Paradoxical Entity

G4TV’s Ninja Warrior show is quite a trip.  Even though I’ve practically memorized the shows with the constant rerun marathons over the past month, a devastating slip and fall will can elicite a surprised Whoa! outburst from me.  They just started showing new episodes this week and the new obstacles are clever.  I can’t help but appreciate how devious the course designer are as I do my couch-seat strategizing. 

Mom is quite a fan of the show too.  While I will stop to watch if I catch it while channel surfing, mom actually has it on her schedule of shows to watch. 

I took my mom out for a fall harvest adventure.  Well, ok, we just went across the street to my neighbor’s yard.  He had given my mom some persimmons that he picked from his tree.  When mom said that they were great, he said she could come over to get some more. 

While it was I who got my neighbor into growing fruit trees, I had to give it up the endeavor.  Almost all of the fruit trees I planted died due to wood borers (insects that drilled into the wood).  The few that are still holding on to life are weak and any fruit they produce are quickly stolen by the squirrels. 

 Mom was quite astonished with how loaded his persimmon tree was.  And his fruit were large and in very good condition.  He also had some lemon and lime trees in containers, again, full of fruit.  His wildly growing grapes are done for the season, but the kiwis vines still had fruit hanging.  My neighbor says the stray cats living around his yard keeps the squirrels in check.  The cats that I take care of at my yard hardly glance at the squirrels.  I guess mine are too well fed and domesticated. 

Most of the low hanging persimmons were picked off.  I had to use my neighbor’s step ladder to get at some of the fruit at medium height.  The best looking ones were way up and out of reach though.  My neighbor offered to get his tall ladder, but we’ve already picked over a dozen and mom said that was plenty.  She was quite giddy from her haul.  Mom said persimmons of this size and quality would probably have a street price of 2-for-$1. 

The new subway cars picked me up this morning for my commute to work.  I was so surprised that I essentially just gawked when I got in.  II’ve been on these new subway cars before on another line at least a year ago, but I never expected that my line would be worthy to be allocated some so soon.   even forgot to claim my usual standing spot.  Man, I felt like a bumpkin. 

They are really nice though.  Even though it took in on the same tracks (like how couldn’t it?), it felt so weird.  These new cars were definitely quieter, but I’m not sure if that was because of better sound dampening or better greased wheels.  The extra windows at the ends really made the cars appear wider.  And kudos to the ceiling grip bars which is evidence that a major urban transit rider provided input to the design. 

I picked up a “Rider Report Card” survey last week which I hadn’t submitted yet.  I’m at a quandry now as to how to fill it out now since these new cars have altered my initial opinions.

Occasionally, the cheapo speakers that I have hooked up to my computer picks up someone’s conversation.  Typically, the people are speaking Spanish.  The conversation seems to be in a simplex format and gives me the impression that it is either a CB radio or a walkie talkie, perhaps cellphone with walkie talkie function, rather than a cordless phone.  Still, I can’t even imagine how the speakers can be picking them up. 

There’s something that’s been puzzling me for quite a while.  It’s in regards to the people I see in the subway pulling along one of those carry-on sized wheeled luggage.  In evitably, when they go to exit, they almost always choose to go out by squeezing in the rotating door gate even though there are turnstiles right next to it.  Why do they risk jamming themselves and their bag up in the rotating door gate?