Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.
I don’t care what people say about me. I can be the nicest person on earth, or one of the biggest assholes. I treat people accordingly. It depends on you.
I’m always the same, so if I’m not nice to you, look in the mirror to understand why.
They say in 3 generations, no one remembers you anyway, so who cares what they say about me?
So in conclusion, it’s not important to me what people say about me. I gave up caring about that in high school.
Name your top three pet peeves.
Unless you are new here, you know I’m an introvert. That puts small talk at the top of the list. It’s usually meaningless and content free. It’s irritating to listen to. Talk to me about something deep that stirs my intelligence and/or emotions, or has great content, then I’ll want to engage.
Next, big crowds. I usually avoid it unless it’s impossible. Sometimes a small crowd is big if they are people I don’t want to be around (like family gatherings).
I look for the first excuse to not go, or leave early if I have to. If I’m stuck in an auditorium, I’m by the exit so I can leave.
Finally, internet arguments. You can be the top expert in a field, write a thoughtful piece that is fully documented with facts, and the first comment is: bullshit. You can say almost anything, and people will find a way to argue about it. See a few posts below on commenting.
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What’s your favorite cartoon?
Without a doubt, Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, and the old Jonny Quest.
Everything I know about opera on Jeopardy, I learned from Bugs. I like all of the Looney Tunes, especially when they break the new lines of political correctness. Road Runner/Coyote, Pepe’ Le Pew, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, all were better than anything on today. Who could forget Michigan J. Frog, a classic.
Here are the censored 11 they can’t show today
As for Tom and Jerry, the Tex Avery ones are clearly the best. Cat Fishin’, Touche’ Pussy Cat, Pecos Pest, and Spike and Tike are some of the better ones.
Only the original Jonny Quest shows were good. They were far ahead of their time and very creative. The Invisible Monster and the Robot Spy were two of my favorite episodes. After that, the series wasn’t very good. Later in life, I found them on Sunday morning. I’d do a wake and bake and enjoy my childhood all over.
A point of interest is that Tim Matheson is the original voice of Jonny. You may know him better as Otter in Animal House.
I even named one of my dogs Bandit after the cartoon. She was a boxer and is still in my blog, way back in the early years
What are your feelings about eating meat?
Of course I do. We were made to get nutrition from omnivorous sources. When younger, I harvested my own meat and vegetables, and took care of 60 animals for every one that fed my family.
Now, I eat only organic, unprocessed foods. After all, you are eating what your meal ate. It is for cardiovascular reasons.
Your body requires specific energy sources that vegetables alone cannot provide.
If I meet a vegan cat lady, I will know it’s a red flag for an unhealthy person, both in mind and body. Stay away from these people, very far away.
It’s better than eating the insects the WEF want us to eat, pricks.
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
Diffuse a nuclear bomb
Do you trust your instincts?
Always.
I somehow was blessed with an innate ability for pattern recognition. I can see disparate things happening, put them together, and know what a good opportunity is. I didn’t know it until things fell into place for me, and I thought everyone saw what I did, but I was wrong.
Here are a couple of examples. I’ll be as matter-of-fact as I can.
I chose a career in personal computers when I didn’t know what to do. They couldn’t do anything, except for VisiCalc, but I saw it as my future before they introduced the IBM PC. The head of a major company said he saw a demand for about 5 of them, and why would you want one on your desk. I made a career out of it. People thought I was chasing my tail at the time.
I had things in life I wanted to do, and knew that if I wanted to retire by 55, I’d have to start before 30. I finally left at 53, and people at IBM were still living paycheck to paycheck up in NY. I refused two job offers to move there to live where the cost of living was 30% less. Money is made 2 ways: make more and spend less. I did both. Plus, I didn’t have to live in NY.
It was clear to me that COVID was a hoax from the beginning, and I refused the jab when the sheep were lining up for it. Once I saw that the Government was forcing an untried and untested treatment they called a vaccine, I knew not to take it. I had studied gene editing and knew it was untested and untrustworthy. My whole family and all my friends thought I was nuts. They couldn’t wait to get it and thought I was risking my life by not getting it. They all got Covid anyway.
My Son in Law, who has patents and is a chip designer said I was smart, so why didn’t I get it? I’m not a lemming, that’s why. It was clear to me that Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine were the cure. They tried so hard to ban (and got the media to promote that it was bad) it that I knew to research it and found it to be the cure. I never regretted not getting jabbed, and the rest of the family now wishes they had made my decision. They rushed to get it because they were told that it was “safe and effective”. I called BS. We don’t talk about it because they hate me being right on that one. Thanksgiving is next week, and it will come up like Trump.
I never doubted that Trump would beat Hillary when Scott Adams talked about his ability to use persuasion techniques. I was an island on that one also. I was less certain in 2020, as the evidence of rigging and judicial interference was too overwhelming. Anybody could have called the 2024 election, so I don’t take any credit.
I worked in sustainability for IBM around 2009, but I knew Climate change was a scam when they worried about the hole in the Ozone layer in the late 1990’s. I knew it was a lie from the start, and we found out this week from none other than Bill Gates that it isn’t true, but rather a power grab. I read yesterday that the Ozone hole was mysteriously closing. Again, I was on an island calling BS.
I also have spatial Awareness that I got from my father. I can see how things fit together. It’s as clear as day when others are just arranging objects. Between that and pattern recognition, some things are clear to me as to their truth or the path I should take.
So yes, I trust my instincts.
What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?
January, actually December 26th. That’s when the world goes back to normal, and they stop playing all the same songs I’ve been hearing in the stores since October.
You can have too much of a good thing, and that is what they’ve done to Christmas, overdone it. I’m for the real meaning of our Savior being born, but people who don’t even care about that go overboard. It started in September with the Christmas decorations at the Home Improvement stores, and they are already up. Thanksgiving is next week.
It’s hard for introverts to process all the attention. We also know that for most people, it is fake. They act all happy and joyful, then get in their cars and cut you off and give you the finger.
All the production around it excites some, but drains introverted people. By the time we get to Christmas, our social battery is dead, and it’s hard to function. Look at the post a few below this on introvert hangovers, and that is what I’m talking about.
The holiday season is tough for some. Fake joy doesn’t make up for it. Too many people takes it out of me and I can’t wait for it to be over.
What book are you reading right now?
The Hobbit, American gangster, and other tales of New York, and the Bible. It’s the start of the Lord of the Rings series I’ve wanted to read.
It keeps your mind sharp. I’ve noticed a pattern between people who are smarter and more interesting and those who read.
I just finished Martin Luther by Eric Metaxis.
I always have more than one book going
Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met?
Famous: Mario Andretti, William Shatner, Lou Gerstner – CEO of IBM. All were speakers at Conferences, so I got to meet them. All were gracious and nice. I ate dinner many times with Chet Hanson, assistant to 5 Star General Omar Bradley. I worked with his daughter at IBM. I was a personal friend of Gina Smith, of Good Morning America, and the author of iWoz. She worked for me before she became famous.
Infamous: Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google. I also met them at computer conferences. I put them in the infamous category for what they’ve done to people. I would have avoided them if I could, but the situation forced us to be together.
Regarding Bill Gates, I worked on the same hall at IBM with Dave Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl-Alt-Del. At the 20th anniversary roundtable of the introduction of the IBM PC. Dave said he wrote the program during his speech, but Gates made it famous. Everyone but Gates laughed.
Although I didn’t meet them, I was in line next to Muhammad Ali at LaGuardia. He was in the late stages of Parkinson’s, so I left him alone. I saw Joe Frazier and Marvin Hagler in Vegas, but I didn’t bother them. They were smaller than I thought. I ate dinner at the table next to Bo Derek right after the movie 10 was released. I was surprised at how small she was. I wasn’t surprised at how hot she was. Joe Namath and I checked in together at the same hotel in Boston. He was also smaller than I thought. We just talked like guys do about sports. Dan Marino was a star at the time, and we talked about his quick release.
I got stared down by Ann Coulter at an airport for way longer than normal. It was almost like I reminded her of someone she had looked so long, and she was trying to figure out who I was. I knew who she was, but couldn’t figure out why she would look at me. I smiled, and so did she. It was one of those smiles a girl gives you when you’re the one, not a hello, how do you do smile. Then we went to our flights and that was that.
Famous people are tough to deal with. They come with a squad to keep people away. Everyone wants a piece of them, so I just walk on by.
I had to schedule famous speakers for events I ran, but I rarely talked to them. Their handlers were difficult to deal with, so by then, I didn’t want to deal with them.
Fame is a curse. You can’t go anywhere without being mobbed. and your private life is removed forever. I’ll take the peace and quiet.
What podcasts are you listening to?
P1 with Matt and Tommy, Late Breaking F1, Things Unseen – Sinclair Ferguson, Wisdom for the Heart – Stephen Davey, The Move – Lance Armstrong, Cycling podcast, Wicked Smart Golf, The Race F1 podcast, History extra, We we have ways of making you talk, James Allen, Bring back V10’s, Dr. Hyman podcast, Stay off my operating table – Philip Ovaida, Jefferson Fisher, The rest is his story, The Red Pilled America, Missed Apex F1, The Chequered flag, Parc Fermé, Sharyl Attkisson.
I started out watching 24Cast. I loved Jack Bauer saving the day. I was heavily into martial arts at the time, and Jack was ex-Delta Force. It quickly went to F1 and Christian sermons that were meaningful to me.
I used to listen to the Marvel and Star Wars podcasts, but those shows went woke, so I lost interest. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ended so that took care of itself.
I miss F1 Misfits though. It was 2 Aussies with a sense of humor which used to kill me. They just went away. I listened to almost 1000 episodes of F1Weekly, but Clark lost the passion and just goes through the motions so I stopped.
I go in and out depending on what my interests are, but I can fall asleep to any of them.
What was your favorite subject in school?
I’d like to say that I was dedicated to a job goal in school, but I just tried to get good grades, like it or not. I was only interested in either getting into college or getting a job, but there wasn’t any subject that blew wind up my skirt.
I was small and the youngest kid in my class due to the birthday cut off, but I enjoyed PE class because it was a break from studying. It’s tough being the youngest and usually the smallest. Once I caught up to the other kids, I held my own and even kept up with the team athletes at the end.
It was the break from the monotony of class that made me enjoy it.
The valedictorian and salutatorian were in my chemistry class. They ruined the curve for everyone. The kids always messed with their experiments, and they could never figure out why they didn’t get the results that they were supposed to, although their write ups got them the A’s they strove for. Neither went anywhere in life.
The real smartest kid placed 3rd behind these two shrimp girls because he took weightlifting in PE and got a B, his only one ever. I give him credit for sticking his neck out in life. Straight A’s got a lot of people nowhere, but life lessons did.
Which brings me to my greatest learning in school. I had to try harder in everything. I was so young that social things, intuitive to others, were a hard learned lesson for me. It was tenacity over talent in everything. If I’d known that I was an introvert, I could have used my observation skills even more. What I did was just intuition back then.
So while it was the toughest subject for me, life was the class I studied the most. I had to figure everything out without someone to show me how. Like the Bob Seger song, I was working on mysteries without any clues. It was the best lesson I learned.
I wound up playing Tennis for my college, the only sport I made the team on. I was president of my fraternity and dated a cheerleader. None of that really mattered to me then. I expected it after all that I’d been through. I worked hard enough to get the job that opened doors to people and travel, and the success I’d defined for myself.
As it turns out, my 50th reunion was last weekend. I didn’t go because I never related to the other kids, or wanted to. They were just people I learned from, mostly what not to do or how to act.
At high school graduation, I vowed that I’d be more successful by any measurement. A few became actors, pro sports athletes, or a doctors here and there. As I’d come across their stories before I ditched Facebook, the pinnacle of life was high school for them. It was all downhill from there. I was just starting, but the seeds of motivation to succeed were planted and fertilized. I’d met my goal set way back in high school.
Life was the best class. It had nothing to do with the classroom.
I will say that my German teacher was hot and not that much older than me. Why didn’t they throw a high schooler a break like they do now?
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
When I was single in Miami. I was in a place that was great to be solo. I had friends to do stuff with. The beach was minutes away. Life was just starting for me, so everything was an adventure. We went deep-sea fishing, clubbing, and I came home to a house that occasionally had roommates. Mostly, I was able to come and go as I wished.
When it was time to move on in a relationship, that was easy too. They would just become after W in the alphabet.
Health was easy. I was in shape for free by just being young. We were fearless and what felt like immortal. We could do anything and there would always be tomorrow.
My friends and I had season tickets to the Dan Marino Air Force show. Every game was 5 touchdowns, and I even partied in the stands with Don Shula’s daughter.
Then, I grew up. In the words of Toby Keith, I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.
Now, it’s you ain’t much fun since I quit drinkin’.
How much would you pay to go to the moon?
Nothing. It won’t happen for me in my lifetime. I don’t have enough left to jump on a starship for a jaunt to another planet, safely. The way we are planning a colony on Mars is a one-way trip. I kind of like my recliner now.
Oh, I used to brag that I could be the next Captain Kirk. That is me believing in fiction, though. I was as they say, young and dumb and full of cum back then. I was ready to slay dragons and save the damsel in distress. Age has cured that for me.
I watched the first step on the moon and later read the biographies of the people who developed the programs. It was one of the biggest crap shoots ever, that didn’t go horribly wrong. It wasn’t Star Trek; it was closer to a wagon train going to California for the gold rush, so we could beat the Soviets to the moon.
I also don’t wonder as much about what is out there. I’m pretty sure there aren’t any Romulans, or Klingons, or even Vulcans. We kind of know there aren’t little green men coming to take them to our leader.
I don’t even care about the money. Musk is spending his fortune on the aforementioned colony on Mars. Let him slay that dragon.
What food would you say is your specialty?
When I was young, my Mom told me some people live to eat, while others eat to live.
Being an introvert, long ass meals are tedious for me. I just need something to fill up my stomach.
I also worked in an Italian restaurant that had real food based on recipes that came from the Mother Country, not just pasta.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve attended the three-hour business lunches in France, which often featured exquisite food. I’ve also gone hunting at 3 in the morning, and ridden in many 100-mile bike races that started at sunrise. I’d have to cram as much food as I could in the shortest amount of time, as I was on a deadline.
I know the difference between 5-star food, and reheated chicken and rice in the dark hours of the morning. I just need a proper meal (not fast food or processed) to get me to the next meal.
I bet some readers served in the military who ate some awful stuff, yet survived.
In contrast, my brother-in-law was the president of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and was obese for a good part of his life. He lived to eat and has failed at every diet and/or weight loss plan that exists. He now has health problems I saw coming decades ago. He also got the COVID-19 jab and has symptoms from that.
One last thing, I never miss the Hot Dog eating contest on July 4th. I’ve been a fan since Kobayashi was transforming the “sport”.
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
I had to think about that if ever part, especially when you factor in my sophomoric sense of humor.
The real answer is…..it happened, and only in looking back did I realize that I (for the most part, I grew up)
I never saw it coming. I had a Wife, kids, a mortgage, and a job. After the kids moved out, I’m left with just my wife and my dog.
At my age (You got me by a few years, Bocopro), I guess it’s over. I also don’t climb ladders to do work, and I realized that the most valuable tool in your toolbox is a checkbook.
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
Either my third-degree black belt in karate, or the hundred-mile bicycle race, while climbing in the Blue Ridge mountains.
What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?
First things first. I wanna make sure I wake up again. After that, we’ll see how the day goes.
Which topics would you like to be more informed about?
Time travel, what really goes on in DC, Crisper-Cas used for good, what is the meaning of life, give 3 examples.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be honest. That way, you don’t have to remember which story you told to whom.
How do you practice self-care?
Set boundaries
I had to learn that lesson the hard way. If it meant my sanity or a friendship, I’ve gone both ways, but I’m protecting my ass from now on.
I’ve done too much stuff that when in the middle of doing said stuff I thought, “I really don’t want to be here or doing this”. I don’t do that shit anymore. If it looks like a suck now, I bail early.
I also don’t let people run over me. It’s not that I was a dormat, I just didn’t understand that some people would use you and take you for granted. It never had occurred to me until it happened to my ass over and over again. I didn’t even know at first you could say no and not hurt someone’s feelings.
Well, no more. I draw the line. I’ve seen it upset people, only to find the people not being upset or even thinking of me shortly thereafter.
It’s made my life a lot better because I’m not in situations that I don’t want to be in.
You’d think it would have taken me less time to figure this out, but no.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
What I like best about writing is it forces me to slow down and makes me think about what I’m saying. Grammatically, I think my writing is a disaster sometimes, but many times I’ve been able to deal with a situation in my head through unspoken words only to me. When the time came for the conflict or resolution, I was practiced and ready.
Anybody who reads my blog knows that you’re gonna get a lot of introvert information from me. When I write, I’m not talking, and since 90 % of talking is small talk, it has reduced value for me.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
I’m self-entertaining. I don’t need others to do something or for motivation to get something done. I’m perfectly happy to do a task alone and would likely enjoy it more.
It has other benefits such as I don’t look to others to see what I’m going to do, like not take the Covid-19 jab.
When do you feel most productive?
I’m retired now. Whenever it strikes me that’s when I’m in the mood.
I think about this every Monday morning when I’m not in rush hour traffic, on conference calls, doing presentations, staff meetings, or other work related bullshit that kills productivity.
I work when the mood hits me for as long as I’m motivated. Sometimes it’s early, often it’s not. That goes for most things I do these days.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Oh come on now. Did the people asking this ever consider introverts? This is the biggest softball I’ve been served since grade school.
I’ll eat at home every time if given a choice, with my dog.
My brother-in-law has been the president of 3 of the top 10 restaurants in the country and I ate at all of them. I’ve been to France and Italy. I’ve been to the Orient. I ate on other people’s money at some of the finest dining facilities that exist.
On business trips, I’d eat alone with a book if given a choice.
It’s at home though, my favorite restaurant, preferably alone.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully alive, at my age. I hope to just see myself
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
Jack Bauer or Captain America. Kick ass and take names and save the country in every episode.
Both are the baddest dudes you could be when it got down to a fight.
Plus, I trained in the martial arts and both use moves I trained with.
What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.
What do you do during the day? It seems innocuous, but here’s why it isn’t for me. (the real answer is that I mind my own damn business and get done what needs doing).
I retired early and being a good introvert, I stay to myself, don’t bother others (especially with personal questions). I do normal introvert things like read and write a lot. I go about my business, get exercise usually for hours, do house repairs, help others, go to bible studies or other events, etc.
The point is that I don’t keep detailed records of what I do. I go about my business and try to stay out of other people’s business.
This question started with a relative I nicknamed Flounder from Animal House, for all the reasons Dean Wormer described about how not to go through life. Flounder went between high paying jobs to bankruptcy due to money mismanagement (spent like a drunken sailor). We’ve never been particularly close because we are so different and shit like this makes me not want to try very hard.
It should be noted that if I give someone a nickname in life, it’s not a good sign of how I feel about them.
Every conversation was, “What do you do all day, sweep the floors?” In fact, it was one of the things I did because I like a clean house. It was a shitty question though and it became monotonos. I’d just rather not have a conversation than discuss that. I finally turned it on him by saying most people ask me that because they wonder what they’ll be doing when they retire. He had no real answer as he defined himself by his job his wife told me.
Nevertheless, the condescending attitude was not even masked. I, the consummate introvert couldn’t defend the question on cue. I’d think of what I wrote above in the hours after the discussion when it didn’t matter.
Still, I hate the idea of anyone 1) intruding on my life and what I do unless I choose to talk about it and 2) getting this condescending attitude because I was able to retire early and it was a part of my life plan. (note: I saved, invested, and paid off all of my debt early to be able to do it. Flounder was in debt above his head and lost millions on houses and valuables he borrowed to get. He had to work until almost 70 and thought he was a big shot until his next firing.
Now, I’m still retired and set for the rest of my days. Flounder lives with one of his kids as he lost both of his houses. Do I ask what do you do all day? Hell no. I don’t want to know what he does, but it’s an intruding question.
Note: I got this question from one of my wife’s friends Randi when I said I was going to retire early. What are you going to do was the very next statement. I answered and got, and then what are you going to do.
Randi isn’t a part of our life anymore because of her shitty attitude. I couldn’t stand to be around her either. She was snarky when saying it and those things don’t get past me easily.
Hey Randi, I’m retired early and am loving life, doing what I want. That’s what I do all day. I go about my business.
This ends with the story about the kid eating all of his candy. A man said that isn’t good for you to which the kid said my uncle lived to be 120. The man asked if it was eating so much candy and the boy responded no, it was because he minded his own business.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
I’ve learned more from my mistakes than my success.
I expect to win or be successful at what I do now. I’ve paid enough dues in life and have learned enough lessons at the school of hard knocks that I should be doing things correctly by now. (I hope I don’t eat those words).
Life was tough growing up. I had no manual and a couple of siblings who rooted against me the whole time. It almost forced my will to overcome and to not only win, but to overachieve at whatever I did.
Along the way though, failure at tasks, life, relationships, and a lot of other things taught me more lessons than success. I hate losing and I hate screwing up. I only want to fix something once. That’s easy to do with carpentry, electrical, plumbing and repair. It’s damn near impossible with relationships.
I know the Tom Brady’s of the world must hate losing more than anything. He learned how to win. That’s how I feel about it.
You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?
Some of the characters in this story aren’t going to make it to the end.
Unless you make the inner circle, you’re probably going to have to go, or at least wait a long time to get me to do something with you.
The introvert joke says that people die in my autobiography, but I’m not going to kill anyone. It’s more like avoiding them until they go away or just keep saying no to doing shit together that I don’t want to do.
Who are your favorite people to be around?
I’d like to say something witty or emotional like my family or my oldest friend from childhood, but it would be a lie.
It’s my dog
Don’t get me wrong, I like (a few of) my family and my friends, for a bit.
The introverts will know what I’m saying without me even explaining animals, small talk and time alone to re-charge
If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?
How to enjoy being alone by yourself. How to not care what others think or let it affect your self-esteem. How to have passion about your avocation to the point that you excel past others who do the same thing over a variety of activities.
I could go on, but you get the point. It’s the introvert thing again.
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
Nothing. It’s not important to others so I don’t bother them with it. Some people have to tell the world, but I don’t think others care that much so I usually don’t say much.
I hate people who brag anyway so I go out of my way not to do it.
Since I’m not on Fake book or X, I’m not obligated to post about it.
Life is a lot easier when you live in your own lane and don’t have to show off to others. Those that are happy for you will be. They’ll find out the news sooner or later.
I’ve been around long enough now to know that things are fleeting. Whatever news will fade into life and there will be downs as well as ups. Once you understand that, you look at news differently.
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
Just about every damn one of them. Girlfriends too.
I was infatuated with boats as a kid. I wound up owning two and was glad to unload both of them.
I played Tennis in college, playing and practicing every day for years, and don’t even bother turning on Wimbledon anymore.
I fished (see the boats) for decades every week and haven’t wet a line in years. I caught thousands of fish
I did martial arts for decades, but that fell by the wayside also.
I hunted for years until I decided not to kill anymore unless it was life or death. My house has trophies on the wall from many hunts, but there won’t be anymore.
I biked in group rides competitively multiple times a week for years and even though I ride for exercise, I do it alone now about once a week, just to stay healthy and to get away.
It was the same with all the girlfriends I had before being married. They lasted until I realized who they presented themselves to be to win me over wasn’t who they were, and it was over.
Hell, I don’t even want to see my extended family unless I have to. I keep them at arm’s length as much as I can to not have the stories of my childhood replayed for the 1000th time.
What all of these had in common was that I conquered them. The thrill of victory was over and there were no more dragons to slay. When the passion was gone, so was I.
Now, I try not to get small-talked to death and most of the stuff I do are solo sports.
About the only things that remained in my life were golf, auto racing, reading, and bible study. The rest faded away due to a lack of passion.
Such is life. I try to stay to myself. I compartmentalized the things in the past and write about them occasionally, mostly to myself.
I’ve become more introverted in life and my enjoyment comes from within and time alone rather than in groups. Hell, I have to face people from my past this week and I can’t say I’m excited about that either.
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?
I look back for patterns. It’s part of critical thinking that I have no control over. It just happens.
Stuff just comes together and I know something is right.
When they introduced the PC, no one knew what to do with it. The word on the street was that no one would buy these and there was no future. I saw a career move.
When they forced people to get jabbed for Covid-19, I knew I had to avoid it with everything I had.
So now, I’m not surprised when I see stuff starting to happen and I know what is the right thing to do. It just happens.
What was your first Computer?
In college back in the 70’s, I worked with punch cards on some timeshare system that the school had, but I have no idea what it was.
My first real computer was an IBM System 34, in the pre-PC days. We coded in RPG II and even had Star Trek as a game on it. It used 8-inch floppies, had 4K of memory, and maybe a 4 MB hard disk (the memories are hazy from those days).
I wrote about it extensively here along with my Mad Men shennanigans about sex and drinking at work before the cancel culture, MeToo and the other bullshit that took the fun out of work.
What books do you want to read?
I’ve started liking History, so historical fiction not textbooks. I’m starting a series by C.J. Box about the outdoors. If it’s good, I’ll have a whole series to read.
I’m also reading Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
I’m finishing the last book of the Expanse so Sci-Fi has been good to me for a few months now.
The point is I always want to read. I’ve read since I was a young child. I was the only one of my siblings who did. I can escape into my own world this way and people don’t bother you when you are reading.
What is your favorite animal?
Again, this is sort of a layup for me.
My dog.
He loves everyone, but at the end of the day, he comes to me over everyone else. He’s as much of a dog as there is. He digs, pisses on everything when we walk, barks at the delivery people, loses his mind over cats, squirrels and deer but loves getting his ears scratched.
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
I don’t worry about it. In fact, I never think about it. When it’s your time, it’s your time. Some, like Bryan Johnson pays 2 million a year to try and not die. That is a dreadful way to live
I get plenty of exercise and eat healthy, but It’s for the quality of life I have left, not to find the fountain of youth. My life is full and I’m happy with each day.
Besides, here is how long you are going to live anyway and so why worry about it.
What are your biggest challenges?
Look, I’m an introvert. While I’d like to say that curing cancer, ending world hunger, or overcoming a life threatening disease were my macro challenges, it’s not my daily struggle.
Avoiding people and small talk constantly raise their heads to dog me. I can’t expect most other than fellow introverts to get this, but it’s a struggle for me to face a crowded room of people. Having to engage in meaningless talk about stuff I know doesn’t matter is difficult also. It’s mentally draining for introverts. We are not built for it and when it comes up, it’s like being in a tunnel with the train light headed directly for you. It’s like having a grains of sand in your eye constantly and you can’t remove it.
I can do it, but with less and less enthusiasm and I have to work myself up to face it. My extroverted other has put me in situations I wish I weren’t in a lot of times in my life. I’ve finally fought that off. I find myself wanting to withdraw more and nothing pleases me more than canceled plans now.
I’m not going to be on my deathbed and wish I was more outgoing. I have a lot of other regrets that are more meaningful than small talk.
What is your all time favorite automobile?
This is the easiest one for me to answer. It’s the Porsche 917. It’s one of the few cars that was the star of a movie (that wasn’t a cartoon).
I first saw it at the 24 hours of Daytona in 1970.
It was the first time I’d seen a car go over 200MPH in person in my life and I was a pre-teen at the time.
It would go on to dominate 2 different series of racing. It’s what got me fully hooked on endurance racing.
Here is the car on NASCAR turn 4 at well over 200 driven by my then favorite driver, Jo Siffert.
What was the last thing you did for play or fun?
I’m very content to be by myself. When you can do that, then being with others is fun, but not a requirement for fun. I do a lot of things and have a lot of activities, but they are taxing on my social battery. I don’t long for that like others
I was alone with my dog when this question came across my blog feed. I’m very content with just him and me and I realized that is fun.
The hustle and bustle of life doesn’t thrill me anymore.
Just my dog and me, fun for now.
What could you do less of?
This one is a layup for me. It’s small talk.
I’m at the point where if it’s a deep subject or means something, I can go deep and listen and discuss until the subject is exhausted.
When I hear about shopping, what other people said, and the various examples of small talk, not only do I tune out, my social battery starts draining immediately.
Other introverts will relate to this one. It’s when the extroverts get going and talking is sort of a competition, where they wait for a break so that they can get in their point or part of the story that may or may not have anything relevant to what is being discussed.
Pathological talkers are like that. They wake up and their mouth starts going. I literally hide in my own house sometimes to make it stop
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
I’ve been around the world, to most of the continents. It was for both business and pleasure. I’ve stayed in the finest hotels and some dumps. I’ve eaten with the best chefs and at a choke and puke.
I don’t want to do that anymore. The sense of adventure isn’t enough to make me want to fight the people, the waits, the lines, and the crappy service.
The answer now is that I want to be Home or my place in the mountains. I have my stuff in my place and I don’t have to fight airports, and security lines, stay in places that aren’t mine and someone full of germs was just there before me.
It’s because I’m an introvert and getting old. I don’t care anymore. I don’t have to see everything and right now, there’s nothing I want more than to be in my place, preferably alone with my dog.
What are your favorite animals?
My dog of course. He’s the one I spend the most time with. Being an introvert, having him is better than most other people I encounter. When I go to someone’s house, I almost always gravitate to the pets if there are a lot of people. Introverts will relate to that one.
Next, most other dogs. I spent the weekend dog-sitting for my son and had fun with both of them.
Way out of that thought pattern came Cheetah. I like how fast it is and since I’m a big F1 fan, I thought of that.
Completely unrelated though are people that mistreat animals. They should be punished way worse than they are to stop this behavior. From building wind farms and killing whales to being cruel like tying a dog to a post and leaving it during Hurricane Helene (I’m not going to link to it because it pissed me off so much).
I hope someone has a good animal story or one about a really unusual animal.
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
I grew up in Central Florida and spent the summers at the beach. It was the days before crowds and huge Condos. I lived another 2 decades in South Florida where the beach was minutes away and I took advantage of it. There were huge condos and large parking queues to get there.
I enjoyed my time there and loved it when I went.
Either my family or I owned a beach house for 4 decades so I’m quite familiar with that environment. It’s just like going to Disney, but with sand in everything.
Now, the last decade has been spent in the mountains. I’ve done both for a long time.
It’s the mountains now by a lot. Just the drive alone getting there is worth it as the view is awesome, instead of a boring flat traffic-laden drive to where everyone else is going.
I got tired of the heat, sand, tourists, and traffic that comes with the beach.
In the mountains, I can get away with no people, less traffic and when it’s 100 percent humidity and over 90 degrees at the beach, I’m enjoying the 70 degree weather. There are fewer tourists (fewer assholes) and the peace and quiet is worth it.
Maybe it’s just me, but this is an easy decision. I get to spend my summers in the beauty of what is God’s Country. They never say that about the beach.
I never think about the beach anymore, especially in the summer. I always want to get away to the mountains.
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
Jesus. I kind of don’t have to explain what he did historically, but spiritually it would mean a lot to me. I’ve got a lot of questions that I’d ask now. When I die, they won’t be important as eternity brings a whole new perspective to what life is.
There is a whole list of other figures I can think of, but they are the same as everyone else’s.
I go back and forth as to whether I’d want to meet myself at a younger age and give some advice, but then I would be changing everything in my life the way it is now.
What is your favorite month of the year
January because the holidays are over.
It is a stressful time of the year for me as there is too much going on. People are overdoing Christmas and everyone is a Griswald now.
The displays were out in September and my neighborhood is covered in Christmas trees and lights. Thanksgiving is still 2 weeks away.
When I go into the stores, I hear the same songs over and over.
It’s the commercialization of the holiday, not the meaning. I’m for celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, not a bunch of people acting happy and different, and then giving you the finger on the highway. I can’t take the lying.
It’s not the most wonderful time of the year for me.
As an introvert, it is overwhelming and I want to hide. By the 26th, no one cares anymore, and are back to their real selves. Don’t lie to me.
So when January comes, I know the next holidays are supposed to be 12 months away, but are really 8-9 at best.
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
I don’t care, I’m an introvert. I don’t even think about things this way.
It’s more likely that I’m trying to avoid any small talk if possible.
What people think of me doesn’t affect my life anymore. I used to have to pretend to care when I worked, but it wasn’t sincere concerning me being worried about what they thought of me.
It’s not narcissistic as I just don’t think this way. If they like me, fine. If they don’t, also fine. I’m nice and say hello and do the minimal banter if I can’t move on, but I just don’t think this way. Their impression is what it is and doesn’t enter my mind to worry about it.
I learned a long time ago you can do whatever you want, but people are going to make up their minds the way they want to and while you can temporarily influence it, you reveal yourself eventually.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve lost and found?
I was trout fishing in Denmark with my wife’s Brothers (I refer to them as her family as I don’t like being related to American bashers). At the height of my fishing prowess, I’d caught and released many fish while they were still rigging poles.
At some point during the day, one of my wife’s brothers lost another lure (he lost them all). I had been slaying the fish on a lucky red spinner so I gave it to him so he could catch something. Just like the rest, he lost that one also. I thought the fishing gods were against me and I’d be cursed the rest of the day. I have to admit I was a little pissed to have lost the best lure in my box. Having purchased it in America, I knew I wouldn’t be able to replace it like for like. I didn’t catch much the rest of the day.
At some point, we decided to have lunch and left one pole out just in case. My young son had come with my wife by that time and we ate leisurely.
I noticed the rod bending over and gave it to my son to reel in a very nice one. To my surprise, as I removed the lure from his mouth, I asked who had the extra red spinner they baited the hook with, and didn’t tell me.
As it turned out, the actual lure that caught the fish was still in its mouth, and on the other side was my lucky spinner. There may have been hundreds of fish in the lake and to catch the fish with the lure was remarkable. It was attached to a short piece of line so I knew it was the exact one as you couldn’t buy them in Denmark.
I put it away and decided to never fish with it again. I put it in a picture box of memories and knick-knacks on the wall and it sits there today.
What is good about having a pet?
What’s not good about having a pet?
They’re perfect for introverts. I get along with my dog better than almost all people. He loves me unconditionally. I do everything I can to take care of him and his health. I suffer for him when he’s not feeling well and take care of all his needs.
He’s right next to me as I type this.
He’s also a great reason for me to leave any gathering so that I can take him for a walk or feed him. Introverts will relate.
What will your life be like in three years?
Actually, I’m so old that it’s not going to affect me as much as it will younger generations. They will either have a chance to prosper or know what socialism is. That is what is on the table today.
I’ve slayed most of the dragons that I will in life already. I’m hoping that the nation can continue as the greatest, like the one I grew up in. We are setting up the next generation for prospering or suffering depending on who gets elected
We’ll see when they sort out the cheating and the legal stuff. A lot is on the line in this election.
What historical event fascinates you the most?
This was a conundrum for me. I was between the resurrection of Jesus and putting a man on the moon.
I know they don’t compare, but it’s what I thought of and that’s what you get when you get asked the question and answer it right away instead of putting days of thought into the question.
Both have lengthy discussions behind them that I’ll spare you. Most have already thought it out in their own minds. One is a personal belief and the other is the furthest you can be cut off from the world you could possibly be with the technology we have today.
Oh, I could ask for world peace, stuff for people I love, and the usual stuff, but my mind went to the sarcastic side as soon as I saw the question. I’m sure the readers will have far more intellectual and meaningful answers than me. But, oh well.
You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
They were asking for this one. There are a thousand best genie memes out there, but this is my favorite.
If you don’t get it, search A-10 Brrrt for the sound, but I’ll bet all guys know it already.
What major historical events do you remember?
I’m going to miss a bunch here because I’m just going to post off the top of my head. From the timeline, you can guess my age
Eisenhower was President
Cuban Missle Crisis
Kennedy assassinated
Corvette Introduced
Porsche 911 introduced
LBJ
Viet Nam
RFK/MLK Jr assassinated
Nixon
Porsche 917 won everything
Munich Olympics Terrorist murders of Israelis
Miami Dolphins became the only undefeated NFL team, and still is
Watergate
Viet Nam ended and millions murdered
Gerald Ford
Carter
Iran Hostage Crisis
Reagan
Iran Hostage Crisis ended
Tear down this Wall
The USA got better because of the President
Bush Sr
Read my lips, no new taxes
Soviet Union Collapses
Gulf War 1
Clinton
Monica Lewinsky
Bush
9/11 Terrorist attack in NYC
Gulf War 2
Afghanistan War
Kerry flip flop
Obama
Osama Bin Laden was taken out
Obamacare ruins Insurance for America and furthers us toward Socialism
Hillary
Trump
A president with dementia was installed by cheating in the election
Trump again
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Who I really am.
I’ve learned not to talk about myself other than when I type stuff here. I can’t stand when people brag and so I try not to do it. I constantly write about my introverted nature so I naturally hold back a lot of things other people can’t wait to talk about.
I’d rather people ask, I didn’t know you knew that, or how to do that than me telling them.
For all I write on my blog, I write 10 times as much about what’s going on in my life in my daily diary. It’s where I work stuff out in life and write it before I have to say it when it’s tough stuff that has to be dealt with.
No one would believe who I really am if they read what I write in private.
What principles define how you live?
Easy, The Ten Commandments.
Generations before we got them on Mount Sinai, Cain killed Abel and even then he knew it was wrong. The rules are written on your heart. It’s just whether you choose to obey them or not.
It’s the same with kids. They know when they did wrong before they were told. That’s how early we understand them
If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?
Samaritan’s Purse..
They are the group that has helped the Helene victims the most. They have the people’s interest in mind, both body and soul, more than everyone else.
The government hasn’t done much more than get in the way, but a week before FEMA came, Samaritan’s Purse was set up, cleaning up and distributing aid and medical assistance.
nuff said.
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
How about my whole childhood.
I was the youngest in every class due to my birthday. In reality, I should have started school a year later than I did, but I was able to keep up academically so no one did anything.
As a result, I was a year behind everyone in maturity. I was always small and learned a lot of social things after the others already knew. It made for a tough time. It was particularly awkward in the whole girl/boy life dance as the girls were a year older, but years older in maturity and size for many of them. Most of them stopped maturing at the end of high school as I discovered in conversations with them later. I was just beginning to catch up the end of high school. Kids are cruel though so it was tough.
I caught and passed almost all of them because it drove me to succeed after banging my head against the wall of life up until that time.
I got no help from my sibling who was 2 years older, but only one grade ahead due to the birthday timing. When She could have helped, she jumped on the side of the other kids to make my life a lot more difficult than it needed to be.
It made me tougher in the long run. I had to figure out how to be street smart without any directions. Like the song Night Moves, I was searching for answers without any clues.
So childhood, I spent a lot of it out of place.
Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
I lived for over 20 years without one. No GPS to drive. No cell phone to text. I can do math in my head and write in cursive. I took a chemistry class with a slide rule.
We used to say we’d meet friends in a particular place at a certain time. Occasionally we’d have to use a payphone, but many times it was a handwritten list of directions. We all got there, mostly on time and at the right place.
Sure it makes a lot of stuff easier, but I did all of my thesis papers without Google and used the library as my search engine. I still type, but I learned on a typewriter.
My sense of direction is much sharper than the computer kids as is my grasp of a lot of knowledge and pattern recognition.
I think it would be slower, but I’d have a helluva lot easier time than any of the alphabet generations would. They laugh at OK Boomer, but have no idea that we can do a lot more when the power is out and there is no internet.
We just went through Helene and I was fine with no power, no internet and survival instincts I learned growing up.
In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?
This one is easy. My Mom told me about this when I was young. It’s our task in life to overcome. You have to climb the mountain and achieve.
To leave it there is easy and lazy, but the question is about being fulfilled. You feel that way when you achieve, accomplish, or figure out the difficult issues in life.
Humans need to over overcome. Complacency is unfulfilling.
What brands do you associate with?
Anything not woke to start with. As soon as they start the DEI crap, I won’t buy it or even walk into their store.
Now that we have that out of the way….
I told my wife that if she died, I’d buy a Ferrari. I’ve always been a Porsche fan, but I’ve had 3 of them.
What’s your all-time favorite album?
This should cause controversy. It is entirely personal
Led Zeppelin 2,3,4 Houses of the Holy or Physical Graffiti.
Living and dying in 3/4 Time, Son of a Son of a Sailor – Jimmy Buffett
Boston
5th Gear (Brad Paisley)
I could go on and on, but I’ll let others chime in
Here’s the list of best selling albums, but some people have strange taste. Linkin Park, Brittany Spears, Eminem are on the list.
We had the best songs and bands in the 70’s. It’s why they keep doing covers of them.
Best name? You can Tune a Piano, but you can’t Tunafish.
What would your life be like without music?
Although I am a trained musician with years of theory, the absence of music affects me like a lot of people. It is a part of much of my time, both physically and mentally.
I have it going anytime I exercise, which is nearly every day. I have biking playlists (3 hours) and gym playlists. Hell, this morning, I was listening to soft music at the driving range. While it doesn’t seem logical, I have a waterproof iPod that I use when swimming. I do miles at a time so it’s not your basic up and back and be done. That would be a lot more tedious once you go over 100 laps.
Where it gets me though is when I’m listening to a song (usually while driving) and it brings back a memory of a relationship or a time in my life. I relive it in my head and likely write pages in my diary about it. It is usually about growing up because the best music was from the 70’s.
I’m sure everyone does it, but I doubt they explore it in writing to flush out everything that happened when that song was on the radio.
Lately, I’ve forced myself to listen to songs that remind me of my cheating girlfriend who was a traveling whore (stewardess). I try to make myself see if I have any feelings and there is nothing left. I’ve emptied that tank other than the fact that it happened. I’m mostly grateful I didn’t wind up with her ass, being miserable.
Mostly, I’m very happy to feel the time in my life when my responsibilities were few and life was carefree and deadline free.
That’s what music does for me
How do you celebrate holidays?
I avoid them as much as possible.
I hate my birthday because the only real birthday happened a long time ago.
Christmas starts in September now and I’m fatigued by the time it comes. I don’t think most people believe in the real reason for Christmas anyway. They just want to decorate and get gifts. I question their sincerity when they are all nice in the season, yet give me the finger while driving.
As usual, because I’m an introvert, I have a hard time processing the attention and wish that it would just be over.
What’s your favorite word?
Perspicacious – of acute mental vision or discernment.
Synonyms:
shrewd, sagacious, perspicacious, astute mean acute in perception and sound in judgment.
shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.
a shrewd judge of character
sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.
sagacious investors got in on the ground floor
perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.
a perspicacious counselor saw through the child’s facade
astute, suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.
an astute player of party politics
What are you doing this evening?
Reading a book. Not watching the debate.
I already know who I’m voting for so I don’t need it to decide. Plus, the amount of media bias on display is too much for me to watch.
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
My first thought was the usual red flags for dating girls. There are the usuals like too many tats, piercings, hair dyed an unnatural color, and feminist attire.
Then it occurred to me that those are for the dating crowd. For me, it is chatty females. When they start in on nothing just because they can’t handle silence, I’m out of there. I can’t take small talk. I will talk for hours on something deep, but yapping just for the sake of talking is a red flag. That is the introvert in me coming out
When thinking deeper about the question and including the population of the world, the clear answer was disloyalty. That is the end of a relationship for me. Once that line is crossed, I can’t go back. Once you stab me in the back, that’s it.
Shout out to my college girlfriend who slept around I found out afterwards. This blog is for you.
If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?
When this question first came up, the obvious thought of particular swear words or a pejorative towards feminists crossed my mind.
When reading the biography of Ben Franklin, he inspired me in a different direction. It would be to not use a word that could be judged as egotistical or one that tried to convince someone of your position. Rather, he supposed was if you could inform or educate someone to come to a more enlightened position rather than beat them over the head (which I do here) with your beliefs, you are a better man.
What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?
Exercise, both my body and mind. I swim miles, climb mountains on my bike, play golf, Tai Chi, and take my dog for long walks.
I continue to study foreign languages and take college level courses. I read a lot of books also. I’ve always loved that.
This keeps me busy. It’s hard to stay young.
What TV shows did you watch as a kid?
I grew up in the 60’s before they took off the good TV because it was wholesome, albeit not something that challenged our intelligence.
So it was Batman (Adam West), Gilligans Island (My Mom hated us watching that), The Beverly Hillbilies, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie (Even then I knew Barbara Eden was hot), The Wild Wild West, Green Acres and some others of this ilk.
They wiped all of those out for the next round, but we still had WKRP, Taxi, Barney Miller and some of those that were good.
What’s your favorite time of day?
When I am alone. I need this time to recharge my social batteries and recover from small talk.
When I was hunting and fishing, I’d get up early. So early that not even the dog would get up with me. No one was yapping at me and I could get things done.
Now, I’ve retired and my outdoor activities are different, but the common element is that they are things I do by myself.
You can take the introvert out of the country, but you can’t change his human nature.
Where did your name come from?
I’m not going to put my full name out in public for privacy reasons, but my middle name is Dutch and my last name is a version of the French name my ancestors came to the US with.
I’m also a namesake so add a Jr on to the end of my name. I’m proud of my father so I’m glad to have the same name.
What motivates you?
I don’t have to be motivated. It comes from within. I was born with a sense of responsibility that causes me to do what needs doing. I also prioritize it over other things because it is the right thing to do. That is life, work, and the stuff you have to do.
I think it comes from my father who always did a complete job until it was right. It rarely took him two tries
It’s why I never understood people who let things go
Now for stuff I want to do, I know that there is some sacrifice to become good at anything. It was that was for all of my avocations and is what keeps me healthy.
It’s the right thing to do, period.
What is a word you feel that too many people use?
Literally
Amazing
Like
Basically
Just
Actually
Really
Obviously
Honestly
Apparently
Kind of
Sort of
In my opinion (IMO)
At the end of the day
To be honest
You know
I mean
Definitely
Absolutely
Bonus, a list of phrases I felt were overused also
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
A Swiss Army knife of life tools. I couldn’t narrow this down to just one so here’s some. I bet bocopro has the best answer though. Maybe others want weigh in.
Your wits, self-control, belief in God, knowledge you’ve learned from the hard lessons in life, pattern recognitions, martial arts skills, situational awareness of your surroundings, and perhaps a 1911.
Externally, I’m never without a knife of some kind and breath mints which are always in my truck.
What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
When I started hunting, I had to buy a tree stand, camo clothes, a gun, and corn to grow to in a field to attract them. I then had to get the tools to process the deer after harvesting it and the same for my son.
I could have bought a venison dinner for under $50 bucks, but probably spent thousands on that first meal.
Absolutely worth it and every deer after that. I guess the cost of the above listed amortized over all the deer, but that first one cost a lot.
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?
Making my kids eat everything on their plate.
I had to finish everything when I was young. My Dad would sit at the table while I chewed tough meat like I was chewing gum forever. This was after the others left.
Or my personal worst, choking down boiled okra. That slimy shit made me gag and I suffered through it until it was done. I think after a while my Mom had either mercy on me or tried to serve something I could finish.
I made sure my kids had enough to eat and that there was healthy food on their plate. When they were full and I believed it, I ended the pain for both of us. They grew up and survived, but then I guess I did also.
I always tried to learn from what they did right and wrong. There are lessons in both.
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?
Nowhere.
Travel is such a piece of crap anymore (Crowdstrike anyone) that I’d prefer not to travel by air.
Let’s see, TSA hassle, waiting in lines to be in a tube with a bunch of people I’d never choose to be with, being a mule that has to haul around your life in a box while you are gone, no. Then going to places that I don’t really want to go to (or I would have) while having to live out of a suitcase.
On top of that, Boeing just paid mega millions for building faulty airplanes so I don’t trust them either (DEI anyone?).
Even if you had the total first-class package, the flight part is over relatively quickly and you are stuck somewhere until you can get home. You still have to wait in the airports and if there is a delay, you are as screwed as everyone else
This is like the travel question a few days ago. Get a nice summer house and enjoy a relaxing time
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
Before I start, I’m betting that people who read my blog have better answers than me. It’s usually the case. I enjoy the comments and it’s eye-opening.
I was a martial artist for years. I learned that you need balance in your life. Mine are Spirit, Mind and Body. I guess I knew it all along, but that experience put words to it.
For Spirit, you need a relationship with God at the forgiveness level. Others believe in their own thing.
For Mind, I take University classes, write extensively, and keep learning. I try to find patterns and opportunities as they present themselves to me in life. You have to challenge your mind or it will become stale. I also learn foreign languages from the dreaded Duolingo.
For Body, I work out six days a week. I bike the mountains, lift weights, Tai Chi, golf and keep myself moving. If you don’t, your body starts the process of decay. At my age, it’s already happening.
The other thing I do is stay away from people who make my life miserable. I don’t have that much time left and spending it with those who are unpleasant isn’t worth it.
What are your future travel plans?
I’m doing it right now.
Instead of waiting at an airport with flights canceled by computer glitches, I’m up in the mountains where it is 30 degrees warmer than home. The food is grown on organic farms nearby and traffic is rare. The only sound I hear while typing this is birds chirping and my dog is at my feet.
I traveled for business for many decades. It was a time when you got service and comfort. Those are long gone now replaced by inconvenience and a general lack of concern by the service and travel industries.
There isn’t much to make me want to get on another cattle car to go wait in lines.
I also grew up in Central Florida before Disney World was built. I watched people pay exorbitant prices to wait for hours in the blazing sun for hours. I went at night or in the 2 weeks that are the Florida winter when my friends who worked there gave me tickets. That isn’t my idea of fun either.
I’d still like to hear from those who like it. It counter balances my position
What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?
Once again, you get the introvert answer. I loathe those long assed games where people get together and socialize for hours playing Monopoly or Bridge. I’m ready to leave before it starts.
I had the chance to play video games in 1981 before Nintendo came out with the orange button controller. I knew then that I didn’t have time to waste playing the same scenario over and over, although I get the attraction to others.
If I play a card game, it’s going to be solitaire. I don’t really play it anymore, rather spend my time writing and learning, but anytime I can do something to not drain my social battery quickly.
I played golf yesterday. I can be alone there also. I have my earbuds in and tune out the world.
Which activities make you lose track of time?
Writing. Note, I want to hear from my reader nicknamed bocopro who has great comments every time. It turns out that he’s a better writer than me and his stuff is funny to read. He has a lifetime of experience to draw upon and I like hearing from the readers.
While I do a lot of physical activities, I’m able to stay in the present about what is going on around me or in life. When I start writing, especially in a personal journal where I pour out my heart on my feelings or memories, I can get lost for a long time.
Occasionally, if I go back to read those words, I can relive that time of the actual occurrence and the time when I wrote it. I feel those feelings deeply and once in a while I am proud of what I wrote.
What bothers you and why?
This goes like the line, how do I love you, let me count the ways. The list is endless and sometimes I feel like Clint Eastwood with, get off my lawn.
Rather than make a list, I’ll stick to my introverted life and go with small talk. Introverts have a low tolerance for conversation that isn’t meaningful or that isn’t going anywhere. When you are young, you might put up with it for a longer time or if there is a worthwhile reward (employment, sex, etc.). That reward is less as you move on in life.
Conversely, I love deep and engaging conversation, that is intellectually stimulating. Even then, there is a time limit and I need to recover.
I’ve learned to say yes, good, right, fine, good point, and anything that could end the conversation and not leave it open-ended.
If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite?
I had this question at a team meeting years ago at IBM. An answer that I thought was better than mine came from another person. This is how it went.
I’d invite myself from 20 years ago, now, and 20 years from now. It would allow me to forgive myself for the mistakes I’ve made, congratulate myself for the things I’d overcome, and get advice from the future me on how to live my life.
While it seems a bit narcissistic, fundamentally it would be sound advice.
I forget what I answered, but I’m pretty sure Jesus and my parents who had since passed were some of my guests.
What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
I’m retired. I was tired yesterday and I’ll be retired today. I have all the time in the world to sleep and now I can’t pull it off like the good old days
I go to bed when I’m tired. Sleep can be a battle anyway when you get older. I get as much as I can so getting a head start is not unknown to me.
As far as waking up? I don’t have a real choice in that matter either. If the sun is up, I’m hosed. I just have to hope I have enough by then. I’m glad I don’t live in Northern Europe where the sun is up by 4:30.
Then there is the fun game that seasoned citizens play called get up to pee. There is no telling how many times that will happen. That can throw a spanner in the works of trying to get back to sleep. An all nighter for me would be not having to piss, but I can’t remember that happening in a decade.
What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?
Yes, it’s Introvert time again. I am more comfortable alone than I am among a lot of people. While it’s possible to be alone in a crowd (introvert strategy here), it still comes with stress.
I also hate deadlines and the stress that comes with making it. I try to get stuff done well in advance so I don’t have to deal with it at crunch time.
Oh, and avoid family reunions as much and as often as possible.
I’m sure others have much better strategies to increase their comfort, but here’s my .02.
Describe your most memorable vacation.
I’ve been on vacations as a kid, with that family growing up. I was kind of a tag along and did what my parents decided mostly. We went to the beach a lot growing up in Florida. That meant I grew up next to Disney World. Heck, we didn’t even have Disney until 8th grade for me. My memories there are of playing alone next to the ocean in my own world.
Then came vacations with a different family, my wife and kids. We traveled around the world. They were good times that I’ll remember while taking one kid fishing everywhere and the other doing anything to keep her from being bored. There was no time to recover or recharge my social battery.
Later in life I did stuff like sailfishing in Costa Rica or going to F1 in Italy and again they were good, but stressful trying to catch planes and waiting in huge crowds. I still had to rush to catch planes and was a mule hauling luggage around the world.
As always though, my introvert self comes out. Vacations where you are always on the run and trying to make everyone happy wore my social battery out to the point that I’d need a vacation to recover from vacation.
Now, I just go to the mountains where there aren’t many people and I can relax without having people acting like tourists or waiting in line. I have my stuff in my place and I can do gardening and tree trimming out in field with no one telling me what to do.
Not having the next deadline or trying to catch the next plane is my favorite.
Delusions of Adequacy 