What's After Work?

We are starting to fall into a routine during our time of  social distancing. The one thing I try to do each day is to go on a bike ride. In the past I usually went out in the afternoon. It use to be after work and I don't mind the heat. But as of late the ride is getting really crowded. Everyone staying home from work or school and I guess by the afternoon they need to get out. I'm seeing lots of new bikes and walking shoes out there. It is good  that people are getting out for some fresh air and exercise. But they kinda crowd up the trail that I usually take. It is hard to keep my distance and pace when ya go three bikes side by side riding slow and talking. I ring my bell and begrudgingly they will move to single file so I can ride by. So today I got up early to ride in the morning. Not a fan, I would rather sleep in. But I went out at about 7:45, after the sun was up. It was nice. Not a lot of people and not much wind. Both good things. It is still strange riding out on

When I retired I figured that there would be less to do. Never expected it to be this laid back. The big event that Jan and I had today was the 60+ only visit to Walmart. Jan went this morning at 6 am with out me. She is worried that with everything else going on with my health I didn't need to be out rubbing elbows with the great unwashed People of Walmart . I was ok with that and stayed in bed while she braved the masses. Jan came back with everything on her list, and a little more. She said most people there were nice and thankful for what Walmart was doing. Except for one couple who felt the rules should not apply to them. Before all this happened we were planning on visiting Noah for his birthday. Now it seems that every shopping trip includes finding something else to send Noah for his birthday. I think she is mailing boxes and cards to him several times a week. This may be the best birthday ever for Noah. No school and gifts arriving daily to his door. They are gonn

William Blake  /  Satan Smiting Job with Sore Boils c.1826 A lot has been happening over the last week or so. I try to find something funny or positive to write about. But what's been going on both in the world and in my own life that has been difficult. A little over a month ago I had a blood test that came back with an elevated PSA number. An indicator of prostate cancer. Seriously! It is said that God does not give you more than you can handle. I've read Job in the Bible and I really have no interest in discovering my limit. At the beginning of the month I thought we would be visiting both my daughter and her family and Austin and Morgan in North Carolina. Then travailing on to Evansville In. to visit Jans Dad. With my diagnosis it was decided that they would visit us. Then we decided Austin should not come because of the increasing threat of the Coronavirus and flying was not a good idea. Then we decided that it may not be a good idea for Jessica and Noah to trav

Today I attended church in my PJ's. Sort of. Because of the Covid-19 outbreak and my many unique health problems Jan and I are quarantining ourselves as best as possible. Avoiding groups of people. Yesterday we got an email that both St Johns Episcopal in Tampa and the Washington National Cathedral would be streaming their services live on Sunday. Jan and I decided to take advantage of this offer and watch the service from St. Johns. It was nice to be back at the church we attended for many years before moving to Safety Harbor. It was not quite the same but according to Father Connelly it still counts. I'm hoping that things get back to normal soon.

Now that I'm retired I can devote more time to being a Papa At this time I only have one grandchild, Noah . So he gets all my attention. I'm hoping that next week he will be coming for a visit. That will all depend on how things are going with the VIRUS. His mother, my daughter Jessica is a nurse and as of right now she has the week off but that may change. Jarred my son-in-law works for the state in emergency preparedness/mitigation and may or may not be called to be on duty for the VIRUS. In preparing for Noahs visit I was thinking of things to do with him. Noah is now riding a bike so I thought we might ride down to Safety Harbor where there are several places he might like. I got him a gift card for Snow Beach . I figured he would like to have the option of buying a treat himself. There is also a candy store and ice-cream shop there too. I'm sure he will want to try that also. When Noah was little he called all lizards "Joey". Not sure why but that was th

I've been noticing that a lot of people I know are retiring. I guess it is that time of my life. People my age are retiring. When I was a kid birthdays were the big party event. In elementary school I remember going to many of my friends birthdays. W, e would spend an inordinate amount of time discussing, planning and attending birthday parties. Having the best birthday party ever was always the plan. It never lived up to that ideal. I could never talk my parents into building a go-cart track in the back yard for the party. Sigh! Later in Junior High we were more interested in boy & girl parties. There me and my buddies saw a darkened living room with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" or even "American Pie" playing and hoping not to hear " Gilbert O'Sullavan "Alone Again (Naturally). Then the big party was prom in High School. Oh we had plans....but as in most of life the expectations never live up to the reality. We did have part

Last month I joined the Safety Harbor Fitness Cente r.  I only joined for a month because I have never belonged to a gym, well except for the first part of 2014 when I was going through cardiac rehab. But I graduated out of cardiac rehab. Now I have time to go to the gym and ride my bike. Yes I ride my bike to the gym, getting my cardio in. The Safety Harbor Fitness Center is a really good deal. For residents of Safety Harbor it is only $10 a month or $100 a year. It is a little more for non-residents. Still a good deal. The gym has treadmills, stationary bikes, gym machines and free weights. Everything a gym rat could want. It is not real big so some times I have to wait for a machine but not long. I try and come during the times it is not too busy, now that I'm retired I can chose any time to go. When I started going to the gym I met with a trainer for two sessions to learn how best to use the machines. I'll probably meet with Ken again in a month or so to fine tune my w

The owls are back in our backyard park . A few weeks ago I rode back to the park to check and see if the pair of owls that nest each year there were back. I did not see any signs of their arrival. As in signs I mean signs that the city puts saying "Do Not Disturb the Owls!" But I know that they should be arriving soon. Well yesterday Jan got a call from her sister Patty saying that she had driven back there and the owls were back. So while our soup was heating up Jan and I took a walk back there to check it our for ourselves. Who? They were there, the mama and daddy owls were there with a baby. I wanted to get a picture to send my friend Donna. She had asked me to alert her when the owls arrived. So that was our mission, photographic proof of the owls arrival. While we walked toward the big oak tree the owls always nest in I can see a group of people already there taking pictures and talking. Then I hear a familiar voice. Donna was already there with her camera t