myxer

  Happy New Year To All  May the New Year bring Happiness, Fun, Prosperity,  Good Health,  Love,  Adventures,  Peace,  Security, Great Blog Postings!  2022 will be what we make of it It will bring opportunities, challenges, obstacles, good times and sad times, we can't change that, we can only change how we respond to what happens, Remember, always, the best is yet to come! May our adventure continue! 

Happy New Year's Eve!  Here in the northern hemisphere, the calendar year starts in the dead of winter (this is not a recent photo - no weather like that yet this winter) and celebrating the start of the year is an opportunity for renewed hope. The fertility of the past year, feeds us through the winter, bringing us imperial tidbits and libations for tonight. And as the sun shines a few more minutes each day we see renewed hope of a coming season of warmth and fertility.  Trees such as the apple, remind us that a period of dormancy are needed, to assure fruitfulness. The primary reason apples don't grow in the south is without the dormancy of winter, they tend to not be fruitful, you can grow the tree, but they produce very little fruit. (There are modern hybrids that break this rule, but are they really apples if they have been manipulated to grow in unnatural ways?) Assure that you have your period of dormancy, downtime, rest time, restoration and recovery time.   ...

I know a lot of people don't make New Years Resolutions, I set annual goals, goals that are reasonable, and within my control. These give me a roadmap a plan.  I read someplace, "if you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."  So how have I done this year? Here are my  Goals for 2021 Read 24 books, two a month is a healthy goal. I kind of blew this one out of the water, 64 books finished.  I have found ways to integrate reading into being home.  Continue 45 minutes to an hour per day of physical activity.  Restart the daily activity log, what gets measured gets done. This one has faltered, not as much moving and the daily log worked well for a while, then started gathering dust.  5 out of 10 on this one. I have excuses for this, someone told me excuses are like assholes, we all have one and most of them stink.   Blog daily. Mission accomplished.  Add another 5,000 photos to the archive.  10,011 - over achiever...

  In the archive I have a momento from my father's first airline flight, on American Airlines, from New York to Detroit during World War II.  He saved up a couple of months pay to fly home on a short leave.  My first airline flight was on Eastern Airlines, from Detroit to Tampa.  I flew down to help my grandmother drive home. I flew Eastern a few times in the late 70's.  I was in Atlanta changing planes from Delta to KLM, when Eastern shut down.  I flew Continental once.  It did not go well.  The flight changed destinations during a stopover in Cleveland, resulting in a long wait. The return flight was messed up by weather.   I flew TWA once.  My first consulting trip for the largest aging organization in the USA, to Sacramento with changes in St. Louis.  TWA had already announced merger with American Airlines.   I flew Northwest a few times, it was not a good option from Lexington as they only had a couple ...

  What gets counted, gets done.  My annual list of books I have finished reading during the year.  The Food and Wine of France, Edward Behr (P) The Food of Spain, Claudia Roden (P) Auntie Mame, Patrick Dennis Coffee, Castanets and Don Quixote, Robert Noble Graham Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, Sanjay Gupta My French Platter, Anna Marie Rawson The Problem of Alzheimer's, Dr. Jason Karlawish (P) Composing a Life, Mary Catherine Bateson All The Young Men. Ruth Coker Burns Open Wound, Dr. Jason Karlawish  Just Passing Through, Mary Jane Houlton Your Brain on Facts, Moxie LaBouche True Facts that Sound Like Bull#*t, Shane Carley Our Italian Journey, Ilene and Gary Modica A Cargo Pilot's Life - Tails from Corrosion Corner, Brett Lane The Potomac River A History and Guide, Garrett Peck (P) Stories from a Whisky Bar, Ralfy (P)  Altered, Kyle Ball Something Awesome: A life in neurosurgery, William Friedman The Housekeepers Tale, Tessa Boase World Travel, An...

Cuba, and when I think of Cuba I think of Havana, has long been on my list of places to see.  There have only been a couple of times in my adult life when US tourist visits were allowed by the US Government. Back in the 1980's an entrepreneur took advantage of a liberal definition of cultural exchange and flew plane loads of tourists from Orlando, to Havana, with dinner and a show at the CopaCabana, then back home the same night.  The State department shut that down before I had a chance to go (a banker friend of mine was arranging a group to go.) Then in the waning years of the Obama administration, cruise ships from US ports were visiting Cuba, things changed and that option closed before I could work a cruise into my schedule. I can separate the government from the people, and the culture, and the art, and the music, and the food. Maybe someday.  Or maybe I can go learn and teach.    

  How did the year treat you, Good or Bad 1: Was it a good year or bad year for money?  2: Health, was it a good year or bad year for your health?  3: Relationships, was it a good year or bad year?  4: Happiness, was it a good year or bad year?  5: Looking into 2022, are you thinking good year or bad year?  My Answers:  1: Was it a good year or bad year for money?  Prices are up, but so are values and investments, good year for us.  2: Health, was it a good year or bad year for your health? Good Year, we remain relatively alive.  3: Relationships, was it a good year or bad year? Good, and in a strange way, I excluded some toxic people from my life.  4: Happiness, was it a good year or bad year? Good year, busy, but happy.  5: Looking into 2022, are you thinking good year or bad year? A good year, I can see some challenges, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Please share your answers in the Comments! 

  Merry Christmas May your day be filled with joy and happiness  Thank you for being a part of my life Everyday that you read my blog is a gift to me Thank You!  Everytime you post, everytime you share your life, everytime you comments, is a gift to me.  Thank you! 

  Happy Christmas Eve Everyone!   And so begins Fantastic Fun Fridays. I will attempt a weekly dose of crazy, silly, or fantasticness. I love signs and decals.  I am not one to put stickers on my car, almost never.  But I get a kick out of the stickers that people put on their cars.  I had a co-worker a few years who joked that the only thing holding her car together was all of the stickers. You name the bleeding heart cause, she had a sticker for it, along with folk music and storytelling.  As to the two above, I find dogs more receptive to a random Hi, than most people.  I will continue to say that I am like an old dog, I will respond to almost anything in a kind tone of voice.  I love cats, but cats can be harder to make a connection with.   I have a couple of over the top red scarfs that I wear at this time of the year.  One is sparkly and frilly, and the other is a spectacular red embroidered silk with white fur ends....

I love to talk, I have a colleague who loves to talk.  Recently I asked if she had a couple of minutes after a video call.  95 minutes later we returned to our work.  Not that the 95 minutes were not about work, it is kind of nice having a colleague that I can discuss complex issues with, even question if we are headed in the right direction or should we become radicals in a different direction.  She brought me back to the middle. It was a long diversion.  If we can master productivity, this should be a very effective collaboration. I talk to much.  Sometimes you ask me a simple question, and when I finish my answer you feel like the kid who asked dad where do babies come from. I tend to get carried away and talk too much.  A project we have been working on at the office, is almost finished and the answers we found where not what we expected.  Some of the questions we posed at the beginning  either have no answer, or those holding the answers...

It is a bit of a long story, of lots of travel in a short period of time, and being pissed off at something someone said, I got wild hair one year and we went to Paris for Christmas the next year.  It was in the very early 2000's.  I used 100,000 Delta frequent flyer miles for seats on Air France. I had been trying for a couple of weeks to book seats on Delta, I called one evening and the operator checked and found nothing, and she said, "would you mind traveling on Air France? I bet I can get you seats on our partner airline." Yes, without a moment's hesitation. We stayed in a comfortable but modest Best Western hotel near the Eiffel Tower.  We spent a week exploring, visiting museums, eating incredible food, and relaxing.  We had Christmas dinner at Altitude 95 on the Eiffel Tower.  It was delightful! Even if the airport was a Zoo when we went to fly home.   

Under the best of circumstances traveling at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years is unpleasant and expensive.  When my parents were still alive I would generally go to Florida for Thanksgiving, sometimes I drove, sometimes I flew.  We tried to avoid flying at Christmas, it was always crowded and expensive.  We did it a few times.  For a few years we drove to Cleveland to see Jay's mother.   My general advice for holiday travel is simple, DON'T DO IT.  Go earlier, go later.  Stay home and enjoy a quiet stress free holiday.  Call, video call, don't feel guilty about not being there.  Quality time in late January, beats rushed crowded, stressed time at the holidays.  Last year I wrote about stressful holidays and weird family dynamics.  I don't think I am alone, likely I am one of the few that is willing to admit that holidays home with just the two of us, are much more pleasant and fun.  And shouldn't this time of the year...

Angus, from Sophie's French Adventure ,*  puts a link or two at the end of every post, a couple of weeks ago there was a link to Stockholm Walks.  The content is as simple as it sounds, a wander about the streets of a beautiful city.  No narration, there is usually some titling. I love a good walk.  I love wandering city streets filled with open shops, this is a virtual adventure.  It is a little long, but it is relaxing.  Easy to fall asleep to.  * It was Bob and Sophie, but Bob is no longer with us.  Bob and Sophie are the dogs.  Angus is the dog walker and narrator of the adventure.  

  I was wondering:  1: Who is happier the man walking the dog, or the dog being walked?  2: Are dogs or people easier to photograph?  3: Do you prefer puppies or old dogs?  4: Aren't all dogs, lap dogs?  5: If a dog could answer one question, what would you ask?  My answers: 1: Who is happier the man walking the dog, or the dog being walked?  The dog.  2: Are dogs or people easier to photograph? Dogs - they don't worry about how they look.  3: Do you prefer puppies or old dogs? Old and mellow  4: Aren't all dogs, lap dogs? They try to be.  5: If a dog could answer one question, what would you ask? Do humans smell funny when we are wet?  Please share your answers in the comments. 

  It seems like just yesterday, this year was beginning.  And here we are nearing the end of the year.  It has been an interesting year.  I started out working from home full time.  Walking in the swamp most mornings.  As the year progressed I was allowed to return to the office if I wished, and I did, two or three days a week.  We took a nice break in New York the end of August, then actually traveled by air for a conference in Reno, and a few days in the mountains.  By the time I returned, the subway, metrorail announced that is had taken 60% of it's rolling stock out of service because the wheels are sliding out on the axles, just this week they started to return some of those cars to service. With metro running at 40% of a normal schedule, I started driving to the office.  Limiting me to going in once or twice per week.  I don't enjoy the drive.  I finally parted with the second   third car, the dealer found Max a good hom...

I still won't talk about my work on my blog, maybe in a couple of years, but I will talk about working.   I have mentioned that my boss for the past 13+ years is retiring the end of January and I am filling the spot.  A nice little promotion.  Not a huge amount more money.   The transition has been awkward.  I really respect him, I have enjoyed working with him, there is an honorable legacy, and he is the last of the founding generation of the program I work in, he has been here 37 years.  I sense a sadness at leaving work he has found very meaningful.   I have been reluctant to start making plans for what needs to be done, when I start the directors role in February.  I don't want my boss to feel that we are pushing him aside, or out. I would actually be happy if he worked a couple more years, until I will reach the point of working because I want to, not because I need to.   We are reaching the point that I need to ...

Dear Santa, Sorry I am a little late writing this year, I am only asking for miracles - hopefully those are not bogged down in the global supply chain. I know how you hate to be late.  I have been a good boy, as always.  Thank you for last year's election, it was a little late in final delivery, but much appreciated.  Those who are unhappy with it should get coal this year.   Would you please make intentional stupidity, painful?  Kind of like stubbing your toe on an elf painful.  Or maybe make it feel like you just stepped in fresh reindeer poo with your freshly polished boots? Those who are destined for coal need this one too.  Would you please deliver a giant dose of empathy and responsibility around the world?  Even those above who are destined for coal, need this one too.   There is little that I want or need. I need a giant dose of generosity, a booster dose of kindness, and regular reminders to be thankful and r...

  Disney has long gone all out to decorate Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida for Christmas.  This photo was taken in the 1970's the scene would be very much the same today on a rainy December Day.   Disney invited choirs from around the country for a special evening parade and performance in front of the train station.  I was there for that a couple of times, Rock Hudson was the special guest one time. 

Andrew in Australia was posting recently about a trip they took, and being exhausted and staying staying in and having pizza one evening.  Reading that I had a flashback to a very fond travel memory.   About 30 years ago, oh closer to 40 years ago, I did a week long road trip in Florida.  I was living in Orlando, we had been out in the panhandle, Tallahassee and out along the Gulf Coast.  I have no idea how many different hotels we had stayed in, or how many hours I had spent driving.  We ended up, late on the last day before we needed to be home in Daytona Beach.  We checked into the Hilton, a nice room with a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  I remember discovering this new cable network MTV, that played music videos.  We went up to the roof top restaurant in the hotel, only to discover it was closed for a private event.  I don't remember if I was more angry or relieved.  I really didn't feel like going out of the hotel, I...

This was not a major hit for Jimmy, easy to overlook, unless you are my age, and listen carefully to the words.  I remember where I was when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, when Neil and Buzz descended the steps.  I was just old enough to remember.  My parents knew that, they let us all stay up past midnight to watch that first moon walk, in color, the moon landing had encouraged my parents to buy their first color TV that summer. Not knowing that the moon would be largely monotone.  

I always enjoy this time of the year, I pause to look back and 2021 has been an interesting year.  Less upheaval that 2020, a little more hope, still not back to what we might hope for.  So a few questions about your year, rest assured there will be more questions about this before the end of the year.  1: Did you take a vacation this year?  2: Did you travel for work or business this year?  3: Have you visited family or friends this year?  4: Do you feel and safer or better this year?  5: If you had to repeat it, 2020 or 2021?  My answers:  1: Did you take a vacation this year?  Yes, New York and Lake Tahoe 2: Did you travel for work or business this year? Yes, just one trip 3: Have you visited family or friends this year? Hmm, brother in law visited us?  4: Do you feel and safer or better this year? Yes  5: If you had to repeat it, 2020 or 2021? 2021  Please share your answers in the comments.   

There is a neighborhood a couple of miles from us, with a main street or high street, lined with small local shops.  There is a cheese shop, a couple of wine merchants, a butcher shop, two doggie boutiques, a hat shop, a couple of shops selling childrens clothing, and numerous restaurants and bars.  Del Ray has that small town anyplace in the world feel to it.*  At the north end of this is Del Ray Artisans. A small gallery, featuring works of local artists, painters, sculptures, photographers, textile artists, and jewelry makers.  Prices range from $20 to $5,000, there is something for everyone.  And nothing there is being delayed in the global supply chain, everything is local.  Most of it supports local artists, most of whom have to have a day-job to support their passion of making art.   It is fun to get out and walk, and visit these small local shops.  I always try to do buy something, on the latest visit it was the cheese shop,...

I have been reading an anthology of Americas Best Travel Writing 2021.  One of the essays was written by a guy who lived in France for five years, expecting to find work as a chef, was turned away because his training was Italian, and apprenticed with a bread baker. Makes me want to get out the flour, yeast, and the Kitchen Aid mixer and make bread.  I have always been in a hurry, so I my bread never has the depth of flavor that a good slow rise creates.  But it is good.  I don't often bake bread.  The bread I make has a short shelf life, a couple of days and it is past its prime. And we don't use it that fast. Or at least shouldn't.  Many of the anthologies stories this year are COVID related.  The bread baker story was a delightful change of pace.  Let's hope in a couple of years, travel writing returns to travel.  For anyone who noticed, I am late posting today.  Truth be told, I overlooked creating a Friday post, and didn't...

Our dear Spo , occasionally writes about the BOD, reminding him of his obligation to put out, to write, to post, to produce for his loyal readers. I feel this pressure, without a board reminding me of it.  I made a personal commitment to post at least once each day, five-six years ago.   As bloggers, we are content creators.  We have an audience. Loyal readers that look for our updates.  They miss us when we are not there.  I have emailed a few bloggers over the years who went missing, inquiring into their health and well being.   BF Skinner would say, don't be so predictable, but I am.   Why do I do this daily? Because I want to.  It is a commitment to myself.  I hope that it my daily posts are looked forward to by my readers.  I love the interaction with comments.   How do I do this.  Nearly every post is written ahead of time.  Some of the theme day posts such as YouTube or Music Mondays, are cr...

  The first time my parents tried snowbirding, (aka going to a warmer climate for the long cold winter) I was in the first grade - we went to Phoenix Arizona for the winter.  It was an academic disaster, for a couple of the four children, and the following couple of seasons on the farm were not the most successful, and it was decided to not do that again until my brothers were finished with school.  In the middle 1980's, a good 20 years after that winter, I went to Phoenix for a conference and workshop.  I found the school, someplace I have my report cards.  The teacher I had that winter, had recently retired, with about 30 years of teaching.  This is the outdoor hallway, overlooking the playing field, room 37 was where I went to part of the first grade, one of the times.  My memories of school that winter? Walking to school, the smell of the air, finger painting, and a school nurse.  

This was taken in early September of 2008, in Jeuno Alaska. Another random spin through the unsorted photo archive.   We had not planned a float plane tour.  We had planned, actually booked seats on a helicopter tour that flew out and landed on a glacier, were we would get out and walk around on the glacier.  I had dreams about the helicopter tour.  It was one of two must do items on the cruise to Alaska.  And it didn't happen.  The fog was too thick, the winds too fast, the helicopter's weren't flying.  The float planes were.  So change of plans, we were seated in a van down to the end of the harbour.   I love to fly, I grew up in and around little airplanes.  The pilot looked over his motley crew of passengers, and said to me, I could use about 250 pounds in the front seat, do you mind riding up front?  Mind! I would have paid extra! He must have filed an instrument flight plan, we were deep in the cl...

I know, I Know, I know, this is not really music for a Monday, please forgive me.  I saw this, actuall a shorter edit of this on the CBS Sunday Morning Show recently and thought this is too cool to not share.  Dog only knows how outrageously overpriced the little red bag is, it is kinda of cute, but I would fight a war for it. Though I do like soft red leather. While I am unlikely to ever buy their products, I give them kudos for creativity.  

We talk about a service economy, and there have to be some superstars of service out there. Service is more than doing your job, it is doing what is necessary to help others enjoy the experience.  What is the sign about?  The Bike Shop is tiny inside, impossible to stay 6 feet away from others.  Honk the horn, and they will come outside, and help you.   1: What coffee shop has the best service near you?  2: Is there a restaurant that remembers you, remembers the way you like things?  3: What online retailer has the best customer service in your area?  4: When was the last time you spoke with a teller at the bank?  5: What local retailer has the best customer service?  My Answers:  1: What coffee shop has the best service near you? Gregory's coffee near my office on Connecticut Ave in DC. Much better service than your know who.   2: Is there a restaurant that remembers you, remembers the way you like things? The deli on th...

It was amazing to watch people walk by the deer and not see it, but I could tell from the tilt of her head, that she was watching everything, every movement of every person. I pointed out the deer to a couple of passers by, one wise person asked what I had my lens focussed on.  Many were so engaged in trivial conversation that they missed the glories of nature that they were walking in the midst of.  We have deer are here in the DC suburbs, but not in huge numbers.  There is too little forest, to many busy roads.  There was a doe and twin fawns inside the fence here at the Condo this year (we are four high rise towers on 35 acres, we have deep wooded ravines around the buildings.) Down along the River, I saw deer two or three times in a year, only once did one stand still so I could get a good photo.   This photo was taken in Huntley Meadows, a county park not far from home.  The property is large, 200-300 acres. Bow hunting is allowed on about half of...