Lessons

Happy Saturday – Actually it’s been a quiet week. Quiet, except for the fact that I took our little Corolla ‘beater’ in the have the resonator piping replaced, and that on my birthday no less. It must be that old cars and old guys’ ‘resonator’ piping suffer a similar issue – loudness, especially in public.

The other aging phenomena is the reappearance of kindergarten aged fart jokes and the like.

So, here is a resultant juvenile limerick, one of many.

When you enter your eighties – life takes on a different format:
An irritable person is Dirk the faultfinder.
A legit and professional griper.
People had no idea why he had the blues.
Turns out he had a full diaper.
They quickly got a nose full of clues.

It’s still early and still dark, so back to my coffee.

Presidents Day – Here is a quick question regarding last Monday. Who of you all actually spent a nano-second reflecting on even one of our Presidents last Monday as we celebrated our 147th Presidents Day (1879)?

I would guess that topping the list would be critical events such as mistakenly putting out the garbage a day early. Or checking the mailbox forgetting that there was no delivery that day.

Was your bank open, did you buy a piece of furniture or a mattress at the weekend’s onslaught of sales? Any of you care to share your favorite screw-up?

Cathy on the air – Tomorrow is the start of an important week, especially for us, the elderly. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). It runs from March 1 to 7, 2026, with March 5 designated as National “Slam the Scam” Day to focus on government imposter scams.

Our Cathy at Cincinnati’s Pro Seniors heads up the organization’s Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) sector. Quoting their stats; “In 2024, the 54 SMP projects had a total of 5,643 active team members who conducted a total of 22,752 group outreach and education events, contributing to $35.1 million in expected Medicare recoveries.”

Last evening, using Roku’s Live Streaming setup I listened to a wonderful show on WMKV – 89.3FM where the station hosted Cathy representing Senior Medicare Patrol and a representative from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to alert listeners to the myriad and ever more sophisticated onslaught of scams – over 200% increase in about a year.

This week especially, be alert, verify and incoming calls and requests. If the ‘pitch’ sounds too good to be true, most likely it is!

A tale of two women – is proof that it’s not just by being from a group, a culture, a gender, a religion that becomes the criteria by which to judge a person. All this was brought home to me when I spotted the antics and untoward attitude expressed by one representative, Ilhan Omar during this week’s State of the Union presentation.

The tale of the two women is made oh so clear when we look at Representative Ilhan Omar who is little more than a grifter, a masterful and successful grifter at that. A grifter who constantly caps on America and openly expressing a deep-seated hate for Jewish people.

The other is Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Ayaan same country of origin endured female genital mutilation as a child and fled an arranged marriage. Ended up In the Netherlands, exposed Islamic misogyny through her writings and the film *Submission* with Theo van Gogh, which critiqued the oppression of women under fundamentalist Islam (van Gogh was assassinated by an Islamist in 2004).

Hirsi Ali received death threats, moved to the United States and has been living under protection. She is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University where she champions our values, freedom, tolerance, and women’s rights. She embraces a gratitude toward the nations that sheltered her. She is a hero.

The plan today is that our Cincinnati family meet up for brunch. Assuming Marcia is up for it we’ll head for one of my favorite coffee/sandwich shops; “Mom ‘n Em”. No better Avocado or Anchovy toasties anywhere!

Screenshot

Then proud congratulations to Derek who the day after his birthday showed up an Austin courthouse to report for jury duty. He survived ‘voir dire’! Was seated, then on Thursday at 6:30pm, after a two-hours of deliberation, the jury of twelve came to a verdict. He faced his civic duty with aplomb and performed well.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

How many iterations of the American flag have been made? Hint, the United States holds the world record for the most changes to a national flag.

1. 27
2. 13
3. 6
4. 29
5. 18
6. 21
7. 17

Last week answer – #2

here a ‘D’ there a “D’

Happy Saturday – Last week I mentioned the almost open neighborhood Dairy Queen as our forerunner of Spring. Now it can be safely said that Spring is exactly one month away.

And after this winter I am beyond ready.

The other day I came across a news view of a Barge heading up-river through broken up ice. Considering I worked late summer’s River Roots Festival and watched the Riverboats cruise up and down the river with Calliope’s playing merry tunes, this view was a far cry from those jolly days.

Let’s pretend that I am enjoying a celebratory mug of Peets coffee [Peet’s just IPO’d at $17Billion] this very morning as I sip and look towards Spring, one month into the future. Better yet, in the meantime ease back and celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the Fire Horse.

Pressure? – With all the happenings (turmoil?) this winter I am completely out of sync with any prep work for proceeding with some of the 5Ks I’ve participated in over the past several years.

Now this! A week ago a gentleman by the name of Gary Patton NYRR’s Night at the Races #5 held at The Armory in New York City, saw 80 year-old Gary Patton run 6:38.10 setting a new world record for 80-84 year-olds for an indoor mile run!
Really?
OK, now the pressure is really on!

A short while ago – So many things and capabilities we take for granted were brand spanking new just a handful of years ago. When I talk with my grandkids and as they describe some work requirement for school done on-line during the evening, submitted as homework, and graded by the start of the next morning’s class as the forever norm. That ‘norm’ as many others were barely thought of just a short while ago.

Think of YouTube, we almost live on YouTube. Need to look anything from music, science, repair, and on and on. All can be readily found among the multi-millions of clips online. You’d think that all this availability dates back many decades earlier.

Well, here is an eye opener.

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is now offering visitors a new landmark display. featuring the first video ever uploaded to the site (waaaay back in 2005): Jawed Karim’s “Me at the zoo“.

The video shows a young software engineer, Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube, on the first up-loaded video in 2005. A year later Google purchased the technology, and thus it all began.

Presidents Day – Here is a quick question. Who of you all actually spent a nano-second reflecting on even one of our Presidents last Monday as we celebrated the 147th Presidents Day (1879).

I would guess that topping the list would be critical events such as mistakenly putting out the garbage a day early. Or checking the mailbox forgetting that there was no delivery that day.

Was your bank open, did you buy a piece of furniture or a mattress? Any of you care to share your favorite screw-up?

Where is the joke? – this two-week period sees an array of birthdays in my circle; and three of them have names starting with the letter ‘D’. I mention this not as a joke since I consider all three as being ‘A’.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

How often do we watch a spot on the evening News that another satellite was launched. Actually, what has recently been proposed by SpaceX is an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a megaconstellation of up to one million satellites to power data centers in space. As of this month approximately how many satellites are currently in low earth orbit? One number is correct.

1. 875
2. 14,000
3. 1,400
4. 900
5. 125,000
6. 1,850
7. 692,000

Last week answer – #5

2 – Weeks Till …..

Happy Saturday – Really Happy! Do you realize that in just two short weeks our nearby harbinger of Spring will open. March 1, 2026, our Dairy Queen will start serving their ‘Blizzard’ complete with sprinkles. As the Duch would yell out; “hiep, hiep hoera” (hippity, hip hoorah).

Pressure? – In short order, it’s like we’re being slapped on one cheek and then the other. Yesterday it was that always worrisome (if you so believe) day of potential mishaps – Friday the 13th style.

Then today’s Valentine Day ballyhoo as so advanced by the dear people of Hallmark. As a ‘just leave me to get along by myself’ kind of guy it becomes more and more difficult to stay out of trouble. Happy Valentine’s Day.

C of C & M – you guessed correctly, the C of C & M does stand for ‘Corner of Chaos and Mayhem’. And, two days ago, the “nom de guerre” of our dear corner once again earned its name. Thursday Marcia had a ‘Lady sitter’ for me to run out to take care of some much-needed stuff. Heading home from Costco I got a call. The gist was that our street was closed since three Ambulances, seven Fire trucks, plus Police were scattered about the corner – seems that the third floor of our neighboring building was on fire.

I did manage to sneak on the back side of our drive and an hour later everything was back to normal. Fire had been called quickly, and they managed to contain the fire. Nice going and kudos to the folk professionals staffing our nation’s very first professional fire brigade.

And the Winner is – I am talking about the current Winter Olympics of course. No, not about any spectacular speed, loop, turn, half loop, or even a win which brought tears to the eyes of all those ever present experts.

I am talking about the winner of the best creative uniform for an athlete. First let it be said that Haiti only has two entries. These two won my ‘best of costume’ award for their kit, hands down.

What makes them even more special is that these outfits were hand painted, as stated in an on-line article, “hand painted by artisans with designs rooted in the nation’s heritage. Displaying symbols of resistance, even keeping the iconic image of the riderless red horse at the center.”

It was great – I am talking about last Sunday’s “Jazz@First” concert. The concert focused on the amazing (and amazingly long) career of Pat Metheny, and his long-term collaborator, Lyle Mays.

These concerts with the Phil deGreg trio are formed from players/instructors at the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music (CCM). Being teachers as well as performers means that their audience is handed a double ‘whammy’ – a great performance, and teaching moments with some wonderful background insights.

So, I learned that while Metheny is known mostly for ‘smooth’ jazz, it is his being raised and exposed to the music found in Kansas City (his hometown). Working with this prevalence of western and country music had him incorporate those sounds into his music. So, it’s not surprising that the sounds of bands such as Steely Dan can be found in his works.

At the concert, I recorded a piece written by Metheny, Bright Size Life, where this influence is clear. Enjoy a listen:

Marcia – had what can only be describes as her own “Hippity Hip Hoorah” moment when her Physical Therapist assessed the gains Marcia had made. Closing out her P.T. cycle it came time for Marcia to strut her stuff. The result being that Laura the therapist had Marcia park her walker and prance away using her cane. She did great!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Seniors are currently strategizing their final college selection. Our Presidents too went through that same cycle. Some became our POTUS with unlikely majors to prepare them for the role of Chief Executive. Which of these early career paths were taken by a President, 6 are correct, one is wrong.

1. Nuclear Physics
2. Teaching
3. Geology
4. Hebrew
5. Mortuary Science 1978
6. No Formal Education 1993
7. Mathematics

Last week answer – #5 -1978 & #6 – 1993

Happy

Happy Saturday – The ‘Happy’ as my standard opening word is much more than just a filler word. Each and every day we all have at our disposal an opportunity. The opportunity to seize at whatever is tossed into our path as a challenge or as an impediment. As an ‘Albatross’ or as a positive opportunity.

This might be a (very) weak example of what I just mentioned; but here goes. I forgot to grind some of our Don Pablo coffee beans and wanted my mug of coffee ASAP. Without batting an eye, I got into my Hazelnut coffee stash; problem solved, plus a ‘wake-up-the-tastebuds’ moment – glad I made that move.

Happiness – Just to avoid getting into a long diatribe let me just steer you to the writings of the legendary Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961) – he was a main character in the psychology studies I had at Calvin. What you’d find is that many reliable rules as to what creates happiness can be found and most of them were figured out in 1960 by a senior citizen – none other than Dr. Carl Jung. Concepts such as having a “complex”, something being an “archetype”, even us being an “introvert or an extrovert”, were all put forth by Jung.

Approaching his 85th birthday Jung was asked what factors requisite for happiness were. He posited five pillars for happiness:

1. maintaining good physical and mental health.
2. good personal and intimate relationships.
3. satisfying work and a reasonable standard of living.
4. seeing beauty in art and nature.
5. a philosophical or religious outlook that fosters resilience.

Perimenopause – As we age, not necessarily yet old, most of us experience a bit of aphasia now and then. The ladies have a dedicated term to their specific type of aphasia, perimenopause (for men the closest is ‘andropause’). It appears that both Estrogen and Testosterone play a part.

I got a bit more of an insight on this subject through the writing of Mira Ptacin. I guess that I had one too many of those ‘brain-burps’. One which made me want to dig in a bit more on the subject. As Ptacin says regarding ‘losing words’; “Mid-sentence, mid-thought, mid-story I’ve told a hundred times; the word I want stands just out of reach, waving its little arms from a foggy distance.”

Anyway, this isn’t trying to be a science paper. Just an old guy placing front and center a small piece of all what encapsules the aging process.

But mostly, to also expose you, the readers, to a small piece of the charming writings of Ptacin as she writes, “When hormone levels are seesawing, neurotransmitters get jumpy and gray matter thins. Temporarily, they insist. Reversible, they say. Meanwhile, I’m in the kitchen trying to remember the word cinnamon and calling it “the spicy dust.”

Is there a Ball Game tomorrow? – Rumor has it that a few of us will be watching a football game tomorrow; still not certain if I’ll be part of it all. There was a time when we’d head out for parties or gatherings. This year it seems to be more of a ‘meh’ event. I haven’t really got to the reason why.

Musical Interlude – I’ve been a bit deep with this week’s Ramblings; please don’t get riled up or anything like that. Instead, just ease back with some super cool music. Listen to one of my favorite pieces performed flawlessly by none other than musical greats Wynton Marsalis, Taj Mahal, and Eric Clapton as they perform a wonderful rendition of Just a Closer Walk with Thee.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Over the years we’ve experienced many a Blizzard across the USA. Some were severe enough to be given a name. Here are the top 10 with the dates they occurred. All except for two, what year did those two storms occur?

1. GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1888
2. WHITE HURRICANE (1913)
3. KNICKERBOCKER STORM (1922)
4. CHICAGO BLIZZARD OF 1967
5. BLIZZARD OF ????
6. STORM OF THE CENTURY (????)
7. BLIZZARD OF 1996
8. SNOWMAGEDDON (2010)
9. GROUNDHOG DAY BLIZZARD (2011)
10. WINTER STORM JONAS (2016)

Last week answer – #7 Applesauce

Quick Beginnings

Happy last day of January 2026 –I slept in (it’s now 7:00 am exactly) and I am in a quandary; least piece being that my Saturday morning post is now way late. First of all, it’s minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-20.5C) which realistically precludes doing anything outside. The picture shows that cold snaps are not all that uncommon in these parts.

City of Louisville, 300′ long and holding 1,500 passengers

Next, I need to pause as soon as Marcia wakes up to make certain she’ll be parked appropriately behind her walker. Then get her to join me with morning coffee. Somewhere in that mix there will be breakfast for her.

Also, cannot forget updating the daily White Board Kirstin started for Marcia which shows date, her daily ‘Goal’ and her ‘Schedule’. It’s something I’ve kept going since she came home from her stay at the hospital.

Oh well, it’ll all fall into place. Patience dear boy, patience.

Today ends the first month where all of our family was devastated by the loss of Marin. Couple that immeasurable loss with Marcia’s breaking of her hip. This means that we’re turning a new page.

Quotation – this by the great American Poet, Robert Frost (1874 – 1963): “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”

What Frost didn’t say, but the Bible does is the placing of perspective into life itself in James 4:14:
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”

It’s all because of Marcia – that the kids mentioned that we take our larger screen Roku TV from the sunroom and place it in the living room, as a way for her to stay entertained.

Well, Marcia is not much into movies or television. News quickly becomes a backdrop of, blah, blah, blah.

Ahh, but then there are sports. And Marcia who taught sports and played varsity Basketball does like sports (me too). Hence, this week we’ve been following tennis as the Australian Open is taking place in Melbourne. Me, having volunteered last summer at the Cincinnati Open saw many of the stars of the sport playing.

So tomorrow will be the men’s finals; Carlos Alcaraz, 22 versus Novak Djokovic, 38. Djokovic could become the oldest to win the Australian Open (as I am also not a ‘spring chicken’ that last piece is of interest).

Also, Djokovic had the guts to protest the Covid jab and thus wasn’t allowed to play the open and in fact was deported from Australia. I too refused the barely tested mRNA Pfizer jab and managed to find an alternative which did allow me to eventually gain entry into Canada to check on the cabin. Those were strange times. Guess who I’ll be rooting for?

Update – Marcia just had her morning coffee poured and already has her ‘Lazy Boy’ chair fully extended with her favorite ‘throw’.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Throughout history, each generation has used their form of slang. Here are some slag terms which I’ve heard say people wouldn’t mind being revived. Which should NOT be on this list?

1) pad
2) square
3) made in the shade
4) wallflower
5) gas
6) peepers
7) applesauce

Last week answer – #2 “Google”

The Season

The Season – is now mid-winter. Really mid-winter. It is still dark this morning and I am certain that the day will be short. That temperature is approaching zero and announced that a ‘snowmageddon’ is fast approaching.

But it’s more than that, even with a fresh full pot of coffee, it’s difficult to escape that these days a dark curtain is hanging over me as a reminder that the loss of Marin is real and it is vicious.

This morning in years past I would be doing my annual 5K – Cyclones Frozen 5K – sponsored by our local Hockey Team. This year I’ll wear a ‘Frozen’ jersey of past years in honor.

So, even with a bit of melancholy, the focus should be on the fact that other duties call and as time moves on, looking towards Springtime the vision of blossoms does creep in. Creeps in with a hint here and there. Notably, Marcia is on the mend; she thinks it’s going way too slow, I see progress daily.

Today is Cathy’s birthday and coming Tuesday it’ll be Kirstin’s. All this acknowledges that even being aware of the fragility of life, life itself is immensely strong and shines brilliantly. A strange ‘yin and yang’, isn’t it?

This past week we lost noted Folk singer and writer Tucker Zimmerman and his wife in a house fire. In light of all that’s happened and will be facing us, I think it appropriate to play his song, The Season.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk
BONUS POINTS:

Which of these words did NOT gain their start as an acronym?

1) scuba
2) Google
3) Yahoo
4) Smart car
5) Care package
6) taser
7) radar

Last week answer – #6, “Supernova”

Panglossian

New Year – came and is one which our family can never forget. It’s daily that memories of Marin creep into thought, talk, and events. And yes, I do understand fully that time will play a part in the healing process.
Nevertheless…

Then there is the fall and subsequent hip surgery Marcia underwent. Now home, but with movements severely restricted means we’re all affected. She’s healing and yesterday the Physical Therapist swung by, evaluated, and got her going on a series of exercises.
Nevertheless…

At heart, I am of a Panglossian mindset – that being that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.
Nevertheless…

Nevertheless… for those of us with a faith that there is more including that during every time in our lives there is hope. Hence the Panglossian mindset. This weekend will be the birthday of the iconic Dolly Parton. This, her song, appropriate for our family at this time.

Marcia just got up — and after a quick stop crawled back into bed. I’ll hold off on the coffee until she’s up for the day. Over the holidays I swung by Jungle Jim’s International foods and purchased some Dutch Douwe Egbert coffee. Yesterday was the last pot brewed from that batch.

Luckily, over the holidays George brought a bag of Don Pablo coffee (available in their Costco but not ours) so today it’ll be a great mug of Don’s finest. Thanks George.

A Disaster that wasn’t – What all the misery brought this New Year’s did bring to mind another New Year, this one a debacle from 26 years ago.

That debacle-that-wasn’t had me quite busy. For those too young or too old to remember, here’s the scoop. Space on hard drives in computing systems was always at a premium. To save drive space, many programs used just two digits for a year, i.e. ’16 for the year1916.

As the Century turn crept closer bit of a national panic set in, especially businesses, transportation, power grids, and government with fears that in place of recognizing ’00’ systems would misread; that the systems would interpret the ‘00’ to mean the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. Fears that lots of bookkeeping would figuratively ‘blow’ up and fail.

To cover backsides software companies ran test after test and created thick manuals to distribute to their users (all to prevent /minimize lawsuits). It cost $300B to $500B to discover that there was minimal screwing up.

By the way, my company’s software and the systems I was marketing used the Julian Calendar and thus we were fine (but still had to document all our documented work to satisfy our customers).

But wait! There’s more! — The next apocalyptic event will hit in 2038. 2038? This time it’s because back in 1970 the older 32-bit systems stored time by counting seconds. They paid little attention to the fact that on January 19, 2038 that number maxes out and those systems will reset to 1901.

Good luck getting through that piece, I’ll be smiling from somewhere.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What is the explosion at the end of a star’s life cycle called?

1) Aphelion
2) Neutron star
3) Event horizon
4) Libration
5) Pulsar
6) Supernova
7) Nova

Last week answer – #3 & #6, “Ate and left no crumbs” & “Air Jail”

Aside from a major surgery (hip) with Marcia we began 2026 with a devastating loss. A bright star in our family dimmed. Grandson, Marin, has departed the turmoil of his earthly being and is currently at peace. We loved him and in memory we will only love him more.

Our prayer is that he received a welcoming entry into his everlasting heavenly existence.

grateful – dankbaar – fakafeta’i

It’ll be a New Year – Since MMXXVI can’t be either happy or unhappy and since I want to wish you lots, it’s gotta be a HAPPY NEW YEAR, so let’s do it this way; I wish you great health, a good life, and the love of your family for 2026!

Now some coffee, well-earned I might add. With Kirstin, Derek, and Kellen driving up this weekend, Marcia and I dutifully did some ‘straightening’ of our little abode. Even Marcia appreciated that she barely recognized my office and its Pin Ball machine (cleaned, sitting/waiting fully loaded and ready for at least 30 games).

The Texas group is always hopeful of finding some snow. This week we’ve had a steady week of mid sixties temperature. Next week there’ll be a dramatic temperature drop, but NO snow.

This warmish morning there was no need for a steaming mug of coffee, just a tasty one.

Hair snipping – Yesterday I realized that I was ‘mucho’ past due getting shorn. My usual go-to joint was closed all day. I then remembered that on the other side of the parking lot is a Sports Clip franchise. Before I headed for the place I scanned their on line list of reviews. Several of those were problematic!

That’s when I discovered that I had run into a ‘contronym’. A contronym references a word that can have opposite meanings. In my case I with the way my hair might “get clipped” and if unhappy with the result, feel that “I got clipped” in my pocketbook. Did you realize you just read the Word of the Day?

Christmas Dinner –– Since our family Holiday gathering will not occur till the coming mid-week, Marcia and I, a pair of ‘fogies,’ were spending the day alone. For the first time I realized that gone were the olden days where the house would be filled with the sound many shrill young voices.

Basically, I love shrill little voices. It even gets better when it’s almost mandatory to spend half the day on the floor assembling toys, shoving toys around, and joining in any number of table-now-played-on-the-floor games.

But, before you wipe a tear, we were invited to enjoy a Tongan Christmas Dinner with Adrianne and Tevita and kids, plus their other invited guests; all Tongan. Barely a word of English spoken it’s amazing how we as humans can have a great time communicating, communicating through laughter, hands, an occasional word, signs, gestures, body language, and even through a sip of adult beverage.

We had a wonderful afternoon. Thanks so much to both of you, to Vai and Vili, and our new Tongan friends

Yesterday, Dec 26, 1776 – is now a barely noticed turning point in our nation’s history. General George Washington and his motley crew, called the Continental Army, made it to Trenton, NJ. Once there, the day after Christmas they caught the 1,400 Hessian soldiers guarding the city completely off guard (it seems they’d celebrated somewhat too much the day before).

That became the first real battle the British lost. They stormed back the next day and Washington’s troops had to withdraw. Had he first crossed the Delaware River he most likely would have had the armaments to keep the upper hand. Luckily, a short few days later there was another victory at Princeton.

But that victory energized the troops and generated morale without which many likely would not have re-enlisted when their tenure expired that New Year’s Day. Had Washington lost much of his army the possible outcome of our eventual independence could have been seriously in doubt.

It also proves the point that whenever planning, in whatever setting, school, business, military, plan to protect against the worst outcome – in Washington’s case it was as simple as crossing a river to maintain control over his armament supply.

Luminary Night – Last Sunday was absolutely perfect for the annual Neighborhood Luminary walk. I did the walk solo and ended up sitting a bit by a front yard firepit at one of our former neighbors. Soon some others joined and Ken P, our host, came up with a tray filed with mugs of hot Lavendar herbal tea.

In the middle of the chit-chat someone pointed out a full-grown Fox walking casually by, no more than 20 feet from where we were sitting. Keep in mind we’re just 3 miles from the heart of a major city.

Actually, it was one of those happenstance events where you hated to leave. Had it not been for former neighbor Rosalie v N , who with some sight issues needed to get home. So I volunteered to escort her.

The lighted house on the left side of the attached picture is our former house. The other shows the reverse side of the Corner of Chaos and Mayhem.

The Egg Nog Jog – Last Saturday’s 5K had me finish 1st in my age category, walking category which including a total of 10 flights of steps climbed, a 16.37 pace for a total 51:36 chip time.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which of the following lasting expressions from years past are still in use today? Still in use, even if the original meanings have shifted in modern times. Two are incorrect.

1) Dial a number
2) Blackballed
3) Ate and left no crumbs
4) Roll up the window
5) Burning the Midnight Oil
6) Air Jail
7) CC

Last week answer – #3, “Life on the Mississippi”

Happy MMXXVI

Merry Christmas –

Happy Saturday morning. Just remember to all of you reading this, many of you actually survived another “Polar Vortex”; some of you survived because of where you live, but that is not my fault.

Half a week our bathroom sink’s cold-water faucet was frozen. Everything was fine except for that single particular faucet. What it meant was that these mornings we couldn’t wake up and brace ourselves with a fresh cold-water splash on our face. Horrors!

Since it’s early, I will have my regular mug of coffee. After posting I’ll be off for a 5K and I do not want to start out with a bunch of coffee sloshing around. But, as I said, it’s early so it’ll be OK. By the way, it could be but pictured is not my mug.

Christmas – Just in case we forgot, the Christmas celebration is really a celebration of the birth of Jesus. All the other hoopla is basically just slop (Merriam-Webster named ‘slop’ the word of the year).

One bit that I learned this week is that the name ‘Jesus’ has only been in use for about 400 years. Jesus, during his time on earth spoke Aramaic, a language which does not have the letter ‘J’. Likely he would have responded to the, then, very common name of “Yeshua’ or even the shortened version ‘Yeshu”.

So, things morphed the from Aramaic, to Hebrew, to Greek (‘Iesous’), and finally, shortened in Latin to’ “Iesus.”.

OK, all aboard now?

Harmonies for the Holidays – Last Sunday, cold, snow, bad roads and all, I joined my favorite jazz trio, the Phil DeGreg Trio. This along with the Northern Kentucky University “Vocal Jazz Ensemble“. It was wonderful!

Two hours of all the classics did their magic. Now ready for a seasonal celebration.

Orville & Wilbur – This week I spent a little time reading about Orville and Wilbur Wright and their first powered flight. I’d only viewed them as being a pair of bicycle mechanics who gutsily stumbled on getting a pile of cloth, wood, and wires off the ground. I was so wrong.

They owned a number of bicycle establishments in and around Dayton, Ohio. And their flight design work was absolutely revolutionary. What had prevented others trying to be the first in powered flight were areas which they mastered and then incorporated in their design – their pile of cloth/wood/wire aircraft could be controlled for three axis, Yaw, Roll, and Pitch.

Even, as part of the design was a very lightweight engine (weight was critical). They cast their engine out of Aluminum – then painted it black to keep its design a secret. Weight was so critical that the pilot, Orville, was laying down off center at the controls to counterbalance the engine’s weight.

Take a look at this clever video demonstrating the physics built into their plane.

Fit Life After 40 – Is the name by which a trainer from New Zealand, Gavyn, goes by. Part of the interaction with him is that I get a steady stream of input from him.

With both Christmas and New Year quickly approaching along with those huge food feasts, his latest from yesterday morning might be worthwhile for all of us. Let me quote Gavyn directly:

“Do This Before Big Meals (It Actually Works)”
“Hi Dirk

Pre-meal hack:

Go for a 10-minute walk before AND after eating.

Helps digestion, reduces blood sugar spikes, reduces lethargy, and makes you feel like an athletic reindeer.

Gavyn

PS: I told myself I’d walk more in December. So far… I’ve walked to the fridge a lot…”

The Egg Nog Jog – As alluded to above, this week I’m a bit short with my Ramblings. At 10 this morning the starter’s gun will sound and the Mt. Adams 5K “Egg Nog Jog” will start. It starts at one of the highest points on Mount Adams and after going over, around, and down some of area’s hills end up where we started. I’ve done this 5K several times and considering the season, the terrain, the scenery, and the glass of beer and egg nogg at the finish makes this annual 5K a seasonal high point.

Wish me well!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which was the first published book that was written on a typewriter. This was a breakthrough, and as was noted at the time; “At the beginning of that interval (writing) a type-machine was a curiosity. The person who owned one was a curiosity, too. But now it is the other way about: the person who doesn’t own one is a curiosity.” So again, which book was the first?

1) Lewis Wallace – “Ben Hur”
2) Herman Melville – “Moby-Dick
3) Samuel Clemens — “Life on the Mississippi”
4) Noraly Schoenmaker – “Free Ride”
5) Rachel Carson – “The Sea Around Us”
6) Harriet Beecher Stowe — “Uncle Tom’s Cabin“
7) Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt – “The River of Doubt”

Last week answer – #2, “Jimmy Carter”