Seven Years

It has been seven years since I retired from my work as an air traffic controller. (I actually worked my last shift seven years ago yesterday.) It doesn't feel like it's been that long. On the other hand, I can't really remember what it's like to go to work everyday. There certainly isn't any kind of seven year itch to get back to it or take on any other kind of part-time work to keep busy doing something. I have rarely even thought of work or anything to do with ATC in the past seven years.

There are only a few old co-workers with which I've maintained any kind of contact. Most of that is just as social media friends. Really the job was what we had in common so it kind of seems natural that we've mostly drifted apart. It's weird that I seem to have more in common with controllers that I never worked with (and some that I've never even met) and maintain Facebook friendships with more than the people I interacted with regularly. 

Life is pretty simple these days. I've become a pretty unproductive member of society. And I'm okay with that. 
When I retired seven years ago, I thought I would have a more active preaching ministry and magic ministry. That didn't really work out. I haven't done any magic in several years and have pretty much grown apart from my old evangelical friends(?). And I'm okay with that, too.
There have been past friends that I've reached out to over the years, but most have moved on and -- like I said, we no longer really have anything more than a shared past in common. I get it. 

I am very fortunate to be able to live out my retirement in comfort. I am very much aware of the privilege of this lifestyle. It is not extravagant, but it is far more than enough. If I were to do that productive member of society thing again, it would be to champion the needs of the less privileged so that we could all live with adequate shelter, decent healthcare, and not have to worry about whether or not they will be able to eat today.

John

January 30

It's the end of the first month of '22 and perhaps a time for reflection.

There isn't much difference between this year and last year on the Covid front. Due to the omicron variation's highly contagious factor, the low vaccination rate in SWMO, and a general disregard for masking and social distancing practices, we've continued to stay in and avoid large gatherings of people. Like many people, we are figuring out doing life with a deadly virus that isn't going to go away any time soon. 

I haven't been on the computer much this month. Consequently, I haven't posted here very often. This is just my 13th post of the month and half of the previous 12 have been Monday Motivation or Wednesday Wisdom posts.
I really should make it a point to write more. It isn't because of my particularly good content or that I have anything worthwhile to say. It's just that writing is a bit therapeutic for some reason. 

I got to visit with a couple of old friends this past month. I hadn't talked to either of them is several years. I see one of them on Facebook, but let's face it -- social sites aren't real contacts for the most part.
I was good to catch up with old friends. Not much beats a good, old fashioned face-to-face visit. It's a little weird that we don't do much of that anymore. Maybe I'll try to do more of that in the coming year.

I'm back to working at the overnight cold weather shelter this season. January has been typical with cold nights, some of them bitterly cold. The shelter setup is a little different this year and the location has changed to host more people. I don't see many of the same faces from last year and hope that means those folks are doing better and now have some type of regular shelter. 
I have found that staying up all night for shelter duty is a little more difficult to recover from this year. I'm not sure if it's age or something else. I just don't seem to be adapting to the schedule change as well. It might just be that I have fallen into more of a routine than I realized and the change is a bit of a shock to my system. In any case, it's short term and worth it. 

January was a bust as far as diet, exercise, and good health go. I just never really got back into a steady routine after our early December trip. I think the key will be to travel more in '22. I did well on our trip, both with eating and exercise.
Or I could just get off my lazy ass and do something. That is definitely what needs to happen. Maybe this next month.

Write more. Visit more. Adapt more. Exercise more.
Okay, bring on February!

John

Wordle

Wordle
I wasn't going to play it.
I had just deleted a game that was sucking away too much of my time and didn't want to start another one.
Then I found out it was just one puzzle per day, so -- why not?
It's probably bad that since I'm generally up at midnight anyway, I usually do the day's puzzle before I go to bed. Then I have to wait until midnight for the next day's puzzle.

It is a simple (simple rules, not necessarily simple to solve) word puzzle.
Figure out the day's five letter word. Guess a word. You will be told if you have the correct letters and if they are in the correct place (yellow if the letter is in the word, green if it's in the correct position). Based on that information, try again. You get six chances.
There isn't an app. You have to go to the website. Enjoy.

I ran across this article on playing the game. In the article is a link to this playable archive of all the previous puzzles. It is nice to be able to play more than one puzzle per day, but I have to be careful not to allow it to be the time suck that I was trying to avoid.
It will make you think.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

It's not too late to learn new lessons...

 

Monday Motivation and remembering MLK

 

Reclaiming My Deck

You know that I spend a lot of time on the screened in deck. I practically live out here most of the year. Winter kind of sucks for spending time on the deck. Even sunny days can be challenging as winter breezes can be downright cutting.

I have managed to enclose the deck for the winter months. Transparent plastic sheeting is difficult to find and very expensive to order. Translucent is the best I could do with my limited budget and skill, but I did manage to make panels to keep the wind out and make the deck more habitable for the next couple of months.

Two of the upper panels are easily removable for days when it is nicer or when I just want to see out. I do miss the scenery, but will settle for just being out here for the time being. A space heater helps to warm the area near the futon enough that a sweater and sweatpants makes it comfortable enough to enjoy.
I imagine that I'll still be having my early morning coffee by the fireplace, but reading throughout the late morning and afternoons can be back on the deck. I may have to wear socks, but I can deal with that.

I'm ready for spring.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 

Monday Motivation

This year will be what we make it to be.
Let's plant flowers!

 

Books

I just finished my second book by David Baldacci, Memory Man.
I think I've found a new author that I like.
Anyone else read Baldacci's books?

It looks like Memory Man is the first of a series, so I have a logical next read from him. 
Any other favorites of his that I need to put on my list?

John

Breakfast Challenge

Try my fried oatmeal.
It's a fairly simple to make, healthy breakfast food and easily modified for my vegan friends.

Smash a ripe banana into a gooey paste
Add 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup of crushed walnuts, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and an optional dash of vanilla.
Mix well.

I make two small cakes (easier to flip than one large one--ask me how I know) and fry them on a griddle with melted butter. I never time it;  I just go by what feels right, turn them once, and cook them some more.
I serve mine with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey.

For vegan--just sub the butter with a vegetable oil or coconut oil, and the honey with some maple syrup.
Oats are naturally gluten free, but if you need to be gluten free, make sure the oats you buy are certified that way since most are processed in plants that also process wheat and aren't consider gluten free due to possible contamination.

Pretty darned tasty!

Try it and let me know what you think.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

I went to look through my gallery for a meme and quote to post for today's Wednesday Wisdom post and saw a picture that I took yesterday. I thought I'd take a little of my own advice and appreciate beauty when I find it and capture the moments to preserve or share them.

The first summer we moved here I bought a hibiscus tree and planted it. I didn't read the part about them not surviving a cold winter, so it died last winter. This past year I replaced it with a potted tree and brought it into the unfinished basement for the winter. It sits next to a window and gets enough light and water to stay alive. Occasionally, it puts out a flower.
I found this yesterday when I went downstairs to water it. I took the pic so I could share it here.

It looks like it might have been a day old bloom, but it was nice to see and a reminder that spring is coming. 
Find some beauty today, even if it's in an unfinished basement.

Happy Wednesday,
John

Monday Motivation

We've been so conditioned to competing with each other rather than taking care of each other.
Corporations and people in power count on that. 
Getting better for ourselves shouldn't mean giving less to others. 

John

Pictures

We've never been big on taking pictures. We don't have a lot of pictures from when the kids were young, nor do we have bunches of pics from vacations, family gatherings, or everyday outings. I guess I'm more of an enjoy the moment kind of guy than a save the memory or share the moment kind of guy.

Apparently I share food pics and cigar pics, just not much else.

A number of people have been sharing highlights and memories from their 2021 pictures.
Hmmm...
I should probably take more pictures. 

Well I should start by doing more things that would justify taking pictures. Or at least, pause more often to share the simple beauty of what I see in the garden or around me in those present moments. I hope that it won't mean having to be around more people, more often.

So here is my first pic of 2022!

It's actually not a black and white photo. It was what I saw looking out my bedroom window this morning when the light was still low and the sky still overcast. The outside temp was 13f (-10c) and it was still lightly snowing.

sigh
I'm ready for spring.
I'm also ready for more pics -- so beware!

John

2022, Day 1

Well, we made it. 
Although we began 2021 with a vaccine and the hope of putting an end to the Covid pandemic, too much politics and anti-science has us beginning 2022 with another upsurge in infections and a still rising death count.
sigh
But we are here in 2022 and the year is before us. 

I have no real goals for the year. I really haven't had annual goals for some time. I am content to live each day as it comes along. Here are a few of my thoughts for '22.

I do expect that '22 will have a little more travel than the previous two years. Although the pandemic continues to rage, we have been vaxxed and are willing to take the necessary precautions to be able to travel and move about a bit more than we have been able to.
We took the pop-up camper out in the late fall of '21 and will likely use it a time or two this spring. We may even try a camping trip with Groucho, the cat. Plus a bike trip to Colorado Springs in the summer or maybe to a friend's cabin on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada would be something I may be up for.
Chris will be traveling to Nova Scotia in June and I'm certain we will be making another trip to Mexico.

I do have plans to do a little more gardening this year. I'm still not sure what that will look like, but I hope to be eating more of our own produce this year and adorning our home with some freshly cut flowers on a regular basis.

It has been a couple of years since I've done any magic. Although I do not foresee taking it up for the purpose of doing shows again, I may dabble in the art once again--just for the personal pleasure and to share with a few friends from time to time.

And I really do want to learn to speak and understand Spanish at a conversational level.

Although I am in generally good health, I still need to work on the overall body weight and activity level. That's pretty much an ongoing, daily struggle.

For the most part, I am a fairly calm spirit these days. While I may not always be at peace with the world, I am at peace with myself. As much as the physical John contends with the body, the spiritual John contends with the spirit and finding my place in relationship to God, my fellow humans, and the natural world around me. I am finding the spiritual connections to the physical world to be the true key to a peaceful and happy existence.
The Western world has taught us to keep those things separate and it really doesn't work well to bring about total harmony. We strive to succeed in careers and compete with each other for riches and control, but leave our spirits neglected or propped up with false hopes, false beliefs, and tiny gods.
Meditation, prayer, and time spent with God are helping me to connect better to all of life around me, and helping me to re-evaluate the lessons of the past and the motivation behind them. We can learn much from the ancient teachings of our Eastern friends.

I wish you peace and offer a blessing of love for the coming year.
Be well, my friends.
Please feel free to stop by and spend a few moments of your day at Out of My Hat from time to time during the year. Leave a comment or share a thought on what is posted. Maybe a motorcycle trip will find me in your area and we can meet over a beer or cup of coffee.

John