Memoir

Ballast

Ballast Yesterday I went to the rock store for the first time in a long time. I’ve used rock products around the property for a number of purposes over the past few years. I first bought a truckload of mixed size river rock of assorted coloration. I remember well thinking that I was smart to lay down a blue tarp on my upper driveway on which to have the rock dumped. Let’s put it this…

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Politics

My Politics

My Politics I don’t make much of a secret about my political leanings. I keep telling myself that I need to tone it down, but everything going on in the political arena makes it increasingly difficult to do so. Last night I was watching a new series Kim and I are following called Loudermilk and the aggressively outspoken protagonist, who is a [published music critic and currently an addicted drug and alcohol counselor, tries to…

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Politics

Trump & Gaza

Trump & Gaza My morning has started with two pieces of news that may seem disconnected, but which I connect in a very direct sense in my mind. To begin with, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as the unconditional release of all hostages. This may sound like the same resolution put forth by the United States last Friday, but apparently both Russia…

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Business Advice Love Politics

Saving the Planet

Saving the Planet There are many big issues that can overwhelm us and make us small, insignificant and. Probably first among those issues, alongside world peace and the need for universal fairness and equality, is climate change. What used to be a hotly debated and very politicized issue has, through our day-to-day life experiences, particularly with the changing weather patterns, become more of a foregone conclusion. What we are left with is the big question…

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Memoir Politics

Seeing Further

Seeing Further Whenever I finish a blog story, I try to give myself a head start on the next story by creating a template and a title to get myself going. I usually write to suit that title and only occasionally find myself writing something for which a better title is required. Having just finished writing a story this morning and just finished Round 8 with my big life insurance carrier (I sent them a…

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Memoir

Pot Running

Pot Running We lead an exciting life here on the hilltop. Yes, I have a supply of CBD gummies to help with sleep (though I have only tried them once and felt nothing). I also have some CBD /THC salve for my back that was given to me by my friend Rob from Colorado (I only tried that once as well…and never inhaled). But none of that makes me uninterested in pot acquisition at every…

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Business Advice Politics

Trump & Pump [Special Edition]

Trump and Pump Just this morning I read that the plan to take Truth Social public through the Digital World Acquisitions (DWAC) SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) was getting derailed by one aberrant investor that wanted to get a bigger piece of the pie. There was a certain ironic justice in that potential outcome of derailing Trump’s latest get-rich-quick scheme, but alas, I see that the vote went through anyway, which means that someone prevailed…

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Fiction/Humor Memoir

Cybertruck

Cybertruck Last night we had dinner with brother-in-law Jeff and his wife Lisa and their friends George & Julie. We have known George & Julie for most of the last four years, almost entirely from going to dinner with them when they and Jeff & Lisa get together. The normal drill is to meet at Sushi Yama in Escondido for their collective fix of raw fish. Fortunately for me, they also serve gyoza and yakisoba,…

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Fiction/Humor Memoir

Ice Ice Baby

Ice Ice Baby Yesterday I planted eight flats of ice plants (technically, a succulent called Aizoaceae) both along the road and up in the Betty Garden behind the garage. I remember reading somewhere that the early explorers of California were attracted to the shore by seeing bright colorful flowers along the coast, so naturally, I assumed they were talking about ice plants since their colors are so very vibrant. But ice plants are natives of…

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Retirement

A Nice Week Ahead

A Nice Week Ahead I read that Spring has come early all across the country, but that is deemed a mixed blessing at best. This was supposed to be a particularly harsh El Niño winter, but at least here in Southern California, that feels like it barely materialized. It’s always nice when the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow and we get an early Spring, but I should note that Groundhog Day was just over six…

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