I’ve taken a few more sabbaticals from my blog this year. Some were planned, some just came about, and some were just spur of the moment where I had to just get away from the computer. Some were life or health interruptions.

One of those planned sabbaticals was when a group of my closest friends gathered for a weekend in October and had an excellent time. There were several observations I gained from it, for it had been quite a time since gathering for a fishing trip and party.

I’ll work my way back from the end of the weekend. Every goodbye was special. We had just shared some great times and the appreciation for it was foremost in our minds and hearts. And that has always been true but this time the realization that we are in our senior years now took a much more significant meaning at least to me, but I think I saw it in each of us.

There are things no longer taken for granted such as our health. Each of us has had medical challenges and continues to face some as most all older individuals do. So the realization has befallen all of us that each time we are ALL able to gather it’s priceless. It’s not like we haven’t already experienced a loss, one of the team passed in 2014, and that took us a while to recover from. When you have friendships that span several decades and they are close friendships, it suddenly changes things.

Think of a basketball team that has been together for decades. All of a sudden your shooting guard isn’t on the floor and you’re playing with 4 people. Everything you practiced all your life has been with 5, not 4. You learn the game again and after time passes you have lots of fun again, but that teammate who isn’t there really is because he isn’t forgotten. And as always he was toasted to again and remembered.

Another thing that is standing out is how honest and deep some of our conversations and expressions of what we have done together and meant to each other. Something this team always hasn’t the ability to do or we were just having too good a time along the way to say it. But it’s nice to hear and see being exchanged now.

It could be the age but I think it’s the relaxed confidence and comfort that old, excuse me, very old friends have that is unique among people. Conversations went from 1 on 1 to small groups of 2-4 and sometimes all of us around the kitchen and dining room or on the deck or porch laughing about tall tales from our past, wishes for our futures, the love of grandchildren, how many times we get up to piss which always reminds the beer pounders in the group its time for a piss. Topics were all over the place as usual but it was like a symphony with the timing and handoffs as clean as a gold medal relay team.

Oh and then there is the ripping on each other. We are brutal on any slip of the tongue and perceived or evident flaw. No quarter is given. Each mistake is focused on. Especially our unofficial leader, someone we call the Chief who takes the lion’s share of abuse being he is the most talented, knowledgable, personable, and kind human being. You can’t let someone with all those qualities skate now, can you?

I’m seeing that a few of the group have the potential to become chefs if we would like to, in our retirement years. I’m seeing that choices made during the lifetime affect the later years in life. I continue to see the gift of sharing which is inspiring. I see concern and advice being shared on a level deeper than in previous years. I see changes in attitudes based on changed locations and beliefs. But I also see a love for each other that overcomes that.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• How can being a greeter at Walmart be a bad job. I mean you got to have a smile on your face all day from the laughter at some of the charators going in and out.
• I’m finding I see things more clearly if I clean my glasses more often.
• Taking short term solutions to long term problems probably won’t yeild the desired result.
• And the forest will echo with laughter, does anyone remember laughter. – So asks Robert Plant.
• Wild animals go matteress shopping every day.

The body and mind are in a fog to start this Sunday. Probably too much basketball watching. I’ll switch to football today to get a balance. And being we are still without a kitchen I’m going to fire up the grill later and cook a day or two of meals.

I didn’t accomplish what I had hoped for yesterday. A pretty common theme in my life but if I do take individual pieces of the day, I accomplished a lot of things. I haven’t determined if it’s better for me to plan a lot and shoot for that high goal and fail, or stop cramming the day and expecting perfection in everything I do and just be satisfied with what I’ve done that day. Usually, I try to do a mixture of both high goal setting and being satisfied at the end of the day but feelings of failure seep into my soul from time to time.

Why focus on the past when the day is ahead of us. I may be able to step outside, the temps might be in the 50’s for a few hours.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• There isn’t a time of day that a Coke doesn’t taste great.
• Strive for more information instead of rushing to judgement.
• Remember just about everyone is missing someone special this time of year.
• Well its for me to go look and find where I left my brain earlier this morning.
• More to come later today because I have the time.

I’m in the final two years preparing for my new career, not much time. I’ll blink my eyes and it will be here and that is fine with me because the sooner I get to it, the better chance I have of getting proficient at it. This part-time effort is fun and frustrating.

The only frustration is knowing that I could do better with some time. I’m glad I started years ago. Photos I used to be proud of I now think about going back and shooting again. A million ideas of projects near and far, big and small. Starting some carving and etching projects again feels inspiring as they come to life.

As confidence grows with some small projects I look to challenge myself with new ideas. And there is something therapeutic about having a piece of sandpaper or a drill or Dremel tool in your hands.

Working on writing about something meaningful to people. Investing time in learning more about a subject matter and conveying that in words and images. And then there is a medium I really should be doing more with and that is video.

All these wonderful dreams and ideas and thoughts. And I sit here covered in sanding dust wishing I have time to accomplish them all. And while that is a pipe dream, maybe something I leave half done will inspire one of my children or grandchildren to pick it up someday.

Many mornings I look around and feel like a kid in a candy store. I look at a pad of Grumbacher paper and my pastels nest to it. Closer to me sit my tripods, one with a video camera and one with a digital camera. A beautiful color printer to my left.

I walk into my workroom and the beginning of a woodworking and etching/engraving station is taking place. And the tried and true trusty laptop that I bang out words and images, which sits on my father’s office desk is raring and ready to roll each day. Life is good even with limited time.

All I need now is the blessing of a full-time effort in the future.

More Random Thoughts of the Day

• I’m always amazed when I turn the calendar to the last month of the year. It really causes me to pause.
• The true test of a good song is if it still makes the hair on your neck stand up decades later.
• Advice from an old friend who is very sick. Spend time with family and friends and take advantage of every minute of life.
• A difficult choice this weekend, do I overdose on college or pro sports or both? You know, I think sleep might win out tonight.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving to those observing this holiday. Hat’s off to all the working stiffs who keep things going on this and many other holidays. So many take these few for granted. Being one who works a lot of holidays my respect to those who power through and miss events or come to them tired.

Well, this was a first for my better half and me. Alone without family on a Thanksgiving. Both children are out of town and our parents have passed. So we decided to go out to eat (no option our kitchen is undergoing some work) which lead to something I haven’t had to do in a bit. Find a pair of pants fit to take on a power feed.

I’ve been one of those lucky work-at-home stiffs so the need to put on slacks is few and far between. Well on the 3rd try I found a pair that had some room if I really decided to ignore common sense and go for it. We did have a wonderful meal at Alexandra’s in Turf Valley. And how could I go wrong with the company? And a really nice buffet that allowed for a lot more than turkey. I think I ate more prime rib than turkey. But it was close. Glazed ham and salmon were also very good.

And sitting here thankful for a wonderful meal I’m reminded to share my good fortune and donate to the Maryland Foodbank so others can have that feeling. So I just did that. Remember the best gift is making someone less fortunate know they count.

But back to pants, I have returned to sweat pants and that is what I will remain in till the next occasion rolls around which is mid-December, and then it’s casual time again to finish out the year.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Black Friday is one of the best days of the year to stay home. Everyone else is out shopping and I have the house to myself.
• Home improvements just spur more ideas for more home improvements.
• Rules of the road, if you want to play chicken wait till I’m in my 13 year old Chevy.
• Lots of skills aren’t discovered till you start working on them.

Everyone is fully settled in, belly’s full, football still on the tube. I give thanks for all I have been blessed with and hope to help those less fortunate this holiday season.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Oddly enough I had more prime rib than turkey today. I haven’t had prime rib in ages.
• I miss the smell of a home that has been cooked in for the last few days.
• Think of the car you don’t know in front of you or behind you that just did something stupid as being driven by your parents or best friend before reacting.
• Tomorrow work will be turning some wood into sawdust.

In the carnage of the world on a daily basis sometimes it’s hard to think that things will be OK. And maybe it won’t be but spending a day with my granddaughter yesterday after a few weeks’ absences have renewed my effort yet again to make it better.

Today I got a note from one of the sweet administrators I work with who always looks out for us night folks. She keeps us as much as possible in the swag that usually gets decimated by the dayside and today she let us know that the 2022 calendars are on our desk. People who do the little things for you speak volumes of the people they probably are on a larger part.

Speaking of sweet, my better half is always keeping this sweet tooth satisfied. I think I was born with a couple more than just one.

I woke up this morning and reminded myself how lucky I was to wake up today. You see that is something I don’t take for granted but waking up in pain from the surgery the last few weeks kind of made me put that to the side and that lack of appreciation almost became a habit till I caught myself this morning and paused for a moment of thanks. Ain’t life sweet.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Giving Tuesday should be a weekly thing.
• Truth is a hard thing for everyone and the easiest thing at the same time.
• The older I get the more respect for the body I have. I think I should have started earlier.
• Please be careful on the roads. We all have loved ones.

Could someone call me an Uber or Lyft. My season is over and I need to be stored away properly.

Sorry about the absence again but made some good progress on a few projects. Especially the one where I finally got my Arlington National Cemetery photos printed, well most of them till I ran out of paper. I have 237 4×6 prints covering one of my office walls now. I should have picked a bigger wall.

Actually, I put them up to really get some friends and family opinions on what were the best ones to fine-tune and make larger prints for framing. I’ve found it really helps to get others’ opinions. But being out of paper and I have more images to print, I guess I’ll clear some space on another wall for the overflow.

As I’ve been working on this the last couple of days I’ve had some different thoughts than when I first started out. First was there is a lot more in this wonderful place to capture. I probably haven’t scratched the surface.

I’d love to shoot more people but I have a great deal of respect for those who have loved ones here. And I believe that would be an invasion of privacy. I’ve seen a lot of those pictures. They are real and moving and I still don’t want to do it. I’ll shoot people from the back from a distance but I know how I feel when I’m at my parent’s grave and those tour buses roll around. I just keep my back to it. This is my private time and I’m guessing a great number of people feel that way.

I’ve discovered I have pretty good seasonal coverage except for the winter snow. So I’m going to have to make a trip this winter when we get a bit and see what snow transforms the place into. There are also some fairly good images with my old digital and I mean OLD so I might go back with the Nikon when I’m able to hold that cinder block again.

I also think that now that I have an abundance of 4×6 prints I’ll start cutting them into a photo collage as a future project. But first I’ve got to order some more paper and maybe ink while I’m at it and finish the last 40-50 images.

But I also have a few personal favorites that I know I want to frame, so I’ll get started on the larger prints today.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• The treadmill and I are becoming friends.
• In regard to the weather forecast. I won’t be going outside on Tuesday.
• There is a booster shot in my near future.
• I feel like I’m starting to get my priorities right. With a few exceptions.

This guy at the edge of the shore says sea levels are rising. I’d say he has the right vantage point. Google says 40% of our population in the U.S. lives in coastal areas but it only represents 10% of the land in this country. Look at it this way, at least we have someplace to retreat to. I wonder how we expect the world to work together when we can’t even agree on things at home.

I wouldn’t mind being back at the beach now. The thought of a long winter season away from it is depressing. Only a few weeks ago I had my toes in the sand and the salt breeze blowing in my face. And what do I see as I walk to the sliding door in the basement but the snow shovels lurking in the corner? I hope it waits to snow till my shoulder is fully recovered.

No problem, I’ve made it through past winters and I hope to make it past this one. But as I said to my friends today. I opened the door felt the cold and I shut it and decided to stay in today. This may be repeated many times in the coming months.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• I can now raise the camera to my eyes and hold it there for more than a few seconds and take pictures. Not too many though.
• The space heater has been activated. Man cave secure and warm.
• Pain can take important minutes of the day away.
• Do you ever wonder how many more calendars you will get in your lifetime.

Finding myself at the fringes of sanity lately. Lack of sleep, pain when awake, and stress from the job. But I will power on and this is one tool I find helpful in turning it around. Blogging helps me slow and gather my thoughts and sometimes adapt or change directions to cure what is ailing me.

So I need to look for some positives today. Well, it is beautiful outside in the mid-Atlantic region of the US today. So nice I’m going to fire up the grill again. Being our kitchen is under renovations the grill comes in very handy to cook with. I think even when the kitchen is done I’m going to continue to grill out more.

I’m thankful I have the common sense not to sit down and type after doing my PT exercises or you’d be subjected to a few paragraphs of explicative and other colorful languages I’ve picked up over the decades. And today is another adjustment by the therapist so it will feel good for a bit but once that ice wears off, I think Keith Jackson put it best with his phrase “Whoa Nellie”

At least the workweek is in the rearview mirror and I can concentrate on getting the strength to hold that Nikon up to my eye.

So let me get off the bench and into the game as the sun comes up on this fine morning.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Working with young people is a good way to stay in touch with different schools of thought and logic.
• Working with young people is a good way to share your experiences in hopes they don’t repeat mistakes that could be avoided.
• Working with young people reminds me of the fun and energy I used to have and would like to return to.
• Working with young people reminds me to think more openly and to live.
• I guess that is another reason I like seeing my children and grandchildren, they remind me to live in today.

Wow, what a beautiful day outside. A wonderful day to dine outside if you have the chance. Or for that fact do anything outside and soak in these last few days of 60-degree temps and sunshine.

Get out of the office, hit the corner taco stand, or if you are rolling in disposable income sit down at that nice restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, but please make it outside.

I’m not at the office or flush in cash, so I’m going to heat up my lunch in the microwave, take it out to the deck, and soak up some rays. So don’t skip your break today and miss a wonderful day outside here in the Northeast.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Physical Therapy is making me think I need to get in touch with my body better.
• The difference between outside projects and indoor projects, is where the dirt lands. One you don’t mind, the other bothers you.
• It’s funny when you start working out, people talk about feeling the burn. Somehow my body skips that step and goes right to pain. But I hear rumor that this will pass.
• All is right with the world, basketball seasons are under way again.

Wonderful state (Maryland) to be brought up in and raise a family in and now grow old in. But as with all good things, time can change them. Each one of those phases of my life has had its own challenges but has also made life special and presented many opportunities and joys. The central part of the state used to be very rural when we first moved here in the late ’50s, but that changed very rapidly. Now I hear many say and I agree, it’s gotten too congested.

Thankfully I might not have to fight rush hour traffic much longer to get to work, but getting anywhere is very difficult at times. All the things that people look for in successful communities are here. Good schools, good infrastructure, and services. Good employment opportunities. A place where you can drive west and hit the mountains in 2-3 hours or the bay and Atlantic ocean if going east at the same time or less.

A state that has beautiful and very separate full seasons. It has wonderful small towns and big cities. Growth has changed a lot of things. I’ve always enjoyed the people very much. I’ve always thought of this as a friendly state and area. And I still do but it’s only in some areas I find now.

Maybe I just need to get out more and establish a new norm more like the old norm. A head nod and smile or hearty good morning/afternoon or just a simple hello or hi. And if it’s someone you know an extended hand and how are you. Well, I’ll extend the left one till the right side is healed.

In a lot of cases, as with a lot of things, it just takes the right effort with the right intentions and hopefully the right time to turn things around. And being the holiday seasons are soon upon us it won’t seem that out of place and I’ll just continue on from there. So off I go embarking on the eye contact and hellos. I will not be deterred by those who choose not to respond but to one day make them the exception instead of the rule.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• I’ve got to get a firepit soon but I can’t decide on the style I want. I got to get my better half in on this so a choice can be made.
• I’m wondering how those people in the crowd felt after that concert where those people were crushed to death?
• This week might be one of the last really nice ones outside for a bit.
• I find a bag of frozen peas or corn more comfortable than an ice pack.

It was nice to have a Saturday morning where I didn’t have to jump up and get moving on chores or get ready to go someplace. But I do have one unpleasant mission and that is to work out the surgically repaired shoulder again today. I don’t want to get yelled at when I return to PT this week for not doing my homework.

The mornings are the worst after it hasn’t been used all night to start stretching it out again first thing. Such is life though and I’ll continue to do what they ask because I’d like to get full range and use out of it again.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Seeing my best friends recharges me.
• In a few short days Aaron Rodgers has gone from one of the NFL’s most popular players one of it’s least. More proof that you can really be good at a profession but still and idiot in life. Not only that the team and the NFL also have given preferentional treatment knowing he isn’t vacinated and making up rules as they go along for him and having another set for other players.
• Seeing my children and grandchildren completes me.
• An extra hour of sleep tonight. I could do without the time changes we have here.

Saying more with less is a skill I don’t possess.

Too many words, too much banter, I must sound like a cantor.

Words that ramble on without end, yet I keep posting and do not bend.

For a blog that started out to be about pictures, I stir words around in bad mixtures.

There is no rhyme or reason for the thoughts of the day when I could just say hey.

But that wouldn’t be right, and then how could I learn to write.

So the effort will continue, I’m sorry for the learning curve, but that is life and learning to swerve.

I’m a man of limited time and means. So I’ll leave you with this moment of time in front of Justine’s.

Milestones –

I’ve got to admit I do like milestones. Be it the number of years one is married, the years at a profession, or a single employer. Or maybe something personal like surviving a medical crisis or the loss of a loved one. It could be the number of fishing trips together or vacations with friends together at a spot or a gazillion other fine events.

With family and good friends, these can span decades if you were lucky. And I have been one of the lucky ones. Some of my best friendships span over half a century now. I’ve had 46 years in the same profession with 3 employers, 2 of which are over 20 years.

But today’s milestone is my own. I was looking for my avg words per post, because I’m trying to do more with less, and I happened to glance at all-time numbers for this blog and it was at 1999, this post will be my 2,000th.

Yes, it’s less than I had originally hoped for at this point but I haven’t given up, and I kind of feel like I’m just starting because I’ve gained some confidence and a clearer picture of my goals and interest along the way. Which has reminded me it’s not the number at the end, it’s all the times that lead up to it.

More Random Thoughts of the Day

• The less I see on TV, the more I see.
• Some day you just have to turn the volume all the way up.
• It’s always a good time to spread some love.
• Listening to so JJ Cale this morning. So “call me the breeze” because I’m out of here.

Every once in a while, well maybe a lot more than in the past, the old digital is showing its age. I’ll get home and some of the images just look as if they did something other than the settings I might have used. Or the focus isn’t right or my lazy behind didn’t get the tripod out, or a number of other things.

Then again, it may be operator error which is very possible at this age. Regardless I’ll snap away and regal you with my ineptness or luck.

And then again, maybe both were intentional? Hopefully I’ll be back later today with some more images.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Philly prezels are good.
• Philly cheesesteaks are great.
• Why are people from Philly mad about? Oh that’s right, Eagles, Phillies and Flyers.
• Progress is an endorphin.
• A workout is something that should be looked forward to.
• You can ignore yourself but you can’t fool yourself.

It’s interesting to learn how much I rely on my dominant arm/hand. And when you don’t have full use of it and have to change it’s quite the challenge. So for a few weeks, I get to practice being a Lefty. It’s made me think I should really do more with my left. So that will be one of my goals for the future. Ambidextrous I believe it’s called.

I really tried yesterday to pull together a post, but physical therapy and a long workday left me a little behind in the schedule. And with an election night last night in our area, the business I’m in kept me plenty busy all night long. But tonight I’m taking a sick night because I have been hurting and I’ve got PT again this morning. I thought it was a pretty good effort to make it a normal week and not impact the job. Shoulder surgery on Friday, lots of pain on that night and Saturday. Worked Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings for at least 11 hours each.

My main objective was a good night’s rest for a change of pace. I just can’t find that balance. it’s either like the weekend before where I slept very well and for a good number of hours straight through, or very few hours of broken sleep. Maybe retirement will allow me to find that sweet spot. Because while I got 8 hours this evening I was awake every hour it seemed.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• If you aren’t worrried yet, it might be time to start. But don’t spend all day on it.
• It’s going to be very important to know who your real friends are in the future.
• No matter what else is happening in my life the words “I love you Papa” make everything ok for a good while.
• Each day I get closer to removing myself from Facebook.
• I stepped outside yesterday early which removed all incentive to go back out during the day.
• I’m trying to document my better halfs kitchen remodel project.
• Life is a team game. Most people don’t get that.

Friday it was lights out for a few hours, the body went in for mechanical work on the right shoulder. Feeling poor and way to go for complete recovery. That is OK though because I’m looking forward to one less pain to deal with. It was causing loss of sleep and ability to do things and what I could do would be painful sometime later or immediately if I really screwed up.

I wanted to get a fresh start in November and start working hard again here. It’s going to be tough with many PT sessions scheduled over the coming weeks but that will help me get out and about. Maybe it will get me using the tripod because holding that heavy Nikon isn’t in the cards anytime in the next week or two. It’s a slow lens anyway and could use the steady footing instead of this old man’s shakey back.

So here is hoping we are off to a fresh start with fresh images and fresh thoughts.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Pain can reprioritize your day quickly.
• Last night took the life out of me.
• I’m going to work on being happy, they always say set a good example for your children and grandchildren.
• As I look at my arm now I can’t image hoisting a basketball even a few feet and that would be an underhanded shot. But as I start rehab tomorrow I’m going to think about shooting 3 pointers all day long next spring and summer.
• The first freeze watch is in effect for tomorrow night. I think I’ll bring in that really nice rose I see outside.