I’d make it less modern.
I’m not ready for coed restrooms, women in combat, profanity on radio and TV… I think you get my point.
Tag Archives: dailyprompt
I’m Retired
So I’ll reply retroactively. Actually, unless my memory has deceived me again, I think I already said something about that. Well considering the number of posts I posted, it would stand to reason I did say something about it.
I used to have a really good job. I had checklist I had each night and I did what was on it. I started at 5:00 PM and left about 1:00 AM. Moreover, I worked alone. There was no one around to complain about what music I played or how loud. It was better than being at home where my wife complained about the sopranos and the volume. (singers, not the mob show) Also, sometimes I tried to sing along, which she would have really complained about.
I listened to show tunes, songs by John Gary, Ed Ames, Percy Faith, ABBA, Simon and Garfunkel, and kind of the whole pre-80’s things. I listened to some pre-1950’s things. I was constantly adding to my list of selections. It irritates me that I have lost a few of them.
Many of them were of special interest. Simon and Garfunkel produced the song, “Homeward Bound.” While I was in Vietnam, I was not the only one who liked that one. I know. It has nothing to do with those of us carrying around a rifle and wearing a helmet. Still, many of us did adopt the tune.
I listen mostly to same thing now. I have added a little. I listen when at home, sometimes while writing posts. I listen to them while walking. I listen to them while in the car. By the way, the car system has about the best sound, especially with it being electric. No engine noise to interfere.
There are two differences now that I’m no longer listening at work. I have to turn the volume down and I can’t sing along. My wife would complain and, maybe, the neighbors.
I wish I could listen while eating in restaurant, especially with some of what they play over their speakers. I suspect the management would complain. If they didn’t some of the customers would.
Comfort Food
I’ve heard the term frequently, but I can’t say I knew what it means, although I guess I did have a vague idea just from context. When I decided to reply to this prompt, I decided to look it up. They had a lot of examples, most of which I must admit presses my button.
One of the examples was chicken pot pie, which I really like, for sure. However, I prefer just chicken pie. Let me explain. There used to be a few restaurants called Three Sisters and they had the best chicken pie. Then, naturally the restaurant went out of business. That is not fair. That is not right. They should have given their recipe to another restaurant… or me.
It also reminds me of. the time I was going through the line at Kentucky Fried line, I spoke to myself, “I could make a meal off mashed potatoes and gravy.” Suddenly, from behind me, I heard a woman voice her agreement. “So can I.” I didn’t know anyone was eavesdropping on my private conversation. It was alright. I looked back and saw her smiling. I love it when I can make a person smile or laugh, even when I don’t mean to. Still love mashed potatoes. I’d just about have them with every meal.
I discovered fried rice when I was stationed in Japan. My wife doesn’t like it so I don’t get much chance to eat it. Maybe it’s a good thing. I would really put away a bunch of it. That and egg rolls.
Love roast beef when it is done right. Arby’s does not do it right. Used to like Denver’s. There was one a couple of miles from here as well as four or five in Memphis. I guess they have all disappeared. That seems to be the case. I find a restaurant I like and then they go away. I have found others that have roast beef but not nearly as good.
When I was stationed at MCAS, El Toro, the PX had a restaurant the served thinly sliced roast on two slices of bread with mashed potatoes and gravy over it. I am sure they are responsible for the 5 or 10 extra pounds I carried around at the time. Incidentally, I am not the only one that ate it. They had a huge following.
I guess, right near the top, has to be pizza. There’s just nothing like a pizza with pepperoni and pineapples all over it. The trick of course is, I have to order extra pineapples. My wife steels them off the instant I look away. I also like the pizza with the works on it, but I don’t get a chance for it that much. My wife doesn’t like it.
Baseball
In my youth, I was always in search of others to play the game. Then too, I played organized ball until I was 12. Since then, I occasionally played. Twice, softball in a church league. Nowadays, I would have trouble chasing a fly ball, though I might still be able to swing a bat.
After a few years in the Marines, I took up ping pong and I got good at it. I still think I can give many a run for their money. Just is, I can’t find a place or many opponents. The problem is that it is a difficult game to play outdoors, unless it is a very calm day.
Both
No problem making a decision there. My two big dogs might have saved my life when someone broke into my house while armed with a .45. It is a shame they are no longer with us. Both had cancer really bad.
If you are having problems with mice, get a cat. Betterer and fasterer than any mouse trap. I guess, on the other hand, you can call an exterminator. However, they cost money and they aren’t as effective. Since we got our cat, the mice all play somewhere else. Besides, it’s fun to watch cats chase lasers.
There is one problem with the cat. The instant I sit at the computer, she wants to jump up in my lap. It does make it a little difficult to get any work done. Ironically, I noticed the other day, she likes to chase the mouse… pointer on the screen. When I move the pointer around, she can get vicious with the screen. I have tried to explain that it wasn’t a real mouse, but, as with most cats, she isn’t much good at listening unless she wants to.
If I had a few million dollars, I would have a large yard and at least 4 dogs and 4 cats. Plain old house cats are fine, but I would want the dogs to be border collies. There would be a little problem with the border collies. I would have to hire someone just to keep them busy. I’m getting too old to do it myself.
Still, they are a joy to watch and they are just so smart.
The Truth About Time
There are two clocks we use for time. I know, we all think there is but one method of timekeeping, but I know better. I have learned the secret, that little conspiracy. For sure, there are two clocks by which we measure time. One of them runs twice as fast as the other, or one half the speed of the other. You can look at it either way.
Now which clock do we keep time by. Well, you see, that is where the conspiracy comes in. Whenever you are doing something you don’t like, you run on the slower clock so time goes by slow. Whenever you are doing something you like, you run on the faster clock. For those interested, for you kids, you notice how fast summer vacation goes by. On the other hand, you notice how slow the time goes whenever you are waiting for Christmas.
Where I noticed it the most was when I was at work or at home. I’ll let you guess which clock I was on and when. This has an interesting aspect that I simply did not expect. Now that I am retired, all my time goes by so fast and it goes faster every day. It seems I go to sleep on Monday and wake up on Wednesday. Nowadays, I have a fear of going to sleep, afraid I’ll loose two whole days.
So, in reply to the prompt, let me say, it all goes fast now. However, whenever I get a chance to spend time with family and friends, it all seems to go by in afterburner. It seems we hug while we meet, and then we hug as we have to part. I really don’t like that part of the conspiracy. Of all the precious time, that should go by more slowly but it goes by fast, too fast. It is just not right.
Well, it is nice to know, once I am with God, time won’t mean a whole lot. After I spend a few thousand years with him, it won’t shorten any future time with him or others. When living forever, clocks won’t really mean a lot. Those old timekeepers will no longer have any control over me, or all of us that remain in God’s presence.
I hesitate to say it, but I feel I must. For those who are not saved, I’m afraid that clock will pretty much stop. After a few million centuries, they will still have a few billion centuries to look forward to. It’s one of those things you want to get right the first time. There is no second time.
Flies, Mosquitoes & Chiggers, Among Other Things
When I saw this prompt, it brought a little chuckle to my mind. It reminded me of a sign I saw driving home from work one night. “Why didn’t Noah swat those last two when he had the chance?”
I consider it one of the more memorable signs, regardless of your religious beliefs. Moreover it is kind of one of those fill in the blank kind of statements. Moreover, I suspect we can add a long list of them. You know, bed bugs, fleas, ticks… It sort of goes on and on. I am sure that everyone has their ideas that can be added. I guess close to a decade ago, my goodness time flies. It might be two decades.
At any rate, there were a number of us going through the graveyard where my mother was buried. Afterward, I mentioned that my ankles were itching suddenly and I had no idea why. My wife reminded me, “chiggers.”
OK. They are not as bad as mosquitoes. Still. They do bite and they do itch. They do make you wish you wore better clothing. They do make you wish you used some Off insect repellent on your ankles before traipsing through the high growing grass.
I guess whatever bothers me the most is whatever it is that is bugging me at the moment, like the mosquitoes in Vietnam or the flies at my picnic. Regardless, I am with the man that dreamed up that sign, why didn’t Noah kill those last two while he had the chance.
It’s All Replaceable
At 76, almost 77, if anything gets better with age, I would think that I would know it. However, everything I know of eventually gets replaced with something new. My original thought, though maybe a little romantic, was people. However, even we humans grow old, and eventually we will be replaced.
God has said that ultimately, He will replace these old bodies with bodies that will last forever. The older I get, the more I look forward to that day. To be sure, this old body does not get better with age.
Security or Adventure?
Yes. Who wouldn’t?
Authority
Well, let’s see. A teacher is the authority in a classroom. A construction engineer is the authority on a construction project, assuming he has been given that authority. Though frequently, the word is used to imply knowledge on a subject, I do not see it as an appropriate meaning. Authority is something given and taken, often under another person’s authority or another organization’s authority. For instance, when I was a staff non-commissioned officer, I did have authority. However, that was authorized to me from those that who were given authority over me. As a side note, as mentioned before, I found out I don’t like having authority. With it comes responsibilities. The greater the authority, the greater the responsibility.
I don’t see myself as having any authority over anything outside my house. If the purpose of the prompt is knowledge, I don’t qualify much there either. I simply take note of what I see and hear and try to pass along that which I consider important, or in some cases humorous. No authority there and very little knowledge.
bfrhodes99 