We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Plenty of friends do, but I do not. I have a bit of anxiety in general anyway. I like docks and permanent moorings for overnight. Met a guy this week with an antique wooden ketch (as beautiful as a tern) and he swore by his kedge anchor like the one on the photo. Nobody uses those...do they?
Another random post from Maggie's. Tooth care is a complete drag, whether at home or in the dental hyena's office.
I tend to do my tooth care in the shower, but I have always hated tooth care and anything related to dentistry. Having grown up with a dentist who thought novocaine was newfangled nonsense didn't help, but as a kid I was afraid of needles too.
Anyway, some of us are obsessive tooth-carers and some are less so.
Nowadays, we have lots of choices:
- Water-pic (my dentist wants me to use, but it's a hassle) - Old-fashioned toothbrush - Electric toothbrush (I use, but it tickles my palate to annoyance) - Sonic toothbrush (I want to try one)
Maybe permanent fake implants would be a good plan. (Photo is not me, thank God).
You have to discuss your life in detail, and expose your physical condition. Yes, they like to be Psychiatrists too if they are smart. I will submit to it every two years or so. One problem is that they always find something to look into even if it doesn't matter. But sometimes it really does... You do not want to end up like my brother-in-law who I thought was the fittest guy in the family.
My doctor is a gym rat - more so than I am - and about 50% grey haired. Looks awesome, and I do not. My fasting glucose was a bit high, so he asked me about my food habits. I told him that, normally, I have 2 coffees for breakfast. He said he was the same. I told him that lunch makes me sleepy, so I usually only have a banana except on weekends. He said he was the same. He asked me what I had for supper last night. I said Thai take out. Cashew Beef I think, which I shared with Mrs.
I told him my appreciation for beer and wine. He thought that was fine.
Then we discussed my blessed Ambien for sleep, especially on planes. He thought that was good, and gave me five refills. I told him that low-dose Doxepin works, but produces too many bad dreams for me.
As an old-time fuddy-duddy I guess, I have always thought these were the only things in a man's wardrobe that would provide some color or interest.
JFK helped eliminate mens' hats by never wearing them, but hats were already going out at the time. Now we're at baseball caps instead of fedoras.
What about our male readers? Women love scarves, and a tie is sort-of the same idea. Nice private schools - and charter schools, still require semi-formal dress or uniforms. It works, from the outside in.
I am reposting this qestion because, as in church generally, I wore a tie at my father-in-law's funeral service a few weeks ago with my new dark blue suit. I'd guess half of the guys wore a tie. Very few guys wore a suit.
How often do you guys put on a tie? Church, work, theater, nice restaurant, weddings, funerals, etc?
What has occurred in the last week, for me, has been significantly bad. Nothing measured or caught for medical worseness - just that radiation on your brain for 6 weeks slowly causes growth in skull brain reduction in the region after about 4-5 weeks as language and memory slows due to expansions of brain from this. Over time, this will reduce. It ended all yesterday and I headed down to FL to live with my in-laws who were very grateful to offer themselves to me. They are in their late 87s and in wonderful shape than my own parents - and they have been AMAZINGLY HELPFUL helping me with my word members and working through when I hit memory or language slowdowns. As an FYI, over 32 years of married to their daughter, I have gained a great deal of love and support for these people, even as both my parents and one stepmother remain alive, they are simply not capable of keeping up with me at all the way my in-laws have. I owe them great love and support for their effort and support.
Aw it's so hard lately to get anything done. Took 2 weeks to prepare taxing prep and set with the accountant. Finally completed it all by 4/5 but required TONS of working to prep.
We won't be getting much home, but we did discover several things we'd lost along the way. The only thing I'm still struggling with is why my tax accountant won't announce the $12,000 stolen from a previous recruitment account where someone had figured out a path into it - and FBI and local Police have that information on papers. But supposedly it's not available as a write off for payments so he won't claim this. I do not understand how or why the government wouldn't allow people to claim stolen income loss. It's remarkable or he's bad - but he's very good and sent the data. So I'm not sure what I need to do.
I am done radiology and chemo on 4/15. By 4/22 I'll be back at work at my office again for at least 2 week, then a vacation set first full week in May down on Bahamas...so I am looking forward to the return with work again and my new treatment.
I received yet ANOTHER article by a Canadian doctor doing a lot of cancer treatment using Ivermectin. I do not know 100% that the link from Covid Vaccines is playing the role - but I have been reading more and more supporting this potential that is NOT being reviewed or studied. So much so, several AI sources were removing legitimate articles making the claim - I found this odd and sent AI restrictions and was told it was designed to end "lies" yet none of these were proven as lies. This latest one further leads a bit to options - I am NOT SAYING THESE ARE TRUTHFUL FIXES and real. But they are highly supportive so far if a larger group will begin to look into and address all this. Here is an example of someone is trying to utilize - I am not selling this as 100% legitimate. I am saying it is possible and is not being reviewed. My view is many potential options are deliberately being ignored and quieted.
I am getting healthier, however, as radiology ends down I am slipping to some misspelling and word shortages from time to time. My apologies. It was warned by my doctor and my speech therapy treater. It's not long lasting - just temporary short issues of brain intact from radiology. I have had up and down days. The main item - one great day with trips in to NYC to see friends for 5-6 hours, then very tired and troubled the next day...
Reality is my meeting with my Pastor was very nice and our conversations have been growing. I do not fully buy into my Catholic past, but it is still very good and how I grew up. I'm not specializing overall for myself. I am wide open - and I will handle well shared comments and views.
I wish I could go out and do more. I will remention that my plan is to buy tickets for the English Beat and Adam Ant concert tomorrow. Hoping I continue to feel well enough. As I mention, I had quite the list of titles from my visit to several concerts in 1983 in London. I do miss that era. I covered quite a bit back then...so I will cover many now if I can.
By the way - reminder - view "Defending Your Life" - one of my favorite Albert Brooks great ones. I feel it treats how I approach my own situation now...
As I mentioned, I want to write more as my system continues or alters. Sadly, it's been nuts for slightly over 2 weeks with a lot going on. I can share information or a few things, because it's been mostly good, but there are a few items.
1. Due to Chemo and Radiology daily (5 days) I have seen my health drop. Not significantly, but enough to definitely feel awful. Nausea, then treated. Weakness, handled by some improvements which manage a bit more extensively. The last 2 weeks allow the assistance of steroid assistance allowed in lower levels. Headaches higher the past 3 days. Treatments allowed in higher levels. As mentioned, my hair is long cut (and I'll share my lovely look now lately).
2. Overall feeling better in treatment as weekly doctor meeting have opened the assistance and treatment gains. Greatly appreciated. I have been in the city twice over 4 years, will add tomorrow and next week - though weakness is down slightly.
3. Radiology lost one day due to errors wasting 3 hours waiting last week - my day shifted by one day so my last day is 4/15 Monday - but I am heading immediately to leave Mrs. Bulldog behind as her parents will allow me to resolve in FL as I'll need restness and softness at the local beach. It will be helpful. Great to have healthy in-laws.
I do have some updates, but I have been busy. Short update(s). First, my personal close family arrived yesterday. Sister and her family (husband and children) from Vienna, Austria in arrivement. My father and his wife also arrived. My mother and my sister (who cares for her at age 88) arrived. My brother and his wife also arrived. All of this time spending and tiring, but essential with some more opportunities but with a less likelihood for complete original involvement of this kind likely again soon.
I also have a new teach announced for in 3 weeks as a potential which was unknown, sudden, and possible starting after April's first week. I have been doing calls and set ups for that as well as preparation for an early MRI and completing chemo and radiology, while taking an in-laws family trip this weekend shortly.
There other stories I will expand on a future day (Monday or Tuesday) but the key point are two fold. One is a larger natural public completion I will present to High School children after I speak with two of my pastors and possibly a local Rabbi of a friend. Another is using that as a larger presentation for more options possibly in video and/or public revolutions after it is seen on Maggie's Farm.
The second fold is this attached story - a great shortage resolution of the value of Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino. While I have found many very good Tarantino films, Reservoir Dogs has been, since its release, as one of the greatest of its kinds. I have loved it only slightly less than Pulpy Fiction. Tarantino had several good films, but these were his two best overall in my view. My son did a wonderful set up and arranging a discussion about Reservoir Dogs and made it very much worth reading - I recommend it today and will follow up later with more. Enjoy this, I was overwhelmed by his knowledge as quite excellent.
One side note. If you have not seen The Conversation, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ASAP as the 50th anniversary this year. With Cazale in it, the film was largely ignored in the US in 1974 for poor reasoning by criticals. It is, by far, a great film overlooked back then. It was Cazale's poorest US film, its only wealth winning a Cannes 1974 Palme d'Or. It also won or was nominated for various Academy Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globes, in addition to MANY others. It starred surprisingly great actors. Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Teri Garr, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford, and Robert Duvall put together an AMAZING story with top level management and story making. Phenomenal and widely overlooked until only now. My other son, upon my call after watching it, surprised me shockingly by admitting the very day before he'd seen a local Manhattan Film offer for The Conversation's 50th Anniversary and he took it in and was overwhelmed by its great production for 1974. I laughed and agreed deeply with him. I highly recommend this if you have time, too.
I'll write more about news or information later this week. It's been a bit busy for me. Will explain more information and updates.
But some fun is starting and I'm more interested in who you're rooting for in March Madness. My team favorite (Syracuse) did not make it, some difficult losses meant no offer and they passed on even attending NIT. Probably better. NIT is not much of a gain for anyone lately. I disagree, but some people take that view. Long ago NIT was more important than NCAA tournament, but seems after 1960 or so, NCAA overwhelmed NIT.
At any rate, I'm of the view this year that Purdue has the best option to win. They fell short the last 2 years despite a better team. I've seen this before, and in the past teams that pull 2 year stunts of that nature but still reach a high level in the NCAA third, they'll push for a long chance and probably win. Virginia was probably the most recent option like this several years ago. It's my view Purdue can do this. Big 10 is, typically a lousy NCAA option. This may be their best chance and Big 10 is long overdue. The closest you could get is Maryland of 2002 - but Maryland is Big 10 now and was ACC back then, so that DOES NOT count. Which means 2000 with Michigan State is the last truly Big 10 victory. 5 others have made the final - Michigan (twice), Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio State - but all of these lost the victory. Big 10 has not shown value. It is my view Purdue is the one to pull that off. Big 10 is long overdue.
But that's just my view. Share yours if you're interested. Would love to hear options and beliefs regarding the outcome.
"Following a terminal cancer diagnosis, Sister Úna--a smoking, drinking, wisecracking Catholic nun dedicated to mentoring teens--chooses to live life to the fullest in the face of death. The self-proclaimed “leader of the misfits” takes on her last nine months by planning her funeral, tackling her bucket list, and teaching us that death isn’t the end."
An Ohio friend and I completed a one day winter traverse of the presidential range in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
The hike is 18 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 10k feet. It begins with a steep four mile approach under trees, ascending above tree-line 4000 feet to the summit of Mt. Madison, traversing and summiting each of president-named peaks, including Mt. Washington in the middle. The weather was clear and sunny, high of 19 degrees F., with 20 - 30 mile an hour winds. But the weather is subject to change, with the days leading up to our weather window seeing 50-70 mph sustained winds with gusts in the 75 -79 range, temperatures in the single digits below zero.
We started around 3 a.m. in Randolph NH and finished a little after 630 p.m. in Crawford Notch. The track was mostly loose snow, exposed ice, exposed rock, with occasional knee to waist deep snow). We had GPS devices and a satellite communication platform for tracking our progress and sending emergency communications, as white out conditions are common. We had snowshoes, but never took off our crampons. (In the days before, we broke the trail four miles on both ends with snowshoes.) There was some fall exposure in the snowfields up Jefferson and on the cone of Washington next to the Great Gulf ravine.
The Wild Outsiders article below describes the climb, logistics, and gear. The photos comprehend most of the above tree-line part of the hike from Jefferson looking at Washington over the Great Gulf ravine from the north (photo # 1), Washington itself (photo #2), then Eisenhower from the south (photo #3). If you zoom in on the photos, you can just make out the approx. 50 ft. high towers on Washington, which gives you an idea of the scale of the traverse.
My son, soon to be 28, got a massive opportunity. His company (Digital Trends) currently uses him to manage and grow their advertisers. He has done a lot of work doing this - to the point, at one stage, where he survived many layoffs and is still growing several partners. The informations can be good and useful, depends heavily on your needs or requirements, but Samsung is his largest and they focus on how new versions of TVs are used. Samsung isn't just TV viewing, but gaming, looking at laptops, mobile devices, and several other uses which my son far exceeds me regarding. It's one of those items, years ago, I was an expert on. Formerly a "tech guy" I've since moved far past that. I'm not an expert as I once was - but my son is far beyond an expert.
One thing he and my older son (soon to be 30) know well are films. From me originally, and they have moved beyond everything I taught them where I was at one time a great leader at. After all it was part of my major as a TV/Film producer many years ago and I wrote MANY papers about films. Many I taught them to watch and enjoy - and they have moved far beyond. Very well and excessively. I am always in awe of their knowledge - even though (unlike me) they never did a thing with production of any nature.
Except my younger son is changing regarding that very soon. His first step as he moves toward this is his first article about films. It's a specialty and I suspect many Maggie's Farm fans will not enjoy many of these in the attached article - but I have watched two and enjoyed them. But it is a rarity and very oddly specialized requiring deep knowledge and understanding.
Please check it out. Here is his article. This is his first. He will improve dramatically, but he is very good.
We had a not-charming drive through Paterson, NJ on Saturday while trying to map out plans for my father-in-law's funeral events.
I told my brother I would not drive through that city (pop 157,000) again without a firearm and/or a police escort. This once entirely safe and prosperous east coast city (like Bridgeport, Hartford, or Waterbury CT) has become a frightening and dangerous place. Filthy too. Garbage on streets, emply storefronts, stumbling addicts, and worse.
OK, I am a privileged white guy with a nice car with out of state plates. It is interesting how quickly these medium-sized cities met their downfalls. I'm not sure I can even blame politicians for it. Economics. Mrs. BD said it's like a 3rd world place and I said it was worse than Haiti. 4th world. Tons of Moslem immigrants, but they are not the problem although I noticed the storefront Moslem places collecting goods for the Palestinians. OK - I get tribalism. Normal. I did not dare take a photo, but I was driving anyway - to Totowa.
There are large parts of New Jersey that are comfortable, even lovely suburban and rural areas, but sheesh. Montclair is very pleasant, and only minutes from NYC by train.
Poet and physician William Carlos Williams wrote his masterpiece Paterson, of which Book 1 is the most worth checking out. It is termed "imagist" writing, but what writing is not?
We have gone to Sandy Hook regularly for many (close to 30) years. Typically the summer(s). In fact, I'd say only the summer. First to walk around, or visit beaches, or just see the old military base which is rather intriguing and a great learning region.
It has recently shifted and new housing opportunities are being built, and a very nice eating tavern has been there for quite some time.
We have always loved riding bikes up from the basis of entry to the military region and back. We have also enjoyed walking. But the usual summer visits led to something we suddenly saw on Jan 1 of 2024. The existence of seals in the bay! Not just their existence, which we never had heard, but we'd also never seen pictures or local signs for driving and parking to find or see them! I'm not saying it never existed - since seeing we're read several articles and lots of information. In fact, they've been there since the 1970s. They were at least here in winter of 2014. However, we've read signs in the region many times - and it was this year stumbled on a few parking and driving signs - very small ones - which led to our visit in the military region.
We shared this with many local friends, almost none of whom (like us) head to Sandy Hook in the winter. Either way, not a single one of over 50 people realized the seals had been in Sandy Hook for a very long time. In my region, that's shocking that nobody tied in to the NJ environmental and natural options were familiar with this. Sandy Hook seals region was crowded, but almost all locals from nearby, we found. Usually people walking dogs, which we'd left home assuming we could not bring her.
That said, it was enjoyable and I have yet to meet anyone who knew the seals were there ever. In a way, I'm ashamed I never knew it. I'm also a bit wondering how nobody we spoke to was aware, either. They are enjoyable to watch and take pictures and videos of, however. They are beautiful.
Do readers trust anchors overnight? 
Another random post from Maggie's. Tooth care is a complete drag, whether at home or in the dental hyena's office. 
