The Writer's Life 7/22 -

Here's another troubling sign for America: Last quarter 246,000 were added to the rolls of Social Security Disability. There were only 225,000 jobs created. The government printing press must be working overtime to cover all the outlays.

I just read a recap of the British Open. Australian Adam Scott had a four shot lead with four holes to play, and bogeyed all four closing holes, while old favorite Easy Ernie Els made a birdie down the stretch to steal the storied championship. It must have been gut-wrenching drama. After last Monday's round, I commented how golf can be a cruel mistress. Although Scott is young, talented, rich and handsome, I feel for him. No matter what level one achieves, golf is fiercely psychological. No one can predict what will happen to Scott's game after this. He should use Rory McElroy as an example. The young Irishman, who collapsed in the final round of the 2011 The Masters, rebounded at the very next major, winning the U.S. Open going away. Good luck, Adam.

Since the price of gasoline has gone up about 20 cents the past few weeks, I decided to take advantage of a partnership Stop n Shop has with Shell. Customers accumulate points at each shopping trip. After Saturday's run, I noticed I'd surpassed 200 points, good for a 20 cent per gallon discount. I got an extra dollar's worth of fuel. On the down side, why in the world does a quart of skim milk cost 1.89 at S & S and only 1.09, an 80% difference, at CVS? I noticed it by chance several months ago when I ran out of milk and took the short walk to the drug store. If I've bought 12 cartons in that span, it's a savings of more than ten bucks, nothing to sneeze at in these times. Granted, it's a different brand, but nearly double the price?  

About a year ago WRXP, an alternative (to what?) station went belly up. The new format was talk. That failed. Alternative is back. It's the only commercial station playing new rock in NYC. I've already heard an eerie song I like: Somebody I Used To Know by Gotye, pronounced Gauthier, a Belgian-Australian. According to Wiki, the song reached #1 in 2011. I guess it's not exactly new. We share the same birthday, 5/21.

My thanks to the young man who pulled up on his bike and bought some classical lit: a collection of Elizabethan poetry and prose, essays on crime and punishment, and James Hilton's The Lost Horizon. Gracias also to Miguel, who bought Salmo 91, a Spanish translation and explication of the 91st Psalm. I also had a visit from actor-singer extraordinaire Johnny Feets, just back from his first dance gig. It went well, but he wasn't thrilled about having had to wear a white leotard. He is certain that if one of his three brothers had seen it he would have been knocked cold. On the plus side, he, 41, did get to pal around with four female dancers in their early 20's. And he got paid! Way to go, Johnny Boy.

Visit Vic’s sites:
Vic’s Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic’s Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic’s Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic’s 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic’s 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic’s Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f