Year-End Round-Up 2018

Another year goes by and the 2018 calendar goes into the trash.

SNOW!

When it gets cold, there is more time inside the cage that means spending more time in front of the screen reading everything from news to nonsense. Clean up bills and shred last years paper. Start a new spreadsheet for money spent and food ate. Social media cleaned up and movies watched on YouTube, even wasting time on the ‘State of the Onion’ chit-chat of the ridiculous from the ‘Head of the Free World’? Wrote a play-by-play of the Super Bowl L2 then unplugged the TV, never to be watched again through the year.

Relationships

As the snow shovels were replaced with red boxes of chocolate in the shape of hearts, the rom-com was replaced with a Supreme Court justice hearing and women rising up with a “Me Too” movement. Like the Confederate statues, the acceptable cultural belief for men was in the spot light. It is an interesting look at history and the manipulation propaganda still hasn’t changed. Excuse me can I have this dance?

Spring

Layers started to be peeled off and sunshine stayed longer. Children came out to play in a video game bus and more doggies got walked but there was lots of rain. A couple minor repairs, testing organizations that bring people with tools to do an easy DIY project for a sum of money, were completed and scratched off the to-do list. More projects on the list would gather dust while escaping outdoors was the priority all the while writing what filled my head everyday. Between the puppies and babies and memes, the daily news of outrageous behavior and the silly chatter kept me within the walls, except for my daily exercise. The rain kept coming and the cool days turned humid very quickly. The sweats, long sleeves, sweaters were put away for t-shirts (with my name on them), shorts and longer ventures.

Memories

Age brings memories. A sound, smell, word might bring a thought. A dream or photo might bring a thought.

The few coffees and drinks had with friends in the sunshine were burst of ideas and creative that took awhile to comprehend and absorb. Most of these people I know nothing about their families or where they live or what they drive or even who their partner is. I don’t know why they comb their hair a certain way or what religion they are or even what gender. They are not my friends for background reasons they are friends for their ideas. They are mostly younger and have that excitement of the moment. Instead of showing photos of their families on the phone, they talk about the way the shadows move or their latest novel’s theme or some new musical structure they are trying and open for elderly advice or alternative ideas.

We never argue about the check and all walk away enlightened.

Another Birthday

The time passes. Some do not make the turn of the page. This year seems to have been more scratches out of the address book than previously. Like the slower steps, age becomes more aware.

The Tummy Temple

The daily frequent destination of human interaction went through restructure to hide all that was necessary to maintain life. The cast of characters thinned to a few who were worth the brief laugh at checkout time.

Nonsense of a year’s past

If our president, before he took the oath to the nation but after he took his oath to his wife spent $130,000 for three minutes with Stormy Daniels, then that equals out to $43K a minute. Not bad pay and it didn’t make the Internet viral videos.

People need to have a pet to travel on a plane.

The Winter Olympics were as forgettable as last time. There should have been a missile from the north to excite the crowd. Back home the supper bowl had a lucky winner and was just as forgettable.

Instead of listening or watching established new organization, everyone turned to social media for reports that maybe colluded.

While the American Royals were running amuck over here, the Brits put on their usual pomp and circumstance with another divorcee with questionable ancestry. They got enough to worry about with separation from the world.

Meanwhile children are being separated from their parents if they cross the border (in NY too?) and where is Barron? Where is health care? Where is the parade? Where is the wall?

Brett’s confirmation turns into a mesmerizing circus while state-after-state legalizes pot.

Giants of our industry are called upon Congressional hearings and old established icons of merchandising are fading away. I like beer. It is hard to tell reality TV vs SNL?

Sure some schools and churches and anywhere people gather got shot up. This is the new normal. Light me a candle, but don’t burn down the west coast.

Red tide, dead whales, psycho weather, earthquakes and some big waves just keep everything exciting. Even tornados came to town to make life interesting.

Still the space station way up thar keeps circling and wondering why they can’t come back.

Next Year’s To-Do List

Taxes & Money

Seems with only a minimum of dead presidents, there is survival. Being a certain age, my money saved is wanted by the government before I croak, so need to study the alternatives and see if moving to France is the solution. It worked for the Rolling Stones.

Tummy Temple & Consumption

There seems to be more and more Tummy Temples gathering in my area. Perhaps I should change denominations? Once the warm weather and sunshine arrives, a venture through those other who offer that which keeps life going, maybe worth a look.

Temper Tantrums & Drama

Avoiding conflict seems to calm without explanation. There is still plenty of obnoxious fury but like bad commercials can be scrolled through quickly.

Travel & Transportation

Looking at the images recorded from across the globe, there are no sites I wish to watch. Although I enjoy different cultures and music and taste and laugher, my two-wheels can take me to most of them.

Temperature & Shelter

Feeling the early heat and knowing this is what we must adapt to, as long as the coal powered plant or whatever Dominion comes up with to bill me, provide electricity to rotate the fans, sweat through it. Soon enough will be layering and be thankful the water doesn’t fall on your head.

Trees & Family

Appreciate the moment stepping outside and pause to take in the air. Look up knowing you’ve just disturbed the neighborhood by your presents until they realize who you are. Take the time to provide and appreciate our neighbors who long distant generations from those before we invaded.

Thoughts & Transmissions

Dreams, visions, thought encompasses an “aim-free flow of ideas and associations that can lead to a reality-oriented conclusion.”

Although thinking is an activity of an existential value for humans, there is no consensus as to how it is defined or understood.

Because thought underlies many human actions and interactions, understanding physical and metaphysical origins, processes, and effects has been a longstanding goal of many academic disciplines including philosophy, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, biology, sociology and cognitive science.

Thinking allows humans to make sense of, interpret, represent or model the world they experience, and to make predictions about that world. It is therefore helpful to an organism with needs, objectives, and desires as it makes plans or otherwise attempts to accomplish those goals.

Predictions?

Some of those stumps will come up. The handrails will be put in place after painting. The painting will happen, and then the floor. Sure it will be a pain to move all that stuff into other rooms, but it has to happen. Make a jambalaya in the new Dutch oven but make some sort of stew in the old one to see if it can still work? Think before you put something into you mouth. Get the tires replaced. Trim toenails. Trim up shaving. Clean the toilet. Clean the tub. Throw away some of those grubby underpants and venture out to Target for a new batch. Wire a bunch of new gadgets and gizmos to make some loud sounds without headphones.

2019

Who knows what the future holds?