When my stepson was little, he played organized soccer briefly. Whenever the ball was in play, every kid on the field would run straight to the ball and try to kick it toward the goal. Even the goalies would abandon their position to chase the ball. As a result, soccer games were a great way to…
Mr. Ainslie’s Neighborhood
I was feeling sorry for myself thinking how I don’t fit it anywhere. I retired early making me 20 years younger than most of my retirement peers. I’m a widower who lives alone with his dogs in a family friendly suburban neighborhood. I have few close friends nearby and my only family live far away. …
No Mask No Mas
60 days after being fully vaccinated, I have stopped wearing a face mask completely. My state, following CDC guidelines said several weeks ago that masks were no longer recommended if you were fully vaccinated so mask mandates have slowly been fading away. My only public contact is at the pool, the vet, the grocery store…
You Won’t Find Your Answers On The Internet
Sometimes when I am bored, lonely or tired, I’ll browse the internet looking for thoughtful discourse and insightful essays. I almost never find it.
Simple Gratitude
Occasionally I get grumpy when things don’t go the way I want them to. Last week, the weather called for sunshine and clouds but instead it was overcast and rained all day. The next day, instead of clearing up, it was raining again. As I worked out that morning in my gray garage, looking at…
Searching To Buy Nothing
How Google is Driving Me Away I’ve been using Google search since it first beta’d back during the Dotcom days for one reason – it gave me better search results than anything else on the web. Back then, the major search platforms/portals included Alta Vista, Yahoo, Lycos, AOL plus a bunch of smaller ones like…
The Poor Always Get F**ked Over
Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I’ve been reading history. I’ve read about the Black Plague. I’ve read about the rise and fall of Rome. I’ve read about the history of England, France and medieval Europe. I’ve read about London. I’ve even read a few books on US history. I’ve learned a lot from…
Sunshine, Smiles and Great Meals
Being fully vaccinated with the Pfizer covid vaccine, I’ve stopped wearing my face mask to the pool. My friends there all are going maskless too. There has been a noticeable change. We all smile when we see each other. We have longer conversations. And we all seem to be a bit more relaxed. It also…
The Upside of Injury And Social Isolation
I’ve been obsessive about exercise since I was 17. If anything, it’s worse now – but far better too. One thing that comes with intense fitness is injury. I almost always have some nagging pain or ache. Shoulders, wrists, knees, back – arthritis (maybe?), overuse (definitely), pulled muscles (check), occasional acute injuries (unfortunately). Injures go…
Small Man Small Life
Living solo for the past two years I’ve become a smaller man. My weight has dropped to 135 lbs. I exchanged loose, bulky large sized clothes for form-fitting medium sized clothes. Without my wife around anymore, I go days without having a meaningful conversation. Some days, I only talk to my dogs. I’m not complaining….