Life On A B-I7

Mr. President

Mr. President, do you ever get tired of not knowing what you’re talking about?

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 13

If you find yourself in a hole, quit digging. Don’g make matters worse by fretting and complaining. Make them better by looking out of the hole and deciding what you need to do to climb your way out. Anger and negative emotion will only make matters worse.

Tapioca Pudding

It’s 9:30pm. I’ve just finished reading Raising Hare A Memoir. I picked it up at my favorite bookstore in Kanab, UT. I drop in there about every six months, sometimes a bit more often. Whoever stocks their shelves always has a unique selection of books about people and/or the outdoors. This find was no exception. The book was about an English woman that saves a wild new-born hare. Against all odds the hare survives and actually befriends the woman and spends it’s life living in the English countryside and periodically visiting the woman and becoming an integral part of her life, all the while remaining a wild creature. I was moved by the telling of her story. A remarkable memoir about her and the hare.

After finishing the book I decided to make some Tapioca Pudding. My first attempt. I was marginally successful. I may not have boiled the pudding quite long enough. It tasted slightly of egg and I don’t know why. My sister would know what I did wrong. I sat down outside to enjoy the desert. Tux sat with me as usual. When he got a wif of what was in my bowl, he jumped up on the table in front of me to have a closer inspection. Apparently not to his liking, he turned around and sat down with his back to me. Apparently he agreed with me that it wasn’t cooked quite right.

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Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 12

We don’t get to choose our parents but we do get to choose our mentors. This includes acquiring the wisdom of those that have come before us, it also includes choosing as associates those that can provide us examples of what we aspire to be.

Love This Sign

Very creative, and spot on. Of course you know whom this refers to…

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 11

Choosing a path requires thought and commitment. That does not mean you abandon your path at the earliest sign of resistance. It does mean that you need to constantly evaluate the path you are on and shift if it is clear there is a better way.

Sonnet 29

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For they sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

When I think of you, my soul is lifted. Your love makes me content. It is enough for me to be the person I am with you, the person you have helped me to become.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 10

Self-pity accomplishes nothing. If you have a problem (we all do) you need to do something about it. To do or not to do, that is our choice.

Protest

I attended my first protest last Saturday. I stood with several hundred other people on Peace Corner in Bend Oregon to raise awareness of the jeopardy we are facing at the hands of the current administration. Protest is a funny thing. Not everyone agrees with you when they see you standing up for an issue, but it pleases me to note that half or more of the people driving by honked and waved in solidarity. There were many people holding signs of course. I did not have one. I chose to smile and wave at all the passing cars. I tried to make eye contact with the vehicle occupants. The man standing next to me told me he liked my style. He said that smiling and waving probably was as effective as sign waving, perhaps even more. I tend to agree. Many of the signs had very good messages. Some were disappointing. You can tell a lot about the level of love a person carries inside of them by the sign they are waving. That would make for an interesting study. I was only given the middle finger once by a passing motorist. I think that is note worthy. My hope is that those passing by who may not agree with the warning being given, might later realize that the people there were sincere and caring, and that fact might give them pause to examine their position.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 9

If things get tough, remember that you would not be here if it weren’t for a long line of ancestors that managed to tough-it-out.

Sound Familiar?

Rule by killing—even if it takes the form of suppression, exile, imprisonment, or (as in business) mere dismissal—affects the sensibilities of those who do it. Unsurprisingly, they hear fewer and fewer dissenting opinions, and long though their reigns may be, their sense of reality becomes increasingly impaired. They become paranoid, not least because they have made themselves more and more enemies. Those around them, acting “only in command, never in love,” may implement their orders mechanically—and on occasion foolishly, as they try to make sure that they will not be the tyrant’s next victim. And the leader himself becomes less imaginative and clever.

This should sound familiar. Cohen is providing us with a cautionary warning here. While the current administration is not using murder in the literal sense (and let’s hope it never descends that far into the abyss) It certainly is employing murder in the business sense, summary dismissal of anyone in service that speaks out or in any way displeases the POTUS. Cohen does not touch on the “murder” of facts, but that is definitely occurring and has become a staple of the administration. It’s difficult for me to understand how anyone can tolerate, let alone support, this type of leadership.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 8

Be flexible. If you find the path to your desire blocked, find another path, if that is blocked, try yet another. There is always an opportunity, all we need to do is look for it.

There are as many paths as their are radii of a circle.

—Henry David Thoreau

Daily Routine

I don’t have one, but I should.

If a person puts even one measure of effort into following ritual and standards of righteousness, he will get back twice as much.

—Xunzi

Xunzi was one of the three great classical Confucian philosophers best known for his lessons on how to build self-awareness by engaging in continuous education and practice of ritual activities, in other words, a daily routine.

That probably sounds boring to many people today. After all, we have an endless supply of entertainment and distraction sitting right in our hand. But what is all that distraction buying us? Is it opening our mind and soul to discovery of ourselves? Is it showing us the path to excellence? In most cases it is doing just the opposite.

There are many ways to establish a routine. The important thing is to have one. How does having a routine open our mind and soul to discovery and accomplishment? An orderly routine allows our mind to open up. Chaos only serves to keep us distracted and unfocused. The freedom to go about life differently every day is not freedom, it’s chaos. Good habits, a routine, give us a certainty that allows our mind to focus and opens it to new ideas. Self-discipline means success in our endeavors.

I opened by saying I don’t have a routine. I actually do, I just haven’t given it much thought. I write almost every day, usually in the morning. I read (but not on any particular schedule). I ride my bicycle — I also try to get other forms of exercise. The goal for me is to recognizing the activities that are good for me and make time for them each day, preferable the same amount of time and preferably on the same schedule. That is the difficult part. We get the best performance and satisfaction out of our lives when we are not constantly guessing what to do next.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 7

Remember, the higher you are, the smaller things look. Before talking or engaging with others, imagine yourself flying high above and looking down not only at them, but everything around and concerning them. This will give you a perspective that will make you a better negotiator, person, friend.

Excited

I’m planning to go to India with my daughter in December for a yoga retreat. I probably won’t be spending a huge amount of time on the mat since my mobility is a bit limited. I am working on that. I do plan to spend a good bit of time in meditation, probably while everyone else is doing their yoga thing. I am hoping to learn a lot about Buddhism and I’m looking forward to that. I’ve been told that visiting India is as much spiritual as it is cultural. I’m excited to experience both.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 6

Always have a backup plan. When things go wrong, and they will, determine to make the best out of the situation.

Fixed

It only cost me $8 for a CR1620 battery and $17 for a set of precision Torx screwdrivers at Home Depot. It would have been a bit more at my local bike shop. I’m not opposed to spending money at the shop, and I do.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 5

Our primary job on this earth is to be a good human. Look around you, if you see someone that is not being a good human, don’t be like him.

Gender Assigned at Birth

My gender is male. It was not “assigned” at birth. It was biologically determined and was not given to me by someone with “magical assignment authority.”

We are seeing “gender assigned at birth” more and more on all manner of intake forms and documents. To put it simply, this phrase is an affront to science. We do not need more science denial.

I hesitate to use the term “woke” because that is such a trigger for so many people. But frankly “gender assigned at birth” is woke. It is a phrase that obfuscates instead of clarifies. We are what we are, not what we were assigned by some magical power. If we choose to alter what we are in some fashion then we become what we have chosen. Finito. Nothing more, nothing less. We don’t need to be concerned about what was, all the matters is what is now. Special phrases like “gender assigned at birth” only lead to inter-generational division, not understanding.

My intent here is not to alienate, but merely to point out that besides words having meaning, they also evoke feelings, and can impact people’s attitude in negative ways. Yes, if you view something negatively, that’s on you. No, it’s not a good idea to ignore that fact if what you are seeking is understanding and acceptance.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 4

Choose a form of work and go do it. But always ask yourself why you are doing it and where it will take you. If you don’t have a good answer for those, the work is not good.

Debt of Gratitude

Keep strong. If possible. In any case, keep cool. Have unlimited patience. Never corner an opponent, and always assist him to save face. Put yourself in his shoes—so as to see things through his eyes. Avoid self-righteousness like the devil—nothing is so self-blinding.

Hart is the noted author of “History of the Second World War,” and “Strategy.” Two books that should be required reading for everyone engaged in diplomacy or military planning. (Probably not on the bookshelves of those serving in the current administration.) President John F. Kennedy studied these works and the knowledge gained was instrumental in helping Kennedy to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis using a blockade of Cuba rather then taking the advice of his many advisors who wanted him to bomb then invade Cuba. The world owes President John F. Kennedy a debt of gratitude that can’t be fully appreciated.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 3

Do not leave your potential unfulfilled. The answer is work. Choose a form of work and go do it.

Joy Ride by Kristen Jokinen

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Stuck by Yoni Appelbaum

How Emotionally Mature Are You? by The School of Life

Turning to Stone by Marcia Bjornerud

Greek Philosophy by Helen Gagatsu

Merlins Tour of the Universe by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

The Cat Who Taught Zen by James Norbury

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

The Hollow Crown by Eliot A. Cohen

Walking in Wonder by Adam Segel-Moss (Cliff Dancer)

Raising Hare A Memoir by Chloe Dalton

Just Finished…

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Last Update: August 18, 2025

Not Your Mother’s Rice Pudding

• 3/4 C white rice
• 1-1/2 C water
• 2 C coconut milk (Unsweetened)
• 1/3 C (or less) Muscovado brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg beaten
• 2/3 C golden raisins
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cook rice until tender. Add 1-1/2 C coconut milk, brown sugar, and salt. Continue cooking over medium heat until thick and creamy. Remove from stove. Stir in remaining coconut milk. Temper egg and add to pudding mixture stirring constantly. Stir in butter and vanilla until combined.

The secret to this recipe is the coconut milk and the Muscovado brown sugar. Muscovado brown sugar is less refined than normal brown sugar and has more molasses in it. Along with the coconut milk, It adds a unique flavor to the pudding. These two ingredients arguably make this recipe healthier than your mother’s rice pudding.

Try not to eat it all in one sitting…

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 2

There two things you should aways do before acting. 1) Don’t get upset, stay calm. 2) Recall what you value most, make sure the action you are about to take does not run counter to those values.