New Year's Eve was always special tradition in my boyhood home because it was also my parents' wedding anniversary. Just prior to my dad being shipped off to boot camp during World War Two, those two crazy kids drove from Detroit to that romantic getaway of Napolean, Ohio, where, ostensibly, it was the equivalent of a … Continue reading Thin Mints, Triscuit Crackers, and Ben Grauer: New Year’s Eve Memories
Category: Retirement
By Any Other Name
I've been thinking a lot about vulgar language lately. Recently, another blogger wrote a fine post on this topic, and I responded to it with a comment. I've come to no startling, ground-breaking conclusions as I ponder all of this, but I do find myself to be a bit of a hypocrite. I seem to have … Continue reading By Any Other Name
Faceless
Today I logged into Facebook for the first time in quite a while. I was immediately confronted with a picture of myself in an album specially created to show the world my many accomplishments in 2014. It contains posts and photos of mine, most notably the announcement of my retirement and our move to Florida. As usual, … Continue reading Faceless
Green Peeves
I worked at an apartment and golf course complex in the summers of my college years. I cleaned the clubhouse floors, bathrooms, and took care of light maintenance for the pool. Most of that work took place in the morning. In the afternoons I mowed grass around apartment buildings. The rest of my co-workers all had very specific … Continue reading Green Peeves
Snap, Crackle, Pop
Earlier today I went to my chiropractor appointment. I went to one regularly when I lived in California because of a pain I had in my neck (provide your own joke here, I've come up empty). I stopped seeing him when we moved to Oregon, and that turned out to be a very bad decision. Once you stop going to … Continue reading Snap, Crackle, Pop
Hirsuitish Histrionics
The day before I retired I went to a barber and had my hair cut into a brush cut. It was a dramatic and symbolic response to show off my new carefree lifestyle. For years I wrestled with my unforgiving mop each weekday morning in front of the bathroom mirror. With a brush and strong gel, I … Continue reading Hirsuitish Histrionics
Of Cell Phones and the Balance of Nature
Perhaps you were holiday shopping and missed it, but there was an incredible atmospheric happening around 3:00pm EST on Saturday. The sun exploded and colored the sky in celebration of something truly eventful. If you did see it, I can certainly appreciate that you might have thought it had something to do about you. Sadly, I'm sorry … Continue reading Of Cell Phones and the Balance of Nature
Then Again, Maybe I Just Like How it Tastes
For a period of about ten years I lived, breathed, and thought about wine nearly every day. I subscribed to weekly food and wine newsletters from major California and Oregon newspapers, read books on wine making, and used words such as terroir and varietal. I'm sure I said those words when I visited wine stores, or at a dinner table with friends and family. I would … Continue reading Then Again, Maybe I Just Like How it Tastes
Tick, Tick, Tick
I have until Monday to decide if I'll make a switch with our health insurance.¹ I have been on the same Blue Cross plan for over 20 years. I suspect that when the dust settles with my research this weekend, we'll end up making no changes. That's what normally happens whenever I do this. I spend … Continue reading Tick, Tick, Tick
Flatlined For The Holidays
The holidays can be very stressful time of year. This is why I shouldn't be too surprised that Santa has become a bit of a victim. I found him this morning outside his nearby condo (who knew?). I hate to be catty, but quite frankly he's looked better. It is admittedly difficult to navigate the … Continue reading Flatlined For The Holidays
Snakes in the Grass 
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