Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

If you're of a certain age, you may remember finding a copy of this magazine in the beauty parlor (if you were allowed to accompany your mother/grandmother there) or maybe in the back of  a closet somewhere. People behaving badly have been the subject of public interest and scrutiny for generations.  And some of those people behaving badly have been us. My old friend/always friend, Tom Kerrins, recently posted this on Facebook: I know everybody was different in high school and college. But it was OUR usual MO to make preparations for Friday/Saturday nights. In South OP that meant stopping by Wilks or Wrobles for our beverage of choice. Most friends had fake ID's. Going to the Blue Village and finishing our 6 Pk was the norm. A few trees on Austin can attest.And that was during high school. Only got worse from 18-21. brett Don't try saying it didn't happen to you. The following is my truth.  It belongs to no one else.  It informs my opinions and who I am....

Today I took the time to listen to the eulogies delivered by Pres. George W. Bush and Pres. Barack Obama in tribute to Sen. John McCain. You are probably familiar with Sen. McCain's response to a woman at a Lakeville, MN Town Hall during the 2008 Presidential campaign.  She said to the Senator that she could not trust then Sen. Obama because he was, "An Arab."  Quickly, without notes, without an aide whispering in his ear, without a teleprompter, Sen. McCain said, "No, ma'am.  He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about." I recall that exchange and in particular remember sitting back in my chair when I heard it, saying, "Wow."  And while, as Sen. McCain himself said, I personally had disagreements with him on fundamental issues, I firmly believed that the country would be in good hands were he to be elected President. Over the past ...

My youngest daughter, Bridget, used to claim she was the "way she was" because her parents never sent her to camp. Most people's reaction, including ours, was to look at her as if she had 4 heads but I'll give her this...it was a good conversation starter. I, the Fortunate One, went to Girl Scout camp multiple summers as well as weekends in the fall and winter.  These were great experiences and I continue to hold fond memories of evening campfires, singing Taps in rounds, bug juice and all the fun on the waterfront. Arts and crafts?  Not so much.  Whatever it was we were concocting, mine never remotely resembled the model.  I recall sitting next to a fellow camper as we braided long strips of plastic that would serve as lanyards, staring open-mouthed as her fingers nimbly moved back and forth, crossing each color so that it indeed did make a braid. I think I offered her a couple pieces of gum to make mine. This, of course, is the long way into my Summer Art...

This morning, standing in my kitchen,  I experienced one of the most intense feelings of satisfaction that I've felt in a while.  I took a moment to literally be 'in the moment' and appreciate the emotion. It was very nice. The head to toe feeling came out of the blue.  Nothing out of the ordinary was occurring.  The boys were outside playing; Beau had just finished crawling into my lap as I sat in the lounge chair, reading the Sunday paper, to tell me how much he loves donut holes.  Naturally, it was sunny--blazingly sunny in a flawless sky.  Hank, who this summer has pretty much decided that after 11 years of being chased and cajoled back into the yard when he unintentionally got out, it's just as good to stick around in the yard, had half heartedly given chase after a cottontailed bunny who bounded across the lawn into the brushy area at the rear of our lot.  He didn't give chase for long, returning with an expression on his face that more or le...

This morning, I read in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that many people interviewed in Anoka County, part of the 7 county Metro Atea and heavily Republican, said they paid no attention to the recent Trump-Putin Summit. Really? We are all entitled to our opinions regarding how our President is providing leadership for the country.  I recently summed up my feelings in a Facebook post.  And because we are a democratic republic, I firmly believe you are entitled to your feelings as well. However, allow me to encourage one and all to express an informed opinion. And in order to do that, you must PAY ATTENTION! The Washington Post reminds us that “Democracy dies in darkness.”  If we don’t pay attention, we will ourselves to remaining in the dark. I have been hearing and reading that some are giving up listening to the news and what the President says because it’s too frustrating or aggravating or sad or annoying or ridiculous or exhausting.  They are saying they ...

Has anyone else started counting how many times Serena Williams, one badass woman if there ever was one, is being referred to as a mother during the Wimbledon commentary?  As if it is a terrible,paralyzing, at all costs to be avoided detriment to her tennis skills and ability to win?  And that tomorrow morning (our time), TWO MOTHERS will be playing on Centre Court?  Oh, the horror!  Oh, the humanity. Gimme a freakin' break. I need to pay a bit more attention to this, however I believe it is predominantly the male commentators, not Chrissie Evert and Mary Jo Fernandez, who incessantly bring this up.  If Serena misses a shot, it's because she had a baby, after all, and had to take time off, which means that she absolutely, positively must struggle. In fairness, if another player has been sidelined because of an injury, the commentators reference back to that repeatedly as well. Somehow or other, the injury thing makes more sense to me.  Childbirth?...

Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. Superlative:  of the highest quality or degree. Right off the bat, let me say that in my humble opinion, listening to others living this kind of life is nothing short of exhausting!  Virtually every other word out of our President's mouth or off his fingertips as he types is either hyperbole or superlative.  What makes it even more exhausting is his limited supply of hyperbolic words and superlatives.  GREAT.  TREMENDOUS.  TERRIFIC. THE BEST. SMART. AMAZING. HUGE. DANGEROUS.  STUPID.  WEAK.  LOSER. BAD. Am I missing any? It also seems to me that as a society, we have decided that good enough is no longer great.  We don't simply have a good time, it was THE BEST NIGHT EVER.  The meal at the restaurant wasn't just good, it was THE MOST DELICIOUS THING I EVER ATE.  The movie?  BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR. All this OUTLOUDness...