Happy Anniversary!

September 5th, 1981 seems to have been a good day to get married! 
Aside from our (mine and Chris's) wedding on this date 45 years ago, retired air traffic controllers Jerry (and wife Bea) and Elaine (wife Theresa) were also married and are celebrating 45 years today!

My sister Mary (also married to a Chris) and cousin Linda (husband Sunil) also have September 5th anniversaries, but have a ways to go before reaching 45 years.

Happy Anniversary to all of us and may we enjoy the holiday weekend!

Chris and I went out for seafood last night to celebrate a day early. Chris will be leaving for NYC early tomorrow morning to go to see Harry Styles at Madison Square Gardens next week. Forty-five years of experience tells us that she will enjoy the concert more with a friend than with me. I will journey to Louisville next week to meet with our son Aaron and daughter's boyfriend Jason for a couple of distillery tours and a AAA baseball game -- something Chris would not enjoy as much.
I'm sure that a good time will be had by all!
Some things you do together. Others you do apart. Just one of the many things we've learned in 45 years.

It is such a wonderful life that I have that it's hard to believe it's just another day in the life of...

John

Still Assessing; Still Learning

While I would like to tell anyone asking that my deconstruction from evangelical Christianity is complete, I would also have to admit that I am still working out both who I am and where I am spiritually.
If I were to sum up my thoughts on evangelical Christianity in particular or religion in general I would have to say that religious people tend to worship religion -- not God. Throughout the Christian religions, Christians tend to worship Jesus, the Christ, rather than worshiping God, the Creator.

Even more so, they tend to worship this religion built around Jesus that has very little to do with the Creator at its center. 
It seems that other religions have similar structures where they worship practices and doctrines more than an actual deity of some type.

Admittedly, there is a part of me that misses the euphoria of a worship experience. But I don't believe that I will ever go back to that. 
I believe in, and recognize God as divine and as the Creator of all things, but I don't believe that this God wants, needs, nor expects my worship.
I can't really tell you what I think of an afterlife because I no longer consider an afterlife as something to influence my decisions of how I behave towards others, towards the planet, or even towards God. Just making good choices for today seems to be enough.

I haven't really thought of myself as a victim of church abuse or that I have experienced any kind of real trauma from churches, but that is beginning to change as I learn more about religious trauma in general and church trauma in particular. I'd say that my distrust of religions and churches (the people part of  religion) is pretty equal, but in the end I believe that it's bizarre how far people are willing to go to make other people believe the same things that they believe -- yeah, think Crusades, concentration camps, burning at the stake, and even crucifixions. 

It's pretty sad to go through life believing that people suck, but damn -- people suck!
Guard yourselves accordingly.

That can serve as my quotable(?) Wednesday Wisdom contribution for this week -- 
People suck. Guard yourselves accordingly.

John

Heat wave!

It looks like September is beginning with the hottest temperatures of the summer here in SWMO. We topped the 100 degree mark yesterday and will be at our close to that for the rest of the week. Summer is hanging on!

I am okay with that.
Football season is starting, baseball will soon be coming to an end (sooner for us Cardinal fans), pumpkin spice lattes, beer, and other treats are back -- BUT IT IS STILL SUMMER!
While many people are ready to break out the flannel shirts, I will be wearing my shorts well into November and likely in December.

Admittedly, I broke out the long pants this past weekend as I am back to riding my motorcycle. The pants I use for riding are a lightweight, supposedly tear resistant, black fabric. They offer no impact padding, but might save some skin if I ever take a spill. I also have a Kevlar sweater for summer riding and a vented textile motorcycle jacket for when the weather gets cooler.

I haven't decided if I'll be riding or driving to meet Chris for lunch today. Riding when it is hot can be brutal -- especially in town where you have to stop often. 
90+ degrees, long pants, long sleeves, helmet, stopped at a traffic light on hot pavement, surrounded by car exhaust, and sitting on top of a running engine -- like I said, it can be brutal. 
At that point, even riding doesn't cool you down.

Okay. I just decided.
Besides, if I take the truck I can dump some of our recycling while I'm out.

What do you do when it's hot out?
Does it matter?
I have gotten soft about being out when it's hot.
I don't know if it's because I don't like being sweaty and feeling kind of gross, or if it's just too oppressive sometimes. I'm okay staying in where it's cooler.
Honestly, being out more would probably be less of an issue if I'd shed some of the insulation I'm packing. Fat guys and sweat are never a good thing.

Enjoy your day and stay cool.
I'm going to appreciate the sun and summer for as long as I can. 

John

Low Tech vs Slow Tech

It turns out that I'm both!
I have to admit that even though I see the great advantages of today's technology and can't begin to imagine what is in our future I am still far behind the curve when it comes to adapting my life to the available technologies. I am aware that some of my hesitancy is due to intimidation and ignorance. 
Not knowing is one thing. Not knowing what I don't know can be crippling. 

Friday morning I had a couple of notifications for verification of somebody wanting to access my Amazon account from another device. I did the recommended sign out of all devices and changed the password, but then I couldn't get my Kindle to reconnect properly. It showed connected to my account but wouldn't show my library or bring up the books I am currently reading. I have spent the past two days signing out, signing in, resetting factory defaults and starting over.
And over,
And over.

Honestly, I don't think I did anything differently today than I've been doing, but I am finally properly connected to my account.
Yay!
This makes me happy.

And while I am ranting about technology -- WTF is up with Google and its bullsh!t relabeling of Lake Ontario? 
Google Maps now has Lake America in the north to go with the Gulf of America in the south. 
What a bunch of ball-less cocks! 
All of the information and influence that they have as a tech giant and this is how they want to be known. 
smh

Maybe being low tech, and even being slow at being low isn't so bad.
I think I'll read my book on my recently reconnected Kindle.

John

Coffee time

I decided that a morning ride and a coffee shop stop would be a fine way to begin my Sunday morning. It will be hot again this week, so a little riding before it becomes uncomfortably hot seemed like a good idea.
I didn't go very far, just to the Mudhouse at the north end of Ozark. The single origin Guatemalan drip for a bottomless cup and the blueberry muffin make a good backdrop to typing away on my blog while observing the many others that are stopping in for their morning fix.

If you are in the SWMO area and would like to meet for coffee sometime, drop me a message. Whether by bike or truck, I'd be happy to meet you for a well brewed cup of coffee and a conservation. It crossed my mind that I could make it to church at The Venues this morning, but I decided that a solo ride and a cup of coffee while sitting solo at a coffee shop was much more aligned with my people coping tolerance today. 

A few short rides on the bike have been good. I don't feel the same about riding as I once did. There isn't the same feeling of freedom or stress relieving therapy that there used to be. Maybe I no longer need that kind of get-away-from-it-all experience. 
I have a pretty chill kind of life.

I will say that it is still enjoyable, but I would not say that the compulsion to ride still exists for me. I will likely use the bike for errands when it is appropriate, but don't see myself just going out for a ride like I used to do. On hot afternoons (like today) a more appropriate non-productive activity would be to lounge in the pool for an hour or two. 
I might know a few things about being non-productive!

I hope that you have a week with a balanced amount of non-productive time. 

John

Riding again

I finally did it!
After more than two years of sitting idle, my motorcycle has current tags and is ready to ride. 
I wasn't thinking about yesterday being the last business day of the month when I went to the licensing bureau, but soon realized why the wait was so long. It was hard to be too frustrated. Those procrastinators are my people.
I thought about leaving and waiting until Monday, but figured I was already there and waiting in line would be shorter than waiting until Monday. Besides -- I'm retired. Waiting is really no big deal.

I need to spend a little time getting reacquainted with riding. Yesterday's short ride felt good, but a little refresher riding on turns and overall awareness is definitely needed. I may take a ride today before the hot weather sets in again for a few days.

I don't think that extended trips are something that I'll be doing again. Even if I wanted to ride the 400+ miles to see Mom, she no longer has a car to use while there so I wouldn't be able to take her anywhere or pick up much in the way of groceries or anything. Besides, my hybrid Ford Maverick truck gets about the same mileage as the Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle!
But riding is enjoyable, so I'm sure I'll be out and about a bit. 
Having such an option is a simple privilege for which I am grateful.

Enjoy your weekend and keep an eye out for old guys on motorcycles.

John

Getting the bug or just getting bugged?

Every now and then I get the bug to renew my old habit of doing magic. 
The problem is that I would have to re-invent myself as a magician since I would no longer be doing church programs and I really have no idea how to go about getting regular stand-up gigs.

Close up magic as always been my favorite genre to watch, but I never really practiced it much because that wasn't the magic I performed and it takes a great deal of practice to make it look -- well, magical.

The process is:
Practice until what is difficult becomes easy
              until what is easy becomes second nature (natural)
              until what is natural becomes magical

Done right, it is so much more than doing tricks. It's performing an art, exhibiting a craft, providing entertainment and escape for an audience. Being a good magician isn't something you do. It is someone you are. And while I love the wonder and enjoyment that magic creates, I'm really not certain that I want to spend the time and energy (and money $$) to work on something that few people would ever get to see or appreciate. 

Work on the old stuff and find new gigs?
Work on new stuff and find new gigs?
Work on stuff for personal enjoyment until the itch is satisfied and move on?
Find another shiny thing to distract me from the pull of an old habit?

Magus, mage (plural magi)  -- Priests of the ancient Persians.

Today we would call them magicians, sorcerers, or wise men. 
Maybe I should skip the magic stuff and just work on the part of being a wise man. 

John

Remembering

In the short time since the death of Dolly Parton there has been a steady stream of tributes, life summaries, quotes, stories, and long lists of her accomplishments and stories. Though small in stature, everything about the woman was big.

I'm not going to recall her deeds here, but I have to say that remembering Dolly makes me wonder how I might be remembered.
And is it really all that important?

Remembering the accomplishments and deeds of one that has died is just recalling and appreciating what they did when they were living. Most of us will never have the money nor influence of a Dolly Parton, but that doesn't mean that we can't be kind, loving, and generous with what we have. I doubt that Dolly thought about being remembered as she lived her extraordinary life. She just lived life in an unforgettable way. 

I'm not likely to do anything extraordinary today. 
In fact, it is quite possible that sharing these words will be the most interaction with other people that I have today.
There is no kindness attached to sharing these thoughts. 
There is nothing inspirational about just existing for another day.
I won't be creating anything, nor discovering anything, nor making any contributions to my neighborhood or to the world around me.

I'll read a little, clean up my outdoor living area (deck), maybe take some recycling in -- nothing that will generate a memory for anybody.
And honestly, I'm okay with that.

I won't be putting up statues, building monuments, nor slapping my name in public areas to force people to remember me. I'll just live my life and allow you to live yours. If we're lucky, maybe a few people will remember something good about us when we are no longer here.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 

I am learning this contentment.
I have more than I need, certainly more than I deserve.
I am sitting in a wonderful home, sipping good coffee.
Though mostly far away, I have an incredible family.
Although I have few close friends, I have had a good life with seasonal friendships.
My life is peaceful.
I am content.
Life has been, and is still -- very good.

John

Screen-time

I am spending less time on my phone -- at least, according to my phone.
I haven't actually checked, but I suspect that the phone app is likely one of the least used apps on my phone. Perhaps it would be better if I referred to it as my cellular device or my distraction from living or as something other than my phone.

Since I generally have one book that I read on the Kindle app, some of my daily time is spent there.
There are a few game apps that I play everyday, plus a few of the NYT games like Wordle, Connections, and Letter Boxed.
I have been spending less time on Facebook and Instagram and a little more time on Substack.

I think that deciding to wear a watch has reduced my screen time a bit. I don't really know why I ever need to know what time it is. I suppose it is an ingrained life habit. And I don't believe we really check to see what time it is, but we check to see how much time we have until ... whatever thing we expect to do next in life. How long until dinner, how long before we leave, how long until the game starts, etc.
By not checking my phone for the time, I am not distracted to check on messages or notifications or other updates that I would have just skipped or waited until later to read.
Opening anything is inviting the cellular black hole to suck you into the inescapable virtual void where you lose minutes, or even hours, of your day and life.

Having a smart phone does give me access to so much information. I use it for gardening info, recipe ideas, weather information, GPS guidance, updated news, and plenty of other things. I definitely don't want to go back to not having one. 
However, I also see that these ubiquitous devices can be a major distraction from actually living our lives and can be very isolating for people that truly need an actual community of people around them.

I am going to continue to limit and reduce my dependence on my phone and the distraction that it often creates. I have a few educational apps that I'll continue to use, plus my reading (Kindle) app. Using social apps to connect me to people that I couldn't connect with otherwise are good things. Using those same social apps as a substitute for connecting with people that I can have actual connections with might not be so great.
Less screen time.
More life.

John

Fall Gardening

It's about that time.
It is at least time to begin thinking about how I am going to approach re-working my fence line flowerbed. 
After learning (the hard way) that I replanted my irises wrong last fall, I am going to have to dig the road side of the fence up and replant them correctly. Even though they didn't produce flowers this year, they did multiply greatly. I will have an abundance of tubers to share if you are in the area and want some.

For the house side of the fence, I think I will try solarizing the bed to kill off the weeds that grew this year, as I neglected to keep up with it. 
My plan is to solarize this fall, cardboard and compost in March, sow zinnias in April.

My front yard bed is going to need some work also. 
I have a large Rugosa rose bush that needs to come out. I'm afraid the runners it leaves behind will be a nuisance for a long time. I think I will try to find a way to contain it and replant it where its thorny stems won't pose a problem and it can thrive. The flowers have a very pleasant aroma and other than its aggressive spreading, I really do like it.
I expect I could have a few plants available if anyone wants one. Just be aware -- it is an aggressive spreader and the runners can tunnel quite a distance before popping up unexpectedly (ask me how I know)!

I will wait until spring to thin my hostas, but should have some available. Maybe I need to get a boot at a local farmer's market and sell some plants. 
Ha! that sounds too much like a job! I'd much rather just share them with friends.

I'm going to save some seed pods from the moon flowers, but I haven't decided on where I want to plant them. I'm thinking about the backyard flowerbed so that I can enjoy them from the deck where I spend most evenings.

It will be a lot of work. 
However, I have found that gardening produces patience. So much of gardening is work now, reward later -- and often it's much later.

Today is going to be cooler with occasional rain, so I probably won't get much outside work done today. The thunder has been rolling through the clouds as I drink my coffee and plan the upcoming project. It is hard to believe that this week is already the end of August. 

Where has summer gone?
sigh

John

Sunday Self-assessment

I've been doing a lot of thinking about Christianity -- Christian Nationalism, Christianity as understood by, well -- Christians, and simply being a follower of Jesus.

The way I see it:

I don't believe that Christian Nationalism is anything like Christ -- not in name, not in morality, not in any way. In fact, it is generally in direct opposition to the teachings of the Christ, Jesus.

Christianity as understood by Christians isn't really too far removed from the crusaders or colonist of the past. While today's Christian churches and people may not go to the same extremes as the church of history, there is still both social and spiritual condemnation and isolation instead of the physical torture and execution of the infidels that refuse conversion. 

Followers of Jesus should be about caring for the marginalized of our society, taking care of people in need, speaking out against injustice, and doing that love your neighbor/love God thing.

I honestly don't really fit into any of these definitions.
While I certainly agree with the teachings of Jesus that expect us to love one another, I seldom even want to be around people, much less show them any sort of attention or care.
I don't know how monks or cloistered nuns can claim to be Christians without interacting with people, but I like that they've found a way that seems to work for them. I know that I am not ready for that extreme degree of isolation, but it would be nice to find some sort of middle ground where I can be a Christ follower and not have to deal with people.

Maybe it's time to admit that I am not really a Jesus follower, after all. I certainly can't claim any Christ-like qualities or regular practices. You can ask any mainline Christian today and they will tell you that doing good deeds isn't enough to call yourself a Christian.
In fact, according to most, you don't have to do any good deeds. Just call Jesus Lord, trust him as your Savior, and you are good to go! Maybe I should go back to believing that. 

Again, it would be nice to find some middle ground.

I know there doesn't seem to be any real point to this -- not for myself, nor for anyone else. It is just stuff I've been contemplating and felt like writing down. I know there are others that may have found themselves in a similar place. Maybe you'd share some insights for those of us still trying to figure things out.

John

Live Long and Prosper

I heard an NPR story (yes, I listen to NPR) yesterday about a woman in England that celebrated her 117th birthday!
If I live another 50 years I still won't be 117 years old!

My current state of mind is that I would like to stick around for a few decades, but I definitely need to make some changes if I want to enjoy that time. 
It's weird how a person can intellectually know what needs to be done and actually do things that are quite the opposite. 

I know I need to lose weight, but it's easier to indulge in foods that I don't need and even to overindulge in foods that are otherwise healthy choices.

I know that there are zero healthy benefits from smoking cigars and some definite downsides to it, but I do enjoy the subtle flavors and aromas of cigars and appreciate the relaxing that occurs while smoking.
Enjoying an occasional alcoholic beverage is pretty much the same as cigar smoking -- zero health benefit, definite downsides.

I know I should be more active and get regular exercise, but it is too easy to stay sedentary.

It's easy to say that moderation is the key, but is making moderately poor health choices really the key to living a long, healthy life?

Family, social connections, and community also seem to play a role in longevity. 
I don't know. Maybe occasionally enjoying a good cigar, a nice drink, and the peacefulness of being alone isn't so bad if the opposite is having to spend time with people for additional years.
And you can do everything right and still die from something other than old age.

Finding the balance between what I want to do to be happy now and how long I want to be able to do it has always been the trick. Unfortunately, like many people, I haven't been paying much attention to the second part of that equation.
Both my cigar smoking and alcohol consumption are pretty low. I don't do either all that often and have postponed my standing cigar order twice now since I have cut back quite a bit recently. Diet and exercise are the real challenges for me. These are on the opposite side of moderation.

The odds of me living another 50 years are extremely low. Even half of that is unlikely. But making better choices for today is something I can do -- at least for today.

What choices will you make today?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

It's not too late.
Unless, perhaps, we haven't learned.

John

God is Good -- Oh, Really?

It is unsettling how often we can look at the God of the Bible and see that God is not very good at all.
That God seems to relish in killing off entire nations or punishing individuals by some slow, torturous means like stoning.
Even the New Testament God would offer a human sacrifice (his own son) to save people from his own condemnation!

Are these the hallmarks of a good God?
Sorry, but I don't think so.

I'm going to go with a lot of "I don't know"s when it comes to religious matters. I am very distrustful of religious people. Sorting out what to keep from my religious past is challenging. It is very discouraging to think that it has all been a lie.
Was there any truth in it?
Is there anything worth keeping?

Here's my answer -- I don't know.

I am trying to find answers. 
But I am changing the first question from -- Was there any truth in it? to -- Was there any good in it?
If I do that, I can tell you the answer to the second question is -- Yes! There is much worth keeping.
And there is much worth studying further.

I think Jesus is worth studying and following. I think he taught some good stuff. I am not greatly concerned that you follow his teachings, although I do believe that many could benefit from doing the things he taught. I don't believe that choosing to follow him will determine if you go to heaven or hell. I don't even know if the heaven and hell of my religious upbringing exists. 
For now, I'm filing it under "I don't know," but I strongly doubt its existence.

God is Good
But not that God.

For what it's worth...
I actually believe that God is Good.
I believe that God loves you (and me, too).
And even if I'm wrong, at least it makes a good bumper sticker.*

John

*It was a God is Good bumper sticker that got me started on this post.

Old Guys and Friendships

Admittedly, 66 isn't all that old.
However, it does put me at an age where physical changes sometimes surprise me. 
There are also social changes that become issues for a lot of guys entering retirement. I've been retired 11+ years now and didn't really feel the isolation that many feel.

For whatever reason, older guys don't seem to have the one on one friendships that most women seem to have. It often seems to be that guys maintain an identity that encompasses what they do for a living --what they are -- more so than who they are. When work is over and those people connections are lost they feel isolated, alone, and without a purpose.

That part wasn't really an issue for me for a few reasons.
First of all -- ATC was what I did. It was never who I was.
Secondly -- I didn't really do much with co-workers outside of work.
Thirdly -- I kept busy with church stuff and magic ministry for a few years before that came to an end.

When the church gig came to an end, admittedly, I was a little lost. It wasn't a big deal since so many people relationships within the church are superficial and conditional at best.
And besides, being alone and being lonely are very different things.
I greatly enjoy being alone.

However, as I age, I can see that having a close guy friend or two would be nice. I don't know if it is too late to really work on that or not, but I also need to feel right about the people that are close to me. I don't want somebody that drains my energy or has a contradictory view on life. 
We don't have to be completely like-minded, but (in my head) contradictory is not the same as different. Contradictory says -- You're wrong and I'm right, and rarely leaves room for discussion or conversation.

I have started meeting with a couple of guys -- breakfast every other week with a guy a few years older and lunches every now and then with a guy a few years younger. It's been good for me. One guy is a shelter volunteer; the other I met through The Venues church and have kept in touch with even though I rarely go anymore.
I have a couple of cherished high school classmates that I really look forward to connecting with on each trip back to central Illinois, as well as a couple of same age friends when we visit the kids in Puerto Vallarta.

I am quite fortunate to have these guys that are a part of my life. 
I do not have a great following in general, even less of a following by retired guys. If you see yourself in this post, feel free to chime in with your thoughts. I consider my old guy fellow bloggers to be included in my list of friends, as well.

John

Audio books

I'm not much of an audio book fan. Yesterday I listened to my fourth book (1st this year). Like the previous three, this one was on a long, traveling solo road trip. The first was actually an accidental download from the Libby app. I thought I was getting an e-book, but got an audio book instead.

Typically, I listen to music while on the road. Yesterday I decided to find a book to listen to.
I am going to say that listening to books has its place and has definitely helped pass the time on an all day drive, but I am going to stick to reading for the most part. 

Two of the four books have been read by the author; two have been read by other people. How does a person get paid to read a book out loud? That seems like a decent gig if you don't mind the sound of your own voice and sitting still for hours on end.

How do you feel about audio books?
I think I would use them more often if I spent a lot of time in the car. 

John

Saturday

I am not much of a tech guy, but I have recently upgraded in a couple of areas. I have been used to owning the cheapest available cell phone and that has worked out well since even the cheap smart phones are smarter than I am.  A recent switch in providers netted me an upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy 26+ that I am certain to under utilize. 

One feature I have recently discovered tracks my daily screen time.
Damn. I use it much more than I thought I did. 
I guess it is a nice-to-know kind of thing and I am going to have to pay closer attention to how I am using my time. I do spend time with several games -- Star Battle, Arrows, and a few of the NYT games.
I'd like to be able to claim that my time is spent reading on the Kindle app (and some of it is), but most of my reading is actually done on my Kindle paperwhite. 
The tracking shows which apps are the great time suckers and while I do spend time reading worthwhile articles, I am also wasting plenty of time with nonsense.
Sacrebleu!

I've also just added a smartwatch to my tech stuff. I know I am late to the party and even feel that my Fitbit Versa 4 is an older, scaled down model to what is actually available in the smartwatch market. However, it was something I could get through my Medicare Advantage plan and didn't actually cost me anything. I've had a couple of cheap versions in the past, but this is definitely more functional than my previous smart watches. 
I am still figuring it out, getting it set-up, and trying to decide if I really want a watch that tells me I'm fat and lazy and need to get up and move my ass. 
Technology!

My watch talks to my phone.
My phone talks to my truck.
I can stream Netflix to my phone, Chromebook, or TV. 
Meta, Google, and Amazon sell my travel, shopping, and browsing data to the world.
And the centers that store and broker all of that data are using up resources and destroying the earth.

Technology!
It's a wonderful thing 
...until it isn't.
It is definitely something to be monitored.

John

Election Day!

It is election day in Missouri and although it is a primary election for our congressional and state representatives, there are also some important ballot initiatives to be decided. 
Vote!

John

Dog Days

The "Dog days of summer" are coming to an end and one might expect that would mean that cooler temperatures will be coming quickly. However, although the dog days are associated with summer time heat, they are associated more by correlation than by causation. 
The time from early July until mid August is often the hottest time of year in the northern hemisphere. It is also the time of year that the constellation Canis Major (the big dog) and Sirius, the night's brightest star, are emerging from being behind the sun.
Sirius, (the Dog Star) is just now visible in the early morning sky, rising just before sunrise. By winter it will be visible nearly the entire night, rising at around 7:30 PM on the solstice. 

I mention this because our temps are heading upwards again and will be nearing 100 (38 C) degrees in just a few days. The couple of cooler days were welcome, but today starts another warm up. I'm okay with that.  The continuing March towards shorter days and cooler temps makes me a little sad. 
I am a summer boy.

August is motivating me to get ready for the coming winter. And by "getting ready for winter" I mean planning a trip to a warmer climate! I hope that airfare remains affordable for trips to Mexico. Or maybe we can plan something along the southern coast of Texas or Florida. That would work, too.

Happy Monday.
Enjoy the sun and the summer. 
Summer days are going quickly.

John

August

It is going to be an unusually cool and overcast day for this time of year.
Overall, it has been a pretty decent summer. Although we have had our hot days, they have been bearable and we have only reached 100 degrees (38 C) one time -- so far.

I'm basically a summer person and the hot days don't really bother me that much. In fact, we managed almost all of June with the windows open and no A/C. It will be nice to turn the A/C off for the day and let the fresh air flow through the house today.

The night sky in August is a good one. The so called star of the show is generally the Perseids meteor shower which peaks on the night of the 12th and early morning of the 13th. For those in Iceland or Spain, a total solar eclipse happens during the daylight hours of the 12th. This means that there is a new moon phase and dark sky for the nighttime meteor shower. 
North American sky watchers can catch the partial lunar eclipse later in the month on the evening of the 27th.

Additionally, there will be an early morning planetary alignment that coincides with the solar eclipse and meteor shower. Venus will still be in the evening sky, but the rest of the planets will line up nicely just before dawn in the eastern sky on the morning of the 12th.
It should be noted that Neptune and Uranus are not visible without a small telescope and Mercury, never very far from the sun, will not be visible until just before sunrise.

Tuesday, August 4, is Primary day in Missouri with several important ballot items. 
Missouri voters are weird. They will vote for progressive ballot initiatives and also vote for the conservative representatives that oppose them and often try to overturn the will of the people through other legislative measures. 
smh

The calendar page turns and life moves on.

Happy August!
John

Random Conversations and Unwanted Gifts

I get sharing confidential things or personally meaningful things with close friends. But I sometimes get people that are barely acquaintances sharing those types of things with me. It happened with co-workers and it still happens with random people I encounter. 

An older woman who is a widow sharing how lonely she gets living by herself.
A man I barely know telling me about his wife's recent dementia diagnosis.
Overnight guests at the shelter sharing personal struggles.
I don't think any of them expect anything. They just need to vent and need somebody to hear them and to see them.

Not long ago, a gay man that really isn't out yet, shared his story and his struggles with me. We are close to the same age, share a few life things in common and were sort of randomly paired together to work at an overnight shelter. It was the first time we met.
At the end of a long conversation, I felt compelled to ask -- Why me? What made you feel safe enough to share this with me?
Honestly, he looked a little shocked, like he just realized what he had done. But then he recovered and said - I don't know. You just felt safe.

If it turns out that my "gift" is to put out a peaceful vibe that puts stressed out people at ease -- well, I guess that's okay. But I don't have the training nor the education to know what to do -- other than to just listen.
Maybe listening without judgement and without offering advice is what people want and need.
Maybe people don't share because sharing generally opens up a window of condemnation.
Maybe they are not looking for advice on how to be fixed or to have their problem solved.
Maybe they just need a safe place and a quiet moment to rest from their struggles.

I don't know.
And I don't understand how (or why) I get to be that person.
Do you ever find yourself in a position that you are surprisingly well suited for, yet you are a bit uncomfortable with it?

I think many people that have known me are questioning the judgment of the people that confide in me -- John? Really?
In my head I tell myself -- I'm too old for this shit.
I think I've been dealt some pretty crappy super-powers -- short sleeper, power napper, good listener.
Makes me wanna say -- F*#k!

John

Summer in the Ozarks

Late July in the Ozarks of SWMO is going to be hot and usually pretty humid. It appears that we will get a break on the humid part as the temperature pushes the 100 degree mark (38 C). 
Although it is going to be hot and I don't spend as much time outside as I used to in the summertime, I don't think we've had a 100 degree day yet this summer. While I am a believer in man made climate change, sometimes it's just hot because that is the nature of summer in the Ozarks.

I've been a bit lazy this past week and put off some yard work that needs to be done. It's not that I've been entirely lazy; I've managed to do some less strenuous things, but the yard work hasn't done itself, so...
I guess today will be the day.
The plan is to begin before it gets too hot.
Work until I've had enough.
Cool off by relaxing in the pool.

Yeah, it's a tough life.

Motivation to get started is often my greatest challenge. Admittedly, I am a slow starter in the day. Sitting and sipping coffee is a simple, slow start that I greatly enjoy. The sedentary inertia requires great effort to overcome. I often allow myself the distractions of reading one more chapter, solving one more puzzle, or playing one more game before getting started. Before I know it -- it is late in the morning and getting hot enough to discourage much outside work.

As I said, the past week wasn't entirely unproductive. I did manage to make a couple of adjustments to our screen doors, re-pot several succulents and some cone flowers, re-organize our freezer to make room for some frozen meat that we bought, and unpack some new nightstands -- the first pieces of some new bedroom furniture to arrive.
In addition to the normal home owner stuff, it looks like I have a couple of people engagements on the schedule for the coming week. I might need some extra pool time to keep things in balance.

Stay cool,
John

Holy smokes! Twenty years of Out of My Hat!

I just realized that today is my Blogoversary!

I have been fortunate enough to get to meet several of my fellow bloggers and readers, and have enjoyed the virtual connections that I have made in the past twenty years. Many of the bloggers that I once followed have long since disappeared into the virtual void, but a few are still posting regularly. 
It's too bad I can't reach out to virtually invite all of those previous posters and readers to drop in and say hi for my 20th blogoversary party.

But you are here!
Thank you for stopping by.

John

Short sleepers

I've generally considered myself to be a short sleeper. It seems that six hours is a full night's sleep for me (still) and I often managed on 4.5 hours per night when I was working. Sometimes I will add an additional sleep cycle and get 7.5 hours, but I typically wake up and get up after 6 hours.

However, it appears that short sleeping as a genetic trait is pretty rare, so I don't know if I am a genetic short sleeper or not. The odds of getting struck by lightning are greater than the odds of being a genetic short sleeper.
I suppose it's too bad that I am not more productive in my waking hours. I am content to sip coffee and scroll the internet in the morning, read books during the day and evening, and likely enjoy a good cigar at some point on many days. Short sleeping should not be wasted on an untalented, uneducated, and unmotivated person such as myself. More waking hours should be associated with doing more for humanity or contributing to society in some small way. I consider that staying away from people on most days is my gift to society.

It is interesting to read about it and find that science is discovering more about it and has narrowed down several (4) genetic markers associated with short sleeping. I don't know if power napping is associated with short sleeping in any way, or if I am just fortunate enough to have both. 

I suppose it is a blessing that I am content to contemplate life and not be bored with these extra hours I have every day.
If you had an extra two hours every day, how would you spend them?

John

More on books and reading

It's been just over 3 weeks since I dropped my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I have not been without something to read in that time. In fact, I find myself rushed to finish what I'm reading because a book I was waiting for became available through the Libby app.
One of the downsides has been that some of the authors that I enjoyed reading seem to have published their works with Amazon and they are only available through Kindle by purchase or free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

I haven't even checked out any of the many free e-book sites that are out there and I still have more than I can keep up with. 

What a privilege it is to be able to read, to enjoy reading, and to have an abundance of material literally at my finger tips!
Also, having the leisure time to be able to sit and enjoy a book is a privilege that I do not take for granted. I am grateful for this life I have.

What are you reading?

John
 

War Crimes

War crimes are such a weird concept to me.
War itself is such a violent act against humanity that defining some parts of war as criminal and other parts as acceptable is just mind blowing.

Way back in the mid 60s when Star Trek was introducing some pretty progressive ideas by imagining a future world, there was an episode where two neighboring planets had been at war with each other for centuries, but they had cleaned things up by using computers to determine the number of casualties in an attack and those people would then voluntarily report to death chambers. 
The war went on, but there was no physical destruction of property, no rebuilding, no damaged infrastructure.
You can read about it here.

Don't we do the same sort of thing when we say we are at war, but certain civilian areas can't be attacked?
Don't we take away a reason for negotiating an end to that war?
Instead of putting an end to killing, we make rules around acceptable killing. 
We demand humane treatment of prisoners of war when war itself is an inhumane act.

I agree that the bombing of civilians and civilian targets is wrong. But I also happen to think that bombing another country because we have a dementia ridden, psychopathic, rapist, narcissistic pedophile as a president is wrong. 
Every part of this war (yes, it's a war) is criminal, and yes, I believe that both Trump and Netanyahu should be held responsible on an international scale.

I'm venting here because I can. It's difficult to have a solution to a war that never should have been started in the first place. There was nothing to win and everything to lose -- which we already have lost.
Sometimes the first step out of the hole you're in is to stop digging. 

I do love where I live, but there are times when I am ashamed of the things my country is doing. This is one of those times, and ashamed is an understatement. I am angry that we are killing and being killed to satisfy a demented president's ego.

John

Wednesday Words: about grace and gratitude

Today's Wednesday Word is not one that has a surprising meaning or background story. It is simply one that I have had a little change of perception or attitude about. We see it in different forms -- grace, gracious, gratitude -- all from the Latin gratia.

I was thinking about this because last week I had lunch with a friend and former pastor/preacher. As we sat down to eat, he asked if I wanted to bless the food (give thanks, say grace, etc,). I declined and let him do that.

Here's the thing (for me).
I don't ever want to reach the point where I take the good things of life for granted. I always want to express my gratitude, but I do believe there are different ways to do that. 

"Oh, this is really good!" is an expression of appreciation and of gratitude.
The enjoyment of sharing a meal with a friend is an expression of gratitude.
A smile, a hug, an acknowledgement of a gift or favor received -- all are ways of being grateful. 

At this moment I am sitting in a coffee shop, sipping an iced cold-brew, using the hot-spot feature of my new smart phone, and typing words on my Chromebook that will travel great distances and be read by a handful of people.
How could I not be thankful for the life that I have?
I often joke (sort of) about being a curmudgeon-in-training or about being a grumpy old man.
I'm not.
Mostly, I do want people to leave me the f--- alone, but that's just because I am so thankful for the quiet time that life provides for me!

Today, I will do a little of the outdoor work that I've been putting off because of the midsummer heat and then I will be thankful for the simple little pool that I have as I enjoy a cigar and evening drink. 

Will you be grateful today?
How do you express gratitude in ways other than simply saying -- Thank you?

Thanks for reading!

John

Wednesday Words -- Lights out!

How about a new alliterative category for Wednesday?
I'm about tapped for wisdom. Although I've often been called a wise-a$$ or a wise-guy, I've seldom been thought of as a truly wise man.

And besides, words can be fun.
For an older generation of kids that played outside all day, the streetlights coming on was often the signal for kids to head home for the evening. Not always, though. We played kick the can, hide and seek, tag, and many other games with the neighborhood kids well after dark.
The electric street lights came on automatically and stayed on all night. Nobody had the job of lighting the gaslights when the sun set or extinguishing them when it was time for everyone to be safely at home for the night.
Although there are many good reasons for streetlights to remain on throughout the night, it's weird to remember that electricity or even gas jets haven't been around for most of the history of humanity. For most of our history, turning out the lights meant putting out a fire. Nighttime light came from candles, lanterns, or fireplaces.
Today, lights out is as simple as flipping a switch.

Our word curfew comes from the French couvre feu which means cover fire.
The French were the first to use street lamps in an effort to reduce nighttime crime in Paris. When it was time for the street lamps to be extinguished (couvre-feu), it was time for everyone to be at home.
Instead of be home when the streetlights come on; it was be home before they go off -- curfew!

And now you know.

John 

Monday Motivation

It is a beautiful Monday morning in the Ozarks of SWMO. The early sun is bright, but not yet too hot. The avian community is doing its noisy morning routine of feeding and chirping loudly as they go about their business. The traffic sounds from the nearby highway are man made background noises that rudely infiltrate the natural sound of birds, bugs, and the occasional sounds of horses or cows from the rural farmlands that are not too far away.
My coffee is good and life in the Ozarks is pretty sweet right now.

As I look out at the field that needs to be mowed soon, I am picking out an area to solarize for my native grasses and wildflowers area, 
The process of solarizing will involve measuring out a 40' by 100' (12 m x 30 m), cutting that area as low to the ground as I can, watering it heavily, and then covering it with clear plastic for the rest of the summer and let the sun heat and kill the existing non-native, invasive fescue grass. I need to have the area ready and hope that the rain in the forecast for later this week will be accurate.
The solarization process recommends burying the edges of the plastic to trap in the heat which adds a lot of work and I may find a work-around for that part.

I also have a smaller area that I need to solarize closer to the house. It's a plot that I had tilled a couple of years ago for flowers that is now full of Johnson grass and weeds. I was going to plant popcorn and sunflowers there this season, but it needs to be re-worked and I think solarization is going to be the way to go.

I'm not sure what motivates me to do this stuff. I definitely think a native meadow that doesn't need to be mowed and feeds the birds and pollinators is better than mowing the fescue pasture land that works nicely for grazing cows but pretty much sucks for anything else.
It will take some time to convert the field doing just 4,000 sq ft at a time, but it is doable and less expensive than doing a field kill and replant all at once. 

That's my next project and will pay my pool tax for the coming week. 
My weekend project was building this poolside table for drinks, snacks, phone, etc. As with most of my projects, it was made more difficult by the fact that I have no experience and don't really know what I'm doing. At least it will be functional.

All-in-all, it's Just another day in the life of John.
Happy Monday!
Here's to a grand week!

John

Christian Nationalism: maybe it's a good thing

I do not really think that there is anything good about Christian Nationalism.
However, I do see some good coming from the boldness of our current nationalist movement in the US.

The Christian Nationalist movement that we see now has always existed in a much more subtle form. It has existed in the God and Country services, in the congregational reciting of The Pledge of Allegiance at camps and vacation Bible schools, even in the quiet display of the American flag in churches across the country. 
Christian Americans have been trying to convince all Americans that we are a Christian nation in subtle ways for a very long time. 

Now that it has made the national spotlight and is rearing its ugly head at the highest levels of government, many mainline Christians are beginning to see it for what it is and are questioning or leaving their long time faith communities that support or are okay with this perverse type of Christianity. People are beginning to see that they have been following a religion rather than following Jesus and are waking up.
Yes. I said it. They are becoming "woke" and realizing that being woke is a good thing.

I do not, in any way, expect to see a large national revival of Christianity sweeping our nation.
I do expect to see, or rather feel, the subtle change in the spirit of a nation as more and more followers of Jesus begin to be less about following religion and more about following the actual teachings of Jesus.

Megachurches are just monstrosities build to glorify themselves and scream "Look at us! Look at us!" They are not temples built to honor God. They are what happens when capitalism corrupts religion. They have money, they have influence, and they have power. They have become their own gods.

People that follow Jesus will do so without fanfare.
They will take care of the earth and take care of each other and few people will take notice.
People that follow Jesus will encourage other people to do the same -- not by loud preachers and fiery sermons, nor with flashy worship services, but just by simple words of encouragement and actions of love.

I still have a few friends that are church pastors. I am not much of a church person myself these days, but I respect the work they are doing and the challenges they face. The world would certainly be a better place with more people like them and fewer loners like me.
This Sunday morning they will encourage gatherings of a few dozen to a few hundred people. They will encourage them to follow the Jesus of the Bible and not the Jesus of Christian Nationalism. They will love their people and encourage them to love one another.

I will sit on my deck, listen to the birds, watch the clouds roll in, and tap out meaningless words on my Chromebook.
Even as I write that the world needs more people like them and fewer people like me, I am not making plans beyond finding myself in this present of mine. I don't think I'll be a church guy anymore. It is far easier for me to hear God while I am tending to flowers than it is when I am in church.
I am hopeful that raising the mirror to see Christian Nationalism in our churches and in ourselves will encourage more people to seek the true Jesus and leave the religion and all of its idolatrous trappings behind.

Love God.
Love one another.

That's not the doctrine of Christian Nationalism.
It's the teaching of Jesus.

John

Tax free Friday

Early to bed
Early to rise...

I was tired last night and called it quits earlier than my usual midnight to 1 AM bedtime. Going to bed at 11ish means I'm awake before 6, but that's okay. It's a pretty morning to be out on the deck. I don't expect to be out here too long. I think I'm going to go out for coffee this morning -- mostly because I just didn't feel like making any and also it has been a minute since I've done that.
Currently I am sipping a diet coke while listening to the morning avian community get about their day.

In spite of the Midwest July heat, I have been getting a fair amount of outdoor work done. I consider it to be a self-imposed pool tax. 
Work first
Pool second

Having said that, I am considering a tax free Friday. 
If my daughter in-law can do her Work-from-pool Friday, I can do a tax free Friday!
There are things that need to be done and things that I will do, but it's nice to give myself an out once a week. 
Honestly, I'm pretty generous when it comes to giving myself time off!

Hmmm...
Time to find a coffee shop.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Don't tax yourself too much.

John

Unsubscribed

Last month I unsubscribed from Kindle Unlimited.
It wasn't because I didn't use it. I used it all of the time. I unsubscribed because it seemed to be wasting money to read when there are many sources for free e-books, including the Libby app which allows me to get books for my Kindle reader from my local library.
Unfortunately, my local library is rather small and seems to have a limited number of e-books available, but I still feel like it's a better deal than paying to read.

I am currently reading John Grisham's The Whistler (fiction), as well as Richard Rohr's The Tears of Things (non-fiction). The Grisham book is from the Libby app. Rohr's was purchased from Amazon with credits I had earned on Kindle.
I'm on the waiting list for a couple of other books from Libby.
In addition to that, Chris needed to drop off a couple of books at the library yesterday, so naturally, I grabbed a couple of fiction books (Lee Childs, Jack Reacher). 
What was I thinking?

What are you reading?
What are your book sources?
Actual books, e-reader, both?
Does anyone still read magazines -- online or print?

Just wondering.

John

What is wrong with you?

Self esteem
I believe that self esteem is how you feel about yourself. 
It is an assessment of your overall value as you see yourself.
It is not a comparison to others.
At least, it's not supposed to be.

I think that people tend to compare themselves to others rather than make personal assessments based solely on one's own abilities, talents, and contributions. 
Not only does this give us a false perspective on personal value, but it also makes tearing others down a convenient (yet false) way of making ourselves look better.

I believe that people that are often critical and judgmental of others have very low self esteem.
I should probably point out that I don't have any psychological background or education. This is just an observation and a part of my personal growth.

I have found peace in learning not to compare myself to others
While I do enjoy it when others think well of me, my identity isn't tied to what others think of me.
I am confident and comfortable just being who I am.

By most standards, I have little to offer to society.
I have no formal education.
I have no power or influence.
I have no wealth.
I offer no product or service to make the community a better place.
My sole contribution to society is that I am a consumer, and I really try to keep that to a minimum.

It is weird how somebody with so little value to society can be at peace with who they are, and yet here I am.
If I were to spend the rest of my mornings sipping coffee on the deck,
the rest of my days tending to flowers, reading books, and relaxing in the pool,
and the rest of my nights back on the deck smoking a cigar, sipping a drink and listening to the night sounds,
I would be a happy boy.
I'm pretty sure that Chris would be bored with such a life, but I could honestly be okay with it.

Yes, I like to travel a bit.
Yes, I want to visit my kids and see my family now and then.
Yes, I like occasional interactions with friends, such as meeting for a meal or going out for coffee or a beer.
But with or without those things that bring added joy -- I am content and at peace with who I am.

Even as I write that and watch the golden finches fly back and forth between the black eyed susans and sunflowers, I know that I am far from perfect. If I am going to really enjoy life for a long time I need to improve on my quality of life and change some habits.
I'm getting more serious about that.
Being overweight and out of shape is more what I am than who I am.

So...
What is wrong with you?
Honestly, you are really the only one that needs to answer that question. 
1. It shouldn't be a comparison to others, and 
2. An honest assessment should also ask and answer -- What's right with you?

I'd offer this as a starting point --
Nothing is wrong with you.
You are probably not perfect. Like me (and most others), there are definitely things you need to work on.
But I truly believe that you are created by The Creator as an expression of love -- to love and to be loved.
I hope that you will see that in your own self assessment.

John

Monday evening

It's Monday evening and I just finished book #33 for the year. 
It's a nice evening temperature-wise and the deck is a pretty nice place to spend the evening. 
I may need to get some kind of mounted light fixture so that I can enjoy the pool at night. That may also require a bug zapper of some type. We don't have the nighttime bats like the Puerto Vallarta kids have.
Today was the 7th day of having the pool. It was filled last Tuesday and I have been in it every day.
I'll try to get the lawn mowed early tomorrow so that I can spend the afternoon relaxing in the pool. We should have just gotten one of these when we moved in six years ago.

I was out for breakfast with a friend this morning so my normal morning routine was disturbed. I am spending my Chromebook and quiet time on the deck this evening. 

I avoided writing about the nation's 250th anniversary celebration over the weekend. Honestly, I am a little torn on the subject. I do very much love the life I have here in the USA, but I have become more critical of many of the methods that we employ to maintain this way of life. The deep divide that exists, not only between the US and her allies, but between political factions within the US deeply concerns me. 
Whether it is within our borders or between our allies (or even our enemies), intimidation and violence shouldn't always be the first method of attack. We should have matured beyond the playground bully stage of life.
We have earned a reputation that I do not like and fear that it will take quite some time to overcome. I truly wish that we (humanity) could have more of a global community and look out for one another. 

In astronomic news, we have passed the point on our annual trek around the sun where we reached the farthest point from the sun and the slowest part of our orbit. The earth will begin to pick up a little speed as we get closer to the sun. 
I haven't done much star gazing lately. I should do that again. Recently the night sky (day sky, too) has been a bit hazy with some Saharan dust high in the atmosphere. Soon we will be contending with smoke from the Colorado fires. Our summer weather patterns are a little strange this year. 

I hope you have had a good Monday to begin your week. 

John

Friday Fun Fact

Did you know that applause and explosion come from the same root?

Our current use for explode or explosion is quite different from its original theatrical use in ancient Rome. 
A loud rhythmic clapping was a way to force a poor actor off of a stage in humiliation. The loud, organized clapping was so disruptive that the performance could not continue and the target would be forced to exit in shame.
Ex = out
plaudre = clap
They literally clapped them off the stage.

Applause (also clapping, but less organized and less disruptive) expressed approval of the performance, while what came to be explode expressed extreme disapproval -- both clapping, but very different intentions.

I'm not sure how the loud, disruptive noise morphed into our current understanding of explosion, but figure it probably came into being after the invention of gunpowder and its thunderous clap of released energy.
I'm sure this weekend's firework celebrations of the USA's 250th year will be filled with both explosions and applause!

John
 

Wednesday Wisdom

Today's wisdom is stolen from a well known sneaker brand --
Just do it!

I get the idea of delayed gratification and waiting until the time is right, but sometimes the priorities are wrong. Sometimes there isn't a good reason to wait or the thing we are waiting for isn't well defined.
Whether "Just do it" refers to exercise, taking a trip, or getting into a cold pool -- Do it. Do it now.

I have wanted to get a pool for quite some time, but always managed to talk myself out of it. It is easy to talk myself out of anything that costs money. I'm too cheap to spend much money on things for myself (other than decent cigars, bourbon, or tequila). We finally got one!
It's a pretty inexpensive one, but it's also a bit of an experiment on if it will be worth it. 
My pre-experiment hypothesis is that it most definitely will be. In fact, the real danger is that pool usage will interfere with actually getting work done. I may have to impose some rules about work time before pool time -- kind of a Just do it after I've mowed the field!

We got one of the pools with an inflatable ring at the top. the base is quite a bit wider than the top ring, so a poolside table for drinks, Chromebook, Kindle reader, etc. is a bit tricky. I'm currently looking at floating tables or I may just craft something from a few boards and a cut up pool noodle. In any case, I am not waiting to find something to use the pool. 
I waited a whole hour after it was filled yesterday to get in! The water temp was a cool 68 (20C) degrees, but I was in and enjoying the vibe for about an hour. I'll be doing more research on maintaining a pool and largely learning as I go. 
Looking back, I can't think of a good reason why we didn't do this when we first moved into this house six years ago. 

Today's plan :
Weed eat the yard around the house and flowerbeds (I mowed it yesterday)
Load the smoker with a half pork tenderloin and some burgers
Mow the field
Get in the pool

I'd better get busy!

John

Half-way Point

June comes to an end as does the first half of the calendar year for 2026.
Rather than review the high and low points of the past six months from a national or global perspective, I am just going to take a very narrow look from my own viewpoint.

Early in the year, I finished my sixth winter of working in the crisis cold weather shelters for the homeless community of Springfield MO. The organization around the shelters continues to get better even if the overall number of available beds has not. I really don't know what next season will look like for me. I know there is a need and a place for me within the shelter where I've been working, but I would also like to spend more time in a much warmer climate during the winter months. 
As soon as the season ended this past spring, I headed to Puerto Vallarta for several weeks. April was a lovely time to be there, but January would be a better time to be away from here!  

The spring here has been quite lovely. Even the early summer temps haven't been too bad. Our house stays relatively cool with shaded porches on both front and back and a nice airflow through the house. We make use of the attic fan that our builder says nobody uses anymore and we have been pretty comfortable without using the air conditioner. 
I think we used it back in March when we had an unusual stretch of several 90 degree days, but that's been it. It may come on today or during this week's run of high temps. 

I am back to my cold-brew iced coffee for the mornings. I am thinking about fighting nature and moving to an earlier bedtime and wake-up. I enjoy my slow mornings, but that often puts my outdoor work into the hotter part of the day. If I get up a couple of hours earlier I can still have my slow mornings and start work before it is too hot. Overall, it's not that much of a deal. Summer is my thing and sweat doesn't bother me that much.

The yard work feels good, but I am out of shape for the heavier stuff. I really need to work on that. I am carrying far too much weight and not getting enough exercise. It's an old tune that I keep repeating, but I think I'm finally going to do something about it. I've started using the exercise cycle several times this past month. I'm going to make that a regular thing in the coming months. Setting exercise as a habit is going to be more difficult than it once was. Truly I have been less mentally motivated to move as I have gotten older.
Plus, I like to eat -- too damn much!
It's true -- you can't out-exercise your bad diet.
Damn!

Let's see what the second half of 2026 holds.

John

Monday

As happens on many occasions, after spending a day of manual labor I am extremely happy that I was fortunate enough to be able to sit on my butt in a climate controlled environment to pay bills and put food on the table. 
I will be back at it again today, but at least this is voluntary and I take frequent well deserved breaks to sit my fat, old ass down and keep from hurting myself too badly.

It does make me realize that recognizing and admitting to the physical limitations of aging are difficult things. We all know older people that shouldn't be driving, or walking without assistance, or living on their own (or shoveling dirt during triple digit heat index) anymore. 
We remember being able to do those things but neglect the gradual changes and the cumulative impact those changes have over the years. 

I do need to be more purposely active to battle some of the aging effects, but I also need to make peace with some of the new limitations I am encountering. Today, I will be doing both -- working hard in the heat and taking frequent breaks because it is the safe thing for a fat, old guy to do. 
At the end of the project I will have an above ground pool to relax in. I'm sure it will be worth it.

John

PS -- just a friendly reminder to my US readers

Favorites

Be honest -- Do you have a favorite coffee mug?
It's the one you will always grab if it's clean and available,
The one that never finds its way to the back of the cupboard,
The one that you never give to somebody else to use. 
It's your mug -- your favorite mug.

This simple mug is almost 50 years old.
I bought it from the Tulane University Bookstore when I was a freshman in the fall of 1978. It once had a rubberized emblem like this one glued to that circle on the front of the mug.

Although the emblem was lost decades ago, the mug has continued to be with me. It was my work mug that was in my locker for my ATC career, and is now used more often than the other mugs that occupy my cabinet.
To be sure, there are other favorites in the daily rotation of coffee mugs. Most were gifts and many are a little larger than the standard mug size. I really don't know why this one is the favorite. I dropped out of college after a year and rarely think back on those days.

Do you have a favorite mug for your morning coffee?
If you are commenting on Facebook, let's see some pics.
If not, tell me about your favorite. Was it a gift? Does it have a quote or pic that is meaningful to you? Is it a souvenir from a memorable trip or event?

Maybe I'll share some other mug pics in future posts.

John

Friday Fun Fact

 

John

Home

It feels both weird and comforting to be back on the deck for my morning coffee and quiet time after spending a few days away. I pulled out the Chromebook just once on my short trip and didn't spend much time on it. I need to get used to spending less time on both the Chromebook and cell phone. I do realize that I will be spending some time on my phone over the next few days as I get to explore and get used to my new one. It came in while I was gone and I'll get it activated today.

Although I haven't actually spent any time watching any of the World Cup play, I am very grateful for the reminders of just how wonderful this country can be. It is a little distressing to be in the position that it took a bunch of visitors to point out our abundance and wonder. It is just too easy to focus on the distressing stuff -- and God knows we have plenty of that too!

I brought back a couple of new potted plants for the deck. My Mom's peace lilies  had become root bound and needed to be re-potted. She wanted to keep the original planters she had, so I divided them and made three new pots plus two reduced sized plants for her original pots. These flowers are from my Dad's funeral from February of 2020.
I chose small pots as peace lilies tend to do well in smaller pots and slightly root bound. I am a little concerned about having divided them rather than just moving them to a little bit larger pot. I am afraid that dividing the root system will be too traumatic.  I left the original two pots with Mom, brought two home, and left one for my younger sister. I hope they all survive. 

I also added a couple of outdoor plants for Mom and took care of her hummingbird feeders. 
I'm not sure how I got to be the gardener guy. I'm mostly just faking it and learning as I go. I am happy that Mom enjoys sitting outside and looking at her hostas and flowers.

Although I have plenty of gardening work to do at home today, it will need to be pushed back to another day. An unexpected trip to the dentist this morning and taking care of phones and other stuff this afternoon will take a significant portion of the day. It is nice to be retired and have lots of time to do whatever needs to be done -- including morning coffee and quiet time.

Remember -- Spend 20 minutes a day in nature, unless you're too busy. In that case, spend an hour.

John

New Tech in Old Hands -- Look Out!

I'm getting an upgrade!
I'm not really much of a tech guy so it has never been necessary for me to have the latest or greatest in cellular technology. Typically, I go with the free phone or the cheapest one available. Back when Samsung's Galaxy S10 was something, I had one because it was a part of the deal when we switched our cell service. My new phones since then have been pretty inexpensive Android options.
Now we are switching again and I will be getting a Samsung Galaxy S26+.  I'm sure it is way more technology than I need and I hope that the bells and whistles won't distract me from living life away from the virtual connection that it provides.

I think I'd much rather be relaxing in our pool (above ground, arrives next week) with a book than chasing fake (or even real) news stories on my phone. 

I am enjoying my coffee on the front porch this morning. 
One of the downsides to living in a rural neighborhood is the lack of good internet service. Our electric co-op is now providing high-speed fiber internet and is laying the cable on our street this week. Although I measured the easement and placed the front flowerbed and fence to be out of the easement, my idea of where that is and where it actually seems to be may be a little off. One of their little flags is inside of the flowerbed. I am hopeful that it will be okay.

We have been using T-Mobile's 5G internet service and it is sufficient for our low-tech needs. To switch to the more advanced high speed fiber would more than double our internet cost. T-Mobile has a pretty good deal to switch our cell service right now and that's what we are doing with our phones. By switching now, our actual cell service will go up $10 per month, but our internet will go down $25 dollars per month. Plus we get two $1,100 phones for the low, low price of paying the sales tax.

I have to admit, the available tech is both convenient and concerning to me. I can understand the savings to businesses as their apps help to efficiently automate many things, but I also wonder about the alienation of many older people that don't use cell technology at all or only to call or text. 
Many restaurants have online menus, online pay, or just assume that everyone has a smart phone. Other businesses are trending that way, as well. Most of the time I am okay with less human contact and am willing to adapt. Sometimes I'm not.  I'm sure that advancement in AI technology will soon make human interaction less necessary when it comes to customer service and problem solving.

The ability to connect my phone to my truck is nice for navigation and listening to music, NPR, or something on Substack. I haven't been much of a follower of any podcasts, but that may change. It's also nice for incoming calls and texts. 
The amount of tech you can carry in your purse or pocket is truly amazing! We can be connected to people on the other side of the world almost instantly. It's too bad that so much energy goes into spreading fear and nonsense rather than making the most of the global community. 
Haters gotta hate.
smh

Just let me know when somebody develops a robotic gardener. I'm pretty sure I would be a better supervisor than I am as a laborer.

John

Thursday Theme -- no alliteration necessary.

I think it is time to move away from the Thursday Theology posts. 
Do I come up with a new theme for Thursdays, skip posting on Thursdays, or just post whatever and whenever?
Hmmm...

For today I am enjoying the many posts from visitors to the US during the North American World Cup. It is nice to be reminded of the vastness of our country and its diverse landscapes, cities, and cultures. One European visitor commented that back home Americans are criticized for never traveling outside of the country. He said we don't have to. We have so much to see and do in the USA that we really don't need to travel abroad to experience diversity.

While we do have so much here at home and even have cultural differences within the US, I think there is still a great benefit to be had from traveling abroad. And though there is much to experience from a visit to the US, there are still many things that are unseen as we deal with the realities of a capitalistic society that has gotten a bit out of control.

I think the posts that compare the food here to what is available in their home countries are the best. One post compared the college Freshman 15 to the World Cup 15 and complained that they would have to buy new clothes for the trip home as they are putting on so much weight that they won't have anything that fits them.
One British influencer has commented that Great Britain conquered many lands around the world for spices, but doesn't use any of them in their food! The flavorful varieties of food were a bit of sensory overload. 
It is true that there is such an abundance of food and portion sizes are extreme, but food insecurity is unfortunately very real for millions of Americans. Affordable food, affordable housing, affordable healthcare are all things that are challenging for many of our citizens.

I am happy that people can come and experience the beauty and diversity of the United States. We are truly blessed with an incredible country. We have bustling cities and pastoral farmlands, majestic mountains and beautiful beaches. There are lakes, rivers, canyons, forests, small towns and villages, country roads, and endless highways. We have crowded apartment buildings and rural homes on acreage.
And we have the foods of many cultures and the fusion of flavors as people add their own flair to the recipes of others.

Yeah, I love my country.
I am not really happy with our leadership right now. Frankly, I am embarrassed by it. And although I didn't vote for what we currently have, I'll accept my responsibility and own it -- this is who we have become. 
It's time we change that. 
We can be better than we are.

If you have an idea for a Thursday theme to replace the faux theology, please feel free to share it. Otherwise I may just leave this space blank for a time.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

Sometimes wisdom is simply a matter of awareness -- you know, being woke.
The world we live in is a marvelous place; full of wonder everywhere you look.
It is both simple and complex.
It can be minuscule and infinite.
It is brilliant and it is invisible.
It can be calm and peaceful or violent and destructive. 
Unfortunately, it is often ignored or taken for granted.

Pay attention to the world around us.
Be aware.
Be woke.

John

June 13, 2026: Just another day in the life of John

24,106 days
3,443 weeks and 5 days
792 months
66 years

However you choose to measure it, that's how long I've been living out my existence in this gig called life.

Although I believe I have learned a thing or two over the past 66 years, I doubt that I have left any kind of indelible impression in the vast timeline of humanity. Fortunately, that has never really been a goal.
Nor have I accumulated great wealth, nor achieved great power.
By any standard of comparative measurement, I have led an insignificant life. 

But here's the thing -- 
I am content.
We have a nice home and a quiet life.
Our kids are grown and doing well.
We have enough.

I really don't know what we should be striving for in life other than to survive.
I don't know if we should be conquering other people (whether that is locally or globally) or helping them to survive, as well. 
Should life be a competition to see who can accumulate the most things? live better experiences? control the most people? 
Should we dismiss the present in view of achieving some future reward in an afterlife?

At 66 years old, I have few of the things that would indicate I have had a successful life when judged by our US standards for success. 
I have no education.
I never worked beyond a small facility in my career as an air traffic controller.
I never owned a successful business, nor achieved any kind of celebrity status.
Outside of a very small circle of people, nobody knows nor cares about the existence of John Hill.
And that is okay by me!

Day #24,106 marks a new personal record for me. Completing it successfully will mean that I get to see Day #24, 107 tomorrow.
Success!
Hopefully, I'll see you then.

John

Thursday Theology

I often think that Thursday Theology is a poor label for these posts because it is obvious that I am no theologian, nor do these posts in any way fit into a framework that could be considered as theological.

Unless...

Unless you think of theology as something other than a study of God and the religion that a majority of the theologians analyze and break down.
And that would be me.

I see theology as a seeking to understand The Divine and the relationship between humankind and The Divine. I truly have more questions than I have answers as I seek this understanding. The answers I receive only seem to give evidence that no (or few) theologians have a great understanding of God and how God relates to us. It seems to me that their idea of God is far too small to actually be God.

And so I continue to seek and to understand with my own weak brand of what qualifies as real theology.

John

What does your idea of God say about you?

More for me and less for thee is a lousy way to live

I have noticed that being more contemplative leads to some unexpected sadness.
I truly feel sad for humanity as it seems that so many people are unhappy with their lives. 

Why do we feel the need to compete with each other?
Why do we think it is acceptable to tear someone down to get ahead of them?

I understand the survival instincts that are primitive and an innate part of our being, but we are able to reason beyond our most primitive instincts. Getting more for me doesn't always have to mean less for others. Communities build together to make more or better situations for everyone. 
We (in the US) have become so capitalistic that we would prosper by taking away from those in need and celebrating our success while ignoring the great suffering that we have caused.
What is wrong with us?

It is ironic that people use the word "woke" to put down a segment of the population that is aware of suffering and injustice.
Indeed, we are "woke."
We see the things that they do not. To see and be aware of such things is not a bad thing. To call out evil and injustice is a good thing. I think their anger comes from knowing that there are people that are aware of the evil deeds that they are doing or supporting through political actions. They are the ones that need to wake up!

This morning I am happily sitting on the deck. Groucho the cat is dozing on a sunny spot on the deck rug. I have finished my coffee and a small sparrow is chirping loudly from the top of the post that holds its bird house full of babies. I think he is waiting for mama to exit the nest so he can feed the little ones what he has gathered for them. 
Life is pretty good here. The only stress I have comes from the weeds that need to be pulled or needing to mow (again), or deciding if I'm going to brave the exposure to people at the baseball game on any given home stand evening.

Competing for more has never really been my thing. That's why I ended my career at a small level airport at the lower end of the ATC pay scale. I have enough. 
Ours is a simple life. We have a nice home in a semi-rural area. We can afford to travel to visit the kids. We don't worry about having food to eat.

I'm going to run some errands this morning, meet someone for lunch, mow this afternoon, smoke a cigar and sip bourbon this evening. The most stressful thing I have to do today is leave the house and encounter people that are in competition with each other. 
I will end the day in the same way I begin the day -- sitting on the deck enjoying the sounds of nature.

Just another day in the life of...

John

It's not really about politics

I really don't think of this as being a political post even though it is about a politician -- namely, President Trump. 
The thing is -- it has nothing to do with politics, but has everything to do with a person that is just a narcissistic asshole. 

Last night's stunt of going to the NBA game at MSG was all about Trump. It took away from the game and from New Yorkers being able to celebrate their team in the championship series. He made access to the venue inconvenient for everyone that spent hundreds (even thousands) of dollars to be there and cancelled all of the street celebrations and watch parties anywhere near MSG.
Not only did he not care, but he condescendingly said they can go home and watch it on TV. 

He's never shown any interest in basketball. This was just another hate-filled stunt to generate attention.
Frankly, I am tired of it.
I can endure political differences and people with opposing political views. 
He has no political views nor policies. 
He inspires hatred, causes division, and only does what benefits him personally.
He is like a mob boss in the highest office of the land.
He does not care about the US nor its citizens.
He does not care about our allies.
He does not care about humanity.
And he does not care about the states nor the individuals that have supported him beyond getting their money and their votes. 

He is ruining our democracy and our global reputation and the entire GOP is complicit.

I have no answers.
Just needed to vent.

John