baseball.  I was at a Phillies-Mets game today (8/11).  Phils lost...again.  I have tickets for the 19th and 23rd.  Hopefully, I will have someone to attend with me.  My gal is working and unavailable both days. Consider formulating a plan to lose some weight.  I said "consider" and "formulate" which is Tom talk for "deeply thinking about losing weight but not...

Is this really Day 28?  What a long strange trip and commitment it has been.  I am glad this is coming to a close.  Like a marathon runner those last few miles seem to take forever to finish.  This post may seem that way too.  There's so much to write and say.  My sister covered it all in the who, what, how and when.  She put a lot of work in it.  I don't know if I'll go so far.  I'm getting lazy and slowing down.  This race is about over for me.  I will give you five assorted things that no matter what, they make me LOL.  And no, people placing LOL in an email or text is not one of them. Myself - I know it's wrong or a comedic blunder to laugh at one's own jokes and writings, but when you see something that is funny, you have to laugh.  Ex-wife number two used to say "You really slay yourself" every time I would say something humorous and laugh at my own joke.  She of course would be laughing right al...

Day 27: "Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now." It's almost over I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...or is that the light that I hear Zelda Rubinstein telling me to walk into?  Anyway.  What is kicking ass right now?  I don't know what that means.  I like to think that the weather is, but it's been too wet and too cool for this time of year.  I like to think my cat is kicking ass, but he's not feeling well.  I don't know what's wrong with him now.  He was fine this morning.  I get back home this evening and I see two very soupy looking poops in his litter box.  And he turned his nose up at both his Greenies treats and his dinner.  What fresh hell is ahead?  I like to think that my time off from work kicks ass...well, it sort of does.  I am on a 3 day weekend.  On Monday, a buddy and me are going to the Phillies-Mets Businessman's special.  That sort of kicks ass, but I don't k...

We are coming very close to the end.  Day 26 - " Write about an area in your life that you’d like to improve"   Interesting. Every year, at the end of the year, before but mostly after the ball drops in Times Square, people make resolutions.  Most of the resolutions are attempts to better their lives.  Make them more whole.  Make them more wholesome.  Make them more something.  In other cases, it's to make the less.  Lose some weight.  Lose some stress.  Lose that ball and chain.  Whatever.  I, every year, lose the resolution.  I'm sure there's a statistic out there that tells us the large percentage of people who don't keep their resolutions.  I cut out the middle man and refuse to make resolutions.  I believe if I need to change something to improve myself, my standards or my karma, I will do it when I damn well feel I'm ready and not because a bloody year has turned over. I don'...