Do you believe in minimalism? – Asks the daily prompt.

I reckon so. And I find the less I have, the less I have to worry about.

The most important thing are not things.

The daily prompt asks – If you could have dinner with any philosopher, who would it be?

I’ll be selecting my close friends. They aren’t on any list of any famous philosophers of the past or present. But we are all great philosophers and provide endless enlightenment and solutions, far and wide each time we gather.

We have been doing it for decades. For most of our lives it’s been weekly gatherings from the time we were teenagers. We have explored every facet of life with abandon and humor. We never run out of thoughts and almost die laughing together on many of our observations and takes of life.

Were a bunch of nuts who love to have a great time. Sometimes after a day of fishing. Maybe a ballgame. Or just our regular weekly gathering exploring fixes that are sometimes eye opening or very funny and absurd recommendations. Most of the time after a very hard week at work and raising a family and trying to stay sane.

In our younger days we were always gathering after we finished playing basketball together. Watching a football or hoops game or just raising holy hell which we tended to do regardless of the reason for getting together.

We have had so many fun dinners together. Where everyone contributed to the prep, cooking and cleaning. All the while getting toasted as Joan of Arc. Retiring to the front porch to watch the sunset over the water and continue pontificating on the world and everything in it. Then retiring to the firepit for the final analysis and shots for the evening.

When one of our stalwarts tries to stand and asks what round it is and someone says the “fights over man”, and others grab his arms and say “were going to the locker room” as we walk him back towards his house and bed.

The daily prompt asks – If you could erase one movie from your memory and watch it again for the first time, which one would it be?

If the above were true, I’d sit down with my almost 4-year-old grandson and watch Toy Story again for the first time. It’s been a good while since watching a lot of kids animated movies.

Also, an old one called (The Great Escape) and maybe (The Blues Brothers).

The daily prompt asks – What’s a classic book that you think is overrated?

I would be the worst judge in history to answer this question because my classic book experience is limited. And instead of slandering someone without basis I’ll share this opinion. It’s not that I don’t read, just not many classic books.

I think the world is losing the tactical feel of reading. Maybe it’s just my old generation but seeing a train full of people reading a newspaper or magazine or book was a picture that only lives in my mind now. Holding something in your hands that doesn’t have a battery in it.

In the past you could pick up the local paper and get the feel of a place. Those no longer exist and if they do, they are struggling to stay in business.

Books seem to be the last baston of printed reading holding their own.

Anyway, just my opinion. A smartphone isn’t a reading tool unless you want eyestrain issues.

The daily prompt asks me to – Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

Risky things I don’t regret.

Going 140 mph on a motorcycle – was exhilarating.

Getting married – a wonderful family as a result.

Buying a home when we couldn’t afford it was a big risk, but it worked out.

Sharing my work (photos and words) finally.

When I was young and at a fair I went on a ride and it broke while we were on it. They couldn’t stop it for almost an hour. That is one risk I regret and won’t get on amusement rides again.

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind. – Interesting task from the daily prompt.

It was a string of thoughts, first thing this morning. As I sat at the keyboard wondering if I was going to make pancakes or bacon for breakfast, then I read this question while my back is having a spasm and I’m thinking is this going to be an all-day thing or one off.

I get tired of pain. It comes with age, the wear and tear of jobs and activities over the years. The mind changes to accept some or a lot of pain somedays and nobody is the wiser for it. Other times it’s harder to hide.

Pain wakes me, and if it doesn’t it always says good morning at some point.

I’m not sure of the time, but it’s been in the last few years, that I’ve had to start thinking about what activities I do and how I go about them. Something simple like cutting the lawn and trimming and cleanup. It used to be a one-day thing. I split it now into two. I didn’t consciously do this, but I just found myself doing it and realized it in the last year or two.

Finding myself taking a break, after washing the cars before I clean the interiors. All kinds of little things like that. Well at least I’m thankful that I’m still here and up and around to do things I’ve done all my life. Just a little slower.

Reminder, regardless of how I wake, be it physical or mental pain, concern about family and friends, or bills or the car that needs to be replaced. I always pause and smile for a bit for the shot at another day.

As usual I’ve rambled on too long. Have a great Sunday.

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you. – Asks the daily prompt.

While in New York city earlier this week, I saw a couple holding hands. I thought how uncommon it is that I see that now. It reminded me to hold my better half’s hand more often again. Not that I ever stopped but it’s something that should be done regularly.

The daily prompt asks me to – Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Later in my career I turned down a management position because I wanted to keep pursuing a more technical track that I had been on. I had management experience and positions before that, but I didn’t feel the challenge the technical parts gave me. Turning it down didn’t make the upper management happy.

I was even told the VP didn’t accept no to things like that. Too bad for him. He tried to block another move I made to the UNIX Admin team and he failed there also. I applied for a position in that group and interviewed, was offered the job, accepted the job, was given a transition schedule and start. The VP was on vacation and when he returned, he tried to squash it.

He failed at that one also because either it was that position or I was walking out. That position was one of the best learning experiences I had there. Thank you, Joe and John for sharing all that knowledge.

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness? – Asks the daily writing prompt.

1. I’m always happy waking up each day.
2. A Coke in the morning.
3. Talking with family and friends.
4. Food
5. A hug and kiss.

What is the most fun way to exercise? – Asks the daily prompt.

Besides the obvious one we all enjoy. I’d say basketball was the most fun I had exercising. But this body doesn’t play much anymore so I like to walk with my camera. I did about 4-5 miles yesterday.

Weightlifting is fun. I always enjoyed playing baseball as a youth but never thought of that as a lot of exercise.

Working on my home and yard is good exercise. Sometimes too much.

Detailing my car is fun exercise.

But the MOST FUN way to exercise for me is playing with my grandchildren.

The daily prompt asks – If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?

I would like to be the grandfather in the book my kids gave me called Grandpa’s Wish List. It’s a book I can read to the young ones on all the things I’d like to do and build for them and adventures to go on. It’s a short children’s book but one that reminds me to be that person for them. Not that I have much problem remembering their importance to me.

The daily prompt asks a question that isn’t one of my favorites – How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

Fine I get my shot each year. Just like I get my flu shot every year. I believe in science. I know it’s not exact. Not much in life is.

What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like? – Another personal question from the daily prompt.

I’m not a coffee drinker so my morning beverage is Coke. Sometimes I eat a large breakfast and sometimes nothing at all.

A little stretching to release the old body. Most days some light dumbbells. Some days the treadmill.

Check email and text, start my first blog post of the morning.

Look at the sunrise if there is one. Listen to the wildlife outside if it’s not winter.

I usually turn on the TV but try not to sit in front of it. Sometimes music which I’m trying to make more the norm.

Pretty much every morning I’ll write my kids a short email.

A good morning to my better half.

I’ll look around my office and change something. Then to the to-do list and update.

I’m trying to remember to watch or read something funny to start the day.

Which aspects do you think makes a person unique? – Asks the daily prompt.

In some ways, just about everything about us is unique. Appearance, speech, mannerisms, smell, taste, interpretation and more. And in some ways, we are all the same.

Everyone laughs, just a little differently and maybe sometimes at different things. How a person grieves is unique. A lot of it may look the same but it’s personal to that individual and them only. The memory of that event will be their own and different from yours. The way we experience things is unique.

That is what makes all our interactions so special because other people can’t replicate it.

That is something AI can’t replace – our uniqueness.

We are like leaves on a tree, looking the same, but no two alike. Headstones all similar, yet a different story underneath each.

I also answered this question in a previous post 2 years ago called Uniqueness.

What was the best compliment you’ve received? – A fairly simple question from the daily prompt.

I’m not sure which is exactly the best, but when my children say I love you Dad or my grandchildren say I love you, Papa from doing something for them, that is the best. It can be as simple as sharing a snack with the young ones or sharing a meal with the kids. Usually with the young ones, it’s from spending time playing with them. Or the kids saying thanks for our family week at the beach.

When friends belly laughs at my humor that’s a great compliment. When a friend tells me years later how important some photos I took and gave him are to him.

I haven’t been on the professional side for a while now, but I used to like when managers were perplexed in how I saw systems in trouble so early or how I fixed things so fast at times. Or when we discovered fixes that weren’t in the manual or tech data in the early years before the internet. I remember vendors coming to us at times to see what and how we were using their equipment or software.

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings? – An interesting question that we all should ponder.

Music helps me with negative feelings. So does driving my Miata. Writing or photography helps at times. Exercise helps a little but not much. Watch some comedy clips. Call a friend to laugh with. Sometimes though, being alone to sort through things is what I need.

I have gotten better at turning around negative feelings more quickly than in the past. A best friend reminds me that you can’t control what happens to you always, but you can control how you react/respond to it.

How you respond sometime is even more important than what causes negativity to enter your life. I’m glad my friend reminds me of this every so often in our conversations. We’re pretty good at picking up when each other struggles.