The Von Merzenburg Fund for New Initiatives

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

CUT FROM THE WILL? WHO'S FAULT IS IT?


Dear Franz,

When my grandfather died, he disinherited my father and left everything to Dad’s younger brother. There really wasn’t any money involved, just possessions. My uncle gave Dad nothing, not even a photograph! When my father died 10 years after my mother passed away, he left everything to my older sister. There was money involved and everything my parents owned, including many items from my mother’s family. My sister shared nothing with me . . . again, not even a photograph.....



Boo hoo hoo.....
:)


I hate it when people act stupid on purpose. Please don't play dumb.

Nobody disinherits someone else without a reason. That's all there is to it.

It sounds to me like it's pretty simple: You pissed off your father. Your father pissed off your grandfather. Like father like daughter. And why are you whining about photographs? Do you really want a specific photograph? Ask your sister for a copy. She has everything. Surely she won't begrudge you that.

But honestly. You don't want a photograph. You're just trying to act like you've been wounded. When you say photograph, we all know that you're thinking about a certain Miro painting or an Andy Warhol silkscreen you've always had your heart set on....

"Not even a photograph..."

O, please! In German, we would say you were "unverschämt." You're unverschämt!

Just let that be a lesson to you. I don't know who's left in your family, or if you're in line for anything else. But remember to treat those who may be in the position to will you something - treat them with kindness. Especially if it's crucial for your financial survival. It may be humiliating but, that may be the position your in..... Sorry.

In summary, my advice to you is to quit the whining. Realize your mistakes. Know that you haven't been a pleasant person, otherwise your father would have left you in his will. Or perhaps, left you "a photograph." Haha! It sounds like your sister is the one you need to start being nice too, right?

If you choose not to start being more pleasant, then I do have one last thing you can do: Start having copies made of the photographs you'd like to have, that way you won't be disappointed when other relatives leave you nothing..




P.S. Don't forget to buy "Dear Franz" the Book - now available on iTunes! Or, for your little Kindles, you buy them here on Amazon!

IT WAS AN UNPLANNED VACATION!


To all my Readers,

I apologize for being gone for the last several weeks. But you know how it is with me!

You're at a party, and next thing you know you're on private jet to Tunisia! The weather turns out to be wonderful and you end up staying for much longer than intended. In my case it was weeks. I'm not sure. How long was it?

Good thing I felt like going shopping in Paris or else I would still be laying out in the sun!

In any case, I just assumed that my assistant would have the brains to take care of what I wasn't, but unfortunately: that just wasn't the case. At some point they'd quit and I didn't know it it. Is that sickening? And yes - I COULD really use the positive thoughts and prayers from all of you - that I know are coming anyway - just so that MAYBE I can find someone to work for me that isn't completely mentally incapacitated. I don't know anybody who has to go through this except me!

So, in the meantime - I'll be on the search again for a new "helper."

I've never asked for reader help before - but if any of you know of anything to help me out, then I would appreciate it. I've told you before - I thought I've tried every race, color and creed of human - but still, I come up with nothing!

In the meantime, I've employed my cook to help me, since I'm fasting at the moment. He thought he could take vacation and I told him, "Not so fast stupid!" So all of your new and awaiting questions will be answered shortly. The minute we feel like it!

Talk to you all very soon!


P.S. Don't forget to buy "Dear Franz" the Book - now available on iTunes! Or, for your little Kindles, you buy them here on Amazon!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

NY TIMES: HOW CHOCOLATE CAN HELP YOUR WORKOUT




I didn't read the contents of this article, but I'm sure it makes sense. I eat chocolate all day, and I would say that it's a safe bet that the same goes with Champagne.