Success!

Another National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) success!

I actually don't know if it's even a thing anymore. I just know that sometime in the past, posting every day during November was supposed to be a goal and I've been doing that without checking if it is still a thing. I kind of doubt it as blogging seems to have been a dying trend for several years. Maybe it will pick up again as Twitter seems to be crashing under the leadership (or ownership) of Elon Musk. 
I doubt it, though. Vlogs and podcasts are so much more trendy.

Spending a few moments writing each day has been good for me. It isn't easy and I wouldn't call it a habit at this point, but I can see the benefits of a set writing time for those that write professionally or have something to say on a daily basis. I struggle in the creativity department and so finding something to write about is often difficult. I may continue the practice of daily writing for a time - I don't really know. My counter says that this is my 2,466th post. If I post everyday in December and throw in a couple of bonus posts, I could begin 2023 with post number 2500. 
Hmmm...maybe.

Today I'm going to cherish my morning coffee and quiet time knowing that I don't have to get in the car and be on the road for most of the day like I have for the past four consecutive days. I may not leave the house or even get out of my pajamas today. This post means I've already accomplished something. Maybe I'll call it a day.

I hope that you were able to accomplish a goal for the month of November. 
No big deal if you didn't.
December begins tomorrow. 

John

Certain People

We arrived home around 7pm Sunday night after having been gone for a week. The cupboards were bare.
I ran out to the nearby Dollar General to pick up a few things, but found them to be completely out of milk, as well. I decided to make the 10 mile trip to the grocery store. 

Now, I'm not one of those people that goes on about God directing our paths to meet certain people at certain times, but I was very pleased at a chance meeting with friend that I haven't seen in some time.  This person (that I really don't know well) is one of those people that just brings a good energy with him, one of those people that makes you feel better for having been around him. He was with his daughter and we only had a brief conversation, but it was really grand to see him. 

Coming off the Thanksgiving weekend it is easy to be thankful for little things like a chance meeting with a great guy. I really need to keep the attitude of gratitude and recognizing the little things in life that boost my daily energy and make me feel grateful. 
Even as my Sunday night meeting was unexpected, my Monday night planned gathering with a couple of old classmates was once again a boost to my spirit. I'll get to see my cousin this morning and they (she and her husband) are bringing blankets and winter items to donate to my friends at The Connecting Grounds.
I expect the 6+ hr trip home to be a breeze today. 

My introverted personality keeps me from interacting with too many people. I am grateful for the boundaries I've set and for the really great people that are a part of my life.
It's several days past Thanksgiving Day. What makes you feel grateful today?

John

Church Attendance

It's not often that I actually go to church anymore. Time, distance, availability of live stream, pandemic habits - have all made actually going to church easy to avoid. We were on the road with my Catholic mom yesterday and I found a nearby Catholic church and accompanied her to Mass.

There are thngs about the Catholic Mass that I really like and even miss a little bit. There are also things that I find a little disturbing (maybe a topic for another day). It is pretty rare that I find the Homily or message part of the service to be engaging, but the priest yesterday was very good at delivering a message. He could have been an evangelist in a previous life, but I don't think Catholics believe in such things (previous life or evangelism).

From serving on the Church Council at The Venues and following pastors and churches on social media, I am aware that many churches are finding post pandemic attendance numbers to remain far below the pre-pandemic numbers. I really don't know about the religious habits and practicies of my readers anymore, but I am wondering if your church attendance habits have changed in the past few years.
Would you care to share in the comments?

Just wondering,

John

Christmas Decorations

Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas is less than a month away. We saw houses decorated with Christmas lights as we were driving through Kansas last night. We will be home later today to our undecorated home. We've never been big on the outdoor Christmas lights and in the past few years, we've gone much less on the indoor decorations, as well. We'll have a tree, some Santa figurines, a Nativity scene, and not a lot else.
Also, I'm not a big fan of that white Christmas crap. I'd much prefer a warm, sunny afternoon that I can comfortably enjoy a smoke and a spiked egg nog on the deck. 

As I dig out the few Christmas decorations, I'll be putting on the bah-humbug, as well. But that's for later in the week. We'll finish our drive home to SWMO today and I'll be on the road tomorrow to take Mom back to Metamora. Chris has been driving the CO to MO part of the trip so I'll be ready for the MO-IL-MO drive on Monday and Tuesday. It is a lot of car time, but it has been a worthwhile trip. 

I didn't realize what boring travelers we are until we added a third person to the car. There isn't a lot of conversation on most of our car trips. We listen to music, one drives, the other reads, yeah-pretty boring.
Sorry, Mom.

I'm getting Mom to a Catholic church for Mass this morning and we'll be back on the road by noon, home this evening. Christmas decorations will have to wait.

Bah
Humbug!

John

Friday Night

IYKYK
Otherwise, I'll post more later.

John

No More Black Fridays

It is a little hard to be critical of the hoards of shoppers that make Black Friday shopping a holiday tradition. Although I have never made it into a big deal, I have taken advantage of some of the sale items in the past. These days I am more than happy to avoid the stores, the crowds, and the whole big commercialization of the entire Christmas season.

It's a nice day here today. We'll take Freya out to a dog park. Aaron bought a new softball glove and is hoping to break it in with a session of catch with Jenny. And we hope to make an evening trip to the brewery of the guy that secured the shooter from the club shooting a few days ago, here in CO Springs.
Tomorrow begins the trip home to SWMO followed by the round trip to Metamora.
It's been a good week.

As much as we all enjoy each other's company, I'm sure that getting back to the normal, everyday routine will bring its comfort to everybody. Being in one's own space (or in Hannah's case-having your space back to yourself) does bring a peaceful feeling to the spirit and is much more stress free than sharing space with others, even others that you love. 

Whether you spend your weekend shopping, Christmas parading, or quietly by yourself or with a few friends, I wish you well. 
To those that shop, Happy deal hunting. I hope you find the bargains and endorphin rush from your adventure.
As for me, I'm thankful that Black Fridays are a thing of the past.

John

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my US readers!

These past few years of retirement have truly given me a perspective of gratitude. I realize that although I live a simple life, I am extremely privileged to do so. I have both the ability to stay home and peacefully enjoy the quiet of the deck with a cigar and a drink, and the ability to travel to visit my kids that are living in places they have chosen to live--Colorado Springs CO and Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
Additionally, Chris was able to travel to Nova Scotia this past summer to meet with some of our Canadien friends for a girls weekend.

We are spending this Thanksgiving in CO Springs. Our Mexico kids have flown up and my mom is with us, as well. While we are opting for a dinner of Filipino food instead of the usual turkey and dressing, we expect to have an enjoyable day and full bellies by its end.

Yesterday we rode to the summit of Pikes Peak via the cog railway. It was beautiful! One of the landmarks we could see on the distant horizon was Black Mesa, Oklahoma--200 miles away! 
We were so awestruck by the amazing vistas and a little limited on time due to the train schedule, that we failed to take the obligatory selfie at the summit! With such beauty all around, why ruin it by placing this mug in the foreground?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

Love your family.
Cherish your moments together.

Last night we were able to just sit around the table, enjoy a good meal (Asian noodles by Mom), play cards, visit, and plan our time together. It was pretty awesome.
I know it didn't look like much, but we are seldom all together so it really makes this dad feel good when we are together.

When times are difficult (and they sometimes are), we are there for one another. 
When times are joyous, we celebrate together.
I am thrilled that the kids get to live in places that make them happy.
I am not so happy that those places are far away from us. It has been a long time since I've watched the weekend fights with Aaron or gone out for an afternoon coffee with Hannah. 

I am going to enjoy these next few days!

Over the past few years, I have met more and more wonderful people that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. With that, I have met far too many that have been shunned by their families. I cannot understand this at all and my heart breaks for my friends that have been rejected by the people that are supposed to be there for them - especially the ones that are rejected for the sake of religion. I can't imagine the additional pain they feel at the holidays. I'm reminded of the warning Jesus gives in The Sermon on the Mount - You will be judged with the same measure that you use to judge others.
I want that to be a measure that is full of grace and love.

I saw this and shared it on Facebook a day or so ago. My FB memories from today shows I shared a very similar post three years ago.

Let's get the love part right, especially where family is concerned.

John

Badass and the Big Dog

My mom wants to be a badass.
Maybe if she had a big dog like Freya she could pull it off.
I think Freya is bigger!

John

Phone Post

Posting from my phone this morning because my laptop is in the car and at 17f it can stay there for now.

We spent the evening catching up with the kids and making some plans for the week. We'll do Thanksgiving with a Filipino twist and we will brave the cold to see Garden of the Gods, travel up Pikes Peak, and visit the cliff dwellings. We know that the train ride up to the Peak is going to be freezing!

Today we'll grocery shop for the week's meals and maybe watch a movie this evening. Hannah is working most days so we'll figure things out on our own.

I haven't seen the month long thankfulness posts on social media. Maybe people are feeling less thankful this year. I don't know. I do know that I am as thankful as I have ever been. It certainly doesn't mean that life is perfect. I think I have come to the place where I accept the imperfections as life. 

Maybe we have fooled ourselves into believing that life is supposed to be perfect or that we should strive for perfection. It's a sad and vain pursuit if you ask me. Life seems better when you can enjoy the moment rather than always be in search of something better.

Be thankful,

John