Growing or Showing

We in the United States measure success in financial terms. I should know, I’m an accountant. It isn’t good enough to report what happened during the year in order to calculate your taxes or track your standings. At the end of the day, we American’s have the belief that if you’re not growing then you’re dying.

I Love Bread

Starting with the holiday season continuing through the first four months of the year I fell of the eating right wagon. It wasn’t as if I was eating like an animal but I certainly was paying attention to my diet. Here I use the term diet to describe what I’m eating not to describe a method to to lose weight. I also continued to exercise regularly so I didn’t balloon up to massive proportions that I had in the past. The result was packing on 15 pounds from my lowest weight (which still has me down 50 pounds from my highest level a few years ago) but I was starting to feel uncomfortable so I made a change. I rejoined Weight Watchers.

Wide Open Spaces

Suburb: noun; an outlying district of a city, especially a residential one. Suburbs have been around since the earliest walled cities have been in existence. In fact, the word “suburban” is attributed to  the Roman statesman Cicero in reference to the large villas and estates built by the wealthy patricians of Rome on the city's outskirts. Even so, I’d argue that it wasn’t until the motorized carriage (you know, the car) was made affordable by Henry Ford in the early 20th century that the ‘burbs became what was know them today. Odd thing is, it looks like the ‘burbs are quickly becoming the ‘urbs.

Creation vs Consumption

As you probably didn't notice, it's been quite some time since I've posted a blog. It isn't writer's block, although I'm sure that has a part in the process. At least some could call it a form of writer's block. It is more just a matter of changes in my life resulting in less time for writing and the desire to consume instead of create. Let me give some details.

The Common Cold

There are lots of things that can get you out of your normal exercise routine. I’ve certainly relaxed my self-imposed dedication when on vacation. Who doesn’t? Times have come up when certain work deadlines have dictated that I spend more time performing my assigned tasks and less time pounding the pavement. That will happen. Even weather events can slow down the exercise you want to get done. I certainly didn’t get to run as much last year when there was 36 inches of snow on the ground. These things happens. However, I don’t find any of these excuses as frustrating as the hurt your workouts can take when you become afflicted with that most annoying of illnesses; the common cold.

Electoral College, Part III

By the end of this week Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. The discussion has, appropriately, moved away from the results of the election to how the country will be run under President Trump. As was to be expected, the discussion around the Electoral College has dissipated to the point of being nearly forgotten. I believe this is a terrible mistake. As the old saying goes, and I’m paraphrasing and putting my own spin on the sentiment, those who forget history are bound to repeat it.

Patience is something that has been lost to the annals of time. This is especially true when it comes to our United States sensibility of self-importance. It is doubly true when referring to airline travel. Patience is a virtue and we Americans don’t have any. Consider this photo for a moment.