The Evolving Workplace

 Uncle Johnny, actually my great uncle, my father's mother's brother, was an old school executive.  His specialty was sorting out heavy manufacturing.  Late in his career, his last job, he was sent to a foundry in northeast Ohio to fix quality control and production issues.  His first day there he summoned all of the managers to his office for a meeting at 2:00 in the afternoon.  The men in suits all arrived, coffee cups in hand and sat around the conference table in his office. (Of course they were all men.) He looked at them and simply said, "I didn't know I had scheduled this for the time of your afternoon coffee break, I will be back in 15 minutes when your break is over."  That was his way of setting a very formal workplace structure.  A workplace that is not family friendly, starting with all men at the table. 

Today there are more women at the table, though still not in proportion to the population in most every field. Bringing your coffee cup to a meeting is acceptable, we are seeing fewer suits.  But still the most common reason we hear for women leaving the workplace, is caregiving.  

Along comes the global pandemic, and home is the new office.  We had a board meeting recently.  On Zoom of course.  We had a parent with a six-month old, a parent directing a 7 year old on remote schooling, someone taking care of a very elderly cat, and someone house-training a puppy.  And you know what, the business of the business carried on.  There was ooo!ing and Ahhing! at the baby and the puppy, and people saying "go ahead a take a minute" for the home teaching, and everyone seems to like a dog (who it turns out was camera shy.) Uncle Johnny would have been aghast, but caregiving is a part of life.  

Is this a glimpse of the evolving workplace of the future, more blending of home and work?  Being more family and caregiver friendly?  I like it. 

My Music Monday - The lion sleeps tonight

Well the photo above is not a jungle, but a lion would find it safe here.  I love the music on this,  

The Sunday Five - Days When We Are Stumped

 

I am stumped, I can't think of a theme for this week's Sunday Five.  I am searching for inspiration, hoping for insight from the muses. Hmm, there is the theme, what do you do when you need inspiration. 

1. Do you write down ideas when you think of them? 
2. What music, TV, books, on online source, inspires you? 
3. Is there a book that inspires you to write? 
4. Do you write it, and then have second thoughts and not post?
5. When do you do your best writing? 

My Answers: 

1. Do you write down ideas when you think of them? Not often enough, 
2. What music, TV, books, on online source, inspires you? Music sometimes does it for me. 
3. Is there a book that inspires you to write? I have a couple of books of ideas, that I sometimes turn to such as, "Do One Thing Every Day That Makes You Happy". 
4. Do you write it, and then have second thoughts and not post? Once in a while, once this year, I posted something, thought better of it and took it down. 
5. When do you do your best writing? Usually Saturday or Sunday morning.  

Please share your answers in the comments. 

Boats

 I have never owned a boat, but I have dreamed about it.  I love being out on the water.  I have found memories growing up of time on Uncle Dick's boat, very distant memories of Great-Uncle LeRoy's cabin cruiser (sold when I was probably 7 or 8.) 

During my prosperous years in Florida, years when it would have been easy to own a boat, and with lots of water around, my then spouse couldn't swim and objected to the idea of a boat.  In Kentucky there was a lack of navigable water around, really only the Kentucky River and the sections of that near us, had dams and locks that were no longer functional, restricting you to a relatively short and narrow section of river.  

My daily walks along the Potomac bring back dreams of a boat.  Either a very small one, or a very large one.  The river is broad, but only deep in the middle, a very small boat opens the possibility of exploring the shallows.  Oh, and it has to be a power boat.  I want it to go where I point it to go when I point it that way.  Sailing looks like the most frustrating thing for me, having to go one way to tack back to get where you wanted to go.  

For you, would it be a power boat or a sailboat, or no boat at all? 

Full Speed Ahead

How can it be almost the end of November already?  I have been known to say time flies when you are having fun, will it has sped by this year, fun or no fun.  It seems like just yesterday I was clearing the desk in my office to go on vacation, the first of March.  And now we are looking at Christmas and New Years.  We get on this ride, and it just keeps moving along.  

Over the next few weeks, I will slip into looking back, and looking forward.  Taking stock, and dreaming - making plans - setting goals.  For the next year will slip by, until we exit this ride.  

Has this year gone by fast, or slow for you? 

Thanks to All of the Nasty People

I am jaded, 

I have learned a lot from the kind nice people I have encountered.  I have learned about kindness, and sharing, and forgiveness.  I have learned how to take responsibility, I know how to recognize when I have been wrong and apologize.  I have learned that most people in life are good, and kind, and loving, and forgiving.  I have learned this from all of the good people I have encountered in life.  

I have also learned how to know when I am being screwed over in life.  I have dealt with enough nasty selfish people, to know when someone is putting everything in their favor and taking everything from me that they can.  I know this because it has happened a lot of times in my life. I learned this from all of the nasty people I have encountered in my life.  

I have learned sometimes I need to stand up, speak up, hold my ground.  Sometimes I need to simply say enough, and walk away.  I need to look out for me.  I have learned this, thanks to all of the nasty people I have met and dealt with in my life.  

I have dear friends, and people I respect who have not learned some of these things.  Perhaps they are kinder, or more forgiving than I am.  Perhaps they have not met the nasty people of life.  I suspect they have met the nasty people, but have not learned some of the hard lessons of life.  

I worry that I am experiencing a hardening of the attitudes. Then I get screwed over again, and I am reminded that sometimes, on some things, we have to protect ourselves.  Thanks to the nasty people I have learned that from, for helping me learn. May they learn kindness, honesty and generosity someday, just not at my expense again.   

Rant over, 

Note: This was triggered by something in my work life.  

What bugs you most about the photo above? (How bad is your OCD?) 

The Way We Were Wednesday - De-Stress the Holidays

I was on a call recently, and people were stressing about not traveling and being with family this holiday season.  There is a lot of anxiety about this.  People are planning Zoom dinners, one person's family is making dishes to share by dropping them off on family members doorsteps.  I thought for a moment, and had to share my side of stress and holidays, hence the following.  

For the first three and half decades of my life, the holidays, especially Thanksgiving were filled with stress and family drama.  One person was obsessed that if dinner late by a minute, the holiday was a total failure.  Another was fussed that if the turkey was not cooked nearly to the point of being petrified, we would all get sick and die.  Another was concerned that the turkey would be dry. Everyone was guessing how late Aunt Edith would be, and we knew she would be late. Edith was 20 minutes late to her own funeral. For years my father and grandfather would re-hash every mistake they made on the farm and debate how to control the weather and crop prices in the coming year. For years I thought the knot in my stomach was from overindulging.  

Then in my mid-30’s following love and opportunities I moved 814 miles away. My parents reminded me it was 814 miles. When I moved, to avoid the temptation to bail on change and return to the familiar, I committed to not go home for at least a year. That Thanksgiving I discovered that you could celebrate a holiday without stress and family drama.  It was the two of us, with special treats, time to relax and be thankful.  It was wonderful.  If your holidays have been festivals of stress, this is the year to say, “I am staying home, treating myself, and relaxing.”  Wishing you a stress-free holiday season.  

Don't they look happy and stress free in the photo from the early 1950's? 

Note: I parted with the "Mexican" china this past year.  It was give aways from gas stations in the early 1930's.  My grandmother had a complete set.  I hadn't taken it out of the box in a decade.  I hope it has found a new home, and stress free family traditions.     

Take A Break When You Need It

One of the joys of a long and trusting relationship, is a level of trust that makes it possible for someone to say, "have you been feeling down recently and you have been kind of terse." A quick thought, and WH was right.  The routine has been getting to me.  I miss traveling and the adventure of a change of pace. I arranged to go into the office for a couple of hours to pick up and drop off a few things one day last week, but that didn't do it.  So I emailed the boss that I needed a couple of "mental health" days, and took Friday and Monday off.  

A few years ago I did a blog post about calling in mentally ill, and it drew criticism that I wasn't taking mental illness seriously.  I meant no offence and won't call this that.  But I think that we need to take a break and seek balance when we notice that things are getting out of balance.  

This has been an interesting and challenging year.  Working at home, makes taking a day off less different than it did when I was not working at home. I remember asking cousin Bill how he liked retirement, his response was "it is great, but you never get a day off." We need to create our day off.  I need to take steps to differentiate being home and not working, from being home and working.  It started with shutting off my office email, and sending messages to key people that I was taking a couple of personal days (I bowed out of one meeting that I was dreading as there is a pissing match going on over leadership - when they have finished the squabble I will be glad to help with programing.) Then I thought of what have I not done? I have not had my car washed, it needed it (actually both of them did.) There is a little random shopping to do.  Oh, and my morning started off with a temporary crown popping off during breakfast, for the second time.  I should be in the chair having the permanent crown glued on as you read this Tuesday morning. 

Take a day off, 

Get out for a long walk, or roll, 

Take a drive, 

Do a little shopping,  

Listen to music that makes you happy,

Think about end of the year traditions, 

Remember, few people ever die, being proud of all of the unused vacation leave, sick leave, and paid personal leave they are leaving behind.  

When was the last time you took a day off, just because you needed it? 

My Music Monday - Charlie Brown Medley - The Piano Guys

Okay, I have lens envy.  I look like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree by comparison. 

The Sunday Five - Your Way

1. If you could make today a special holiday, what would it celebrate? 
2. What major goal in your life, have you accomplished? 
3. What is the biggest favor anyone else ever did for you? 
4. What is one little thing, that you always enjoy?
5.  What one thing made you happy this last week?   

My Answers: 

1. If you could make today a special holiday, what would it celebrate? Sunrise celebration, everytime the sun comes up we get a chance to have another good day. 
2. What major goal in your life, have you accomplished? Becoming a lawyer. 
3. What is the biggest favor anyone else ever did for you? A couple of times, friends made a phone call and helped me get jobs I really needed.  
4. What is one little thing, that you always enjoy? Seeing my daily Eagle. 
5.  What one thing made you happy this last week? I shared with a Zoom call of new lawyers, the joys of public service work.    

Please share your answers in the comments. 

Osprey Sightings

There are two varieties of Osprey that if I am lucky I get to see along the River.  One nests on posts or dead trees, usually over the water and fishes in the River.  The other one occupies a military base downstream, and commutes to a tiny facility on the River across from National Airport.  One is a graceful flyer, the other one is constantly trying to find a way to fall over and beat itself to death.  Tilt rotor sounded great in theory, looked okay on paper, is a nightmare in the real world. I thought we had quit flying these beasts.  

Have you seen an Osprey in flight?    
 

Remember to Live

 Remember to live, 

To enjoy each day,

To be kind, 

To love, 

To find a moment to laugh, 

To find a moment to take in the world around you, 

To savor all that life has to offer, 

To be at peace with yourself,

To be comfortable in your own skin. 

Death reminds us, that life is temporary, this is not a rehearsal,  don't wait for it to be perfect or better later, this is it, enjoy it.  In the end we are dust in the wind.  In a cemetery we see the year a person was born, a "-", and the year the person died.  Make the most of that "-".  We have no say on the first date, or last date, only control over the "dash" in between.  Make the most if it. 

 

The Way I See It - and a Question

This is a political opinion piece.

The US Presidential Election is over.  Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won by a margin of about 3% on the popular vote, I think when the counting is done, they will have around 300 electoral votes with 270 being a majority.  As a percentage of qualified voters, voter turnout was the second highest in the history of the country, the overall number of votes cast was the highest in history.  

Turn out was the key.  I think voters turned out on a handful of critical issues.  

Racism; the soon to be former president, aka, He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named (HWMNBN) started off early in his term with a travel ban based on majority religion of the country the person's passport was issued by, and his campaign promise to "build a wall" along the border with Mexico (strangely not along the border with Canada - the largest undefended border in the country, one of the largest in the world.) Then came "Richmond" where white supremacists and neo-nazis attacked peaceful protesters for racial equality and HWMNBN simply said "there are good people on both sides" and refused to denounce white nationalists, and self described nazis. The refusal to speak out against our national history and current racist practices, and steps taken to deepen the divide, caused a lot of people to turn out to vote.  I dare say the voters for racial equality, outnumbered the white supremacists at the voting booth.  

Police brutality, racist policing.  HWMNBN failed to speak out against  bad police who repeatedly murder Black and other minority suspects.  Passing an (allegedly) counterfeit $20-bill is not a death penalty offence.  Failing to speak up when police murdered George Floyd, on video, and responding to protests calling for police reform by tear gassing a peaceful crowd near the White House for a photo-op with a Bible in front of a Church he does not attend, brought out voters, who want leaders who will speak out and work for change.  Being Black or Hispanic should not result in disparate treatment - let alone murder.  Voters voted on this issue, because as a people we are better than this. 

Treatment of Women: Women were a critical voting block, with the percentage of women voting for Biden/Harris reflecting the margin of victory.  HWMNBN's long history of misogyny, his repeated comments judging the worth of a woman based on her looks brought out a lot of voters.  Some of these voters were motivated by voting for Kamala Harris, a woman of color, for Vice-President.  

LGBTQ rights:  HWMNBN's pushing back against Equality, brought more LGBTQ voters to the polling place.  I would love to think that all of us vote every time, but we know that is not true.  But there was a real fear of losing the gains made over the past 25 years.  This brought out a few extra voters.  

COVID-19: HWMNBN has failed to lead, leaders lead by example. HWMNBN refusal to wear a mask, to listen to science, to urge nationwide action, has led to million of people getting sick, and over 230,000 deaths, and we are not done.  History tells us that the second wave kills more than the first, and the second wave is hitting now.  Voters who want science, and medical professionals leading on public health, and not the "My Pillow Guy" and the "Demon Sperm Doctor," turned out and voted.  

Overall, when you break it down to the margin of victory in critical states, the election would have turned with a-couple-hundred-thousand votes in critical states.   An extra vote or two, here and there, makes a difference. Some of these votes were votes for Joe and Kamala, some of them were votes against HWMNBN.  All were votes for change on these and other critical issues. 

A question regarding Facebook; What do I do with "Facebook Friends" who are dead? I have a couple of high school classmates, three former teachers, and at least one deceased blogger that still show up on my FB Friends list.  I get birthday reminders for them. The birthday reminders kind of creep me out.  Do I unfriend them? Unfollow them? Simply be reminded every year that they were once a part of my life? 

 

   

The Way We Were Wednesday - Middle Brother

 Last week was my oldest brother.  This week my middle brother.  He will be 67 or 68 in December.  He called me recently, he calls a few times a year.  I prepare his tax returns, so I am sure to hear from him every spring.  When he calls, he often wants to talk, needs to talk.  I was surprised when he called.  He was on traveling to attend the wedding that I missed.  I was surprised that he was going to the wedding (I watched the wedding on Facebook.) 

I was really surprised when he announced that he has decided to retire in February, the day after his 43rd anniversary working for the Walt Disney Company.  That is right 43 years with one employer. I can remember when he first started.  He was on the hose and broom crew for a couple of weeks, scrubbing the streets of the Magic Kingdom - he hated it because it was wet and dirty, then he cleaned the windows on the Monorails for a couple of years - he loved that because he was able to touch and crawl all over the monorail cars.  He then worked in the warehouses for a few years, then his fantasy came through, Disney trained him drive trucks.  He has spent the past 30 years driving trucks for Disney.  Well most of the past 30 years, he spent a few months back the warehouse after he drove a 12 foot tall truck under a bridge with 11 feet of clearance.  Eventually he was forgiven and put back on the truck.   

I am very happy for him.  He had been saying for years that he was going to work until he was 70.  His health is not perfect, if he retires now he can enjoy life.  He says he wants to travel, see things he has never seen.   

Do you know anyone who has been 40+ years with one employer? 

Tastes of Fall

One of the publications I write for professionally has started running seasonal recipes for the holiday issue.  My submission last year was a superb cheese spread, this year it is a Pumpkin, pumpkin-spice cake.  I know pumpkin-spice gets overdone, often being used in things that don't have pumpkin in them. But the mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and allspice brings back memories of the holiday season. By mixing the spices myself, I can punch up what I like (cinnamon and nutmeg) and go softer on the cloves - for me cloves can easily overpower. You can adjust to your taste.  I have made this twice, added more raisins and nuts to the second one.  Any time a recipe calls for vanilla extract, you can substitute bourbon (or rum, or brandy). Bourbon brings out amazing flavors in raisins. As with wine, don't cook with Bourbon you wouldn't drink, for this I used a Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Select- it has a nice spice to it.   

Should I post more baking / cooking posts? 

Pumpkin, Pumpkin-Spice Cake

Ingredients grouped as you will add them:

4 ounces salted or unsalted butter (room temperature will work best)

1 cup light brown sugar 

½ cup granulated sugar 

4 large eggs 

2 cups all purpose flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon (I prefer Saigon cinnamon) 

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 

3/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg (about ½ a nutmeg) 

½ teaspoon ground cloves 

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice 

2 teaspoons bourbon or vanilla extract 

15-16 ounces of pumpkin puree (homemade or canned.) 

1 to 1 ½ cups of raisins (optional)

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) 

Process: 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Coat liberally with non-stick cooking spray, a 9-inch fluted tube or Bundt pan.   

Measure and stir together the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Set aside. 

Cream together butter, brown sugar and granulated with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (3 to 5 minutes you really can’t overdo this.)  Add the eggs and beat until light a fluffy.  Beating the mixture with the eggs incorporates air into the mixture, making the cake less dense. You will notice a change in texture and color.  This will take 2 to 5 minutes depending on the mixer. 

Stir in the dry ingredients at low speed, or by hand taking care to not over mix (or the mixture will deflate resulting in a denser cake.) 

On low speed or by hand fold in the pumpkin and bourbon or vanilla.  Bourbon works especially well with raisins. Be very careful in mixing in the pumpkin, as the weight of it can cause the mixture to break. 

Carefully fold in by hand the raisins and nuts (optional.)   

Transfer to prepared tube pan. 

Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until a cake tester or wood skewer comes out clean. 

Invert on cooling rack and remove the cake from the pan.  

Cool to 2-3 hours before slicing. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days (it never lasts longer than that for me.) 

One of the keys to this recipe, is beating the butter, sugar and egg mixture until fluffy resulting in a better rise and less dense cake. Avoid the temptation to add the pumpkin puree before the flour, it can cause the mixture to break, resulting a very dense cake.  Adjust the spice level to your taste.  By mixing the spices yourself you can adjust to your taste.  For simplicity you could use pumpkin spice mix. If desired drizzle with a glaze, or dust with powdered sugar.  It is delightful with a soft cream cheese spread. Makes a great coffee or breakfast treat. 

Will you try making it? 

My Music Monday -Welcome Back - Joe and Jill

Someplace in 35,000 unsorted photos, I have pictures of Joe Biden speaking at a legal aid lunch in DC, when he was Vice President.  He spoke of how as a young attorney, working in business law, he stumbled across legal aid, was trained to represent clients who had experienced domestic violence and developed a passion of public service.  Service that led to Congress and the White House.  I have met Dr. Jill Biden, at a program on legal help for Veterans in Delaware.  She genuine, down to earth, and has spent her life in public service and teaching.  

Jill and Joe, Welcome back to DC. 

The Sunday Five - Would You Sooner

 Let's try some multiple choice questions this week. 

Would you sooner, 

1. Spend the weekend at home, or away with family? 
2. Fly or Drive on 500 mile trip? 
3. Have a big breakfast, or a fancy lunch?
4. Attend a funeral, or a "divorce celebration"?
5. Go to Europe or Asia? 

My Answers: 

1. Spend the weekend at home, or away with family? Home. 
2. Fly or Drive on 500 mile trip? Fly 
3. Have a big breakfast, or a fancy lunch? Fancy Lunch 
4. Attend a funeral, or a "divorce celebration"? Divorce celebration - if someone is happy. 
5. Go to Europe or Asia? Asia, I have never been. But I wouldn't pass on another trip to Europe, it is closer. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

Happy Birthday My Sweet

On this day, a long, long, long time ago, a blue-eyed legend was born.  I won't say how many years ago, but it was lots.  Happy Birthday to my sweet hubby, AKA J, AKA Wicked Hamster.  He is so bright, and fun, and loyal, and he has such great taste in a husband.  

PS: I ordered a new President as a birthday gift, but it hasn't arrived quiet yet.
 

Political Post - I am Appalled By The Election Results

I am writing this mid-afternoon on Wednesday.  Votes are still being counted, the outcome of the election is uncertain, but, I am appalled by the election results.  

No matter who wins I am appalled that 68.5-million Americans voted for a proven liar, hypocrite,  misogynist, racist, homophobe, cheat, failure, I could go on with more adjectives to describe he-who-must-not-be-named.  

It has been four years, they know who and what they have voted for.  A man who has refused to denounce racists.  A man who calls any news he does not agree with as "false news."  A man who assesses the worth of a woman based on her looks.  A man who has been accused dozens of times of sexual assault.  A man who  denied science, leading the death of over 230,000 people.  

I really thought over the past year, we were making progress as a country in recognizing the ingrained racism in our society.  And yet 68.5-million people voted for a man who puts children in cages based on where they were born.  A man who campaigned that suburban women should love him, because he saved the suburbs from low-income housing (actually income based housing.) This is doublespeak, for his efforts to push lower income black and hispanic families into ghettos. Nearly half of voters are apparently okay with him being a racist.  Perhaps he refused to denounce racists because he knows who his voters are, but a real leader, would have stood up and said, "it is time to move beyond our racist past, to recognize the worth of every person, to offer every person an equal chance, to respect everyone, to not allow the police to be racists murders. But he is not a real leader.  

As a nation we have a lot of work to do. 

 

   

 

Priorities - Money

 I was raised stingy.  My parents were farmers, farming is an insecure way to earn a living.  The good years were good, the bad years could be really bad.  I learned early in life, that a key to financial security was deciding what was important, what your priorities are and ignoring the rest.  

Things that are not important to me:

• Clothes - I am not a fashion icon.  I look for comfort and durability.  
• Furniture - again I look for comfort and durability.  I have learned that spending a little more for better quality, is worth it in the long run.  I have never replaced furniture for a change of style. 
• Appearance - I don't spend a lot on haircuts, or "beauty" products, I would never spend money on hair color or tooth whitening.  
• Cars - this is a complicated one, I like nice cars, I have owned a couple of really nice cars, but I have never spent more than $19,000 on a car.  

Things that are important:

• Food, I have to admit, we really don't pay attention to the grocery budget, we buy what looks good, we seldom look at prices.
• Travel, under ordinary conditions travel is a budget priority.  I have to watch prices, but I would sooner spent a few dollars more for an airline with better service.  I will shop for a good price at a nice hotel, but I try to avoid cheap hotels.  I go for the best I can afford for the location.  The last time I went "bottom fishing" for a hotel room, I killed a bed bug. Never again, I could have easily afforded the nicer hotel next door, my comfort is worth the extra few dollars.  
• Technology.  I hope I have learned the lesson, that cheap computers are more expensive in the long run.  I have tossed more cheap computers than I can count.  The last time I spent three times the money and bought the best, and three years later it is still flawless.  I have had several cheap tablet computers - all of them disappointing, one I-Pad - joy!  There is one exception of cheap computers that worked, Chrome Book. My first one lasted about 6 years. I beat the crap out of it and it never failed, the battery got to the point it wouldn't hold a charge. I bought another one.  It has been used less, as the I-Pad does everything the Chromebook will do, and weighs less.  The Chromebook is currently my bed computer. 
• Shoes, I have reached the point in life that shoes have to be comfortable or my body hurts.  I don't care what they cost - I am buying the good shoes. 
• Soap.  When I was in college in Florida, there were a couple of fancy shops up Park Avenue from campus that sold expensive soaps.  I discovered quality, and it has been something I have splurged on ever since.    

What are your priorities, what does not matter to you? 

 

The Way We Were Wednesday - Brothers

The child on the left is my oldest brother.  He will be I think 69 this month.  I see his posts on Facebook from time to time, but seldom hear from him.  He has made his own path in life.  He moved away from home soon after finishing high school, making his away across the country and living in Seattle for a few months.  He returned home that fall, with a high draft lottery number and enlisted in the Navy.  He spent a few couple of years in southeast Asia, then re-enlisted and spent a few years on the east coast including a deployment to the Mediterranean.  He has lived and worked all over north America.  Reportedly he turned 50 in Mexico City.  He lived with my parents the last couple of years of their lives.  Then bought a small place in Florida where he lives.  He and I are very different, different politics, different personalities, different challenges in life.  I need to remember to send a birthday card.  

Do you have family members you only hear from on social media?  

 

Pay off

 I took a couple of art classes in college. Professor Ron Larned could teach art to the artistically handicapped.  One of the classes was a photography workshop, Polaroid the Art of the Instant Image.  The class used Polaroid instant film cameras, fairly simple cameras. There was little you could do beyond selecting the subject, composing the image, and clicking the shutter.  One of the learning objectives of the class was that you can create spectacular images with simple equipment. Work, time, planning and persistence pay off.  

Spotting and photographing bald eagles has become a part of my daily routine. I have a least 100 bad photographs of bald eagles.  They are bad photos because I have to point and you need a magnifying glass to see the bird.  Then there are the few, where I was in the right place, at the right time, with a decent camera, and the presence of mind to capture the image when it was there.  It isn't about the camera, it is about being prepared and being persistent.  After weeks of distant shots, three times in two weeks, two-days in a row, the magic happened and the pay off for being there nearly everyday, rain or shine, sticky-hot or cold, I was there when one of the worlds great birds flew over my head and I was able to capture half a dozen amazing images. Pay off, big time. 

What should I say in the caption for this photo? 

  

My Music Monday - Over the Rainbow/Simple Gifts The Piano Guys

Some simple, but complex, beauty this week.  Enjoy! 

The Sunday Five- Five Things I Look Forward To

I believe there are sights left for me to see, sounds for me to hear, scents left for me to inhale, tastes left for me to experience, and tactile surfaces left for me to touch.  So this weeks Sunday five asks about the things you are most looking forward to seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching.  

1. I look forward to seeing?
2. I look forward to someday hearing?
3. Someday I will smell? 
4. Someday I will taste?
5. Someday I will touch? 

My answers:

1. I look forward to seeing? The sheep at Yew Tree Farm 
2. I look forward to someday hearing? Big Ben again.
3. Someday I will smell? Fresh bread in a bakery in a small French village. 
4. Someday I will taste? Truffles in France or Italy fresh from the forest. 
5. Someday I will touch? The Great Wall of China. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

Happy Halloween - Maybe a Ghost Story

The last office I had in Kentucky was in a restored historic building.  It had been built about 100 years before as a nursing school, and residence hall, for a Catholic Hospital that was across the street at one time.  On the basement level, there was the bricked over entrance to an underground tunnel that had connected the building to the hospital so that the ladies didn't have to cross the street unescorted from the residence to the hospital.  

When I mentioned what building my office was in, I would sometimes get strange looks, and questions like, you have heard that it is haunted haven't you?  Have you seen or felt anything unnerving?  One person told me that he had abandoned an office in the building,  after encounters that he couldn't explain.  Legend had it that some of the nursing students had died in the building, some had terrible conflicts with the Nuns, some allegedly never left the building and were not always happy to be disturbed.  

The job sometimes was intense, long days, helping people with major problems, occasional scrambles to help hundreds of people with crisis created by government changes in rules or policy.  Those days would start at 8:00 AM and sometimes run until 7:00 at night.  

I was in the middle of one of those challenging stretches.  Still at my desk at about 6:30 one evening as the sun was setting.  The first thing that I noticed was a bright, yellow light, it seemed to be coming down the hall, not from the offices with windows to the outside, but from the windowless inner lobby.  Then the light, or energy moved steadily and disappeared out a window. The logical explanation is it was the setting sun reflecting off of a car or truck passing by, but the feeling was unnerving.  I backed up my computer files, said that is enough, I need to remember not to work this late, locked up and went home.  

I know it was unnerving, beyond that I will never know.  

What is your ghost or almost ghost story?   

 

Pretty As A Postcard

If I have your address, you may have received a postcard from me this month.  I have been collecting picture postcards since the mid 1960's.  Have a medium size storage box filled with them.  I took photos for postcards for a couple of years when I first moved to Florida year around, mostly commercial and advertising jobs (immensely stressful work.) A lot of people are stressed right now, a lot of people are missing travel, missing hearing from others who are traveling.  So I decided to dig into the box, pull out my address book and send cards at random just to say Hi!  If I brightened one person's day,  it was worth it.  

When was the last time you mailed a picture postcard? 

Rowse Honey - The Three Bears (Episode 1 - Winter Survival)

This looks like the kind of a place that bears would enjoy, actually most of the bears I have met prefer to live in the city, with central heat and air, and access to shopping, entertainment, transportation.  

Where would your bear prefer to spend the winter? 

The Way We Were Wednesday - Dad's Flying Buddies

 How does me in the Dentist's chair recently (actually scheduled for later today, to have a crown rebuilt) connect with Dad's flying buddies.  My father met some really wonderful people at the airport.  Flying being a bit of an expensive hobby, there were a fair number of professionals and successful business people.  Among the professionals were a couple of dentists.  My father's two part logic, if they were good pilots they had to be good dentists, and because he knew them they wouldn't overcharge. I don't know about the overcharging part, though I don't think they cut him a deal, they were much better pilots than dentists. They never crashed their planes or left anyone in pain when they were flying.  I can't say the same for all of their skills.  

My current dentist is very talented.  He is careful, and gentle.  He is calming and reassuring.  I don't know where in the world he is from, but it is not here.  He came to the USA to earn a masters degree in biology, was working as a lab tech.  He was visiting family one weekend when he cracked a tooth.  Someone called a friend who was a dentist, who saw him on a Saturday evening, fixed it, convinced him that it could be done gently.  He applied to dental school, quit his job, and answered his calling.  

He is worth waiting to see.   

**************

Breaking news, with an update.  I have now experienced my first root canal.  It took two hours, it was described as calcified and twisted. Not painful, but long, and some very unique sounds and vibrations. Leave it to me, to have the complicated mess that the laser scanner and half-million dollar machine can't make a crown for, I am back in two or three weeks to have the permanent crown glued in place.      

It was a fine, misty morning

 I love a good fog, a fine and misty morning.  On the farm in Michigan we would occasionally get a good fog, I can remember riding the school bus on a foggy back road on a colorful autumn morning.  The first winter I spent in Florida, we lived on the Gulf coast north of Tampa in an area that was prone to incredible fog.  The parts of Orlando that I lived in seldom saw fog.  Kentucky gets fog along the River, but we lived 10 miles from the nearest river.  Here in DC, we get fog off of the Potomac River.  A few mornings recently have been hauntingly beautiful.  

I have experienced Pacific coastal fog a few times.  It is wonderfully dense, one time along the coast north of San Francisco I watched it go from clear to almost to dense to drive in 15 minutes.  It was wonderful. 

Do you get fog where you live? 

My Music Monday - The Addams Family Theme Song

The Adams Family taught us that things that are spooky and gholish, needn't be scary, they can also be fun, nice, accommodating. Treat the family well, and they are generous and kind, the experience will be an adventure.  Treat them poorly at your own risk.  

Are you ready for Halloween?  

The Sunday Five - A Nice Place to Perch

That tree stump, is this birds favorite place to perch, to watch the world go by.  He/she is often there.  Favorite places to perch, this weeks Sunday five

1. What is your favorite place to sit and watch the world go by? 
2. What is your favorite place to sit quietly with something to drink? 
3. How long can you sit still and watch? 
4. Do you prefer to sit alone, or with someone? 
5. Do you talk to strangers? 

My answers:

1. What is your favorite place to sit and watch the world go by? Along the Mall near the Smithsonian Castle here in DC. 
2. What is your favorite place to sit quietly with something to drink? St Marks Square in Venice.  
3. How long can you sit still and watch? 20-30 minutes. 
4. Do you prefer to sit alone, or with someone? Either way, quietly. 
5. Do you talk to strangers? Yes, and I enjoy it. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

 

Politics

 I have voted, and I have been wearing a hat that reads "Flush the Turd on November 3rd" and a T-shirt that says "Won't you shut up, man" "Biden 2020."  In the office I am the "on-line-survey" platform guy.  To assist a researcher I sent out an online survey to state election directors, an unexpected email asking them to click on a link and complete a survey.  I am glad to report that the security experts they are working with have instructed them to NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS.  (Opening attachments and clicking on unknown links are the leading ways of having your computer system compromised.) They are taking security seriously, making it not a good time to try to survey them. 

As members of a society, it is our obligation to make choices and vote.  Many years ago, I got busy one gubernatorial election and didn't vote, I spent the next four years suppressing my grumbles by reminding myself I hadn't voted for or against the idiot in charge.  Any time I am tempted to not vote, I remind myself of that missed vote.  

This is a critical election.  If you are in the USA, vote, drag a friend along, one under each arm if you can and have them vote.  If we win, we will have four years of defending our choice, if we don't, we will be entitled to say I voted against the @$$#0!& for the next four years.  I can't control the outcome, but I can control my contribution. 

Together we can make a difference.  

I will leave deeper political commentary to others.  

Have you voted?

Chasing Butterflies

Let me start with, I am not sure if this is a butterfly or a moth.  All I know is it flittered down in front of me, and paused long enough for me to snap two quick images.  Back when I was a wee-penguin I spent a week at a summer camp near Port Austin Michigan.  One of my tent mates was an avid butterfly collector.  He had the nets, the killing jars, boards, mounting pins and an encyclopedic knowledge.  Looking back at it I had a crush on him.  He was so bright and interested in arcane subjects.  

I bought a guidebook, and a net.  I tried chasing butterflies and moths. They are fast, hard to catch, and if you are stuck in one place as I was on the farm at that time, there are only so many varieties around.  I gave up.  

Later in life I have learned to be patient, and wait for what comes by.  I have to keep my eyes open, but I don't pursue. If I get the picture I do, if I don't, there will be next time.  And concentrating on photos is much more humane than collecting specimens.    

When was the last time you paused to watch whatever came by? 

I Have No Idea What Made Me Remember These Stories

I had a gym friend in Orlando who ran a small business with his brother. Bob was a memorable character,  he spent 36 hours as Marine in Viet Nam, stepped on a landmine, and lost part of one leg.  When you met him he would introduce himself and tell a joke.  What do you call a guy in a swimming pool with no arms and no legs, the answer is Bob, because he just sort of bobs up and down.  He would slip off his artificial leg and say, now you are never going to forget my name are you? 

Bob and his brother went to New York for a conference.  When they returned I asked Bob about New York, I had never been there.  He said, you know my younger brother, he comes into the gym in the morning when he is not cheating on his wife.  Yes, I had met him.  He proceeded, the two of them were walking down a street in New York (this would have been about 1990) and an enterprising self employed entrepreneur approached them and offered certain personal services for what the brother considered a good price.  The younger brother and said business person disappeared down an alley and reappeared a few minutes later with the brother having a smile on his face. The brothers went to a bar, ordered a beer, and when they went to pay, the brother discovered his wallet was missing.  Bob described his brother calling his wife to cancel the ATM card, and American Express card, explaining that he must have encountered a pick-pocket, with Bob falling of the bar stool shouting "more like a prick pocket."  

I can remember the last time I was offered the services of an enterprising self-employed entrepreneur. I was in New Orleans for a conference and out for an early morning walk in the French Quarter.  A V-12 Jaguar slowed to walking pace, pulled over near the sidewalk and rolled down the window. The business person said, "hi sugar, are looking for anything in particular or just a good time, I'm available this morning!"  I simply said, "thank you, but not today, I am just out for a walk, stay safe." The reply was, "you too sugar" and the window rolled up and the car wooshed away. In a moment I thought, a New Orleans prostitute is driving a nicer car than I will ever own, where did I go wrong?  

I hope they are all staying safe, 

The Way We Were Wednesday - Babies

And they say all babies are beautiful.  I see a face filled with determination, to make it, to push forward, to overcome the odds, to prove the naysayers wrong.  To forge a personal path in the world.  Pretty, well not really; beautiful, only in the eye of the beholder. 

Were you a pretty baby?

Virtual Tourist Radio

The first website site that I created and posted content on was Virtual Tourist, the site closed down in 2017.  Virtual Tourist had tons of user generated content, photos, travel tips and a very active user forum section.  You could go on the site and visit far away places without leaving home.   

It seems no one is traveling much this, year, and I have to admit for this travel addict it is not always easy.  I will end the year with fewer than 20 nights in hotels, I haven't had an airline reservation pending since March.  Unheard of.  

Somedays I just need to go someplace.  A few months ago John Gray posted a link to a local news story in Wales. The story was on the website of Radio Colwyn Bay, reading the story I discovered that they have a live-stream of local radio. Just what I need some days, local radio, from 3,500 miles away.  Check it out. There is a UK based site with a bunch of online streaming options, it is nice to hear about the traffic jams in London, and the local news that does not make me cringe. 

Is there a local radio station in your city I should listen to?

My Music Monday : Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time

Cher, she has been around forever.  She can still put on a nice show. This cute little fox crossed the road early one morning as I was headed into the swamp.  He/she stopped and stared, then disappeared into the woods. 

Why did the fox cross the road?