Ned Luce

It was not an easy journey but we are tough.

Thirteen hours on the plane from Christchurch to LA is not included in the definition of torture but, just sayin’.

After arriving home, I needed to drive on the left side of the road for just a minute before it became apparent that is a bad idea. You see, the folks in NZ drive on the left and I had at least become accustomed to riding on the left since our son-in-law did all the driving. By the way, is it any wonder we have wars in the world when we can’t even agree on the correct side of the road on which to drive?

I have arrived at the opinion that there are more one-lane bridges per capita in NZ than anyplace else in the developed world, and they have figured out how to manage the traffic on them.

Whilst in NZ, I watched much rugby on TV and I actually went to a game between the Christchurch Crusaders and the Perth Force. I confess to still being unable to figure it out. Good thing my neighbor Paul Harrington is from Christchurch and can lead me through the nuances leading to a “scrum.”

BJ started the flight home working to end a cold, a situation not comfortable anyway. Adding the discomfort of the plane ride is then exaggerated with the sniffles/cough. She is home now and is fighting to put an end to it.

The weather sure has been helping almost anything you want to do. We went to the Dusty Green for a delightful brunch on Mother’s Day as we sat outside and I worked on a sun tan for my bare head. Several locals and families also enjoyed an excuse for a meal outside in the sunshine.

We went to a small gathering for a friend’s birthday and got reminded again of our vintage status when the conversation turned to the early days of computing.

One of the folks in attendance, (I’ll not reveal his name as Leader publisher Lloyd Mullen), (oops), confessed to not ever seeing or understanding the use of an 80-column punched card. Thus commenced an entertaining conversation with some in attendance knowing exactly what the cards were and some pleading ignorance, the difference being about 30 years.

BJ was a computer programmer in the late 1960s and knew all about the use of the cards and the frustrations they could provide when dropped on the floor. I was in marketing at IBM and knew the equipment used to put the data on the cards. Lloyd claimed to not know crap. I paraphrased.

Just for fun I investigated purchasing some of the cards. (They make great cards for “to-do lists.”) A package of 170 cards costs $65.00! All of sudden they cost more than they are worth, at least to me, even though Lloyd should get a supply.

While we out of town our friend Ann Burrell-Smith stayed in the house and took care of our guest dog, Winnie. Winnie is actually our daughter’s and her family’s pet, but is staying with us while they are in, you guessed it, New Zealand.

We should walk Winnie every day for our own good. Well, actually she needs to be walked every day for her and our good! Ann set a new standard for walking Winnie, taking her out three to four times a day!

Unfortunately, the neighbors seem to want to hold BJ and me to that standard and well, that ain’t gonna happen! We have hired a neighborhood young lady to help with the effort to exercise Winnie.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week.

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident. Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Whizz; Ned doesn’t care for either. Would somebody else please walk that dog? Contact Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)