June 29, 2016 - The Groundhog

Call me Carl, the groundskeeper.

Because, just like in the movie Caddyshack, I'm locked in battle with a groundhog.

We have a groundhog, whom I've named Gary.  All is fine as long as he stays in the field and minds his own business.  The problem is, he likes to use the same part of the yard that we do. Specifically, the flower garden.

Living under the deck, we're good with that. Up on the hill? Fantastic! But the garden is off limits.

But in the garden he is.  Digging around, making holes that can catch a foot and twist an ankle or knee. And making a burrow hole right in front of the small wooden bridge over an ornamental dry riverbed. Not that we use the bridge that much, but when grandchildren come, it is all too easy for a small foot to go down the hole, causing a fall.

I've stuffed the hole with rocks, fair sized ones, but Gary is not to be deterred.  A day or two later, and he has made the opening bigger, and pushed the rocks aside.  I've done that several times, trying to see who is going to give up first.

I guess he won that round, because I'm no longer stuffing rocks in the hole. Instead, I've got a big rock that I rolled over to the bridge and covered the hole with it. I figure if I can't lift it, he can't either!  Some more rocks around it, so he doesn't just tunnel around it, and the addition of wind chimes hoping they might scare/annoy him. It's been four days now, and I'm winning - just like Carl in Caddyshack.

I'm alright.

June 27, 2016 - Hats

I should get a hat.

I've been spending more time outdoors this summer, mostly doing yard work, and think that at my age buying a hat is probably a good idea.

The problem is, I'm not a big fan of hats - I don't think I've had one since I had a cowboy/straw hat when I was little. And I'm not usually thinking far enough ahead to get sunscreen. So, I think a hat may the the obvious choice for me.

Obvious to everyone but me, I suppose.  I am going bald, and don't mind that. But it does mean that I have more exposed skin on my head to burn if I get out into the sun too much. Because I've never tried to hide my growing bald spot, I've never gotten into the habit of trying to cover it up by wearing the ubiquitous ball hat.

So, hat shopping looks like it has added itself to my to-do list.

My problem is that deep down I don't think I am a hat wearer, and I'm not sure I can become one. Plus, I do feel that if I am going to have to wear a hat, it should be something personal to me and my style. So, ball hats are out.

I live on the east coast, so the predominate hat appeal is ball caps, and not much else really. I don't think I could pull off a really nice hat, like a Stetson or a Panama. So I will probably be looking at the cheaper styles/brands. Plus, it will after all, be an outdoor working in the yard kind of hat.

I think I see a beer store giveaway hat in my future.

June 25, 2016 - Cookbooks

How many cookbooks do you need?

From where I sit, I can see eight. There are over 30 within ten feet of me, and I'm not in the kitchen. That's not counting the ones on the bookshelf upstairs, or the ones in boxes in the basement.

Plus there are online sources, and the recipes that got printed out to try, or to save.

One of the best organizational ideas we have had, was to print and laminate the recipes we like, and store them in a binder as our 'go-to' recipes.

If I had to start over again (and I might), I think I would keep the binder idea but I would run the recipes through a word processor first. Mostly to standardize formatting, but also to incorporate changes, and cooking notes.

I have started to write a notebook with some of my favorites. I know that goes against what I just said about running recipes through a word processor, but I do have a reason.

I have a nephew who is 16 now, and he will soon be embarking on his life journey, making his own way. I also have some hand written recipes from my mom, dad and grandparents that I would like to share with him.

I am hoping to finish up the notebook before he starts university. I would like to give it to him so he can cook tasty meals for himself, plus have some family recipes. Basically, the things I didn't have when I was first away from home.

But I won't give him a cookbook.

June 24, 2016

I have a lot of pictures.

I mean, boxes and boxes of pictures, negatives and slides. And they need to be organized.

I have not just all the pictures I have taken for forty years, but my brothers and grandparents pictures as well.

The newer pictures, digital, are much easier to deal with. They already are dated, so all I need to do is tag them with keywords - location and who is in them.

The prints are probably the next easiest to deal with. They can easily be scanned and then tagged with keywords. The only point of failure is my memory. As the last surviving member of my immediate family, I am the last person who stands a chance of being able to identify subjects and locations. Fortunately, many are marked on the back, so it isn't an impossible task.

More problematic are the negatives and slides. I still haven't completely figured out a way to deal with them. I will probably have to buy a scanner and then go at it frame by frame. Did I mention I have boxes and boxes of slides and negatives?

It's going to be an expensive project in terms of time. And certainly a trip down memory lane. People who are no longer with us, places from past visits and homes. And many of those odd pictures we take, thinking we will remember them. It is amazing how much we can remember from the vantage point of years later.

I think maybe in the fall, I will start a plan to organize the pictures. Far enough in the future to take the pressure off, not so far off that it won't get done.

And I should allow time for the photographs I continue to take.

June 23, 2016

I got my first camera when I was  teenager.

I'm not a teenager any more, but I still have that camera. Along with many more I aquired over the years, sometimes out of a desire for something shiny. Sometimes to try something new.

Today, I am more likely to take a picture with my phone rather than a purpose built camera. I comfort myself with the knowledge that the best camera is the one you have with you.

From where I sit, I can see my phone plugged into the charger. I have a digital camera in a drawer an arm's reach away, and to my right I have a film camera out in the open.

I think it's clear I get more enjoyment from film camera than any other kind. To me, that forty year old film camera is more like photography than a cell phone is. More work, certainly, but also more fun and a connection to my past. Learning about photography from my brother, and dad. Having my own darkroom set up in a closet.

I like the limit of film - a fixed number of exposures before having to put a new roll in the camera. Having to focus manually, and set the camera controls for each shot. Learning how to shoot slide film, more finicky and expensive than the black and white I normally shot. There was a magic in getting a box of slides back in the mail. Looking to see what pictures turned out best, and, over time, seeing how I was advancing technically.

I still have my darkroom equipment, in storage in the basement. And a film camera in plain view.

I think today is the day I shoot some film.

June 21, 2016

I love radio.

Even though I can play cd's and cassettes in my car, I almost never do. Instead the radio is on. The presets are all used, for our national broadcaster, to local stations and stations a town or two away.

I remember when radio was king when you were in your car, the deejays your friend, entertaining and informing you. Talking to you, in fact. And bringing you music. In the days before smartphones and streaming apps, it was not uncommon to sit in the car, waiting for the song to end.

Music was the commodity - and great music. Each announcer got to pick what he played, so you listened to the ones that played the most music you liked.

But not anymore. Now, it's computer generated playlists with the announcer allowed to talk occasionally. No more free-form radio. No more songs and artists you may never had heard of before. Now radio is about musical nostalgia. And announcers are more likely to be spending time on social media, reposting links from other websites - pretending they are producing content, while they read from Wikipedia.

There is a local announcer who considers himself to be a real music buff, and knowledgeable about music and the bands. But most of what he says is straight from Wikipedia, and even then he can get things pretty mangled. Last week I heard him talk about famed violinist Stephane Grapalinni. Really? Maybe he meant Stephane Grappelli? That was after he also talked about the all-girl group from Europe - the Cherry Bombs featuring Joan Jett. I'm pretty sure he meant the Runaways from America. But, hey, he got Joan Jett's name right!

Announcers don't seem to have the passion for the music anymore, or the knowledge. And if you're going to give out wrong information, why should I listen? I can stream music without interruption, or get satellite radio and listen to someone who at least tries to get it right.

I miss radio with talent.

June 19, 2016

I bought another pen.

However, in my defense, I also took almost two dozen pens to work and left them on a desk. My hope is that other people will use them, and like all office pens, their numbers will dwindle.

I also managed to throw out another half dozen pens that no longer worked. Since my goal is to have less, so far I'm winning.

But the pen I bought is such a joy to use.  That may sound a little over the top, but I am particular (some might say peculiar) about what I write with.

It is an orange Caran d'Ache 849.  I like the colour, although it's on the bright side for me for an everyday carry pen. I might have to get another in a more suitable colour. But it is a great replacement for my Parker Flighter GT.

It just writes well. The ink starts as I put it to paper, no skipping or scratchiness. It's a bit shorter than my Parker, which itself is shorter than the TWSBI I've used the last few weeks. The hexagonal body is made of aluminum, so it is very light in hand, lighter than the TWSBI which also has a metal hehexagonal body.

Since I tend to write fairly small, I need a pen that doesn't skip, doesn't need a lot of pressure to write, and puts down a fairly fine line. This pen hits all those marks for me.

I can see another one in my future.

June 17, 2016

I am against 'multi.'

We seem to be surrounded by a culture of 'multi' - multipurpose, multiuse and multitasking.

The best definition I have seen about multitasking is that it is doing several things poorly, instead of one thing well. I agree with that, as long as we agree that multitasking is not the same as multiprocessing.

To my way of thinking, an activity such as juggling or driving is multiprocessing. You are performing different, but related, actions to complete a single task.

Multitasking is more like thinking in English, speaking in German and writing in French, simultaneously. Each task requires a different approach and brain process, and are not a set of tasks that are usually done together (at least not well).

We should be asking ourselves, do we need these jobs done well, or at all?  If done well, then single tasking is the way to go - it allows the time to get it right, to properly finish and to have it done once without the need for correction or the need to do it again.

I've often heard the phrase, any job worth doing, is worth doing well. I believe that. But, no one ever really asks that if the job is not worth doing well, or not worth the time/effort to do right, is it worth doing at all?

Along with the adage 'finish what you start,' we should ask 'should I start?'

June 16, 2016

I'm trying to simplify my life.

That means going against my impulses to buy, collect or hoard things. It means getting rid of excess possessions, and rationalizing what I keep.

One of the things I've been trying to pare down is my everyday carry, or EDC as you often see it on the internet. That is the things you carry everyday or always have with you.

There is an attraction to being prepared and able to take care of every situation that comes up. But the downside is that you wind up with more stuff. Not just more stuff, but portable versions of things you may already own and have to organize and integrate into your lifestyle.

I think that last bit is important. It's very easy to get bogged down with lots of extra stuff, but simplifying means paring down to the essentials. I'll never need a woven paracord belt that will allow me to rappel down a ravine to save an animal, or anything else for that matter. And, if I did, I'd end up being the one who needed to be rescued.

For me, the first thing would be my watch. It's actually the first thing I put on in the morning. I know that we have clocks everwhere, and wearing a watch is not something every man does anymore. But I enjoy wearing a watch (currently a Seiko quartz) to know what time it is without having to look for a digital readout somewhere around me, that I probably have to move closer to to read. No digital watch for me, a regular face and hands gives me a visual view of where I am in the hour as well as the time.

Second is my wallet. I'm trying to weed out the cards I need to carry, mostly points or loyalty cards. If I could, I would be happy with just my driver's license and my bank card. But alas, that is not to be. Room for cash too - not too much, but enough for small purchases or emergency money. I'm old school enough to believe cash is still king.

Next is my pen.  I've had a pen in pocket since my school days - it probably looked a little nerdy then, but I'd be lost without having my own pen to write/sign with. At least it's just a pen now, and not the pen and mechanical pencil I carried while in school.

After that is my phone and keys. I wish I could trim down the number of keys, but the best I've been able to do is split them onto two key rings.

I suppose to some people, that's a pretty simple everyday carry. No multitools, flashlights, pill bottles or pocket knife. Nothing clipped onto my belt or pockets, in fact I don't even wear a belt anymore.

Maybe I'm getting the hang of simplifying.

June 15, 2016

I enjoy shaving.

That may not sound like much of an accomplishment, but life is made up of small pleasures and victories.

I wet shave - if you're not familiar with the term, it refers to the old-fashioned way of doing it, with shaving cream, a brush and a razor.

Things, I have noticed, tend to go in cycles. My grandfather used a brush and razor, my dad used an electric razor, and my brother and I both got into wet shaving.  In my grandfather's time, that was the only way to go, my dad had access to the new technology of electric shavers and my brother and I were exposed to both. In fact, the first razors my brother and I had were electric, gifts from our dad.

I'm not sure why my brother decided to switch to wet shaving, but I did because he did. I suppose you never really lose wanting to be like your big brother growing up.  By university, my grandfather had passed, and I was using his old safety razor.  It's safe to say it was much older than I was.

One thing about the internet, if you want to know more about something - there are lots of opinions and websites available. Online forums are a lot of fun because they are usually filled with fans who are willing to provide some guidance without being dogmatic in their approach.  The downside is that once you discover the community, it can be a real drain on resources (time and money) as you try out the variety of options available. 

I'm lucky, I have my grandfather's razor and have a brush, so the only real expense so far has been trying out new shave creams. That will end when I decide which I like best. Right now, I'm trying the same scent (sandalwood) from several companies.

As long as I can stay away from the desire to try new razors, I'll be ok.

June 14, 2016

I think rulers must multiply when you're not looking.

I just realized that I have seven rulers in my desk. Four stainless steel and three drafting rulers. And I don't know why I have so many.

I also have a box in the garage that probably has another eight wooden rulers. What on earth am I thinking of, saving, and presumably buying, so many rulers?

I think one or two of the wooden ones are promotional items, so they are pretty cool to have since the businesses don't exist any more. I know one was my grandfather's, so I at least have a connection to that one.

The drafting rulers are a bit trickier. They were probably either my dad's or my brother's. Most likely my dad's. English and metric, one is even made out of pearwood.

My dad wasn't an architect, or a draftsman, but he spent his life always learning about things. And doing things as well. He renovated a few homes we lived in, and built a few more. I do remember him doing some drawings at the kitchen table - I wish I still had some of those drawings. But, they were temporary, just a way to visualize a project he was working on, or thinking about. They also served the purpose of communicating his ideas in a very clear fashion. I wonder what his rulers would say if I were able to ask them about the work they've been involved with.

The stainless steel rulers are harder to remember where they came from. They are newer, and each is marked in both english and metric. One is cool though - it's for office use and has holes punched into it to measure punch hole sizes, plus a scale down one size to count lines of type. Things that used to be important in handling paperwork in an office before computers. Although I feel that computers in offices mean more paper is used, not less.

I should clean out the older rulers and only keep a few. Then I can start adding up tape measures.

June 13, 2016

I mowed the lawn today.

That may not sound like a big deal, and when I was younger it wasn't a big deal.

But I'm not a youngster anymore, and we do have a ride on mower, so for me, today, it was kind of a bid deal.

I've been promising myself to be more active, and have been looking for a road bike to fill that goal. But, I also think the key to being more active is to make it a part of your regular routine. So, pushing the mower may get me part way there.

I have a good excuse for using the push mower, the front lawn is getting bare in spots under the trees, and the push mower may be easier on the grass that is there than the ride on. I've reseeded parts of the front lawn, and the smaller mower is not as damaging as the big one. And, if I'm being honest, I like using the push mower. I get a feeling of accomplishment, as well as the benefits of being outside with the fresh air and the exercise. And it will have to be done on a regular basis, at least for the first while.

At least that's what I am telling myself at this point.  There is a lot of outside work to be done in the summer - in addition to the mowing there is painting, garden work and assorted maintenance chores that need doing. And there never seems to be enough time to both get the chores done, and have time to enough the summer weather.  Trying to balance conflicting desires can be tricky.

At least I'm not using the self-propelling mower.

June 12. 2016

I hear music.

That may not sound unusual, especially in this days of being connected. You no longer need to be near a radio, if you have any kind of device you can stream, watch or listen to music from just about anywhere.

But I mean I hear music in my head fairly constantly. Not just ear-worms, although I have my share of those as well. Rather, bits and pieces of songs that seem to be randomly triggered.

I suppose some of that is due to working in radio, and some due to over forty years of listening to and collecting music. Surprisingly, none at all due to any kind of musical ability or training. I can't play anything on anything, so the music I hear in my head isn't new. Instead, it's song fragments that get triggered by hearing a song title, or a memory trigger and sometimes (ok, mostly) by no reason that I can fathom.

Music has great power to connect with you emotionally, or to trigger memories. So I'm guessing that it's no great leap to think that certain memories contain within them the music that was happening at that time.

Everyone I've met has a soundtrack to their life - not in the movie sense that music is used to evoke feelings. But that music can recall feelings and memories - ask any couple that has 'their song.'

My soundtrack is filled with songs from the radio when I was on car trips, album tracks from being at home listening to music with friends, and other odd songs hear in passing or from not-very-popular albums that I bought over the years.

I think everyone's soundtrack is unique and personal and lives in both their heart and mind.

I have to go now, "Life Of Illusion" is playing in my head.

I love that song.

June 10, 2016

Showers and rain today.

Which is a good thing, I spread some grass seed on the front lawn in hopes of rain showers,

Our front lawn is looking a little sparse in spots, and this year I've decided that nothing I do to it could make it worse, so I might as well try whatever I want on it.

I've started with liming the lawn early in the spring.  We have trees in front that shade the house wonderfully in the summer, but also shade a large portion of the lawn. Plus, as I've read, trees protect their territory by making it a little more difficult for other plants to grown beneath the.

So far, in addition to the lime, I've spread some fertilizer and allowed it to soak in. This week I have followed up with the grass seed.  I'm hoping that the preparation, liming and fertilizing, have prepared the ground for the seed and it will do well.

If not, then more liming and start looking into the ph of the soil. I have been told that trees like it more acidic, and that it is not possible to 'oversweeten' the soil by adding lime.

If I were truly following the scientific method, I would have gridded off the offending portions of lawn, and performed experiments with amounts of lime, fertilizer and grass seed to see which proportions worked best. And kept track of things in a proper notebook.

On the other hand, it's just grass and any extra I can grow is more than is there now.

I would go out and examine how it is performing, but it's raining today.

June 9, 2016

I should build some storage shelves.

What I should do, is draw a plan, and measure the things I want on the shelves so that the finished project will perform as I want it to.

What I will probably end up doing, is guessing what I need, buying the materials and then designing it as I build it.

It's the old 'perception vs reality' thing.  I like to think of myself as a planner and methodical in what I do. The kind of person who has a clear vision in mind when he starts a project.

The truth is, I start with an idea, overthink it, research ways of doing it, and develop a mental plan that is beyond what I need, want, or can do. Then comes the phase where reality sets in and I can start to think about a project clearly, with my goals, skills and budget taken into account.

That may be why it takes me so long to get things done!

I think it's healthy to dream, to reach beyond your limits. But as I get older, I have come to appreciate more and more the engineer's mantra - KISS. 'Keep It Simple, Stupid.'

I really need to strive to keep things simple, life is complicated by owning and possessing more than you need or can use.

Maybe I need to purge more possessions instead of building shelves to store them.

June 8, 2016

I should stay off the intenet.

Ever since my Parker pen developed problems, I've been pondering what to do about it. I've used a variety of cheap pens, looking for one that I like using and that fits my pocket well.

I'm one of those people who can hang onto a pen, so it is a part of my daily carry. The last batch of shirts I bought had a pen pocket, so that was very easy for me to have my pen ready for use. I've been keeping a pen in my shirt pocket since the '70s and I don't think I've had a shirt since then that didn't have a pocket.

I've been using a TWSBI ballpoint lately, and while I haven't used it enough to decide exactly how much I like using it, I have discovered that it sits fairly high in my pocket. Although it's only about a half inch taller than my Parker, it feels much taller than that.

It's amazing the variety available in writing instruments. Not just materials, or ink colour, but also the variety in size and shape. I understand that materials used influence the weight of the pen, but I would think that by now, we have come to more agreement on the ergonomics of what we write with.

Anyway, poking around on the internet, I have discovered Caran d'Ache pens. These look to be closer in length to my Parker, so it should fit my pocket better. I'm thinking of maybe ordering one next week, just to see how it will work out.

I haven't even started to figure out refills for my pens. I've read some reviews, have some suggestions to try out, but I am not going to start experimenting until I have settled on a pen I like for my everyday pen. The choices are staggering.

Thank goodness for the internet.

June 7, 2016

I got a new pen.

I've been looking for a new pen to replace my Parker that I've had since high school, nearly forty years ago.

So, I ordered a TWSBI in silver. It uses Parker refills, so I'm hoping for a similar writing experience. Overall, it's a bit longer, but nicely built and finished. For a metal bodied pen, it's surprisingly light in the hand. (I should get around to measuring and weighing both the TWSBI and the Parker to see how they compare.)

It comes with two refills, both black.  When I first used the pen, it was a little hard starting when I picked it up, but it seems to have smoothed out. I find I still need to press a little harder than I did with the Parker. Next time I'm out shopping, I think I'll pick up a blue Parker refill to try in it.

I used to use black ink when I was in high school, mostly because everyone else used blue. To be fair, almost all pens back then came with blue ink. About ten years ago, I switched from black to blue for two reasons. First, by then, a lot of people were using black ink. And secondly, a discussion with a law enforcement officer where I discovered a more practical use for blue ink.  It turns out, they deal with a lot of paperwork, and copies of paperwork that require signatures. That gets copied as well, so everyone can have their own copy. As you may have noticed, copies are usually in black. So, in order to keep originals and copies properly sorted, signatures were in blue ink. Blue signature = original, black signature = copy.

Of course, fountain pens users have a much wider choice when it comes to inks. And some of the newer gel inks are pretty nice too. But there is nothing like the simplicity of a ballpoint pen.

Filled with blue ink, of course.

June 6, 2016

I've been keeping an eye open lately for a bicycle.

I had a 10-speed at te time when those were the 'hot' bikes to have and rode it around a fair bit. Certainly not as much as hard core bicyclists, but it took me everywhere I wanted to go on my own. Unfortunately, while it was supposedly under someone else's care, it got stolen.

I've wanted to get back on a bike for the last few years, for several reasons. Firstly, I do miss it. Secondly, it's good exercise and I could use more physical exercise in my life - a stationary bike just doesn't cut it though. And thirdly, I really should, for medical reasons.

With age, I have become noticeably stouter around the middle, and last year had to go on medication for high blood pressure. Not abnormally high, but a little over the line where they decide you have high blood pressure.

So I've been looking at bike for sale, more or less looking to replace my road bike of so long ago with something similar. I guess in part to replace it with something familiar. I do know that I am not interested in mountain bikes with their knobbly tires. I live on a paved road, and have no interest in going off-road, so a road bike still fits my needs and wants.

Looking at the online ads, I quickly discovered a few things. Most surprisingly are the prices! When a new road bike starts at $500 and goes up from there, it can be a shock. Or maybe it just feels that way because I haven't priced a bicycle in thirty years!

Used prices are all over the place, with the lowest prices attached to bikes that aren't worth buying.

So, I'll keep looking. Mostly for something that is the right size for me, and has a decent drive train. After all, it will be the last bike I buy.

But I thought that about my last bike too.

June 5, 2016

I was in hunter-gatherer mode and found all the pens and pencils I own and put them into one place.  My conclusion: I have too many.

I used to work retail, so people would always be leaving pens behind to become store pens. It was a great way to try out a variety of cheap pens. Let's be honest, most people are not walking around with expensive pens, and those that do tend to have the habits of keeping an eye on them, or putting them away as soon as they are done using them.

And promotional pens, there was always a collection of those. Like most promotional pens, they had less than a full load of ink. A lot of those ended in the trash fairly quickly.

But still, somehow, I have managed to accumulate what appears to be nearly a shoe box full of pens and pencils of various descriptions. If I am being truthful about it, most of those should have never made it this far in my life.

But there are some gems in there. I found my grandmother's Parker fountain pen. For some reason, there seems to be about ten fountain pens in total. Plus there are a lot of ballpoints, some gel pens, coloured pens and regular wooden pencils and some mechanical pencils.

I suppose they all live in a box together because they still serve their purpose. Which is to say they are all still capable of putting a line on paper. Too good to throw away, but worthless to keep. I have a suspicion that there are a great many things in people's homes that fit that description.

So, what to do?

My current solution is to take an old cup (a mug works too) and put it on a desk at work and keep it stocked with pens and pencils. It seems to be a universal truth that unattended pens at work will find a new home and never return to the nest. It should be interesting to see how long they last.

June 4, 2016

I like watches.

Now, I may have too many - mostly because my family tended to hang on to things. And I have added to the collection - if that is an appropriate description.

For instance, I still have my first watch - given to me when I was still in single digits and learning how to tell time. I also have my dad's watch, plus both grandfathers pocket watches. And a bunch of ladies watches that I'm not sure about the history of. The ladies watches are all of the itty-bitty face variety that used to be popular for women.

I think, in the grand scheme of things, I should pare it down. I'm thinking of just keeping my dad's watch as a dress watch, and a plain quartz watch as a daily watch. I like the simplicity of that idea.

The truth is, I mostly just wear one watch. Emotions aside, I could live quite happily with just the one watch. And it's cheap enough that if something happened to it, no loss.

But... (and there's always a but!) 

Mechanical watches are great to own, even if they don't keep time absolutely.  Quartz watches are much better in that regard. I don't feel the same pride of ownership with a watch I have to put a battery in. So it can become hard to choose.

One thing I do know, after 50-ish years, I would feel lost without a watch.

June 2, 2016

Mornings have to be the best time of day.

I'm usually the first one up, and make the coffee. So that means not only do I get the first cup when it's ready, I also get the house when it's quiet with no distractions.

The day is ahead of me, full of potential - this is the day I'm going to knuckle down on that project, or finish some jobs that need finishing.  Not like evenings, when I think about what didn't get done, or forgotten about in the daily hustle of life. Evenings are a mix of disappointment in the my daily progress, and hope for tomorrow.

But mornings - full of hope, potential and renewal.  Just like the sun comes up to start a new day, mornings (and morning coffee) signals a new start, a better start than yesterday. A day brimming with potential achievements that somehow in the morning, do not require as much work as they actually need when you start doing them.

Alone, with fresh coffee, the world is great - there are no setbacks, no changing plans. From your chair you rule the day with an iron fist, undisputed ruler of your life. Or so it seems anyway.

I'd be unstoppable, if I could only get started. But for now, there's more coffee in the pot.

Carpe Diem.

June 1, 2016

Batteries, why is it always batteries?

I suppose it's just a function of the times we live in - it seems everything needs a battery or two and all different sizes.

When I was in high school, the only things I owned that needed batteries was a Timex watch, a camera and a car. You replaced the battery when it stopped working, and you were good for another year, or two, or three, or more.

Not now.  Devices are more sensitive, and batteries need replacing before they are completely exhausted. And they don't seem to last as long. And there are more of them. And the service isn't near what it was.

I'm looking at my car key, and the remote fob attached to it, and I know there is a battery in there for the times when I am too lazy to use the key in the door. But it's not the same size battery as the one in my camera, or my other camera, or in my watch, or in the house alarm remote.

I miss being a kid, when all I had to worry about was flashlight batteries, and either triple a or a nine volt battery for a radio.  That was it. Two, at most three kinds of batteries, that you could buy at any store and be on your way. Yesterday I was in a store staring at a wall of batteries, all different sizes, shapes and voltages. With an empty spot for the kind I wanted to buy.

I'll try again today at another store. The kind I want should be easy to find, it will be the empty spot on the wall of batteries.