Absolutely Anything Else

zif wrote:

It is a sign of subservience because the queen would never bow or curtsy in return, as she would if it's just a custom of politeness, like shaking hands.

Recall when "Barack Obama criticised for 'treasonous' bow to Japanese emperor."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldn … peror.html

As for the National Anthemn, I think non-Americans should stand as a matter of respect, like taking off a hat in church, but not put their hands over their hearts. Arguably the law is different, though.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301

The issue is about respect. Doing something out of respect for the code of your own country, or out of respect for the culture of anther country, especially when in another country (else one is implying, when in Rome, don't do what the Romans do).

I see nothing wrong with giving another culture respect, under the cultural terms of the country, when in another country (and that should be reciprocated of course).

But I also expect my own countrymen to also respect their own culture... But that is not always done. Especially lately. For example, by the US Flag Code, one "should" also not do the following:

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.

Yet, from all the pictures I see online, many on the right of the political spectrum lately seem to be doing what they "should not".....  Wearing the flag as apparel. So... Well... Hm.... A lot of disrespect going around these days by those claiming to be patriots....   So maybe my fellow Americans need to first clean up their own behavior, so it can be used as a good example, before unilaterally only expecting respect from others only on their terms, or criticizing when others pay respect to another culture if such respect is different than their terms (or worse, their own behavior)..... Just saying....

zif wrote:

By the way, creating "cute" and dismissive names for others makes this sound like a grammar school play yard.

You mean like Donald's Twitter account? 

If so, then bravo. I approve. 

klsallee wrote:

zif wrote:

By the way, creating "cute" and dismissive names for others makes this sound like a grammar school play yard.

You mean like Donald's Twitter account? 

If so, then bravo. I approve. 

It's been quite a DT week with Stone commuted, the tax returns and  the cognitive testing he weirdly admitted to, COVID19 everywhere and his self-inflicted dropping popularity figures while Joe does nothing much and is supposedly up in the polls. 

A week seems like eons in US politics.

We do not really follow politics much.
Why, no one cares what we think anyway.
I voted 2 times in the US elections, waste of time.
For some insane reason though the Trump family keeps sending me e-mails to sign up to meet Trump in person etc.
Delect.
Went to Velence 2 times last week, fantastic is all I can say.
Water and me do mix.
Making clothing out of flags is just wrong to my mind.
I mentioned in the past that several years ago at Balaton I saw a heavy set HU man wearing a Speedo with the US flag as it's motiff.
I was personally assulted, not sure if the pattern of his suit got me or his chubby tummy.
Not a good look in any case.
I was "forced" into being a JW as a child for a few years.  Mom gave up on it so I was allowed to join the US Girl Scouts.
One of my duties as a 11 year old patrol leader was to join some of my troop and hang up the US flag outside our school once a week with all the pomp and ceremony of respect for the flag.
No regrets about it either.
For some reason when I was 12 1/2 mom once again brought out the old Bible and invited the JW's into our home. No more scouting...

Turns my stomach inside out to see these "people" disrespecting the flag, I could give a hoot about politics but I will never forget those who died for the flag.
Every country should take some national pride if not for hired thugs in office but for those who bought into the BS and died for it.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

We do not really follow politics much.
Why, no one cares what we think anyway.
I voted 2 times in the US elections, waste of time.
For some insane reason though the Trump family keeps sending me e-mails to sign up to meet Trump in person etc.
Delect.
Went to Velence 2 times last week, fantastic is all I can say.
Water and me do mix.
Making clothing out of flags is just wrong to my mind.
I mentioned in the past that several years ago at Balaton I saw a heavy set HU man wearing a Speedo with the US flag as it's motiff.
I was personally assulted, not sure if the pattern of his suit got me or his chubby tummy.
Not a good look in any case.
I was "forced" into being a JW as a child for a few years.  Mom gave up on it so I was allowed to join the US Girl Scouts.
One of my duties as a 11 year old patrol leader was to join some of my troop and hang up the US flag outside our school once a week with all the pomp and ceremony of respect for the flag.
No regrets about it either.
For some reason when I was 12 1/2 mom once again brought out the old Bible and invited the JW's into our home. No more scouting...

Turns my stomach inside out to see these "people" disrespecting the flag, I could give a hoot about politics but I will never forget those who died for the flag.
Every country should take some national pride if not for hired thugs in office but for those who bought into the BS and died for it.

Mrs Fluffy was down at Velence last Monday and it was empty with free parking and entry.  Then she was there again on Thursday and it was very busy and she had to pay.

I was always informed the JWs were some sort of cult.  In the UK we had multiple cases all at once where kids needed medical treatment but the JW parents refused to let it go on.  As quick as a flash, the kids were made wards of court (basically court appoints a substitute parent) and the medical treatment went ahead.   

I expect Donny wants your vote because you fit his demographic - retired etc.  After your vote, he won't care one bit.  But at least you get to vote. I'm disenfranchised and my kids would be too.  UK rule is if you're out the country more than 15 years, you lose your vote (it matters - Brexit would have gone the other way).  Moreover, my Fluffyettes are British and Hungarian but unless they go to the UK to live for some time to show solid connection (circa 3 years), their kids (my grandkids, if any) may not inherit that nationality.  It's all a PITA. 

Interesting thing about our flag - what we call the Union flag or Union Jack - is that it's seen as chic.  I've got a Union Jack apron and carpet.  Both of those things get mucking and the carpet we walk across all the time. It's like trampling on it.   No-one seems to question any of that.  But I was wondering about your Balaton swimming garb man - was the US flag at the front or back?

When national days come around I should fly the HU, British and English flags on my house.

Usually though not always what's used on clothing is a Star-and-Stripes motif, not a precise four-cornered replica of the flag itself.

Search "American flag swimwear" on Google Images and you'll get the idea.

zif wrote:

Usually though not always what's used on clothing is a Star-and-Stripes motif, not a precise four-cornered replica of the flag itself.

Oh please..... Right sided people got upset when similar "parts" of the US flag were used by lefties protesting the Vietnam war. Smells like convenient cognitive dissonance to me.....

zif wrote:

Usually though not always what's used on clothing is a Star-and-Stripes motif, not a precise four-cornered replica of the flag itself.

Oh really? Many of these seem close enough.....

https://theflagshirt.com/

zif wrote:

not a precise four-cornered replica of the flag itself.

Maybe take a look at this:

https://theflagshirt.com/products/patri … multicolor

Close enough to a full replica to be contrary to the flag code in IMHO.

klsallee wrote:

zif wrote:

not a precise four-cornered replica of the flag itself.

Maybe take a look at this:

https://theflagshirt.com/products/patri … multicolor

Close enough to a full replica to be contrary to the flag to IMHO.

Hmmm.....sometime ago I thought this improved the presentation and use of my own country's flag:




Design by Ms Haliwell and Gucci......excellent references...."We know what we want what we really really want...."

fluffy2560 wrote:

Hmmm.....sometime ago I thought this improved the presentation and use of my own country's flag:

Does the UK have a flag code like the USA?

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Hmmm.....sometime ago I thought this improved the presentation and use of my own country's flag:

Does the UK have a flag code like the USA?

Not as far as I know. You can do what you want with it.

It's as much a fashion item nowadays as anything else because it's considered Brit Culture and somewhat "cool". 

I hate to say it but a US flag worn as a shirt would probably be treated with derision in Europe.

fluffy2560 wrote:

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Hmmm.....sometime ago I thought this improved the presentation and use of my own country's flag:

Does the UK have a flag code like the USA?

Not as far as I know. You can do what you want with it.

So not relevant to the issue with the US Flag Code and Zif's comments about respecting "rules" "codes" or "laws" of the US Flag. As there is a US Flag code. And if Zif expects people to respect the US Anthem which he claims is relevant, IMHO he should expect them to respect the Flag in all ways... but he is already reverse kibitzing on that. Inventing details that to him allow his personal cognitive dissonance to remain intact why it is "okay" to not follow the flag code. Well, I could do the same, and think of all sorts of ways to not respect the US National Anthem on the same level..... but I won't. As I think that would be wrong. Not surprising (but sad) others find it okay to find excuses to justify their world view.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

klsallee wrote:

Does the UK have a flag code like the USA?

Not as far as I know. You can do what you want with it.

So not relevant to the issue with the US Flag Code and Zif's comments about respecting "rules" "codes" or "laws" of the US Flag. As there is a US Flag code. And if Zif expects people to respect the US Anthem which he claims is relevant, IMHO he should expect them to respect the Flag in all ways... but he is already reverse kibitzing on that. Inventing details that to him allow his personal cognitive dissonance to remain intact why it is "okay" to not follow the flag code. Well, I could do the same, and think of all sorts of ways to not respect the US National Anthem on the same level..... but I won't. As I think that would be wrong. Not surprising (but sad) others find it okay to find excuses to justify their world view.

Sure, might all be true but illustrating different strokes for different folks etc. 

I am always amused or even baffled to see protesters in Iran or wherever burning US or UK or whatever flags to show their hatred and anger. 

Like it really matters.....it's a bit of cloth!

I'm in favour of cognitive dissonance on occasions.  It worked for Kirk.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I am always amused or even baffled to see protesters in Iran or wherever burning US or UK or whatever flags to show their hatred and anger. 

Like it really matters.....it's a bit of cloth!

To many symbolism matters.

Confederate statues - Whatever, just a bit of metal and concrete

Burning Koran - Whatever,  just a bit of paper

Tear down Buckingham Palace -- Whatever, just a bit of rock.

One person's "whatever" may be another person's topic to die for... I am not explaining it (because I can not), only describing it.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I am always amused or even baffled to see protesters in Iran or wherever burning US or UK or whatever flags to show their hatred and anger. 

Like it really matters.....it's a bit of cloth!

To many symbolism matters.

Confederate statues - Whatever, just a bit of metal and concrete

Burning Koran - Whatever,  just a bit of paper

Tear down Buckingham Palace -- Whatever, just a bit of rock.

One person's "whatever" may be another person's topic to die for... I am not explaining it (because I can not), only describing it.

All true.   I guess putting some reverence on an inanimate object works for some. 

But to me, if I wanted to protect my values against the enemies of my country, I'd not worry about their flag burning but I would worry if the flag burners had drone delivered nukes regardless of their particular paint job.

Remember they used to paint messages on bombs in WW2 and I believe they did similar things when delivering good news to IS in Syria.

If you can't trust the American Legion whom can you trust:

"Is it permissible to wear an item of clothing that looks like the United States flag?

"Unless an article of clothing is made from an actual United States flag, there is NO breach of flag etiquette whatsoever. People are simply expressing their patriotism and love of country by wearing an article of clothing that happens to be red, white, and blue with stars and stripes. There is nothing illegal about the wearing or use of these items."

https://www.legion.org/flag/questions-a … tates-flag

zif wrote:

If you can't trust the American Legion whom can you trust:

"Is it permissible to wear an item of clothing that looks like the United States flag?

"Unless an article of clothing is made from an actual United States flag, there is NO breach of flag etiquette whatsoever. People are simply expressing their patriotism and love of country by wearing an article of clothing that happens to be red, white, and blue with stars and stripes. There is nothing illegal about the wearing or use of these items."

https://www.legion.org/flag/questions-a … tates-flag

What's an actual United States flag?   

Presumably material derived from a flag cut to make clothing is not allowed.

But how does a flag get to be official?  Is it "consecrated" in some way?

There's a procedure for dealing with worn-out flags. It doesn't include turning them into bikinis.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Feature … -us-flags/

zif wrote:

If you can't trust the American Legion whom can you trust

Simple answer whom I can trust: My father. And my Mother. Both veterans. They both disapproved of any "flag based" clothing. And they are not the only vets I know who disapprove. By those that see respecting the Flag is about respecting every obvious representation of the Flag, and following the Flag Code as if it were the flag.

And the American Legion is a private organization formed in France, only later chartered in the US. It does not de facto represent all vets or the opinion of all vets, nor does it, nor thus can it, unilaterally interpret the US Flag Code.

zif wrote:

There is nothing illegal about the wearing or use of these items."

And the Legion making a statement such as there is nothing illegal about wearing a flag "like" material is an example of completely missing the point and shows the flaw in such a statement. Of course there is nothing "illegal" about that, nor even in actually wearing a flag. Wearing the flag can be an act of protest, which is a Constitutionally provided right. So never, "illegal". Maybe it disrespects the Flag Code, but the code is just a code... not a law with penalties..... So much for "trusting" that Legion on that point of non-clarification...  No wonder why neither of my parents ever wanted to joint the Legion...

moved from:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =5#4906346

fluffy2560 wrote:

I was once up for a job on Saint Helena..

My wife also applied for a job there. Also did not get it....

But a friend of mine actually did get a job on Laysan Island. Which is also pretty remote....

fluffy2560 wrote:

But how does a flag get to be official?  Is it "consecrated" in some way?

This is a good question.

In fact there is an entire sub culture that says US Courts to US citizen are not valid since they use a "gold fringed" flag....

https://sagaciousnewsnetwork.com/the-sh … a-warning/

'Merica *...... We are almost, I dare say almost, as weird as the English..... 

(*Note the opening single quote.... So not Merica, which is a genus of sea snail....)

Think the gold fringe on flags means you are under Maritime Law and not US law.
Not sure, it's all based in rituals and symbols.
Sort of like being under a spell rather then under a flag.
I know when my step-father passed and a US flag was given to my mother, it had a sort of meaning.
More about the person doing their duty and having respect for what they believed in.
It is really just a piece of cloth just like money is only a piece of paper.
It's what is behind it that matters.

klsallee wrote:

moved from:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =5#4906346

fluffy2560 wrote:

I was once up for a job on Saint Helena..

My wife also applied for a job there. Also did not get it....

But a friend of mine actually did get a job on Laysan Island. Which is also pretty remote....

Laysan trumps my Saint Helena.  At least it wasn't Johnston Atoll.

Actually all of those islands in the Saint Helena group are interesting.  From perhaps your point of view Ascension is maybe the most interesting. It's actually an example of what could be considered a work of genius (possibly) regarding the somewhat suspect "natural engineering" of the water supply and environment. Check out Green Mountain

Getting to Ascension is highly unlikely though.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

But how does a flag get to be official?  Is it "consecrated" in some way?

This is a good question.

In fact there is an entire sub culture that says US Courts to US citizen are not valid since they use a "gold fringed" flag....

https://sagaciousnewsnetwork.com/the-sh … a-warning/

'Merica *...... We are almost, I dare say almost, as weird as the English..... 

(*Note the opening single quote.... So not Merica, which is a genus of sea snail....)

Nor is it Mercia, an ancient kingdom and forerunner of modern England.  The name lives on in some institutions like West Mercia police.

And while I'm here, I'll have you know us Englanders are not weird.  We're harmlessly eccentric.

BTW, I'd have though gold fringing was a useful edition to any national symbol.  In fact I'd be so bold as to say it can only be a good thing for one to add gold lame on to their daily wardrobe, national dress or even national flag.  What harm could it do?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Think the gold fringe on flags means you are under Maritime Law and not US law.
Not sure, it's all based in rituals and symbols.
Sort of like being under a spell rather then under a flag.
I know when my step-father passed and a US flag was given to my mother, it had a sort of meaning.
More about the person doing their duty and having respect for what they believed in.
It is really just a piece of cloth just like money is only a piece of paper.
It's what is behind it that matters.

I've seen that kind of thing in TV shows and movies where they drape the flag over the coffin and then fold it up and give it to the deceased's family.  Respect for service in the military or police or some other public service.  Not sure of the symbolism of it exactly.  We do the same in the UK but probably only for military and ex-military people, not the general public. 

Maritime law might be the UN Convention of Law of the Sea but I don't think it would say anything about flags, more about maritime boundaries and sea beds.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Think the gold fringe on flags means you are under Maritime Law and not US law.

Well... Actually.... No.... .  That is what the conspiracy theorists, adding 1+0 and getting 3 want you to think.

Cross reference:

https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/us-fring.html

Who knows, so many hidden meanings behind so many things we take as normal in everyday life.
Yes, my step-dad served in the US Army during peacetime in the early 1960's. ( Has there ever really been a US peacetime though?) That was first step-dad.
Not sure if they still do this or not but in the US when a veteran dies he can get a headstone for his grave from the US gov.This "package" comes with a US flag as a bonus.
My step-dad put in his order before he passed away.
He was a frugal man and wanted to give my mom and minor siblings all the help he could before he passed on.
If my mother had "followed" orders and paid off her house  everyone would of been better off.
Plan was to pay off the house with some of his insurnace money and live on the rest until my mother got her own SS.
Didn't work out that way however. Mom got ill and needed the money for treatments. Even my husband told her to pay off her loan, was really nothing by today's standards. $10,000 is all.
If I had half a brain in my 20's we could of paid it off for her and sorted it out later.
Oh well, my step-dad had wanted to buy one of my sisters a house for only $1. down in payment with the GI bill.
She said no, she wasn't that material minded!! Crazy to think of it now. $1.down and house payments of around $110. a month!
Houses only cost about $18,000 and now are going for around $800,000 or more in that area of Ca.
My bro and his wife bought a townhome in S. Ca. and their payments are well over $3,500 a month! Taxes every year on the property as well.

Was planning on the lake today but got lazy.
Strange week, weather wise, sort of cool for summer.

About 20 months ago one older man in our building became a widower. Nice older guy quiet and trust worthy looking.
Well yesterday our one neighbor in the hall on our way out told us he had just remarried.
Good for him.mm
As we spoke, he and his "bride" walked through the front doors.
Met her, they seemed happy, really good for him not to be alone in his old age.
I joked with my husband and told him, "See there is still hope for you after I am gone. "He joked back that he was looking forward to some peace and quiet not another wife!
The old guy must of met his new wife at his church, heard he was an "active" member of his local church...
Guess that would be a good place to find and new wife in your old age, the church or the doctor's office!

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Who knows, so many hidden meanings behind so many things we take as normal in everyday life.

Nonsense.

Only the lazy, or those with an agenda, use such defeatist commentary.

We are not talking here about the meaning of life. These are human created issues. And all human created issues can be elucidated and brought to the light of day with enough personal research and exposure.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

... they seemed happy, really good for him not to be alone in his old age.
I joked with my husband and told him, "See there is still hope for you after I am gone. "He joked back that he was looking forward to some peace and quiet not another wife!
The old guy must of met his new wife at his church, heard he was an "active" member of his local church...
Guess that would be a good place to find and new wife in your old age, the church or the doctor's office!

Actually where do younger people meet these days?   In lockdown, no contacts for sure. Even so, if you're in your 30s, apart from the office, where's a good place to meet potential dates or dare I say it, potential partners?

Amongst our circle, there are quite a few single women in their 50s and they are definitely not religious and are in reasonable health.  Just never seem to have found the right person or were in relationships which broke up after X years.  The younger ones tell me all the nicer ones are married with kids.

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Who knows, so many hidden meanings behind so many things we take as normal in everyday life.

Nonsense.

Only the lazy, or those with an agenda, use such defeatist commentary.

We are not talking here about the meaning of life. These are human created issues. And all human created issues can be elucidated and brought to the light of day with enough personal research and exposure.

All I know for fact is my own life experiences.
Can't say for certain what happened before I was here.
From the little truth available to us lay people we are lucky we aren't eating dirt .
I no longer trust any gov. or much history,"facts".

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

... they seemed happy, really good for him not to be alone in his old age.
I joked with my husband and told him, "See there is still hope for you after I am gone. "He joked back that he was looking forward to some peace and quiet not another wife!
The old guy must of met his new wife at his church, heard he was an "active" member of his local church...
Guess that would be a good place to find and new wife in your old age, the church or the doctor's office!

Actually where do younger people meet these days?   In lockdown, no contacts for sure. Even so, if you're in your 30s, apart from the office, where's a good place to meet potential dates or dare I say it, potential partners?

Amongst our circle, there are quite a few single women in their 50s and they are definitely not religious and are in reasonable health.  Just never seem to have found the right person or were in relationships which broke up after X years.  The younger ones tell me all the nicer ones are married with kids.

Well I am not certain but am guessing our neighbor met his new wife at his chruch or threw people from his church.
I also know some people go the "Tinder" route. short term hook -ups, gross...
My son who married and divorced young met some of his ladies though not a Tinder thing but close to it.
His current wife was taken seriosuly to him. He did a study on personalities that would get on with his. Birth charts and all sorts of charts.
Pro's and con's of every zodiac sign.
Met his wife online with a Japanese match site.
At the time we thought he was losing it but now they have been together for about 10 years . Both a bit off the "charts" in personality traits but it's not my business if they are happy.
My Puerto Rican friend in Vegas  hooked up after over 25 years with her fist love. A guy she knew befoe she married and had her 2 children with her ex.
It was a whirlwind romance and quick wedding.
She was perhaps in her late 40;s at the time.
Was happy for a very short time but soon realized her new hubby was a pot smoker with not much drive .
She even learned to drive a big- rig semi truck because that was what he did for a living.
She wanted to spend time with him on the road.
She actually hated the trucking lifestyle.
They divorced after just a year or so of marriage.
He was later shot dead in a drug deal or something crazy in FL.
She is about 57 - 58 now and so far plans on staying single.
She works as a hairdresser but is about finished with her course on web design.
She is a go getter and he was just too lazy for her, didn't mix, sad after all those years of her thinking what if.
Same sort of thing happened with my older sisters 3rd husband.
She was madly in love with him in college.
He got another women pregnant and broke my sisters heart.
He married and had his kid.
After her 2nd divorce in the UK she moved back to Ca. and ran into her "truel ove' in a store.
The got together and soon she got her man.
They moved to Minn. with his job at Monsanto.
Bought a house and then the trouble started.
His then teenage daughter moved in with them because the mom couldn't control her.
Well my sister about lost her mind with the brat and her husband began hitting the bottle.
Divorce numero 3 was in the works.
Have an Ameircan friend living here in her early 40's she often gets approached at cafe's and shops by HU men.
They are always so excited to meet her and invite her to dinner, at McDonalds!
Forget that.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

... they seemed happy, really good for him not to be alone in his old age.
I joked with my husband and told him, "See there is still hope for you after I am gone. "He joked back that he was looking forward to some peace and quiet not another wife!
The old guy must of met his new wife at his church, heard he was an "active" member of his local church...
Guess that would be a good place to find and new wife in your old age, the church or the doctor's office!

Actually where do younger people meet these days?   In lockdown, no contacts for sure. Even so, if you're in your 30s, apart from the office, where's a good place to meet potential dates or dare I say it, potential partners?

Amongst our circle, there are quite a few single women in their 50s and they are definitely not religious and are in reasonable health.  Just never seem to have found the right person or were in relationships which broke up after X years.  The younger ones tell me all the nicer ones are married with kids.

Well I am not certain but am guessing our neighbor met his new wife at his chruch or threw people from his church.
I also know some people go the "Tinder" route. short term hook -ups, gross...
My son who married and divorced young met some of his ladies though not a Tinder thing but close to it.
His current wife was taken seriosuly to him. He did a study on personalities that would get on with his. Birth charts and all sorts of charts.
Pro's and con's of every zodiac sign.
Met his wife online with a Japanese match site.
....
They divorced after just a year or so of marriage.
He was later shot dead in a drug deal or something crazy in FL.
She is about 57 - 58 now and so far plans on staying single.
She works as a hairdresser but is about finished with her course on web design.
...
Have an Ameircan friend living here in her early 40's she often gets approached at cafe's and shops by HU men.
They are always so excited to meet her and invite her to dinner, at McDonalds!
Forget that.

Another set of anecdotes for your 2nd book!  Very colourful.  Shot dead in a drug deal?  Hope she got the insurance money or the bag of dodgy cash buried under the house.

I was think perhaps the Hungarians offering your US friend dinner at McDonalds could be considered rather nice - i.e. all Americans like McDs - and therefore a taste of home.  Surely HU food would be more appropriate.  I was at a Balaton restaurant today and it's ridiculously priced - no change out of HUF 15K for four people.   To me a HUF 600 langos would have been just as good.  We were supposed to be out again on Saturday - we're not doing that.  We'll have a wood fire in the garden and a big pot of gyulasleves - kids voted for that!

I think it's not easy past say 35-36 to find someone.  All previously eligible people are probably well into their relationships, kids, houses with mortgages.   Mrs Fluffy has a couple of relatives who are not hooked up and one edge of getting left on the shelf and I have one too who I worry about.  On the other hand yet another one of mine did find someone on the Internet and now they're shacked up with a baby!  Maybe it cuts out all the messing about but I'd have thought 2-3 years involvement to do a through test run before slipping that ring on a finger.   

I once saw on a TV programme that in a room of say 100 people, 30% of people could be potential matches.  Just a matter of getting it to gel.  Pretty much anyone can be with anyone it seems!

Hmmm, not sure my son has a personality that only a mother can love, at times!
He can be hard headed, wonder where he gets that trait from?
When h is fellow casino workers, the cocktail waitresses would try to invite him out, he was not interested at all.
One thing he isn't into anyone but Asian women plus most of these women were divorced and had a child or two.
Funny story, my husband and I worked different hours and our son worked far from where we lived. His car was in the shop and no way could we drive him to work and pick him up and get oursevles to work too. He had to take the city bus for 3 days. He got off at that time at night  about 11 pm.
He didn't care about dressing in st. clothing for the bus so had on his black slacks and casino shirt. A women at the bus stop tried to pick him up with  the smooth phrase of, I can be your girlfriend since you have a job"! Classy or what?
After his ex wife, the Hungarian Monster( Honetly, she was not a person one would wish on an enemy) he needed a boost for his pride.
Sevral of his lady friends were 7 to 10 years older then him and they treated him great. They were happy to be with a cute tall young man and they all treated my husband and I like family.
Super thoughtful and kind to us, blew my mind, not how most "western" women treat in-laws, speaking of my ex, DIL she was pure evil and rude at times.
My husband who speaks perfect Hungarian with a "upper" class sort of flare refused to speak it to her because he didn't want to feel close to her at all. Got by with his so-so English.
Only spoke once to her in Hungarian when he told her to F off for good and never come to our apt. again...He was being kind too .
I met my only steady boyfriend who I knew before I met my husband when I was 18 and had my own flat , job and car.
Was doing fine on my own.
I was walking home, even with a car I usually always walked to enjoy the day, something about walking makes me feel part of life.
As I walked a VW Van slowed down and some guy gave me a compliment on my hair... Me and hair.
I wasn't a hairdresser back then but used to cut my own hair in a sort of wild shag style, Joan Jett sort of.  Dyed it black too.
He wanted me to cut his hair the same way.
After that we dated, nice guy who looked like a double for Paul McCartney, just too short.
I am 5'9" he was 5'5" or 6" No biggie his former GF was 5'11"!
What is it with short men and tall women?
Look at Mick Jagger, most of his ladies were half a head taller then him.
To be honest though after awhile it creeped me out how short he was. oh well can't help it.
This guy's mother was the sweetest to me, much nicer then my HU MIL ever could dream to be.
She would do anything for me, even bought me a antique bed frame I had my eye on for my 19th BD.
Started me up with my own business too, cleaning homes in upper class neighborhoods around Glendale and Burbank, ran adds for me in newspapers and gave me pointers on the business.
For some reason she wanted us to move to Las Vegas and for me to be a cocktail waitress and her son a craps dealer. I was far too young for that but she had big plans for us.
Guess she liked me .
Funny thing my own mother used to tell me to be a Las Vegas showgirl, I was a Hippie type and thought that was gross to do.
She said it was a waste for me not to take advantage of my looks .
Years later when I was living in Las Vegas I met 3 ex-showgirls all friends who came to Vegas together in the 1960s from the UK.
All were super well off and retired early with homes in Vegas and in S. England.
Maybe mom was right after all?
I suppose it could be sweet to invite an American to McDonald's but for a first date? Not really a way to impress a lady. A ride on the river and a little dinner and wine with desert seems better, after all she is in Hungary. Women could go for a cheap date if it is the right person however.I used to have roller skating dates with a friend when I was 17. He was as it turns out gay but he was nice. Used to sew clothing for me, was a ballet dancer too. Lived with his parents in Beverly Hills wasn't poor but at 17 rollerskating around Hollywood was perfect for time together.
Now if a man offers a rollerskating date to a stranger it might seem odd unless they meet while skating.
Sounds like fun eating outside and hanging on this overcast Saturday.

Was just thinking of my old "gay" friend and my now deceased BFF Lisa.
They met once when we were 17 and I was living in Hollywood with my sister and her girl.
We lived on , "Normal Ave," not kidding it's a real st. with small wooden homes from the 1930's.
Tiny but cute homes, if they are still there, I'm not sure of.
Funny story how I met Laurie, as he liked to be called... That should of sent off alarm bells right away, Laurie?
My school in my home town had a field trip to the L.A. art museum. My friends and I went for lunch on the grass where Laurie came over and introduced himself. His parent's house was just down the st. from the museum and he visited there often.
He was interested in meeting me because I was wearing a 1940's jacket with a fresh flower in the lapel.No wonder I used to get beat up in school... Always dressing different.
So we all met him and talked for a bit then off we went to our own town on the bus with the school.
A year later I was walking off of Normal Ave. and walked right into Laurie.
Instant friends.
Later as it turned out he also knew other people in Hollywood that my sister and i knew, small world really or all the odd people just happen to know each other?
Well, Lisa came to spend a weekend with me in Hollywood and Laurie wanted to meet my best friend.
He invited us to dinner at his parent's house and to a slumber party. Nothing went on, no 3 way thing or anything even close to that!
He gave us both antique dressing gowns to wear to go to sleep while he read from a book to us and feed us M&M candies?!! Freaky or what.
He didn't get high and didn't know why we were laughing our heads off while this was going on.
Both of us were higher then kites at the time.
Guess that's one way to met people wear flowers and got to the museum.
Gosh, I do miss my friend Lisa, we had some crazy times together.

Only in 'merica?

An unmasked Walmart shopper pushing a wheelchair pulled a gun on another customer in front of a child during a possible dispute about face coverings.

Well.... okay... this happened at Walmart.... which is probably the most likely place, if it were to happen, something like this would happen...

Article (in Hungarian) about the blue-green algae situation in Lake Balaton:

HVG article and link to the Balaton Limnological Institute news article

TLDR: Not healthy to swim there

A few days ago on the one short stop to our area from Keliti, on the bus, I noticed near us 3 "unmasked" men, they were in a group. One was half way finished guzzling down a bottle of beer as well. What "rebels"...
We read yesterday that they are going to crack down on people not wearing masks in  desinated areas.
The fines could be as high as 500,000 Forints.
Algae in Balaton, didn't notice anything a couple weeks ago when we swam there.
Try not to drink the water or dunk in your head, rinse off when you leave the lake.
Velence is fine, not as clear and blue as Balaton but then again you don't have to walk a mile to get to the deeper waters.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

A few days ago on the one short stop to our area from Keliti, on the bus, I noticed near us 3 "unmasked" men, they were in a group. One was half way finished guzzling down a bottle of beer as well. What "rebels"...
We read yesterday that they are going to crack down on people not wearing masks in  desinated areas.
The fines could be as high as 500,000 Forints.
Algae in Balaton, didn't notice anything a couple weeks ago when we swam there.
Try not to drink the water or dunk in your head, rinse off when you leave the lake.
Velence is fine, not as clear and blue as Balaton but then again you don't have to walk a mile to get to the deeper waters.

We see these boozing types outside the cigarette monopoly shops around here. I notice none of them have masks on.  However, they do stop more than one or two people being in there and they seem quite disciplined really.   

The algae thing is along the southern Balaton shore up around Balatonfoldvar and further up and down toward Fonyod etc.  Not a chemical stew you want to put your face in.  What was worrying is that apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence and is a regular event (I've never seen it before).  When the density gets too high, the risk to humans gets dangerous and it's approaching that - we've seen quite a few dead fish floating around.  I suppose they'll need to start oxygenating water soon using giant air pumps.  I wouldn't risk going in that mess until it's disappeared.

Apparently the alt-right is referring to those demanding people where masks as Maskits (i.e. play on Marxists).  Someone how the mask thing is mixed up with communist plots now.  Really?! Gimme a break!

Come to think of it, i did see a dead fish floating at Balaton.
Siofolk area.
Reminded me of Vegas.
We leased a nice large apt. near "The Lakes" in Vegas years back once our beloved dog passed and we could move to higher end flats that didn't take pets.
We lived in a apt. but the building had a agreement with the local gov. to allow us in that apt. house to use the lakes like those who had million dollar plus homes sitting on the water and near by.
Just had to pay a few bucks for a card to get into the area.
It was fun, too bad most times we were at work and had no time to use the lake.
We had our kayak and went on the lake, about 2 mins away from our apt.
They had free use for an hour each time out with paddle boats.
Also a fenced in grass area with access to swimming in the man made lake with lifeguards. BBQ puts, shady picnic areas, nice fun place.
It was hard to even imagine such a places in old dry Las Vegas.
Hmm, might have to look into that building again if we ever pass that way and stay for awhile.
The apt. house also had a huge swimming pool in which I never saw anyone else out there all the times I was swimming.
Lake Balaton here is wonderful but then again for the short time you can use it, it is pricey to buy near there. In Vegas one can enjoy the pools for at least 8 to 9 months a year.
Seeing the dead floating fish at Balaton made me think of the time my husband was out in his kayak and found a dead floating fish in the Vegas lake. It looked more like someone had blown it up with a bomb then it being sick from the water.
This weekend looks like a bust for the lake and the vendors there. Can't believe summer is more then half way over and we are still waiting for summer to arrive.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Come to think of it, i did see a dead fish floating at Balaton.
Siofolk area.
....
Seeing the dead floating fish at Balaton made me think of the time my husband was out in his kayak and found a dead floating fish in the Vegas lake. It looked more like someone had blown it up with a bomb then it being sick from the water.
This weekend looks like a bust for the lake and the vendors there. Can't believe summer is more then half way over and we are still waiting for summer to arrive.

Those dead fish are not an encouraging sign.  I am assuming it's dead from de-oxygenation from the blue green algae.  I think the algae wasn't up as far as Siofok but didn't go swimming there.

Weather has been really confusing.  We were predicted torrential rain.  Got nothing other than dull and  cloudy and not particularly warm day.   Good thing I didn't go out and start collecting the local animals two-by-two.    But it was sufficiently OK to go out and do some outside jobs but it was hardly a Hungarian summer day. Supposed to be better next week starting Monday.

It does concern me that summer is nearly over.  It's just weeks before school starts and some weird quasi-working life starts again in the new normal COVID19 reality.