"Red Avalanche, Grey Envoy", a book of fiction by B. Scott Williams. Part one - "The Fjord" Chapter one - Southbound. The tall, overweight man stands with a dozen others, on the street corner, waiting for the next Southbound bus to arrive and take everyone to their suburban homes. He's tired after a day at the office, typing away at his keyboard: Type. Type. Type. Click, drag, drop, … [Read more...]

My best friend's mom passed way on Wednesday. She was 97. Please keep Kelsey and his family in your thoughts. Thank you. … [Read more...]

Before I turned on my "find your device" app (see previous post), I was out in my truck searching for my phone. My next door neighbor pulls into her driveway, opens her car window, and calls my name. This is pretty rare for her. Although we lived next door for the past ten years, we usually just wave, and just say "hi". I get out of my truck and walk over to her. She starts telling me about how … [Read more...]

What the heck: flipping channels in the hotel room, coming across "The Match Game", with Alec Baldwin as the host, even including the iconic Gene Rayburn (stylish) microphone (long and skinny). Always loved him in Hunt for Red October. Even more than Harrison Ford. I know he was in "hit" TV series 30rock (never watched it), but, now, a game show host?? … [Read more...]

Eating at the "first" place off the "freeway", a few miles from the hotel. Fortunately it's a pub/grill (not fast food), and going to be eating some yummy "buffalo" tacos soon. Five hour drive, could have done it in 4-1/2, but made a wrong turn somewhere near Stevens Point, making me go South, instead of continuing Eastbound. Unfortunately, when you do this (here in WI), the exits are ten miles … [Read more...]

I've been following a "anti-body-shaming activist" on my FB feed. They recently posted a status update, having 29 hashtags. I'm not a Twitter person, and I believe I do understand the purpose of hashtags, but isn't it overkill to give a post that many? Do you think they are all her hashtags, or a combination of her tags and others? Do you then go out to all of those hashtags to review the … [Read more...]

Eye care corneal sub-specialist appointment for corneal examination scheduled two months from now. Talking about a doctor having a busy schedule! They say for me to block out two hours for the exam. Was really hoping to get in much sooner than that. … [Read more...]

Had lunch with BFF Rick yesterday. We ate, at his suggestion, at a new place called "Shake Shack", supposedly known for their awesome burgers. Huh. Wasn't impressed. Later on, we walked around MOA, getting in our ten mile hike, like usual (jk), and of course, we walked past Lindt Chocolatiers. They were having a sale (of course), a bag of 35 truffles - $16. Thirty five is plenty for me. On the … [Read more...]

Let's start at the beginning. The eyes have been failing me for quite some time now. I've always had nearsighted vision ever since fifth grade. Always needed a new (increased) prescription every few years. After getting my last prescription, I noticed it didn't help very much, and, during my last year at USPS, I noticed my eyesight was worsening, both while staring at the PC screen on my job, or … [Read more...]

All morning long, off in the distance (behind the two story townhouses that face my front yard. (I.e, the next street over), there's been this stupid on-going noise - it's one of those small construction things with a shovel / scoop on the front, and a guy in a cage driving it (what are those called?). Anyway, every time it backs up, the safety beeper starts beeping. No big deal - we just need to … [Read more...]

Over the 40 plus years I've been shaving, I have alternated between replaceable cartridge blade razors and electric/rechargeable razors. The majority of time has been using the replaceable cartridge kind. I've probably bought at least 3, and perhaps as many as 4 or 5 electric razors in those forty years. Allways, after a period of time, migrating back to the replaceable cartridges for some … [Read more...]

I have a used 3rd generation iPad that hasn't seen use for a couple of years. I've decided to give it away (free). This is not an iPad Air, so, it's a bit heavier than the newer versions. In order to make this fair, I've chosen a number in the range of 1 to 10,000. If you would like to be a part of this lotto, send me a PM with your guess. The person closest to my chosen number will get the iPad. … [Read more...]

I must be the cheapest new (contract) employee around. My recruiter shared with me the name of a hotel in Appleton, WI, that Thrivent recommends. Without using any corporate discount rate code (since I don't know it), the room rate is $200+ a night. I don't think so. Once I get the corporate code (you would think it would "thriveent"), maybe the rate would go down to a more respectable $100 or … [Read more...]

Went to the grocery store last night. Picked up a few pasta items (ravioli, lasagna, and tortellini), and some pasta sauce. Knew I needed some Parmesan cheese. Got some salad. Got a loaf of Italian (French?) bread. Got feta and blue cheese crumbs (for the salads) Forgot the Parmesan cheese. Argh. I.cannot.live.without.my.parmesan.cheese. (i didn't forget my Hersey chocolate bars though!) … [Read more...]

I was born in 1959. Making me 9 years old in 1968, during the time of the riots happening across the country, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the beginning of the Vietnam war protests (which means I was 12-13 in 1971-72). Being nine yours old, a kid of that age is still quite innocent, and not at all knowledgable or caring about anything happening outside his … [Read more...]