Still Quite High On Life

I'm high a lot of the time.  Not with the aid of drugs, but on the quartet of "happy chemicals" that flow naturally in all of us: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins.  My favorites are the elusive endorphins, which aren't all that easy to get, but have the best payoff by far. Last night I …

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Did You Have To Be There?

Last night I shared a bold and possibly ridiculous-sounding statement with my 27 year-old daughter.  I told her that a certain song became a defining influence in my life.  She already knew which one. I'd recently watched a video in which award winning British broadcaster and composer Howard Goodall CBE examined The Beatles' music.  He …

Draft #18

I have all these drafts I'll never post.  But wait!  Draft #18 is all about why I write and why I'm here.  I think I'll finish it and post it. In my late twenties I dated a woman who kept a journal.  She entered something into it daily, even if it was only one sentence.  …

Enjoying Summer More Than Ever

The critters are all back, and I'm glad to see them all.  The hummingbirds are usually one of the first to appear after their journey from God knows where.  There are now about seven that I see every day around my wife's feeder.  They buzz around our patio, totally oblivious to our movements. Life is …

The Offspring Unplugged

I told Fauxcroft, one of my beloved readers who is also a fan of The Offspring, that I would report back on this, and by golly, I'm finally getting around to it.  As I mentioned in a previous post, my daughter bought tickets to see The Offspring play an acoustic set on Father's Day at …

Thriving, In Spite of the Hordes

I think most of us were intimidated as we entered high school, sizing up all the social situations, cautious, but in hopes of making new friends.  I remember strong peer influences trying to dictate who I should like or dislike.  Any kids who were different were obvious targets.  But there were less-obvious people who deserved …

Mother’s Day Thoughts At Our House

I felt emotional as my two daughters and I attended the swearing-in ceremony.   It was almost overpowering to see so many excited people from all over the world.  Some looked like they had endured a lot to get here.  A few were missing limbs, many were in tears, as were their families.  I looked on …

The Offspring In My Future

I think my younger daughter spilled the beans. She informed me the other day that she and my other daughter bought tickets for us to see band, The Offspring play "unplugged". What a great surprise! My daughters know that I feel that rock and roll fizzled out in the late 90's or early 2000's. I …

Good Decision To Go

I made a last-minute decision on Thursday night to drive seven hours to my home town.  After all, Rob was one of my favorite people, and a great friend.  Rob was a very private person.  He was funny, intelligent, a very kind and gentle soul. I arrived a bit early and saw Rob's framed picture …

Upcoming UK Visit

OK, here come the excuses.  I have found myself still employed, and I was so actually so busy last week I didn't even get a post out.  It's kind of humiliating after making the big retirement announcement...again. Although I had written about turning in my resignation, a coup developed on my last day and a …