Endless Loop

There's really no progress to report insofar as rental housing is concerned. The "chef" is definitely moving out in eleven days, or so he said. Only Alan and I have nowhere to go. The rental listings have been really sparse, too. Of course, there are numerous luxury rentals available. Who can afford to pay $4,000+ per month?

Well, when all else fails, there are always hottie pictures to fall back upon. Speaking of hotties, I am still experiencing intrusive thoughts about a certain fitness and training hottie. What's the point, though? Baby is never going to come around. Sheesh!

Last night, I spent about an hour or so with my new "smartphone." It is definitely a cheap device with a low resolution screen. However, the Web browser is far more capable than Safari on the iPad® tablet computer insofar as the "blog" is concerned. I am certain that I could perform all of the editing functions without any workarounds. The only drawback is the tiny four-inch screen and the equally tiny on-screen keyboard. I have to wonder whether I really need the iPad®.

By the way, I have not logged into any of the Google® surveillance "apps" with my one-and-only account on the "smartphone." Yet, I was shocked to see that both the "smartphone" and the iPad® devices were listed (along with an IP address and approximate location) in the Google® security logs. The "smartphone" was also designated as "synced," even though I have the option disabled. What are we to make of that?

Well, I have not much else to do except search for more hottie pictures. What do you think? Should there be more than three or four hottie pictures per day? I should also mention that I am currently not able to reply to comments in the "blog," at least while using the iPad®. The Safari browser locks itself in an endless loop of redirects. I wonder why that is ...

Fossil

My first full day as an official old codger ... not much seems to have changed. Oh, but that's the deception of old age. Anything can happen at any time. I arrived in town early, mainly because I had to move my vehicle from Chaos Manor (read: rental housing) to the neighborhood shopping center. The Mexican work crew, if you can believe it, does not take any days off. And, the landlord's arrogant son won't have it otherwise. Once I arrived in town, I procured a cup of coffee at the coffee shop. I spent a little time composing the "blog" as well. Yeah, the iPad® and cheap "smartphone" are now always with me.

I immediately espied a certain fitness and training hottie immediately upon entering the gym. Naturally, baby was looking mighty fine. Sadly, I will have to mummify any further discussion about baby. Babes are a moot point for old codgers. And, really, baby was never going to come around anyway. Woe is me. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

I spent most of the day in an ambivalent state. Nearly every facet of my earlier six decades of living has been reduced to meaninglessness. I was also experiencing intrusive and erotic thoughts about a certain fitness and training hottie. I am clearly not adjusting well to my sudden leap to "fossil" status.

By the way, now that I am an old geezer ... errr, I meant 60 years old ... I should declare the all-time favorite hottie of all the babes featured in the the old journal, the old "blog," and the latest incarnation of the "blog." Baby is mighty fine, eh? But, I digress.

Last night, I happened to peruse the new iPhone® models during my nightly visit to the Apple® Store in the den of consumerism (read: shopping mall) in Kahala. "Smartphones" like that on a no-contract cellphone plan would cost $600 upward. However, I was able to ascertain that I could actually get by with just a "smartphone" alone. In fact, the only real reason that I own a tablet computer is to compose the "blog." And, to be perfectly honest, I could probably compose the "blog" on my cheap "smartphone" with little difficulty. Of course, I would have to exploit various free wireless Net "hotspots" rather than use up my alleged 4G data allotment.

Time is rapidly running out for me to find new rental housing arrangements. I seriously doubt that Alan will be able to find a three-bedroom house for rent within a month. I compiled a list of available houses, but the "red tape" to secure a rental may exceed our time limit. The "chef" was supposed to move out of Chaos Manor this weekend. I have a feeling that he got "cold feet" and has postponed moving in with his "squeeze." Turns out, his "squeeze" has two other roommates. So, the "chef" would be moving into one tiny room. I also suspect that the landlord has cut him a deal (i.e., free rent) on the condition that Alan and I move out.

Sometimes, I just don't know. My primary purpose, given how my situation has degenerated, is to compose the "blog" and chronicle my demise. My secondary purpose is to find hottie pictures to embed in the "blog." Other old guys play checkers. Why can't I be more like them? Why am I having intrusive thoughts about a certain fitness and training hottie? Why doesn't baby come around? Why must I fall victim to the werewolves of empire? Why do I have to grow old and decrepit? Why?

Sixty

Sixty. Not just a number. We're speaking about years. Six decades, to be exact. Ol' Lavahead Day is happening now. Can that explain why I have been so cranky lately? You bet! What? Am I supposed to be elated that I have crossed the old codger threshold? Yes, I am now sixty years old. Damn it!

So what happens now? Well, all doors have closed. All avenues are now blocked. Aside from death, there's not much left for me. I'll be experiencing more pain and suffering, more decrepitude, more "bullshit," more rank-and-file peon crap, geriatric discrimination ... the list is endless. Yeah, so much for the "Golden Years."

The morning commenced at Chaos Manor (read: rental housing) with one of the rag-tag construction crew requesting that I move my vehicle from the the driveway. So, at 8:45am, I moved it to the neighborhood strip mall and parked in the parking lot. Then, I rode the bus to town. Every bus stop beyond Kahala had at least fifteen to twenty senior citizens waiting. The bus was completely filled with the geriatric crowd by the time I arrived in town. My brethren have nothing else to do but go shopping or loitering at various places with other senior citizens. I'm not complaining. I have been able to observe my (immediate) future life-style. It ain't pretty.

Once in town, I dropped off my gym bag at the gym and sashayed over to the coffee shop. No senior citizens were in sight. They were obviously at the fast food joint. I ordered an overpriced cup of coffee along with an overpriced blueberry muffin. The muffin was laughably puny. It will suffice as my birthday cake, I thought to myself. Yeah, the puny muffin is symbolic of my life.

I ran into Maka at the gym. He's a good man, although my formerly-homeless buddy would disagree. He's gone through a few severe trials. I believe that he was homeless at one point in time, even though he was employed at the gym. He's also diabetic. He's a few years younger than I am, but his hard life has aged him physically. What I admire about him is his laid back nature. He was much more impulsive and volatile in his younger years. Now, he takes everything in stride.

I thought of indulging in a nice birthday dinner somewhere in the den of consumerism (read: shopping mall) in Kahala this evening. However, the sickening sight of all the shopping zombies made me think twice. Why spend money on a good dinner if the ambiance is ruined by idiotic Satanic gargoyles? So, I purchased a small sandwich at my favorite sandwich shop and supplemented the latter with a greasy "value menu" item at the fast food joint. What a way to celebrate my 60th birthday, eh? Oh well.

Sadly, money has become an ambiguous issue for me. I am still fearful that I will deplete my financial resources during my most vulnerable geriatric years, no doubt a product of institutional brainwashing. Yet, I have been spending way more money than what I am comfortable with. Why? Well, I am pretty certain that I will be robbed of my life savings in the future regardless of any precautions. And, as a decrepit senior citizen, I won't really be able to enjoy much. My senses will be deadened. My body will be weak and deformed. What would saved money do for me except to pay for exorbitant medical expenses?

Ol' Lavahead Mini-Update®
I actually have come to appreciate my little "smartphone." It's a nice device, perfect for my geriatric needs. In fact, I will count it as birthday gift to myself. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa! Upon further research, I learned that no-contract cellphone services only offer crappy devices with most service plans anyway.

Shame

As strange as it may seem, I have decided to never give my "smartphone" number to anyone. In fact, I am planning to never use the device to make phone calls. Heck, I can't even remember the phone number. I may not use it for any other purpose either. In other words, I wasted another $80 on a useless "piece of shit." Right now, I have the device wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag. Yeah, I can't even find a protective case to fit its odd size. There are plenty of cases for the fruit-based line of "smartphones," though.

After further review of the new "smartphone," I realized just how crappy and cheap it is. "Cellphone shame" is unavoidable. How can I even be seen with it in public? That's another matter entirely. I would have been wiser to have purchased the old-style "flip phone" that was on sale for $3 or so. And, the associated calling plan was only about $7 per month. Sure, the embarrassment of owning such a device would be unbearable. However, it would be easy to just throw the "piece of shit" in the trash can when under severe public scrutiny. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Well, I finally donated the wireless speaker to charity. No one in my bro's family wanted to it. Obviously, it does not have brand name recognition, the lack of which could induce "wireless speaker shame." In fact, the charitable organization may have difficulty selling it. The wireless speaker may just end up in the landfill. Never mind that it actually produces great sound.

I have grown quite weary of all my gadgets ... air flosser, electric shaver, fruit-based tablet computer, and cheap "smartphone." All of them fall into the "piece of shit" category. Every single one of them has a battery charger, another feature that really irks me. Why does an old codger need such crap? That's why I see a lot of toothless, unshaven, and disheveled old guys stumbling around. They get by without the gadgets. No one cares about old codgers anyway. They just get in the way.

Excursion

The day commenced somewhat in typical fashion for the No-Holiday Holiday ... lots of confusion about my itinerary. After much deliberation, I decided to drive my Nissan® Frontier truck to the den of consumerism (read: shopping mall) in Kahala. I procured an expensive cup of coffee (more expensive than at the downtown branch) at the coffee shop. Then, I rode a very crowded bus to town.

After my workout at the gym, I was at a loss about what to do next. After chatting with Maka (a former gym employee, now a member), I joined him on a short excursion to the Blaisdell Center. Every No-Holiday Holiday, various church groups sponsor a large turkey dinner, or should I say, lunch. We arrived at 2pm, and there were no lines visible. The dining area was completely empty. We were afraid that we missed the event. Upon asking around, though, we learned that there were a few remaining packed dinners stacked near the kitchen. So, we were able to enjoy a nice meal. Turns out, over 1,800 people were served in the first hour or so.

I ran into my formerly-homeless buddy just before departing for the Blaisdell Center. He had already ate something for lunch, so he did not join Maka and I on the excursion. I made arrangements to meet him in town at 5pm. So, after the delicious meal, I parted company with Maka and rode the bus back to the den of consumerism in Kahala. I retrieved a few items from my vehicle and left it there. I rode the next bus back to Chaos Manor (read: rental housing). I had just enough time to unpack my gym bag. I rode the bus back to the den of consumerism in Kahala to drop off a few items in my vehicle. Then, I was off to town.

Once in town, I easily found my formerly-homeless buddy. We ended chatting with several homeless people. My formerly-homeless buddy seems to know them all. Finally, we entered the small downtown Walmart® for the early "Black Friday" event. Everything was fairly calm until 6pm. That's when the first sales event commenced. The mob was fairly large, but people were well-behaved. The hoarding was another story. I ended up departing at 6:30pm. My formerly-homeless buddy remained there to partake of the second sales event at 8pm.

I rode the bus back to the den of consumerism in Kahala. By then, I was famished. I ended up purchasing an expensive salad at Zippys and bringing it back to the mall to eat. Then, I visited the Ross® store just because it was open. That, my friends, was my No-Holiday Holiday.

Immortal

Sitting at the coffee shop in town this morning, I was privy to observe how the mid- to upper-"ninety-nine percent" behave and interact. Money and power, real or feigned, appears to be the common denominator. Vanity, of course, cannot be overlooked. This is life in empire on a small scale. For me, an outcast and pariah, there's no relief from the madness. Unfortunately, I am also enslaved by money and the "system." I am, however, sick of the Ponzi schemes, thieves, and charletons that the "system" breeds. Yet, when the veneer of human superficiality and materialism is removed, the base animal instincts and associated behavior are laid bare. As I approach the twilight of my life, I have become more cynical and even more perturbed. I have wasted my entire life in pursuit of ... nothing. Oh, I have a few worldly accomplishments "under my belt." What are they worth? Nothing, especially in the face of death.

Had I truly understood my mortality in my youth, I could have spared myself the agony of personal exploration and discovery, making the same vain errors that my human predecessors have repeated over millennia. I would have eliminated all distractions and brushed aside the political, economic, romantic, religious, and corporate "brainwashing." I would have "paid my dues" early on. I would have made financial independence my one and only goal. Then, I would have retired, exiting the "system," immediately. Resisting all interim temptations require infinite willpower, but the true knowledge of mortality would have trumped any deviation toward stupidity and ignorance.

I did not run into my formerly-homeless buddy today. So, I may not be going to town tomorrow evening for the early "Black Friday" madness. Of course, I may just go there anyway. I have never witnessed such a debacle firsthand, not that I missed much. I can only guess that the "inner animal" breaks free and the subliminal fear of mortality pushes the ego to desperately acquire as many cheap material possessions as possible. In the days of old, such foolishness was known as "the quest for immortality" and "grasping at straws."

On a sad note, I have made no progress in securing another housing rental unit. I have a new "smartphone," but I have made no calls of inquiry. I have, however, played with the device and tweaked it to "perfection." Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa! What a joke! In all honesty, I despise the device. I despise making phone calls. I detest conversing from the device. Phone phobia? You be the judge.

Ghetto

The new "smartphone" was officially deployed this morning, although I spent a little time last night tweaking its settings. It's an Android® device with the manufacturer's "skin" on top. Fortunately, because of that, I was not required to use a Google® account to activate the device. The surveillance "apps" are installed, but they are benign if I do not log into my Google® account. In other words, I can use most of the surveillance "apps" anonymously.

I really cannot stress how much I despise "smartphones" and cellphones in general. Aside from its uncanny ability to radiate the cranium, the devices are simply another form of enslavement. Heck, I even hate to converse using the devices. I don't use text messaging. Nor do I employ any form of social networking. And, I don't take "selfies."

"Smartphones" are narcissistic tools. The camera, the "apps," the "personal" nature of the device ... all are designed to cater to the self. Yeah, me, myself, and I. Even tablet computers cater to the self, which is the primary reason why I have little use for them as well. I can, however, understand how a "phablet" could replace both the "smartphone" and the tablet computer. My only real need for a tablet computer at this time is to compose the "blog" (another narcissistic enterprise). The larger screen easily facilitates the embedding of hottie pictures if the "blog" were text only, a "smartphone" would suffice. Thus, in the near future, I may downsize to a "phablet."

I ended up the coffee shop in town this morning, with tablet computer in hand. More time spent composing the "blog" rather than search for rental housing options. Frankly, there aren't very many listings. Modest rentals are $1,000 per month upward, most likely extremely ghetto. I can assume that a decent rental housing environment just for one occupany would cost $1,500 per month upward. Given such dire straits, the cup of coffee was a nice treat.

Subsequently, I ran into Ann on my way back to the gym. With only one week of unemployment benefits remaining, she has decided not to move out of her detached studio rental unit. No temporary or seasonal jobs have come her way either. "I don't want give up my home," she said. We chatted for about 30 minutes with Ann doing most of the talking. Clearly, she is "grasping at straws" by seeking out loans from friends, relatives, anyone with money. I really don't know how she will make it past December. Frankly, I don't even know how I will make it past December. Sheesh!

Dilemma

Not much has changed since yesterday. My eviction from Chaos Manor (read: rental housing) is still effective in less than six weeks. I chatted with Alan last night. We discussed the desperate situation, brainstorming various ideas. I suggested that we pool our resources and find a house to rent, most likely a three-bedroom abode. Then, a third housemate would be solicited to lower individual expenses. My goal, of course, is to place as much of the rental responsibility, both legal and financial, on Alan as possible. Because I have no verifiable income, my power to overtly accomplish anything is severely limited.

In the meantime, I have been perusing the rental listings for available rooms and detached studio apartments. Surprisingly, there isn't very much available. The dilemma does not help my situation. I am hoping that I will run into Ann sometime soon. She had told me that she would be happy to refer me to her landlord as a possible tenant in the event that she would have to vacate her detached studio apartment due to financial problems. The rent is $1,050 per month, though. Ouch!

With said, I purchased a "smartphone" at Radio Shack® during my evening outing at the den of consumerism (read: shopping mall) in Kahala. It's a cheap LG® Tribute ($39 on sale) bundled with the most inexpensive prepaid plan from Sprint®. Not to worry, though. I am not converting to a "smartphone" zombie. I wanted limited data capability in order to access the Net, which will prove necessary when I have no dedicated Net access. The new "smartphone" will be necessary to facilitate the search for a new residence as well.

Needless to say, I have been spending way too much money over the past three months. Despondency has overtaken me. I am, however, aware that I am replacing many things that are old and worn out. As far as the "smartphone" is concerned, I have not owned any kind of phone for several years. Prior to that, I owned a cheap cellphone with a prepaid plan that cost only $10 per year for "talk" service. I have gotten by "on the cheap" for many years. So, it has all caught up with me now.

Time's Up

The month of November is rapidly drawing to a close, but I have yet to make any progress on anything. I haven't procured a cellphone, nor have I been looking for alternative housing. The idea of remaining at Chaos Manor (read: rental housing) is beyond nauseating, though. Overall, I have "painted myself into a corner." Not to worry, though, the landlord stopped by in the afternoon to make sure that Alan and I understood that we must vacate on or before the 45-day eviction notification period is up.

The "chef" has apparently given notice to the landlord that he is moving out within a few days. As to be expected, he is moving in with his "squeeze." The landlord has offered him the second floor unit once the renovations are completed, most likely at a significant discount. Coincidentally, the "chef" and his "squeeze" will be looking for a new rental unit in March, when her lease expires. No such offers were forthcoming to Alan or myself. No surprise, eh?

Some people may be wondering why I don't willfully return to wage slavery to solve my financial woes. The sticking point is the ObamaScare mandated health insurance. I would either have to secure an executive salary with generous benefits (including health insurance), or I would have to work at three or four wage slave jobs concurrently. Obviously, the latter scenario is more likely than the former. If I had to pay out-of-pocket for health insurance, the minimum monthly premium would be over $500 with very high deductibles. An equivalent health plan to what I have now (through an entitlement program) would cost closer to $1,000 per month. Even with the alleged tax credit subsidies, I would be in a worse situation.

Retirement, per se, is not a great option unless the retiree possess a lot of financial assets. With the real inflation percentage being "double-digit," there is just no way to maintain retirement status without at $2 million in assets. At least half of that amount would be necessary just for geriatric upkeep in the senior citizen years. For me, retirement has locked me into an endless saga of "penny pinching," with little to no benefit. No matter what I do, I end up being robbed blind by the "system."

There's nothing for me to do in the final days as I await my official induction into senior citizenship. All doors will close. All avenues will cease to exist. Only the geriatric options will remain. The "blog" will be my only activity aside from my old codger biddings. Sheesh!

Rapanui Reality

As time continues to run out, the options for alternative housing are dwindling. The idea of purchasing a boat to use as a residence was nixed because slip rental fees have increased to $1,200 per month on average. Can you believe it? I could, of course, purchase a mini-van or utility vehicle and pay to park it in a parking structure. Then, I could sneak in at night to sleep. Yet, how long would that last? How long before I am discovered? How long before I succumb to chronic fatigue due to a totally transient life-style?

The situation in Hawai'i continues to degenerate. Frankly, the sole reason is overpopulation, especially on the island of O'ahu. I have metaphorically referred to the Moai (i.e., stoneheads) on Rapanui (Easter Island) in the old "blog." The metaphor holds true today. People from who-knows-where keep migrating here in exponentially increasing numbers. Then, along with the locals, they breed like there's no tomorrow. We have already surpassed any capability for sustainability. Heck, trash has to be shipped out on barges to the mainland empire. The infrastructure is overtaxed well beyond capacity. Wealth inequality is on a par with all third-world nations. Yet, we continue to erect more figurative stoneheads. Hawai'i is, in essence, the microcosmic model of a future global collapse, at least in terms of humanity.

I visited the coffee shop in town again this morning. A cup of coffee, free wireless Net access, young hotties galore, music ... a safe haven that is conducive to composing the "blog." What a difference from the fast food joint just a block away, where senior citizens, the homeless, the destitute, the clinically insane, and the chronically obese congregate. Of course, I will have to stop drinking coffee and purchase more healthy food instead. Sheesh!

After exiting the gym after my usual workout and shower, I ran into my formerly-homeless buddy. He was sitting at a table outside the fast food joint. We ended up at a table closer to the bus stop and ended up chatting for an hour. We joked around about the various homeless options, although I believe that he was half-serious. We have also tentatively agreed to meet and partake of that early "Black Friday" events on Thursday evening (aka No-Holiday Holiday). Sounds good to me.

Ol' Lavahead Mini-Update®
I have been tuning in to RT News every evening on the Net for at least an hour. I have truly enjoyed the various programming. Now, I find myself incapable of returning to the "mainstream" media of empire. No loss there, though.