Counting Down

Just a few hours left in this year. A very transitional one in ways I recognize and acknowledge but struggle to explain. Looks like I'm going to make it through. (Crossing my fingers.) Hopefully the coming year will be smoother and less worrisome. I find it very telling that I just noticed a huge hole in the heel of my sock. 

A note or possibly two:

• The other day, I was listening to a co-worker talking about another person and I said, "Yeah, he's a wee bit eccentric." .... Later reflecting, "Wow that's sure an example of the pot (moi) calling the kettle black." 
• I was attempting a late push to finish one of the three books that I've been reading but too often have fallen asleep. I may never finish since my eyes tend to become weary, one page in.
• I have never understood the use of the word, 'queue.' Why do you need another word for line? Especially one using five letters to spell but pronounced sounding as one letter. 
• And so time goes ..... 2023 is here!!

Old School Hoopster

Apparently, I am 'old school.'

Been watching all these videos of guys showing off their basketball footwork and moves to the hoop. And been leaving a few comments .... "That's a travel." ..... "Asking to have the ball stolen" .... " Not necessary," etc. 

When did I get so critical of other's game? But I can't help thinking that those might work or get by the refs if you're Stephen Curry or Kevin Durrant, but otherwise, probably not.

Whatever happened to the legitimate jump stop / crossover step? Or the drop step? Things that didn't require some fake sleight of hand or feet?  

Old school? Well, I am of the belief that they should put a limit on the number of three-point shots that can be attempted in a game. I find it boring when five or six consecutive possessions end in a three-point attempt. I also believe that the players from the 1950's and 60's, who on old films sometimes look 'stiff,' would have been every bit as skilled as the players of today had they had the same knowledge and training methods available and had the game evolved during their time, the way it is today.

Random Observation(s) About Un-named Geek/Dork

 I don't know if this is going to end up being one or ten but random notes ..... 

• I can't seem to look in the mirror without noticing one beard whisker standing apart from the others and needing to be trimmed and just let it go until I spot three or four. I'm obsessed with making corrections to any that are out of place.
• Icestorm 2022 .... My power went out just minutes before I arrived home from work. Which is exactly my kind of luck. For a few moments, I mistakenly thought lifetime trends had changed for me. The freezing rain had held off falling until the exact moment I departed work. I thought: "Great!! I'll get something to eat and get home and warm before the roads get bad." But the usual karma, which I maintain is undeserved, was just waiting behind closed doors at home.
• Hey spammers! Don't you consider the possibility that you might be tipping your hand by sending out your crap on Christmas day? Just by glancing at my legit inbox it appears that the great majority of legitimate people take the day off and refrain even from email.

Help I've Fallen and Can't Get Up

So the freezing rain arrived yesterday afternoon and continued overnight into this morning. And I, under the impression that it had warmed up enough this afternoon and was starting to melt, walked outside to a layer of pure ice and sure enough, slid, slid some more, got my balance and slid again .... and again. Then scraped the ice off my car, turned and attempted to go back inside my home, slipped and fell, landing on my rear end, hurting mostly my pride.

The impact made quite a thud. I sure hope that the frozen ground is ok. Imagine having me unexpectedly fall on top of you.

The tricky part was trying to get back on my feet. 

I don't want to be one of those actors' doing commercials for medical alert devices while pleading: "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up."  I'm not sure it would have been a routine task had I been 18 years old. I should ask the neighbors to check their security cam. Could be a viral video there.  

There's Always One

I'm always amazed ..... or is it dumbfounded? .... at these guys that you can predictively expect to see, when it's 33 degrees outside, walking around in the grocery store like its July or August in central Louisiana, (something I've experienced), wearing shorts and a t-shirt. And there always seems to be just one. Like there's a pool of guys and each day, one is assigned to each store in town. It just amazes me. I never see two. It's always one guy, but there's ALWAYS a guy. Are these guys half cow, half human, and equipped to survive the cold?

I'm 66 years old and have never thrown a punch at another person but I imagine if I ever do, it will be at one of these freezing temperature denier guys. It just pisses me off royally, that these guys, in full arrogance, strut around like the cold is not an issue. 

Notes From a Rainy Day

 Random observations, notes and thoughts .....

• Downtown this past afternoon enjoying a bowl of corn chowder watching people playing chess on the floor below me, while the rain was falling outside. Feeling alive and part of the community again.  
• I accidently ran a red light today. Maybe I should just stay home.
• The downtown bookstore eliminated magazines at the start of covid and now they've reduced the size of the poetry section. Not good developments.
• I tried something new ..... Initiating conversation, smiling and laughing with a stranger. It wasn't the moments of terror that I've always imagined. Maybe I'll try it again.

Smart Cloth

There are few things that I detest more than looking through smudge marks on lenses. I have five or six of those small cloths designed for cleaning eyeglasses, strategically placed around my place but never seem to have one within reach when needed. And they never seem to be where I recall leaving them. I wish there was a 'smart' cloth so Alexa could advise of the whereabouts. Perhaps the solution is to purchase ten more?

Senior Discount

You know how sometimes in life; bad things happen to good people? Well occasionally, good things happen to weird people. Case in point: I was in the local record store yesterday and was informed that they would be giving me a 10% lifetime discount starting now. 

"Really? From now on?"....  I asked.

"Yes" ...... though I suppose that's only true if they remember their kind gesture, but they did pick up on my name after only one visit. 

I don't think the gesture was recorded anywhere for future reference. Nor was I given a discount qualifying card or a secret code word to utter.

A moment later, as if to justify it, I was asked if I was a veteran. "Well no, but I am a senior."

OK, that's good enough. That works. And we can always say that you're protecting the vinyl.