The last several days have been packed so tight that I’ve been slacking on my hobbies. Yes, I’ve been posting but it’s been rushed and some shots from the vault. Being so busy in retirement has been the thing that has surprised me the most. I shouldn’t be with children and grandchildren close by and our interest in seeing them.

The first day of pre-school for one of my grandchildren today. We went up and watched the baby while they took him and picked him up. What a joy to see. The excitement and anticipation he had was wonderful. They prepared him well. The parents did well also but I’m sure it was as emotional for them as it was for us.

Now I’m back in the saddle of the office chair. Kind of wishing I had this view below but maybe before the end of the year we will return to the beach.

If I had any brains, I’d hop in the car around 4am and catch sunrise on the beach tomorrow morning. I wish I had the energy to listen to that 18-year-old voice in my head that gives me great ideas.

But this body and mind are very short on rest. The trouble with that is when it gets that way it has trouble resting. That long stretch of overnight shift has taken its toll. I remember being so tired some nights that I think I tricked my brain so many times into staying awake when I start to get tired now I can’t.

There were times when I’d get home after a 12-hour shift and a 3 hour round trip drive and I’d be too wired to go to sleep immediately. I’d have to get to the point of exhaustion to pass out. There are many times now that I’ll be in a pretty good sleep and snap awake.

That is why I get up a lot now after a few hours of sleep. Because when I wake up its awake immediately. And I know the chances are almost 100% I’ll stare at the ceiling for a few hours till I drift off again. So, I get up and work for a few hours and then try again.

Such is life. As some would say, mistakes were made. Would I do it again. Probably not and that is a warning to some of you doing that now. It was much easier as a young man to pull that off but doing that when you’re beyond 50, I wouldn’t recommend it for any substantial length of time.

Well, it’s time to move on to the next task which is the treadmill. Have a good evening, all.

Random Thoughts of The Day

• Losing senses is a very difficult thing. I remember my mother losing her sense of taste after a stroke. Two people close to me struggle with hearing issues. I can see what a toll that takes.
• There are no replacing smiles from children because you know they are genuine.
• Rules to live by are good to have.
• We have gone from a president in 1973 who says, “I am not a crook” and not believing him to one in 2026 who revels in being a crook right in front of our eyes and gloats in it that we do nothing. That is how stupid we have become.