Perroots.com

Las Vegas or Bust!

(Bye bye Mini Cooper and Old Blue Truck!)

Jen and I are sitting in an empty house with nothing but a folding chair, folding table, a 13″ TV, some food, and our computers.  At least we still have internet and DirecTV for a few days!  Actually, we have our bed until Sunday, but then the people we sold it to pick up.  So, we borrowed an air mattress from Robin for Sunday night.  I think we are going to go to my grandparents from Monday to Tuesday, so we will be fine.  In the interim, we are car-less and stranded here.  I am waiting for a call back from the rental car agency, so hopefully I can have a car later this afternoon.

I have to say…  This has been an incredible experience.  The goodbyes that I have had in the past week have been a bit sad, but that’s life I guess.  In the immortal words of John Fisher, I prefer to say “Ciao” instead of “Goodbye”.  I have been blessed with being surrounded by some amazing people in my life – from family, to friends, and colleagues.  I will miss them all as I begin my next chapter in life, but this is the path that needs to be taken.  And I am looking forward to turning the page.

To be continued…

East vs. West

I am often asked what I like about Las Vegas so much… So I decided to outline the things that I like and the things that I will miss when I leave the Northeast.

What I like about Las Vegas:

• Weather – Hot in the summer, warm in the spring and fall, mild in the winter. I like the dry weather, but just because it’s dry does not make the summer heat any less intense.
• Nature – I love the mountains, the National Parks, the desert, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, etc… There’s something about the west that is captivating
• Food – Las Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the world.
• Entertainment – I can see a show or concert and not have to make an entire day out of it. There are lots of things to do beyond “the strip”. There are lots of community activities and events. I am looking forward to having all of this in my backyard without having to make it an all day event, like I would have to do now.
• City benefits without being in the “city” – Las Vegas is unique in its composition. Our house is in a very nice neighborhood, surrounded by nice neighborhoods. It is not like the suburbs of New York or Philadelphia at all. If you came to our house in Las Vegas and were not told that you were in Las Vegas, you’d think you were in a regular town in the west.
• New Opportunities – There is a world of new opportunities for me.  It’s all new…  Going from a small town to a big city opens up a world of new things for anyone.

What I will miss about the Northeast:

• Rain – I love rain, especially at night in the summer. I love falling asleep to the rain.
• Family – I’ve had them all close for all of my life, so this will be a change.
• Friends – I will certainly miss them as well.
• Fall – I love the changing of the leaves in the Fall, especially in the mountains. (But I won’t miss it that much)
• Animals – My backyard is like a zoo.  Deer, squirrels, turkeys, chipmunks, groundhogs, birds and foxes.

What I will NOT miss about the Northeast:

• Snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain – Need I say more? I am all done. If I desire snow, I’ll go skiing or sledding at Mt. Charleston, about 30 minutes away. No more snow plows or shoveling. No more driving in icy or snowy road conditions.
• Lawns – I do not have a green thumb. I’m tired of cutting the lawn, mulching, weeding, etc… Bring on the desert landscape!
• Bugs – Bees, hornets, mosquitoes, gnats.
• Taxes – State Income Tax and Local Tax. When my PA house finally sells, I will add Property Tax and School tax to this list.

The Facebook Thing

I don’t “Facebook” anymore.  To be totally honest, I really don’t have the time, and the time I do have is better spent doing something else.  Nobody cares about a little one-line status and why in the world do I care to even post it online?  So my “friends” can see it and comment? Ughhh, most of it is just plain pointless and a waste of time.  Yeah, it can be neat to have online conversations or reconnect with people from your past, but I think it has outlived its usefulness.

And the whole “friend” thing is totally annoying.   If someone you know is not your “friend” on Facebook, it’s like you committed an online moral sin.  And God forbid if you delete a friend…  That causes nothing but problems and destroys friendships.  I’ve seen all of this over and over.  So, again, I ask, what’s the point? Having a Facebook account is like going back to high school, or even worse, grade school.

I’ve been blogging on this site for years.  And the only ones who read these blogs (most of the time) are the people that are actually in my life.  And if someone else stumbles across it, great!   I enjoy blogging on my site and I’ve enjoyed programming it and updating it for years.  But so many people these days spend much of their online time on Facebook, I wonder if that has had an effect on this website…  Maybe part of the reason is that I hardly find the time to blog or update this site it as often as I used to.   I guess I have less of a desire to put my entire life online for the world to see.

If you know me, you’d know that I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  Many times, I’m one of the first to have the latest electronic gizmo.  But I am feeling the pendulum swing to the other side.   I am becoming less infatuated with technology as the days go on.   I certainly spend much less of my free time browsing the web.   About the only web surfing I do these days is getting my news in the morning and browsing a few forums on topics that interest me.  I have spent the better half of my adult life in front of a computer and the internet and many times I just want to leave it all behind.

I am serious when I joke about the day when I don’t have a cell-phone.   I don’t want to be connected all of the time.  I don’t want to get your text message when I am spending an afternoon with my family.   I don’t want to hear the ding sound from my iPhone letting me know that I got an email when I am relaxing at night.  The truth is that I will probably always have a cell phone.  It’s a great tool and there are many positive things about having one.  But powering it off once in a while is a good idea.  Maybe you should try it too.

Lastly, I don’t care if you deleted me from Facebook or that you and I aren’t “friends” on Facebook.  The relationship that we have in “real life” is the only thing that matters.  If you have something to say that is really important, call me or tell me when you see me.  Don’t send me an email if something is serious.  I would rather hear your voice.  Although technology is in my blood and is the way I make my living, I find myself straying away from it in my everyday life.

I want to get back to the roots of what life is about.   Going outside.   Taking a walk.  Playing ball with the kid.  Playing a board game.  Going for a walk in the desert with a magnetic compass and not a GPS.

Mom was right… Well, somewhat right..

Growing up, Moms know best.  They’ve been there before.  They have life experience and wisdom.  They want the best for their kids.  My mom always wanted the best for me.  She was and is a great mother.  Now if you know me, and if you know my mom, we are a pain in each other’s asses.  Neither of us would know it any other way.  But there is no denying that there is a lot of love there.  Now, 37 years later, I can look back and realize all of the things that mom was right about.  And some of the things that she was a little wrong on…  Since I’ve been keeping tabs all of these years, I figured that I would now itemize them for your reading pleasure.

Mom Said: Lenny does what Lenny wants to do
Was Mom Right?: Yes!
Len’s Analysis: I think this used to drive my mom crazy.  I never listened to anyone.  I don’t really mean in a bad way.  I just like to do things my way.  Mom used to always said that I learn things the hard way.  And I did.  And still do.  I like to learn things for myself.  As an adult, I can say it is about personal exploration.  If you listen to too many opinions (even Mom’s), you don’t have the chance to understand why.  And truth be told, everyone has different thoughts and ideas.  When it comes to right and wrong and morality, mom was the authority on that.  But I have always been a free thinker.  I do not consider that bad or wrong.  Most of my decisions have been based on having a solid upbringing.  But my decisions were mine and mine alone.  Lenny does what Lenny wants to do.  Mom hit this one right on the head.

Mom Said: You can do whatever you want in your life
Was Mom Right?: Yes!
Len’s Analysis: I think many moms and dads say this to their children.  It is empowering and makes everyone feel good.  My mom used to say this to me.  I was going to be an Astronaut.  Oh well…  But she was right on this one.  I think that many parents rethink these very words as their children grow up and make their own decisions.  Especially when these decisions don’t seem to mesh with the way that parents think they should.  Me and mom…  We went through some bumpy times as I was finding myself.  But in the end, she was right.  We are all human and subject to emotions.  Mom always wants the best for her child. And my mom always wanted that for me.

Mom Said: I want to be as special to your children as you were to your Mom-Mom
Was Mom Right?: Yes!
Len’s Analysis: Well, she may have got the “ren” wrong in children, but other than that, she was right.  Known as Mom-Mom to Arianna, she is truly special to my daughter.  Arianna gets so excited when she gets to visit her Mom-Mom.  I remember how special and exciting it was for me to visit my Mom-Mom.

Mom Said: One day when you’re grown-up, you won’t waste all of that meat!
Was Mom Right?: No!
Len’s Analysis: I do not like fat on meat.  In fact, ever since I was a small kid, I cut off every tiny piece of fat on meat.  By the time I was done, only half of the meat was left.  I could not swallow any fatty piece of meat, no matter how small.  T-Bone steaks, pork chops, prime rib…  I would eat 50% of it and toss the rest.  Well guess what?  I do the same thing and I pay for it.  I cannot swallow fat of any kind.  Fortunately, I have learned in time that the only type of beef I can eat is Filet Mignon or a very lean london broil.  I can have lean ground round or chipsteak, but you can forget about most steaks and chops.  These days, I eat lots of turkey, chicken and veal, because I want to eat healthier.  But once in a while when I go out and desire beef, I will only eat Filet Mignon.

Mom Said: One day when you’re grown-up, you won’t have the air conditioner or heat on as high
Was Mom Right?: No!
Len’s Analysis: I live to be comfortable.  There is no double-standard now that I am older and pay for it.  In the summer, I love air conditioning.  In the winter, I love heat (within reason).  My wife and I are used to about a 72 degree temperature in the house.  When I go to Mom’s house, I am either freezing (in the cold months) or sweating (in the hot months).  I have learned that the best use of my money is on food and temperature comfort.

I could probably think of many more things, but these things are some of the things that stick out most in my mind.  In the end, mom did the best that she could and always had me in her heart… Even if she was wrong about a few things.  God knows, I am no Saint, that’s for sure.  But in the end, she loves me, and that’s all that ever mattered.

Ciao.

Things

I have things.  Lots of things.  Too many things.  I’ve got things that I’ve always wanted.  Things that take up a lot of space.  Things that are heavy to move.  Things that I have just because I can’t get rid of them.  Some people call these things shit.  I simply call them things.

I’ve got things that plug in, like computers, stereos, TVs,  and other electronic gizmos that would make the typical man smile.  I’ve got manly things like a tractor, a chainsaw and that old collection of Playboy magazines.  I’ve got all kinds of things that I’ve saved over the years (in the attic of course). The attic is just a place to store more things.

I’ve got things like cars and houses and quads (and the “things” that go along them, some call them bills, I call them shit).  And then there’s furniture.  Got lots of those things too.  I’ve got the formal dining room thing that I rarely use.  I’ve got a ball chair thing that cost me a lot of money which now sits unused in my hallway.  And an old couch that is in the basement because we had to make room for 2 new things to replace it.

Man, all of these things cost a ton of money to get.  And now that I have them, I really don’t feel like having them anymore.  Well, most of them, I love the real estate things.  Having all of these things just makes it harder to buy more things.  First of all, where do you put the new things?  Next to the old things which becomes more things.  Then that gets old, and your new things become old things.  So what’s the point?

Imagine what it would be like to not have things.  Well, some things, but not all of the things that we typically buy.  We work to acquire things so that we can have them.  And I guess that’s fine and dandy.  I mean, I do need some things.  And I like nice things.  But this is ridiculous.  I guess all of my things aren’t things at all.  It’s all just a bunch of shit.

Maybe I’ll stop buying so much shit and instead travel the world.  Seriously.