Return of Wednesday Wanderings!

 

 Back in the Golden Days, when I would post almost every day, I had a feature called Wednesday Wanderings.  It would allow me to comment on multiple topics, things that I didn't think justified a full post of their own, or I was too lazy to expand.  Well, I'm back!

Health Update

I'm doing pretty good!  I had a follow-up rheumatology appointment, and I got my best analysis of the problem to date.  What I had assumed was primarily rheumatoid arthritis may be as much osteo-related (bones) as it is.  It has helped refocus my treatment, and I feel much better.  I should be going in for a bone density test very soon.

They asked me if I had broken any bones.  Uhh, just twice.  Once, around 8 or so, when a kid shoved me out of the garage window, I tried to brace myself with my right arm, and I about snapped it in half. The second was in high school, playing soccer, when I ran into a kid and bent my right-hand index finger back. Come to think of it, I might go back and make a whole blog about these incidents.

My Dad, who grew up on a dairy farm and chugged milk and dairy products, developed osteoporosis in his 80s. My mother, who was lactose intolerant and avoided dairy, had bones like a rock.

My son Benjamin has broken two of the hardest bones to break, his shoulder blade and femur.  He might ought to have a bone density test.

Talarico Tracker

Stuningly, last night, Texas Republicans selected Ken Paxton as their Senatorial candidate.  Ken Paxton is super corrupt from many different angles - financial, political, and sexual.  I mean, really, he's corrupt enough to make even Trump envious as to what he gets away with.

I saw an interview with a Texas voter who said he was going to vote for his incumbent Senator Cornyn, but he switched to Paxton after Trump endorsed him.  I mean, really? Can you imagine being that far up the butt of a cult?

Paxton should be an easier candidate for Talarico to defeat.  Unless Musk deploys his space lasers again.

Reading

Currently reading the second novel in the Beartown hockey series.  It's by Fredrik Backman, a Swedish writer, set in a small Swedish town, and rich with interesting characters.  Fortunately for me, it has been translated into English, which helps me immensely.

I'm also reading a collection of the earliest Supergirl stories, dating back to the late fifties.  I like reading about the early character developments of our most iconic superheroes.  

Movies

Not seeing too many. Looking forward to the Supergirl movie in June, and will soon re-read the graphic novel it is based on, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Continuing my watch of the Top 100 Science Fiction movies of the 20th Century, I am stuck on The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. A 1953 movie that helped start the giant monster trend has been difficult to find.

TV

Just finished The Boys.  Loved it! I've read the entire Boys comic series (some 60-plus issues), and yeah, I realize the TV show ended somewhat differently, but I'm more than ok with it.  I'm super tired of everybody whining about how series end on TV.  It's impossible for writers and others to come up with an ending that will make everyone happy.  The parallels between the series and our increasing drift towards fascism were incredible, especially since some of the storylines predated some of Trump's vile antics.

Well, I've wandered enough for one post.

Wanderingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

Ya Gotta Get Up! Ya Gotta Get Up! Ya Gotta Get Up in the Morning!

 Come on, Scout!  Up and at'em!

Alison started her new Summer schedule at work.  The good news?  She'll have Fridays off! Yay!  The bad news? Mondays through Thursdays will be longer days, starting work at 7 AM instead of 8 AM!

I usually get up (or am rousted) around 6:25 to help take care of the pets (letting them out, feeding them, etc.). That time is now 6 AM.

You would think I'd solve this by simply going to bed earlier, to balance things out.  But nah, I'll stick with my 11:20 time to turn off the TV and start the headed-to-bed routine. I'm stubborn that way.

It could mean I drift off while reading, or fall asleep during a cabinet meeting.  But I have to be careful.  Any nap may make it harder to fall asleep that night.  

I normally get about five and a half to six hours of sleep a night.  If I try to do more, insomnia could result.  At least enough to keep me in my usual range of hours.

I know all the theories about how much sleep people need, but I feel like everyone has their own internal clock.  There is greater variance in the amount of sleep required than is popularly expected.  At least that's my non-medical expert opinion.*

But without heavy drugging, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it anyway.

Oh, well.

Anyhoo, I like being awake.  I...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Sorry.  Took a brief nap.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

*just think. If I were RFK Jr., all my non-medical expert opinions could become Federal law!

A Look Out the Window

 This is Scout, my kitty pal.  He's on the porch side of our kitchen window.  He can climb anywhere.

Actually, he's not really a kitten anymore.  He'll be one a week from now. That's our best guess for his birthday, and we're sticking to it.

I'm not a cat person, but I am a Scout person.  I've never had a cat want to be with me so much.

Personal Health

At 70, health can be like a game of whack-a-mole.

Diabetes? Bam! Under control! Blood pressure? Bam!  Better, but not teenager-like.  Weight? Bam? Lost about 30 lbs! Prostate biopsy due to slow rise in PSA? Bam! No cancer or abnormalities!

Arthritic flare-ups in feet, knees, and legs?  Bam! Went to a Rheumatologist in Valdosta and was prescribed a better medicine that has greatly reduced pain!  Enough where I can sit at the computer a little bit longer and write more!

Writing

Now I can return to The Strait Line more (now with over a million views!) and pursue some of my other writing projects.

For the second time, I am a runner-up in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine's Mysterious Photograph contest. Maybe I should expand and try some other contests.

Future topics for the Strait Line:

President Talarico

Top 100 Sci-Fi Films of the 20th Century continued

More stories from the Kingdom (near-future flash fictions that extrapolate into a darker future if we allow fascism to continue to grow and thrive)

More stories from the Stony Land (adaptations from my father's research into my family's history of the Straits in America, going back 13 generations)

Stop! In the Name of Democracy! How to fix the happenings with the Supremes!

More Scout, Pixie, Alison, Benjamin, and Retta! 

Television and Movies

I finished Season 3 of The Diplomat last night.  You would think that, given my personality and interests, I would love more political series, but I am often drawn away from them because of their lack of realism.  With THe Diplomat it's not so much that's not realistic, it's thast it's sometimes amoral.  Even the lead characters commit subtrefuge that I'm shocked thatthey're willing to do that. The acting sometimes is a little stiff or overreaching.  It had enough good moments though, thast I will watch Season 4 when it comes out.

Alsion and I started Season 2 of THe Pitt last night.  It's very, very good, but both of us are squeamish during some of the surgery scenes, and we turn to each other and ask, "Why are we eatching this?"  It's compleeing characters and important social commentary - that's what gets us through.

Not much to say about movies, other than i am really looking forward to Supergril.

Sports

I'll just list my favorites.

MLS: Atlanta United

NWSL: Portland Thorns

MLB: Detroit Tigers

NBA: Detroit Pistons (in the playoffs! Woot! Woot!)

NHL: Detroit Red Wings

NCAA any sport: Michigan Wolverines (my alma mater)

Can anyone tell by this I grew up in Michigan?

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

A Look Out the Window

 I let Scout have some screened-in porch time.

I drifted to other things and had forgotten I had let her out.

I came back to the kitchen to look out the window to see where she might be, and...oops, there he is!

Scout can climb up anywhere. And does. This morning he was on our fireplace mantel. There's not really much room for him there, what with all the knick-knacks. To make room, he knocked off a plastic cow figure.

We don't leave anything on the kitchen counter that he can get into anymore. Even food in a plastic bag - he will try to get at it, even if he doesn't like the food. The fun is in the destruction, not the food inside.

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I was going to post a story about the OHC Book Festival I attended. I was hoping to find some pictures online to head up the post, but alas, I could not find any.

So, how did it go?

Pretty darn good! There was a good-sized crowd, with vendors, activities, seminars, and costume contests.

I sold a few books. I was surprised that Crowley Stories was a bestseller. I love that book, but I've had a hard time promoting it. Even though fictional, it is set in the Okefenokee Swamp region. And although it was written almost a decade ago, some of the plot lines have proven prophetic. Things have become os much worse down here since the emergence of Trump and MAGA. I'm sorry if that upsets some of you, but it's the truth.

The experience has reenergized me and made me want to return to writing. I have a completed book that I have not published, The Extra Credit Club. I found a new Beta reader for it and potentially a book editor to review it. In the long run, I will probably still self-publish, mostly because at my age I don't want to wait the one to three years it would take to get it accepted and published.

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My health is pretty good. Most of my blood pressure readings are good (at least in my world). I monitor my blood glucose with a Dexcom monitor; most of the time, I am within the normal range. I've found some things that spike my numbers and others that have less of an effect. Dark chocolate, nuts, even some whole wheat and homemade sourdough bread don't cause much of a rise. Potatoes? Whoa, Katy, bar the door!

This morning, my weight was the lowest it's been this century!

I still have periodic bouts with arthritis pains, particularly in my legs (foot, knee, lower leg).

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I watched the Bad Bunny halftime show. It was fantastic! Did I understand what was being said? No, but I don't always catch what English-speaking singers say* (Dylan? Anyone? Anyone?). I did get the message loud and clear - a celebration of diversity and love. 

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Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

* Maybe one of the reasons I like Johnny Cash so much is that I can understand what he says.

Return of the Wednesday Wanderings

 This may be for faithful followers only.

I used to do this type of post that would wander from topic to topic.

Well, as I re-anchor what my blog is for, I'll wander for a little while.  Some of these may be developed later.  Others may just sink into the ether.

HEALTH UPDATE

As some may know from prior posts, I am now struggling with type 2 diabetes. 

After they finally realized I couldn't swallow metformin, I started Rybelsus, which is the pill form of Ozempic.

Within a month, I lost 12 pounds.  Also, my first lab work shows a reduction in blood glucose from 133 to 86, and an A1C reduction from 6.7 to 6.1.  

They have changed my pill from 3mg to 7mg.  I thought maybe I would lose more weight, but instead it has stabilized.  I'd love to lose more, but the important thing is my numbers are way better.

A word about being on Ozemopic—it wasn't something I demanded.  I just needed a pill I could swallow.  It is a bit embarrassing to me now that MAGA idiots like Dr. Oz are promoting the drug so heavily, even just for weight loss.  I swear to you, my primary goal is not weight loss.  It's controlling diabetes.  

My blood pressure, on the other hand, has not made similar improvements. Weight loss, exercise, or diet will not get me down to teenage levels of blood pressure readings.  But I'm monitoring more closely, and time will tell.

POLITICAL UPDATE

The corporate Democrats caving on the shutdown and insisting that the ACA credits be preserved is heartbreaking, but, sadly, not unexpected.  You know they are gonna Lucy with the football that thing.  No surprise that any promise the Republicans make means s--t.

Things like this make me proud to call myself an Independent Progressive and not a Democrat.

By the way, you do realize that when the Republicans call it the Democrat Party instead of the Democratic Party, they are hurling an insult?  The press used to note this to Republicans who would slur this, but not anymore.  Now it flies unchecked so much that I think many of you don't know it's wrong.

ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE

I haven't given up on the Top 100 20th Century Science Fiction countdown.  It takes me a while to find and see them.  I'm using a dozen or more sources, including premium and free streaming services (I make no apologies for being a streamaholic).  I also use the library, and if it comes to worst, I am renting them.  It all takes time.

I'm also thinking of a list of my top ten favorite movies.  There will be individual selections, as well as categories.  I would name Blazing Saddles as a favorite, but I would also highlight all my other Mel Brooks favorites.

I may post about what I am streaming and my recommendations.  Right now, I am watching the third season of Invasion on Apple+ TV.  It's not bad, but some episodes move slowly, and the storyline sometimes diverges into things that make you want to go - Could you please just get back to the story?

RELIGION UPDATE

Yep. I'm still at Grace Episcopal. Yep, I still work part-time for the church.  It gets frustrating around budget time, but I'm hanging in there.

The image above is designed to draw in unsuspecting readers. It kinda speaks for itself.  There's some uproar about a woman who called religious entities with a plea for food and formula for her young child.  Of course, the mosques and Hindu temples were all in.  Of course, the Christian Right churches were declining to help. Of course.

The Christian Reich is a heretical embarrassment, and I just pray that genuine Christianity survives it.  We are making a very, very bad impression, folks.

WRITING UPDATE

It's frustrating, but I'll try to do better.  I need to re-establish a writing routine, but it has been fairly elusive.  Wish me luck.

I am not getting my Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine subscription in time to compete in the Mysterius Photograph contest.  That is deeply frustrating to me. I may need to find other flash fiction contests to compete in.

FAMILY UPDATE

Alison and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary with a stay on St. Simons.  It was brief but good to get away.

Benjamin has survived the shutdown, and his job is going well.  He likes the work and the people he is working with.

I've enjoyed soccer conversations with my two older boys, and get video messages from my Granddaughter, Retta.  I would love to show you pictures of her, but there is an understandable ban on any pictures on Social Media.

PET UPDATE

I love Scout and Pixie.  Scout and Pixie love me. Especially around meal time.

Wanderingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

The True Meaning of Extended Release

 Swallow me not!

The pill on the right - if I have to swallow a pill, that is the perfect size. 

The pill in the center - it's a major challenge for me to swallow whole.  It's an extended-release formulation - it's designed to be swallowed whole, and then it disintegrates gradually. I did not realize this until recently, so I had been chewing it (at least to make it easier to swallow).  I have recently made an attempt to swallow it whole.  I succeed maybe two out of every five tries.  I can swallow it if I don't think about it too much.

The pill on the right - nah, not happening.  It's huge and fat and too much for baby Tommy.

Some may call me a wussy.  Some may think it's all in my head.

Maybe.  It might be all or in part psychological.  But I do think there is at least a possibility of an esophagus issue.  I know that my Dad, particularly later in life, had a lot of swallowing issues.  I know that it takes me longer to eat a meal than Alison and Benjamin - I am typically taking smaller bites and chewing more (they recommend this if you're trying to lose weight - HA! I sure fooled them!).

This huge pill is what was given to me as my first diabetes medicine.  It's my own fault, because I think they were trying to accommodate my desire for a staggered effect rather than hitting all at once.  Little did I know that "extended release" is a pharmacy code for BIG A-- HORSE PILL!

The diabetes medicine is costly (at least for our budget).  I couldn't find any gimmicks or discounts to help. I bought it and did not see the pill size until days later.* 

I have been in contact with a special team provided through the insurance company that will help manage diabetes and provide support in obtaining certain diabetes medications. The diabetes horsepill I got is not on the list.  I do have that list, and I am hoping that my primary care can find one suitable.

Since I need to change medicine anyway, I have not pushed myself to swallow it.  If it was on the list and the primary care people insisted it was the best choice, I would try to figure out a way to swallow it.  I have been told that greasing it with applesauce or something similar would help.  I'm not sure if I could do it, but I would at least try if I had to.

I know that if my blog were anything that people responded to anymore**, I would get people trying to present ways to get over the psychological barrier.  Sort of like when I blogged about how much gnats loved me.

I appreciate that, and I may have to deal with it at some point.  How real the small esophagus is is harder for me to say.

I will keep you updated!

*There may be some issues with stomach reactions, and I was trying to pick a time when I would be home to deal with any of that.

**Usually, pets and family are a sure thing to get at least a few likes from Facebook, but my recent post filled with cute pictures of our new kitten, Scout, got ZERO response.  Facebook and its algorithms are not my friend.

PPS

Grammarly is out, for whatever reason.  Plus, I'm trying to do this around a keyboard-loving kitten, so please forgive the plethora of errors.  I will fix it when I can.

A Well-Traveled Park

I may have used this picture in an earlier blog story, and am now repeating it here.  Oh, well. That kind of repetition is a hallmark of aging.

I went to the doctor for a checkup.  At 70, that's always a scary adventure. Especially when reviewing blood work from the previous week.

It was a mixed bag.  Most of the results were good.  There were a few things I need to be careful with and follow up on.  

I've fought some things for a few years now, things that were marginal and felt that I could control myself.

Finally, my age gave me a new perspective, and I realized I had to accept who I am and that I may need some help in combating health issues.  The biggest one was admitting something that is hard for me, because I, for better or worse, view it as a personal failure.

I am a diabetic.

My numbers are not that bad, just over the line, but I have pretended for too long.  I must admit that I have it, and I cannot delay any longer.  So, I'm going on medication to control and reverse it.

I know that a balanced diet and regular exercise, along with weight loss, can help with this.  And, with Alison's help, I think I can get better.  

Whether I'm on medication for a few months or a lifetime, it is now something I'll always have to think about, monitor, and consider.

I realize I'm not alone in this.  Many go through this, including a lot of my friends and family. I know that's partly cultural, a result of our lifestyle and the prevalence of processed foods. And I've seen the results when diabetes is ignored or handled poorly.  That is not a path I wish to travel.

I prefer to do those things I need to do to minimize the harm this disease causes, so that I can keep traveling in my well-worn park, and continue to enjoy life - time with Alison and my children and grandchild, reading, writing, performing, attending church, loving pets, binging scripted shows, supporting public libraries, fighting the Trumpocalypse.

Here's to many more adventures - just with a little less sugar!

Suddenly Seventy

 

What? How did this happen?

I'm not sure, but oops, there it is! Nothing I could do about it.

We spent the last week in California, meeting my oldest son, Greg, my middle son, Doug, his wife, Paige, and my one and only grandchild, granddaughter Retta, who is all of three years old! I'm not posting many pictures of this glorious event, as Doug and Paige do not want Retta's image to be shared on social media. Given the awful nature of our times, I agree with their decision. I might post other pictures from the trip at some point.

I am including a picture of me on my 70th birthday. I'm wearing a cap I got from our visit to Disneyland. It states Disneyland, authentic, original, established 1955. Just like me!

Yes, I'm as old as Disneyland. I'm not in as good a shape, but I haven't had as much money spent on my maintenance as Disneyland has!

Really, the only things that make me aware of my age are mirrors and arthritis. Most of the time, I'm still a young kid reading comic books, enjoying movies, eating pizza, and spending time with those I love.

California was a risk, in that I was afraid of a flare-up of arthritis pain, making it difficult for me to do things and keep up. I asked, "Please! Just let my arthritis stay away while I'm in California!"

Sure enough, it did! Now that I'm back, it's starting to flare up again. I asked, "What's up? Why am I getting it now?" The answer? " I gave you California! You didn't ask for anything after that!"

Oh, well.  

No, I don't have everything I dreamed of as a kid. I'm not famous, not as a writer, not as an actor, not as a politician (that last one may be a blessing, but really, whatever my flaws, I couldn't be anywhere as bad as the Orange Despot).

But, in reality, I do have everything that I want. A beautiful, loving partner, three successful and kind sons, an amazingly gifted granddaughter, a supportive church, a wonderful library, and so much more. I may not be a professional actor, but I've been in over a hundred plays, a body of work that encompasses a tremendous variety of roles. I may not be a professional writer, but I have self-published books and maintain this blog, which has garnered over half a million views.  

I've had ups and downs, calamity and heartbreak, success and failure, but through it all, I've always had what's most important, in family and friends. And at 70, that is what you cherish most.

I'll keep this positive, and not deal in this post with what an absolute nightmare the politics in this country have become. I just pray that it eventually straightens and I get to see it.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

May 25 Update: Life Keeps Marching

You don't know when you're 29 what your focus will be when you're 69.

Am I President of the United States? No, unlike the plan I outlined in junior high, I did not achieve the Presidency by the year 2000. Looking at the current occupant, that is not necessarily a bad thing. I could never sell myself out to make that kind of appeal. I could not comprehend when I was young where I would wind up living, and what consequences that might have for my electoral viability. Not to mention my flaws as an introvert. I can give purty speeches and write well, but I could never glad-hand the way that they can.  

Not only can't I be President, but I'm not viable for anything, and that's somewhat depressing. But I'll keep trying.  

Did I get my own sitcom? No. I'm a good actor, but I've never aggressively pursued it for more than just a hobby. Would I have succeeded? Probably not. It's a hard field to make a living. The truth is that I don't have the temperament to sell myself like I would need to. There are opportunities I should have taken a chance with - many movies and TV shows are now made in Georgia, but I have not.

Do I have a bestseller? No. I've taken a few baby steps in writing but have never really broken through. I feel like there are two primary reasons. One is that I write well, some things better than others, but I don't write well enough to catch the attention of those who could help me. The second is that I'm the world's worst self-promoter. I have done a piss poor job at promoting my writings, either as a self-piublished writer, or someone looking for an agent or a publisher.

Do I have my health? Yes. There are question marks, and I need to care for myself better, but I am more than holding my own for someone on the verge of 70. I need to watch my blood pressure and sugar consumption, and I am far too tubby. My biggest concern is the periodic arthritis that makes getting consistent exercise a problem. It also affects how long I can sit at the desktop writing, as sitting in the desk chair too long can accelerate my arthritis attacks.

Do I have a loving and supportive family? In this one, I have hit a home run. I have a beautiful, supportive partner, going on over 28 years. My three sons make me very proud, and I am finally a grandfather. I only have one grandchild, but what I miss in quantity is more than made up for in quality.

My father dedicated his life to the promotion and success of public education. He was a brilliant teacher and later a high school principal. I was not able to continue in his footsteps. I spent most of my career in the private sector. Technically, I was helpful to people with their finances and businesses, but for the most part, there was very little soul satisfaction in what I did.

I have become a huge proponent of public libraries. I have come to appreciate them more and more, and I will continue to do whatever I can to assist them.

My focus, at 69, is on my family. I do whatever I can to help around the house. I'm supportive of all the activities of my various family members. Our vacations revolve around seeing family, including a big one coming up in California, where we will help my granddaughter enjoy her time with Mickey and Minnie and visit with my middle son and older son.

I write, even though my big dreams have evaporated. Whoever enjoys it, thanks for reading. I may never have a big breakthrough, but it is still fun to do, and I will continue to share.

I act, even though I will never have an IMDb page. I don't need it as much as I used to, but it is still great to get up onstage occasionally and feel the electricity between me and the audience. Hopefully, I can continue to do it without my arthritis from flaring up at the wrong time.

I got one of them fancy watches, and I am trying to keep track of my steps. Exercise is challenging sometimes, but I will do what I can. Monitoring my eating is very hard, because I love food so damn much, but we're getting more fruits and vegetables in the diet, and we don't eat out much.

I still read comic books, more online now. I read as much as I can, with many books being donated to the library after I've read them. I love storytelling in all forms, and that includes scripted television.

So, even though my teen and twentysomething dreams have fallen by the wayside, I think I'm doing pretty damn good, and my focus is on the right things.

At least for me!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

September Wednesday Wanderings

I've been absent from the blog for a while. I would apologize, but I just think that's the way it will be now. Rest assured, I'm not abandoning my blog, even if I can't get to it every day.

PERSONAL HEALTH UPDATE

I'm doing pretty good. I have blood pressure problems and am prediabetic, but I'm doing my best to mitigate those with exercise and diet and shutting out MAGA world when I can.  

I am affected by rheumatoid arthritis, which primarily affects my knees, feet, and legs. It is difficult to sit at the computer for significant stretches when I am in a flareup, like I was until recently. Consequently, during those periods, I write less.

I have received help from my physician's assistant and am on the mend. This is good. I will visit my granddaughter soon and wanted to be as mobile as possible.

WORK SITUATION

I have acquired a part-time job. Yes, it's in accounting and bookkeeping, which is not my favorite, but it's for good people and is only about 10 hours a week. It should help family resources so we can maybe travel more.

UPDATE ON BLOG SERIES

I still want to write the final installment of Getting Off in All the Wrong Places. It's difficult because current events keep overtaking what I want to say. But rest assured, it's still fulminating in the back of my mind.

I also will work towards another installment about the 100 best science fiction movies of the 20th century. I'm going in reverse order, starting with #100. I stalled out at Cocoon; it's not available to stream anywhere. They have also not made a new DVD in many a year. But, thanks to the great resources of our public library, I was able to borrow a DVD of Cocoon! Only to find out my DVD player no longer worked! Not to be deterred, I purchased a new DVD player via Amazon. It came in yesterday. It is installed, and I hope to watch Cocoon as soon as today!

I will post fiction as it comes to me. Currently, I am entering a flash fiction contest in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine - wish me luck!

I will also post about other things—politics, public library support, and family stuff, both current and nostalgic—as time and inspiration allow.

HARRIS/WALZ 2024!

The debate last night was incredible. She was personable, communicated effective plans, and she just wound him up. She stayed calm but strong, while he was loud and angry and incoherent and lying nonstop.

Has anyone else noticed, and I don't mean this in any negative way, that Kamala's voice style and tone are similar to Judy Garland's? 

This remenided me of what the debate was like. It was like Dorothy scolding the Wizard of Oz for being a fraud, with a symbolic Toto ripping back the curtain to show what a manipulative, empty suit Trump really is.

There is no there there. And now the American people know it for sure.

Will this move enough Trumpeteers that I don't have to stay awake at night worried about the outcome of this election?

Probably not. But one can dream.

I'm ready for Harris to click her heels and bring us back home.

Sleepy Time Monday Musings

 Pixie Dust has the right idea. Just crash after the sheer exhaustion of having gotten up and eaten breakfast.

How many of us haven't dreamed of doing that?

Habits are hard to break, though. Even now that I'm retired, my routine is too set to vary much. Once I'm up, I'm up until 11:30 to midnight.

Naps don't pay off for me. It will make it all that harder to sleep that night.

Saturday night was rough for me. I was awake quite a bit, stressed about a meeting I was going to have the next day. I don't have a lot of insomnia. But I have a night every once in a while that's a struggle.

It turns out that the meeting was nowhere near as bad as I feared. I lost sleep for no rational reason.

Some people seem to like to sleep a lot. There are tons of memes on social media about people who like to go to bed at 9 PM.  

I'm not built that way. I want to be awake and take in as much as possible.  

I am in bed by midnight at the latest and up by 6:15 to 6:30 most mornings. I usually get up once or twice a night for reasons that older men tend to get up. 90% of the time, I go back to sleep relatively quickly.

The bottom line is that I need about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep a night. If I get more than that, it is harder to sleep the next night.

I like being awake. I can read more while I'm awake. I can enjoy life more.

I don't feel like I'm living with a sleep deficit.

Everyone is different. I hope you can appreciate that.

Dialing Up Tuesday Tidbits

 Here are a few tidbits this early March morning. I reserve the right to develop any or all of these into full blog posts at a later date—or not. We'll see.

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We were delighted to have my sister, Carol, and my brother-in-law, Mike, visit with us this weekend. It had been about a decade since the last time they were here. We've seen them in Michigan and Florida, but it's rare for them to visit here.

There was a lot of conversation and laughter. We consumed mass quantities, watched some movies, and visited Brunswick and Jekyll Island.

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My record of job success has been much less than that of most of my family. Others have achieved greater standing and better pay. Sometimes, this makes me feel inferior. But then I feel proud that so many I have helped raise and support have done well. I have some really good boys, and I am super proud of everything they have achieved.

I could have done more in my career, but it would have cost time to be with family, participate in theatre, and enjoy life. The bottom line is that with careful money management, we have done very well. It's true we don't have second homes and lavish vacations, but we have done most of what we wanted to do.  

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I dreaded my Thursday appointment with my physician's assistant. I'm at the age where you're not really sure what you're going to find out, But it went better than I expected, and I have no new crises to deal with. The best part? A medical intern looked at me first, and I commented on my blood pressure that it wasn't bad for someone 68. He left, and when he returned with the PA, the PA said, "Man, you look good. You don't look like you're anywhere near 68!" 

That was the first time I had ever heard anything like that. I about wept for joy.

I'm used to Alison being complicated because of how young she looks (and justifiably so), but me? Never.  

I will take it and put it in my Compliment Treasure Box.

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The "When will they ever wake up?" news about Trump continues to be mixed. Per the Supreme Court, states must keep an insurrectionist on the ballot. Also, the Supreme Court is slow-walking the absolute immunity case, which may delay the federal trials until next year.

What all this means is that we can't expect the courts and justice to bail us out.  We the people are going to have to end this madness by voting against Trump in the Novembe election  Only a thundering beat down at the polls will eliminate this threat.

Are we up to the task?

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Benjamin is back from Sweden and may see us this weekend. He is happy but tired. If I get any pictures, I'll be sure to share them.

Sincerely,

T. M. Strait

I Wander on a Wednesday

 The blog title is a lie.

At least in a physical sense. I don't intend to go anywhere today. Except for short walks.

Monday, I went to the local library and read a children's story. Tuesday I did my Treasurer thing at the church. Today, I have no outings scheduled.

Not going out does not equate to not doing nothing. I'm writing this now, for example. I have other exercises as the day goes on, including sciatica exercises and the treadmill.

I was out for a walk before the sun rose. It was only about 45 degrees, but I wore sweatpants and my Michigan sweater. I had my earphones on, listening to a podcast.

I'll read today. I will read some online comic books from my Marvel and DC apps. I'll read one physical comic book (today's is Action Comics #1061, and one short story from the current issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. I also may read more of The Matlock Paper by Robert Ludlum. He is most known for creating the Bourne character (like The Bourne Identity).

At lunch, I will watch an episode of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.  I've been tracking my food this month, recording it on a spreadsheet. This is to help me stay in balance more than anything else. The major goal is to help control my blood pressure and blood sugar. I have lost a small amount of weight, and my blood pressure has improved this month. I hope to keep it up. I have a long way to go.

Then there's always Fibber McGee's Closet. Currently, there is a large number of trading cards I am trying to organize enough to offer in trade to a comic or card shop. I'm really not concerned with making money off them. I don't want to keep them, but I would rather give them away than throw them away.

Was I disappointed by the Lions loss to the 49ers? Yes, but I'm not angry about it. Was it wise for the Lions to keep going on fourth downs? Probably not, but that is what the coach is known for and what brought them this far. I'm not in any way knowledgeable enough to question a coach's decision. I barely understand most of what's going on on the field.

Anyways, that wasn't what the NFL scripted. They wrote it for the 49ers to play against the Kansas City Chiefs and for the Chiefs to win so that Taylor 'n' Travis can endorse Biden and sweep him to a second term. Or some insanity like that. I find right-wingers ten times more confusing than I even find football.

Tonight, we'll continue with the fourth season of For All Mankind, the brilliant alternate history show that my son, Greg, helped edit. We're at about 2003, where we have a working base on Mars, and the President is Al Gore. Those are two things I devotedly wished for that didn't happen.

I know that nothing I'm doing today sounds that useful or interesting. But it's retirement, and I love it.  

Soon, I may need to do something to earn a bit of money. But that's not today.

Maybe tomorrow. We'll see.

Wanderingly yours.

T. M. Strait

P.S.  Grammarly was not functioning this morning. That happens sometimes. Would love to see what it said about my sentence with the triple negative!

P.P.S Grammarly worked this afternoon.  Only had to make a couple dozen changes.  I did overrule it on the triple negative.  Sometimes ya just gotta break the rules.

The Legacy of Monday Musings

A brief return to a legacy feature of The Strait Line - Monday Musings. 

I usually have one show that I watch before I go to bed. Currently, that is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. I have seen some Godzilla and Associates movies over the years, but I would not describe myself as a huge fan, nor would I say I thoroughly dislike them.

This one has its pluses and minuses. The biggest plus is that it has one of my favorite actors, Kurt Russell, and his son, Wayne Russell. Wayne plays the same part as his Dad at an earlier point in history. He does not have quite the skills and charms as his father, but he doesn't miss by much. The biggest minus is that there is a lot of focus on a trio of young adults whose storylines are not that interesting - suggestive of a CW show or a less-funny Scooby gang.

The monsters in it are huge, but somehow they don't seem too threatening.

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Generally, by this time of year, I am completely done with American football. But Michigan went all the way to the National Collegiate Championship (and WINNING it!), and even more incredibly, the Detroit Lions are in the NFL playoffs, and they WON their first game (first playoff win since 1992).

Could the Lions win the Super Bowl? Oh, my Lord, I can't believe I just wrote those words. Take it a game at a time, Son. A game at a time.

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The low-turn-out Iowa Caucus was held last night. There was terrible weather, and that helped diminish attendance. Only the most dedicated and crazed showed up. And guess who benefits from that? The Orange Insurrectionist got a bare majority, 51%, earning about 56,000 votes from fellow fascists; that represents roughly 1.75% of Iowa's population.

None of this gives me any comfort whatsoever. The fact that anyone is so far removed from American Democracy that they would consider voting for this misogynist racist chills me to the bone and keeps me up at night.

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I made good progress on my lifestyle changes last week. My weight edged down, and my blood pressure improved. Then the weekend came. Oh, well. I'll get the hang of this yet.

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Please keep checking out your public libraries. Besides wonderful books, many are always doing special programs and events that are fun to participate in.  And the price? FREE!

Musingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

New Year's Commitment

 Once again, I'm trying to change my day structure to....

    1) write more

    2) exercise more

    3) eat better

The writing is to get back into the habit of something I love and to feel a better sense of accomplishment each day. Maybe it will turn into money. Most likely it won't. But I can live with that if I can figure out another way to bring in a small amount of money each year, enough to allow us to travel.

That's the biggest thing  - to be able to travel more. Some of it may be sightseeing, but mostly, it's to get together with family.

Exercise and eating better are to control blood pressure and blood glucose better. If I'm going to travel more, I just don't need the finances. I also need the health to do so.

In that effort, my mornings have changed. I will get my coffee and start writing after a brisk walk (super brisk on these chilly early mornings). At first, it will be like putting a monkey on a typewriter and letting the gibberish come out. But hopefully, in time, I will improve.

I also have a series of exercises that I go through that will help with my sciatica. Some aspects have similarities to yoga, but it's mostly stretching. It helps.  

Later, in the early evening, I have a treadmill. I can watch parts of silent movies while on it. I must be careful not to overdo it because it can cause foot pains. Yes, I must balance exercise while avoiding the onset of arthritis flare-ups.

I'm returning to a spreadsheet that helps me better track what I eat to balance out different categories. It's about the same except for adding potassium, which I watch now. It's more of a check and balance system than super-restrictive. I keep a good ratio of carbs to fiber, and now I will watch the ratio of potassium to sodium.  

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There's a closet in my house that has boxes and boxes of stuff I have not looked at in ages. It was blocked off while Benjamin had the room as his study, but now it's opened up. Some are junk, but others are like taking a trip through time, with memories going back decades.

It has given me many story ideas I hope to share with you.  

New Year's commitments are difficult. I have a lot of church treasury work in the next two months that will require much time and concentration. I lost a lot of sleep last night trying to solve one particular problem, and many spreadsheets were floating through my head. I thought I had left that behind when I retired from accounting, but it's hard to tell my church no.

Best wishes for the New Year, my faithful friends and readers! Hope to be writing to you again very soon!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Blog Only Special

 No pictures.  No promotion.  I will just post this to my blog. It may help give me a gauge of what my true numbers are.

HEATH; Last check my blood pressure and blood glucose were not too bad, at least for a lazy fat man. My periodic knee and foot pain have been under control for most of the year.  It unfortunately been replaced with what I think is sciatica pain, a big pain in the ass that sometimes is also in my upper and power right leg. We're working on things to help, but it's been months now.  It hurts but most people are less aware of it because it doesn't affect my walking as much as the knee/foot pain did.  I also have more of what I will euphemistically call "stomach issues", sometimes aggravated by lactose, or maybe also medication I'm taking.  Hard to say, but I'm also working on that.

WRITING: It's not good.  Still hard to get in the rhythm.  I'm not giving up.  

BENJERMAN:  He continues to recover from his broken femur, now using a cane and driving on his own.  We think it might only be a couple of weeks and he'll be ready to resume his job in Warner Robins.  He has secured a first-floor apartment, and it will be ready for him to occupy.

GRANDCHILD: I am thrilled that we were able to visit for a week, and am looking forward to returning when we can.

WORK: Yeah. I don't work.  But I am interested in opportunities that will help build up our travel fund so we can visit family more.  So, maybe I'll figure out something soon.

CHURCH: I love our church.  I'm less thrilled being their Treasurer, but it's all part of my service/tithe I guess.  It's great watching our church defy the trend of shrinking churches.  No, we'll never be a mega-church, but we are serving a great need - we are inclusive, including being welcoming to Progressive Christians such as myself.

THEATRE:  Haven't done a play since Harvey (October 22), but I'm getting the bug again, and I'm thinking of trying out for CLue this Spring.

TV: Most recently watched Dead Ringers series on Prime with Alison- left me confused and kind of grossed out by the surgeries it graphically showed. I'm watching Twisted Metal on Peacock which I guess is based on a video game?  It's not too bad, with science fiction/apocalypse elements that I like. I also am keeping up with weekly episodes of Invasion on Apple+ - it's a little like the HG Wells novel, and sort of not.  I like it - there is a realistic approach to the story that I appreciate.

COMICS: Not much to say here.  I continue to read Superman and Family as much as I can.

I could write about politics, but that would make this way too long.  I still extend my standing offer - if you once liked Trump and have now turned on him - I would love to hear from you.  Please help brighten up this sometimes very dark world.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Peek-A-Boo Blogger

 

It's my new favorite thing.  Reading via Facebook Messenger to my granddaughter in New York.  I get two copies of a book I want to read to her and send one of the copies off to the Catskills.

Sometimes she pays close attention.  Sometimes she does not.  But it doesn't matter.  I get to see her, and she gets to see me.

I am counting the days until we get back to New York.  She is becoming more mobile every day.  She is slowly building a vocabulary.

Would I like her to be closer?  Yes, of course, I would.  Do I appreciate where she is at, with loving parents living in a beautiful setting?  Absolutely!

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I have recorded Inherit the Wind, the classic about the Scopes Monkey trial, where a teacher is put on trial for teaching evolution.

The movie is one of my favorites, and it is particularly haunting me now, with unpleasant parallels occurring where I live.  Florida is even worse.  

I find these never-ending culture wars deeply depressing.  This can't possibly be how Jesus wanted us to spend our time - on the persecution and vilification of marginalized communities.

Many of my fellow citizens must feel they are without sin - as they hurling stones with reckless abandon.

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My knee and leg and foot pain have diminished.  Part of that is time, but it also may be medication, and when I am done with the current course of drugs, then I may know whether I am truly better.

The people at church were kind enough to help me get a new chair for the church office.  It is ergonomically designed, and is perfect for sitting in.  I am so appreciative.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Peeking Out With Supergirl

 

Been gone for a while.

But...good news! Both Alison and I recovered from COVID and are doing well. Alison's case was milder than mine. Mine was a little more intense...had a day where I was foggy and mostly slept, with a slight fever, and another day where I was worried because my cough deepened. But...thanks to vaccines, proper care, prayer (thank you, Grace Episcopal!), and in my case Paxlovid, we're doing well. Alison and I have some residual cough and congestion, but it is getting lighter daily.

I am grateful that Benjamin did not test positive. He is back at school for his last semester.

I am most grateful that Alison's Mom, Rose, did not get it. She exhibited no symptoms at all. We were worried because she was with us at the Christmas Eve service, which appeared to be Event Central for the COVID spread.

Even our cat pictured above, in my favorite reading chair, along with my Supergirl throw pillow, was ill for a couple of days, not eating and throwing up a little, not wanting to move much. But she is completely back to normal now! She'll be 16 in May and is rarely ill. So we were pleased when she started perking back up.

SPORTS!

I was disappointed that Michigan narrowly lost to TCU but ecstatic at the whooping Georgia put on them. Local Blackshear lad, Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV, was brilliant. Will he make it as a professional quarterback? Who knows? Who knows if he even wants to? But they can't take this from him - one of only a handful of NCAA quarterbacks to lead his team to back-to-back championships!

Each game has to be taken individually. Is the SEC the only conference that counts? I hope not. OSU came within a missed field goal of beating Georgia. And who won a decisive victory against OSU in the regular season? That's right - MICHIGAN!!!

POLITICS!

Good lord. What a shameful disgrace the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is. To win the Speakership, McCarthy had to sell his soul to his party's darkest and most extreme elements.

Most of this will make a disgusting show as the Republican House passes one stupid and destructive bill after another. Then, they will have nonsensical REVENGE committees that will be a lava flow of misinformation and bull hockey.

All of this just makes for extra stupid theater. The one place they are dangerous is forcing government shutdowns over funding and the debt ceiling, with the goal being to slash money from social security and medicare. You would think that would upset some people, but in today's divided media environment, who knows?

TV and Movies!

I just finished the series 1899, the new series from the creators of the excellent German series Dark. It was one of the best things I've seen in YEARS. If you want to know what it's like, read some of the stories that I've written. The imagination in this show is just churning out in buckets!

And, of course, Netflix has already canceled this, so it's a one-and-done. Nevertheless, it's still worth seeing. This series gets one season, and Manifest receives at least four???

We did not get out to see movies during our Christmas COVID break. We managed to see Black Adam, which was a'right, but nothing stood out to me. The new Discovery owners of HBO Max are like Netflix times ten in their horrible swath of canceling projects - Batgirl, Wonder Woman 3, the new Superman movie - all canceled by these worthless clowns. Their new owner is a Trump-endorsing billionaire. Spoiler alert- as part of this atrocity, he controls CNN and DC Comics. Clinton News Network, my ass!

Finally!

As a final note for today's post, I will NOT post these to my Facebook page this month. I want to see how low I can go.

Until next time, 

T. M. Strait

Head Case

 Content Warning:  This is another (borderline) doggy downer, if you're inclined to skip that sort of thing.

People ask me frequently how I like retirement. Most of them, without often directly saying go, are wondering if I'm bored, and because of that (or money issues), if I've returned to some form of employment (self or otherwise). I am not bored, and I might do some self-employment things next year, but they would have to be stuff I enjoy doing and not something that would interfere with my ability to travel to see my granddaughter.

To be honest, though. I am struggling with something in retirement. And it's this - it accentuates my most significant mental health challenge - my tendency towards introversion.  

I know it's hard for others to comprehend sometimes. I'm a good public speaker and community theater actor.  In small group settings, if I get comfortable, I can be relaxed and conversant.

I describe my problem in two ways, both of which are related. One is selective mutism, which I have explained in other posts. The second is crippling insecurities - I can easily feel inadequate and overwhelmed.

People with selective mutism can perform quite well with scripts and structured communication, speaking, and writing. They are lousy in social situations, and meeting new people, and can feel overwhelmed when the unexpected happens.

With retirement, I am not forced to go to work each day and deal with new people and situations. Instead, I can stay at home as much as I choose. And I am choosing to skip engaging in events more and more.

I enjoyed being in the play Harvey last Fall. But it was quite an effort to pull myself into that every night. I will continue with theater, but it will be no more than once a year. And that makes it more challenging as I see the WACT people less and less. The more I'm away from a group of people, the harder it is to re-engage with them.

I have been able to participate in things at the library. Much of that has been with Alison. And I do enjoy that, doing things with her. I haven't read for Children's Story Time as much as I would like because I cannot bring myself to ask.

I don't make an effort to stay in contact with my old work. I do little to get my stories published or to gain readership. I will avoid running into people I know so I don't have to say hello or start conversations I am unsure of.

Not all, but part of this is I don't feel like I'm as good as other people. They are more talented and confident than me, and I have to prove myself to be worthy of them. I'm not telling you this makes sense; I'm just trying to describe what happens in my brain, right or wrong.

I'm not giving up. I'm going to do my best to struggle with this.

But if I miss your event or suddenly withdraw, please try to be understanding. I'm doing the best I can. 

It's Back!

 

Once again, I'm having trouble spending much time at my desktop. 

This time, however, it's not my feet or knees.

Now, it's the back.

I'm not complaining...just letting you know a part of why my blogging is limited.

This is unusual. Most of the time, I have low-grade back pain, but it's at a nuisance level and not a restrictive level. Once in a while, I'll have a back spasm that's usually over in a few minutes.

But this? Chronic back pain that lasts for days and days? That hasn't happened for years.

I can't say for sure what caused it, but the most likely suspect was spending too much desk time on Monday, August 8th, preparing for a class I had that night that required a lot of reading and watching videos.

Fortunately, it didn't stop me from helping Benjamin move into his college apartment. It was painful, but I got through it. We had A LOT of help from church family - Dan Strickland and his mother, Linda, who also brought Benjamin some furniture and household supplies, and the Holland family (Donald and Brandy Holland, and daughter Lilli - their oldest daughter, Carli, had moved into the dorms the day before). As they say - "many hands make light work." Which is better than the other saying - "many feet make stinky wine."

The only change in my back condition is that earlier, it seemed the pain would be at its worst when I tried to get out of bed or after sitting for a while, and standing or moving reduced the pain. Unfortunately, starting yesterday, that's no longer true. Pain can accelerate even during/after walking.

Last night I went to my first play practice for Harvey. There was pain, but I think I hid it well. It didn't really hit me too bad until the drive home.

Well, I better not go on too long. I need to get over this because...my grass is growing again. I'm going to have to mow, starting tomorrow or Thursday.

Be patient! I'll do my best to stay in touch, my blog buddies!

T. M. Strait