Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

Time flies.  Time drags.   How's it been in your corner of the world over the past year-plus? The three months we spend in Florida don't exactly speed by, however the days don't drag, either.  For me, the ability to be outside daily makes it pretty close to perfect.  Windows--open.  I'm not a fan of air conditioning and we haven't turned it on once over the past ninety days.  A good segue to Florida 2021, by the numbers. Number of rainy days --can be counted on two hands.  According to the meteorologists on the local television stations, who froth over rain in similar manner to how Minnesota meteorologists salivate over snow, 2021 has been a rainier, cooler winter/spring than normal--if we even know what normal is anymore.  I will say I would agree with their observation based on our previous extended stays here. Number of loads of laundry done --at least 120, as marked by emptying a 120 sheet box of Publix dryer sheets. Number of Publix runs --to...

I have been feeling down in the dumps this past week. The state of the nation and the world tops the list of things tugging at my heart, contributing to the feelings of malaise I'm experiencing.  And maybe, introspectively, that is what hangs over my head like the storm clouds that have been rolling in from the Gulf.  Bucket loads of rain fall, often accompanied by squalling winds, making me wonder what it must be like here on the beach during a hurricane.   When the rain stops, it's warm and humid--my kind of weather.  The sun often succeeds in its valiant effort to peek through the oppressive grey, along with smidgeons of blue skies.  If I encourage it to serve as a reminder that there is always, always something to feel grateful for, the heavy feelings lift.  I rejoice in the memories of the visits from family and friends over the past ten weeks, something last year at this time were impossible to experience.  Each time I walk the beach, I find...