This coming Friday is Valentine’s Day. A day for lovers. Yes, I’m talking to you, Romeo (or Juliet, but now that I’m thinking about how they turned out, maybe that’s a bad example). The greeting card and gift industry will tell you that’s it’s time to splurge on that special someone. Buy them flowers, candy, a card, or something else dripped in hearts, chocolate, or blazing red. Maybe take them out for an expensive dinner or weekend getaway – got…
This past week, I received word that an old friend of mine from back in my Florida days had passed away at the relatively young age of 58. His name was John Caylor. I know that name probably means nothing to you, but it did to me. Apparently, he had been suffering from a brain injury over the past five years and finally succumbed to his condition. I hadn’t seen or spoken with John for over fifteen years. I had…
I finally snipped my tether to the working world this past January 1st and entered the wonderful world of retirement, so for those of you who may be thinking about doing the same (or just want to read about how the other half lives), here’s an update from one month in. Finances While I’m already living on my day-to-day retirement budget, the final payments from various agencies are still trickling in (state retirement payback, final work checks, etc.), so I’m…
Well, it’s a new year and the pundits and prognosticators of the food world are weighing in, telling the eating public what to expect regarding food trends for the new year. Here are just a few things they say we’ll be seeing more of in restaurants, food trucks, and other eateries. Freeze-Dried Treats You’ve probably already seen these at a few specialty food stores or even in some big-box department stores that have food items. Freeze dried candies (think Skittles…
Now that I’m retired, one of the “hobbies” that I can concentrate more on is my love for card games, and in this case – poker. Sure, there are lots of variations of the game: 5-card stud, 5-card draw, 7-card, Hi-Lo, and many others. I like them all, but the one that I concentrate on the style that seems to fascinate spectators the most (and garners the most money and prestige) is Texas Hold-Em. For those of you who need…
Happy 2025, fellow readers! I hope you all had a great holiday season. I know I did. The flurry and busy schedules of the holidays are now over, and we’ve been slowly taking down the Christmas decorations (the worst job in the world) and returning the house to its “normal” state (which always looks so empty for the first few days). Anyway, this post is about January. Now, I don’t want to know about your soon-to-be-failed resolutions. I can lie…
It’s finally here! As of this coming Friday, I’m hanging up my cleats on the working world. I’ve spent the last forty years working (and saving) in some form or fashion, and it’s time to step away and spend my remaining active years doing what I want, not what some boss tells me to do. I’m getting out at the young age of 57, thanks in most part to disciplined investing and saving my pennies in my early years (take…
As I’m sure you’ve noticed at this time of year, it certainly does get dark early in the evenings. Now I’m about to throw some science at you, so if you’re one of those “flat-earthers” or someone who believes that the Apollo moon missions were faked, you may want to click on to something else this week. Are they gone yet? Good – bunch of dirt-eaters. Anyway, as I was saying, due to the tilt of the earth, we’re leaning…
Thanksgiving Day is behind us, I’ve had countless leftover turkey sandwiches, and now the focus is on decorating the house for the Christmas holidays. My house is a 1927 craftsman beauty, with lots of wide wood trim, a staircase, a bow front window, and a corner fireplace. It just screams “decorate me!” during the holiday season. It also begs to be adorned in a particular style. No pinks or blues, no modern art pieces or crazy digital displays. No sir,…
It’s a busy week at my house. We’re moving my daughter into her DC apartment, I’m trying to tie up what seems like a thousand loose ends at work before I officially retire at the end of the year, there’s a Thanksgiving meal to plan and prep for, and then there’s the ominous spectre of holiday shopping and decorating just beyond this week’s horizon. In other words – I’ve got a lot going on. I’m sure you do as well….