Wednesday Wisdom

 

Just another day ...

It looks like another beautiful day in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri (SWMO).
Yesterday I started on a project that will take some time to finish -- weeding and mulching the front landscaped area. I suppose it could easily be finished in a day or two, but I have no desire to work that much at a time and prefer to use 2-3 hour workdays. That makes it a week-long project, even if I work at it every day.
And I probably won't.

I am excited that my moon flowers and hibiscus will be blooming soon. 
And I am super thrilled that our dwarf hydrangeas are flowering nicely this year.
I am not thrilled with how the Rugosa rose is spreading. I am going to have to do some serious pruning when it goes dormant this fall.


I don't typically do my own maintenance on things, but my mower needs some adjustments that I think I can handle. I replaced a couple of front wheel bearings on a mower last year. YouTube is a big help. Maybe I will learn to do more of that kind of stuff. It kind of sucks when the thing that poses the biggest obstacle to doing stuff is having to get this fat, old body down to the ground and then eventually having to get back up!
When did the ground get so damn far away?

That is pretty much my life these days -- work in the yard or garden until I get tired of it and then enjoy looking at my work while smoking a cigar and sipping on something cool and refreshing. I might read a book, listen to music, or just bask in the energy of nature.
I'll probably take in a baseball game tonight.

I know that many would be bored with my simple life, but it works well for me.
More nature; fewer people.

John

The Next Go 'round.

Having completed my 65th trip around the sun, today marks the beginning of trip #66 and my 23,741st day on planet earth.

I am wondering what the coming year holds for me. 

Truthfully, I am not one to overthink it. I typically let life happen and try to recognize and enjoy the moments as they come. Although today looks to be an overcast, drizzling, rainy type of day, I am going to enjoy my morning coffee on the deck, listen to the crowing rooster and the chatter of birds, and just look forward to another simple day in the life of John.

I'm not a big goal setter so I don't really have anything I want to accomplish in the next 365 days. 
Yeah, I know I need to lose some weight and get more exercise, but somehow that seems small and insignificant -- more like a daily thing than a yearly goal. I suppose that speaks to my whole attitude towards living the retired life -- it's more of a daily thing.

It might be that I need to approach it from the perspective of -- What habits do I need to make a part of my daily life?
Eating better (and less) and regular exercise are a given. I just need to work it into my daily routine.
I struggle a little about getting more people time. I typically enjoy myself when I am out with people; it's just never something that I plan on nor really look forward to. I don't really believe it is necessary to have more interaction with people, but I do often wonder if my preferred solitude is abnormal. 

I do need to learn a few things -- speaking Spanish, playing the ukulele, maybe doing a little magic again.
I'm thinking need to instead of want to might be the perspective more likely to get things done. I'm sure I'll figure it out -- one day at a time.

John

Wednesday Wisdom: baseball and life

Here's my Wednesday Wisdom take for today -- Have Recognize a good day!

I guess you can really do it either way. 
Have a good day - seems like a purposeful way to approach the day. It implies that you will do something to facilitate having a good day.
Recognizing that it is a good without having to do anything to achieve it is more of an awareness of the good that surrounds us.

It is an unfortunate reality that recognizing the good around us often means that we have to recognize and dismiss the bullshit that also demands light in our world -- at least when people are concerned.
Much of the good and beauty in my world rarely involves other people. Mostly I get to recognize the beauty around me in the chatter of the birds and the colors and scents of the flowers.

Last night I got to experience a good people moment that was mostly observation with only minimal interaction.
I did go to the AA Springfield Cardinal game. It was a well attended night with the reserved areas booked to small groups instead of set aside for Red Access Members. I took my $2 brats and cheap beer down to the tables in the General Admissions family area. It was pregame so there weren't many people there yet.

I noticed a young boy (maybe 8 or 9 years old) come up to the rail in front of me to watch the players warming up. His family was sitting at a table behind me -- Mom, Dad, teenage sister. 
Soon it was picture time. Mom took a pic of the kids together, which was cool since the younger brother obviously thought the world of his big sister. Then Dad took a pic of Mom and kids, followed by Mom taking a pic of Dad and kids. As they passed by me to return to their table I asked the dad if he wanted me to take a pic of the four of them and he politely declined.

I think he got overruled.
A moment later I felt a tap on my shoulder and he asked if they could still take me up on the offer as Mom handed me her phone. 
After the pic, Mom and young son headed off somewhere and Dad and daughter remained at the table with the food and drinks and they were talking to each other! When Mom and son returned the conversation expanded to the four of them. No phones were out. They were just a young family enjoying being together at a baseball game.
Sometimes, just being aware of what is happening around you can make for a good day.

After finishing my brats and beer and as the pregame festivities and National Anthem ended, I moved to a better vantage point to watch the ballgame. But I am glad I got to observe the moment and take a pic to help them remember the night.
I know it's just a small thing, but it is not at all an insignificant thing in today's chaotic world. 
There is just something right and beautiful about going to a baseball game. 

John

Two Dollar Tuesday

Two Dollar Tuesday is the promo at the Springfield Cardinal's Tuesday home games. 
No, you don't get in for a $2 ticket, but brats and hots (hotdogs) can be had for the low, low price of just $2 each.
Between the rain and my being out of town for a few days, I didn't make any of the games during the last home stand. I am looking forward to taking in the game tonight. I've been using my Red Access Membership this season and have enjoyed going to a number of games. We will be back at the ballpark on Friday (the 13th). Friday will be a double celebration as 1) it is my birthday, and 2) it is Cancer Survivor Night.
Chris will be there and cancer survivors will be recognized as a part of the evening festivities.
Friday night Fireworks are a thing for Friday home games. I haven't stayed for them yet this season. Whether we stay this week or not will be up to Chris.

That's summer.
I don't have a very productive nor active life.
I mow my big yard, tend to my flowers, smoke cigars, sip bourbon or tequila, read books, and follow a little baseball. 

I did try something new last Saturday night. I watched the UFC PPV event at a theater. 
Honestly, it was better than watching it at a sports bar, and it was also less expensive. Even adding concessions to the $20 ticket was less than I would have spent at a sports bar. Plus I had a nice comfortable reclining theater seat and was easily able to hear the broadcast. I will probably do that again for future PPV events.

Like I said -- I don't have a very productive nor active life.
Time to tend to the flower beds.

Just another day in the life of John

John

Monday Morning Contemplations

June is the time of year when Facebook reminds me of all of the summer church camps that are a part of my past. I have had inquiries about doing magic since then, but I really haven't done any practice for a very long time. I may have done a little more preaching/teaching since those long ago days, but not too much more and not for a couple of years now.

Yesterday I was asked if I am still religious.
It's interesting when you have to examine who you are and how you have grown over the years to answer such a question. 
In truth, I have never really considered myself to be religious.

Side story:
Maybe 20 yrs ago
I remember walking in DC with members of NATCA's National Constitution Committee. One member that was a pretty vocal atheist prefaced a question by saying, "Hey, you're a religious guy..."
I interrupted by saying, "I am not!"
He paused, looked at me for a moment, and said, "Yeah, I get that, but..." and then went on to ask his question.

I'm actually more anti-religion than I have ever been.
That is not to say that I think churches or church camps are bad things.
I don't.
There are even parts of that previous life that I miss and think were beneficial -- both for me and for the kids that got to experience those weeks at summer camp. Sometimes I wonder what it would look like today if I were to step into a reconstructed Pastor John role. 
What would an anti-church camp be like?

I believe there is so much good stuff found in the teaching of Jesus that I don't ever see myself setting it aside and turning away from it. 
I also believe that there has been so much harm and destruction caused by churches (and religion) of all kinds that I find embracing a regular practice of religion to be a bit repulsive.

So -- 
No, I don't consider myself to be religious.
I do believe that I have become more spiritual. If I were going to assume a role similar to that of my past I might strive for something more like a modern day mystic than that of a preacher. 
Mystic, sage, mage...
Mage! Magic! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

No.
Not really.
I am happy in my quiet, isolated life.
No shows.
No stage.
No platform for preaching or teaching other than this little read blog.
I'll occasionally toss a few insignificant words into the cyber world and be happy if anybody reads or comments on them. And I'll be okay if nobody does.

Today (like most days) I will connect to God and nature by doing a little yard work and trying to coax a few flowers to bloom.

John 

Sunday Summer Thoughts

I know that we are still a couple of weeks from the astronomic beginning of summer, but just as I cling to summer past its celestial end in September, I choose to observe its beginning with the beginning of June. Today I am realizing that it is time to alter my daily routine to begin my outside work before the sun gets high in the sky and the day turns too warm for hard outdoor work.

It is nearing noon and I have decided that I am going to skip the yard work, smoke a cigar, sip a paloma, listen to music, and read a book while sitting in the shade of the deck and under the deck ceiling fan. I may try to get a little work done when the sun gets lower in the sky and the temp drops this evening.
Either way, it's a good day.

Eight days into June and today's high is supposed to be up to 88f (31c). The Ozarks of SWMO have had a cool, wet spring. Today is the first really warm day. I am expecting a hot summer ... and that's okay. Summers are supposed to be hot.
I wouldn't mind living where summers are a little cooler, but I am not willing to trade for colder and longer winters. In fact, I'd trade our moderate winters for no winter and hotter, longer summers near a tropical beach!

The Jimmy Buffett radio is playing Five O'clock Somewhere as I sip my tequila drink at just past noon. It seems appropriate. Maybe the clock doesn't matter on the weekends.
Or when you're retired.
Or when you have a good cigar.
Or when you just don't care. 

Our shaded deck with its ceiling fan is comfortable enough on most summer days and I am looking forward to the many summer hours that I will be spending here. Later this afternoon I will make my way down the steps to the smoker and plan to smoke some wings before finishing them on the grill. 

Just another day in the life of John.

John

Wednesday Wisdom and Fair Warning

"Fools multiply when wise men are silent." --Nelson Mandela

It seems that there are fewer people that are willing to remain politically silent in recent days. Many elected republicans are really hearing it from their constituents as the Big Beautiful Bill threatens to impact lives in varying negative manners. I am surprised at the Congressmen and women that have admitted that they didn't know something was in the bill or that they didn't read the entire bill before voting for it.
I know that they often don't actually read bills before voting on them and rely heavily on their staff to tell them what is in each bill, but it seems weird to actually hear the admissions. 

I don't know if this is really an issue of wise vs foolish as much as it is about informed and ignorant, or maybe kind and cruel, or powerful and oppressed.
One thing is for certain -- there isn't anything godly about the bill as Speaker Johnson wants us to believe. Well, I suppose if you recognize that his god is power...

I know that I often find myself in that silent majority of people that have remained relatively quiet about the fascist takeover of our government. Like many others, I find myself in a deeply red area and there is never a majority (silent or otherwise) that stands against whatever the GOP is doing nationally. 
However, I have to admit that silence is growing tiresome and willful ignorance is starting to really piss me off.
I'm okay with political differences, but this is no longer about politics. It is now about whether or not we remain a constitutional republic or we become something more authoritarian. 

I don't believe there are many (if any at all) far right readers of this blog at this point. Most of my evangelical contacts from the past have long since declared me a heretic and left me to my eternal condemnation.
In any case -- fair warning! 
I may be including more politically triggering posts from time to time.
Also, I have been using my social media less often recently and hope to continue that decline. If you are reading this from a Facebook or Bluesky link, you may want to consider subscribing to this blog or just checking back on a regular basis.

Let's not be silent
Let's end the foolish proliferation of the ignorant.

John

It's Medicare Day

June 1st of the month I turn 65 is my Medicare birthday. 
It's weird.
It's also a bit of an Uh-oh moment as I realize that there is no good end that can come from my current health path and I really need to make some lifestyle changes or look forward to facing some unpleasant consequences. 

I shouldn't need any diet apps or exercise apps to get started on a better way of living -- I know enough to be healthier, but maybe the routine and regular encouragement would help. Our local community center accepts Medicare Silver Sneaker memberships and I could take advantage of that, or I could just decide to begin using the exercise equipment we have at home and walk around the neighborhood regularly.
That and quiet quit eating so damn much crap.

I'm no newbie when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape. I've done it before. I just need the motivation and desire to get going again. Maybe the thought of an early death from heart attack or stroke, or a miserable existence as a diabetic amputee or something would help. 
Personally, I think living on tacos and tequila while sunning daily on a Mexican beach would help, but what do I know?`
Medicare would be of no use in Mexico, but if I'm going to be living better, do I really need it?

I probably just need to focus on today.
And today I am not in Mexico. I'm sitting on a porch in a retirement community in Metamora, IL.
It's 50 (10c) degrees and I'm wearing an effing sweatshirt in June!
Definitely not Mexico!
But -- I can walk. I can eat better. I can make choices to live a longer, more healthy life.

As a timely encouragement to what I just wrote -- one of the senior residents of this community just rode past on the main circle drive on her adult tricycle. She was wearing a big puffy coat with the hood up and bright red gloves, but she was getting her ride in at 7am on a cool Sunday morning in Central Illinois. 

Damn.

Well, 65 in two weeks.
They say it's better than the alternative. 
I'm thinking that's only true if you make it that way.
Wish me luck (and good health).

John