Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

  subtitled what I wish I had the presence of mind to say instead of what I didn't   My previous automobile proudly displayed a number of bumper stickers and decals, including one identifying Amy Klobuchar as my US Senator.  In Minnesota, no problem.  I was, then, a little taken aback when a couple different people in the complex where we were wintering in Florida kinda sidled up to me and asked, sotto voce, "Is that car with the Minnesota plates yours?" I claimed it as such, and they then said, to a person, "You've got to be careful who you talk to about politics here.  I'm an Amy Klobuchar fan, but not everybody is." Duly noted. In polite conversation, I chose to wait to see which way the wind was blowing as opposed to blasting in with the hurricane of my beliefs.  Some were clear that talking politics was a non-starter and that was respected.  Others spewed MAGA and/or DeSantis dismantling of freedoms and for the main, I steered clear of those chats...

This week, following the 130th mass shooting of the year (https://www.wbay.com/2023/03/29/us-surpasses-125-mass-shootings-2023-heres-every-event-mapped/)  , this meme showed up on more than a few Facebook and Instagram pages: Thoughts and Prayers Actions and Policies   To which, Rep. Tim Burchett (R, TN) said,   "We're not going to fix it. Criminals are gonna be criminals...   My daddy, who fought in the Second World War, fought in the Pacific, fought the Japanese, and he told me, 'Buddy,' he said, 'If somebody wants to take you out and doesn't mind losing their life, there's not a whole heck of a lot you can do about it.'"   Burchett, a self-described gun owner who has sponsored bills to expand gun rights, was asked in the hours after the shooting whether there was “any role for Congress to play in reaction to this tragedy.” He said there wasn’t. Does that make you want to throw up?  Read on. Steve Scalise (R, LA), House Majority Leader: " Th...

 We've been in Florida a little over a month, and daily, the headlines--or a story on the front page--in the Tampa Bay Times ups my blood pressure.  This blog, then, is a warning for my friends in the Great North who, understandably, pay little attention to what is going on in Florida, save for the weather if you're headed south for Spring Break and what machinations Disney has designed in order for you to get onto its most popular rides. This low-life, scum sucker is more dangerous than Donald Trump.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid. The following are just a few examples of Ron Baby's onslaught on democracy since we've been here. February 3  DeSantis says he supports open carry in audio recorded from gun rights group February 24 New College trustees, led by DeSantis appointees, dismantle diversity office February 18 4 things to know about Ron DeSantis’ idea to slash AP courses in Florida February 16 Florida lawmakers move to give DeSantis control over school athleti...

 W e're fast approaching the end of what has felt like, these past few weeks, living large in limbo. What would be typical in late January, as we approached leaving for Florida (and some sunshine, please, Lord, some sunshine!), is preparatory work for buttoning up the house.  Stopping the paper (yes, we still get a paper copy every day).  Forwarding the mail.  Ensuring electrical devices are unplugged, setting timers.  Eating down so that little to nothing remains in the refrigerator and pantry.  Final load of laundry. With the onset of the house going on the market, however, prep works includes stripping the house down to its bare bones.  Painting, sanding floors, removing virtually all shreds of ourselves from walls and shelves.  Voices echo in emptied rooms. When my eyes catch sight of an item that hasn't been moved to storage, I ask myself what it's doing there.  Is it going to Florida with me?  And if so, why isn't it in the oversiz...

  Before I put fingers to keyboard, my writing process begins with, well, processing--preparing to release a blog  for public consumption.  I consume concepts first, usually over and over again because as something bubbles up for consideration, it can bring a friend or two along, muddying the process.  The thoughts hanging in there may be knocked aside, buried for good or simply fermenting until their place is found within the maelstrom whirling in my feeble brain.  And forget about finding the correct word--aging is an exercise in staring out the window at the bird feeder, opening up the portals until a faint click sets me off in what I hope is the right direction.  For example: foment? ferment? fragment? furry? flatulent? flaggellate? This blog, then, has been in process since early last fall when decided to move forward with what had been, until then, simply a topic of conversation.  Internally.  With each other.  With friends, family, oth...

  That's the mantra, yes?  It's on signs, towels, plaques, although, as a member of POEM (Professional Organization of English Majors), my preference would be to list the words alphabetically.  Blessed, Grateful, Thankful. Today, Thanksgiving, our various social media feeds and text messages will overflow with images and words defining what we are thankful, grateful and blessed for.  I'm right there with you, regardless of what you post.  Our lives overflow and it's fitting we put one of the 365 days a year to give recognition to what makes us thankful.   There's a very nice editorial in today's Star Tribune which encourages us to count our blessings and reflect on the responsibilities they bring.  Well worth the read. Yesterday we participated in Special Grandparents and Friends Day at Millie and Ethan's school, City of Lakes Waldorf School.  I don't know which impacted me more--the light in the children's eyes when they spied their grandpa...

Like many people our age, we've been talking about downsizing. Now, there is NOTHING about our current home that I don't love.  About nine years ago, when it seemed as if the adult children had left for good (following some grown, gone, launched and returned as they found their sea legs in the world), we gave thought to what we should do with this five bedroom house that served our family extremely well but, as we looked forward, had probably outlived its utilitarian usefulness. At that time, we landed on three possibilities: 1. Sell the house in its 'as is' condition, which was to say, would require a fair amount of work.  As in our master bathroom was Pepto Bismol pink, appliances were dated, etc., etc. 2. Do some updating a la Home Depot to see if we couldn't up the asking price above Fixer Upper status. 3. Remodel and turn the house into the dwelling we had always wanted, but were otherwise previously financially obligated, preventing the depth of work necessary...