We used to sing that ditty in Boy Scouts before, you guessed it, announcements…
Some days I’m so happy I could cry.
I know I shouldn’t tell you that. You’ll think there’s something wrong with me. No one does that. Occasionally I do.
I haven’t written yet about Pickleball. America’s fastest growing sport. I play and I enjoy it. Now you know everything you need to know about me vis-a-vis Pickleball. It’s actually a bit more complicated than that…
I am a competative person but I prefer to compete with myself not with other people, especially people 40 years younger than I am. So I occasionally find myself overmatched on the court. I try and get by as best I can, but I have to admit it is frustrating. Someone recently asked me if I have a desire to play at the next higher level of competition, I said definitely not. My goal is to be playing at the same level and not lower 10 years from now. I think that’s a smart goal. There you go! That is definitely Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. (I might have to take the “A” out of that list, we’ll see.)
My real goal when I step onto the court is to be a good competitor and to leave the court with my partner and opponents saying to themselves, there goes a gracious man. I think I accomplish that most days. I have to admit, I think that’s more important than winning. However, I do like winning, who doesn’t?
Sometimes, after my sweetheart has been away for a few days and she comes home, I make sure the bed is made and there are no dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Sometimes I even fix her dinner to welcome her home. Let’s be very clear about this, that does not mean the dishwasher is empty…
Here’s a little something I picked up at the Senior Center. It’s a self-care checklist. Not a bad thing. I’ve modified it a bit to suit my lifestyle, but other than that, here it is.
Not a bad list. Doing these things every day goes a long way toward a happy and healthy life. You will notice that one of these is not “self-care” strictly speaking. Performing a Service is very important to leading a fulfilling life. I will admit, I’m a bit shy in this department. To correct that, I sent an email to my local Elementary School asking if I could be a Classroom Assistant. I’m waiting to hear back.
The cat was sitting on the foot of the bed when he noticed movement on the wall across from him. What he was looking at intently was a reflection of the tree in the back yard fluttering in the wind. It looked like a living sepia toned portrait that was alive.
Suddenly a bird flew into the tree outside and the shadow perfectly reflected the movement of the bird. The cat immediately sat up staring at the wall. The next thing I knew he had jumped down from the bed and was crouched at the base of the wall, staring up at the reflection of the bird. After about a minute, a cloud cast a shadow over the sun that obscured the reflection on the wall. The cat continued to stare at the wall, waiting for the reflection to return. For almost two minutes the cat focused all his attention on the location where the reflection had been. I was impressed by his patience and his ability to focus, just to catch a moving shadow.
The strings that appear in the reflection are the Christmas lights. Yes, I keep them up year round, but only in the back of the house. It is fun to turn them on occasionally to provide a party-like atmosphere.
Part of living with a cat means that when you get out of bed in the morning, you have to do it in a manner that doesn’t disturb his royal highness at the foot of the bed. When he leads you to his food dish, you better be prepared to feed him. When he is sitting patiently by the back door, staring at you, that’s usually a sign that he wants to go outside. If you hear a scratching noise at 3 AM you know you have to get out of bed, and you better, or the duvet is going to be ripped to shreds.
Even though it sounds like he may be a bit demanding, I ask a lot of him too. I ask that when I pick him up, he let me hold him for 15 seconds (I’m lucky to get 5). When I’m writing in my journal and he jumps up on the desk and lays down on top of it, I ask him to please move. Does he? Of course not. When I’m brushing him, I ask that he doesn’t insist I do it for 90 minutes. When he’s sitting in my favorite chair on the patio, I ask he vacate it for me, which he usually does, after 60 minutes or so. Have I ever thought about living without him? Never.
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We are all in this together.
Much maligned, rarely congratulated. Dr. Fauci represents the best in (the many) career civil servants that made a truly significant contribution to the fight against COVID. Many people have chosen to weave conspiracy theories around his name. That’s a sad outcome to endure simply as a result of doing your best to help your fellow man. The good doctor was not without mistakes, none of us are. The few that were made were acknowledged and corrected. That’s all we can ask of ourselves or anyone. As Einstein said, and as it applies to all those that engaged in the fight against COVID, “Failure is success in progress.” Dr. Fauci never gave his country less than his best. And his best helped to save us.
Special thanks to the artist and friend Adam Hansen.
Fight for the things you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.
Her career on the High Bench was driven by what is best for the American people, not what is best for special interests or a particular political party. Today’s Bench would do well to follow her example instead of bring shame to it.
Special thanks to the artist and friend Adam Hansen.
Democratic socialism means that we must reform a political system that is corrupt, that we must create an economy that works for all, not just the very wealthy.
Yes, we become stronger when men and women, young and old, gay and straight, native-born and immigrant fight together to create the kind of country we all know we can become.
If you were to try and convince me these words are untrue… you would have your work cut out for you…
Special thanks to the artist and friend Adam Hansen.
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything…
Now is the time to make your voice heard. You are not alone. Engage. Find a way to help make the world a better place. Complaining about the way things are doesn’t count as engagement.
Special thanks to the artist and friend Adam Hansen.
In the fall of 1939 in Paris and throughout France, people thought they were safe from the coming war because of the “One Big Beautiful” ditch along the Italian, Swiss and German borders. That is no less foolish than building a Big Beautiful Wall along the Southern border of the United States. The most tragic thing about the stupidity of man is the unwillingness to let go of ideas that have proven to be ineffective.
This morning after making my morning coffee I returned to bed to enjoy it while reading. This morning it was The Paris Library. Tux always joins me back in bed. He is very aware of my “possessions” and he likes to get my attention by “owning” them. My cell phone was next to me so he laid down with his head covering it. I acknowledge his move by stroking the top of his head, no doubt what he was after in the first place. I didn’t need a phone, after all I had a good book… and a cat.
After reading a chapter, I set the book down and looked out the window into the back yard. I noticed small birds flying in and out of the Russian Sage. It’s late summer and the sage is in full bloom. I don’t know if the birds were eating the flowers or possibly seeds, or just playing. They appeared to be chasing each other in and out of the sage. The birds were so small they barely bent the branches of the sage when they landed on them. That is surprising because it doesn’t take much weight to bend the slender branches. I watched them for a few minutes and then decided it was time to start the day, after another cup of coffee, in bed of course.
Mr. President, do you ever get tired of not knowing what you’re talking about?
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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Very creative, and spot on. Of course you know whom this refers to…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Today is day one of my most recent challenge, namely, to post a stoic thought every day for the next year. If I had to choose a religion (read here a philosophy) I would choose Stoicism. Of course Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Epicureanism, and the myriad other “isms” designed to lead us to right-living are all worthy of study, Stoicism speaks most clearly to me at this stage in my evolution.
I started this project back in May, but I have decided to restart today so that each entry will appear as its own separate post and be compiled into a separate category. This will allow for easy access in the future (as well as boosting my page count… smile). All of the entries are inspired by the book “The Daily Stoic,” by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. I can in no way take credit for these thoughts, for that you have to look to those authors and the Stoics themselves. What I can take credit for (nominally) is the presentation. I have tried to shape each entry in my own words, and with an eye towards that portion of the teaching the speaks to me personally.
The struggle is great, the task divine—to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility.
To paraphrase: The struggle is great, the task divine—to gain happiness and mastery of a life sublime… Let the journey begin.
If you want to hear some classic electric blues, you gotta dig into the “In Session” album. Albert King does his thing with Stevie Ray Vaughan sitting in. This is the only known recording of the two virtuosos playing together. Grab the remastered version from 2024. Every track is a classic. My two favorites are “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and “Blues at Sunrise.” Mary is an example of a song that doesn’t need any words, or maybe better yet, a song with words that don’t make sense, but work anyway. In “Blues at Sunrise,” Albert reprises a song he did with Jimmy Hendricks and Janis Joplin at the Filmore West. Stevie sits in on Jimmy’s part. The track knocks me over. I like to put the headphones on and let myself be carried away. It’s great driving music too. It’ll make you forget how far you’ve gone and how far you have left to go.
Happy Birthday Sister!
I would like to visit Guedelon Castle in France. Twenty-Five years ago, Michel Guyot decided to build an authentic 13th century medieval castle using only period tools and construction techniques. Craftsmen and volunteers from all over France have participated in the project. The project is now nearing completion.
The castle gets 300,000 visitors a year. It’s a step back in time that even Disneyland could not replicate.
We recently received a very nice hand-written letter addressed “Dear Neighbor.” The letter focused on all that is wrong in the world today and suggested that the solution has been written in the Bible and can be explained by visiting the jw.org website. While ultimately the second coming and establishment of a new religious order on earth led by God’s Son might be a solution (recall the argument two twins were having in the womb) I believe we have a responsibility to do more than wait for a solution that does nothing to make things better in the here and now. I believe there are things we can do to change the world. To be clear, I’m not talking about this political party or that political party, this particular religion or that particular religion. I’m not talking about violence or punishment for those you don’t agree with and I’m certainly not talking about blaming people that look different than you. I believe it comes down to how we treat each other. The answer is kindness and respect, a willingness to listen, and a willingness to compromise. These things do seem to be in short supply at times, it’s difficult to argue they don’t, but each one of us can make a difference if we take the time to ask ourselves what we can do to make things better.