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

Surender

 I don't want to quit.

But it's getting very frustrating.

I know I'm flawed. I love to get feedback. By nature, I'm a storyteller. I love to get applause and attention.

When I was working, the theatre and creative arts were the only way I could survive. I was in a profession where I was competent but not a star, where there was little attention or positive reinforcement. But I could go onstage and get the confirmation I craved— that I wasn't a complete loser, that there was something I could do well, and that people appreciated it.

I even had a period where I was writing entire books and self-publishing them. The first, History of the Trap, garnered some local attention and sold a few copies, with ebook sales of around 300.

But then...it slowly went away. I wrote another book and a couple of collections that immediately sank into obscurity.  

I have an entire book, The Extra Credit Club, that I've never published. The initial advanced readers were mixed, and I lost heart. I didn't know how to fix it, and I can't afford an editor.

Since retirement, I haven't written any long-form stories. No novels. You would think I would have more time, but I haven't organized myself that way. Partly, it is a long time to spend on something that will never make any impact.

At one time, I was making an entry every day on The Strait Line. Since then, it has gradually diminished. I may end the year with about 50 entries.  

I recently wrote my Halloween story, Halloween On ICE, and although it has some views, there has been no reaction —positive or negative. I finally got Alison to read it by posting it directly on her Facebook feed. Even then, it took her a day or two to find it.

So, yes, part of the problem is the social media feeds. Facebook doesn't post my blog posts to many people. Why? Because they think of my blog as a MONEY_MAKING enterprise, and that I should pay them to post it more widely. No, I'm not making any money off my blog. I'm even lifetime-banned from having advertising on it.

People who post directly on Facebook get more notice than my blog stories do. That is true...EVEN FOR ME.  

It's also crushing to keep posting about the Orange Conman and not see any improvement in this area. People are not waking up in my Trumpian county, no matter what he does. No matter how rotten things get. Even when he symbolically dumps crap on them.

So, yes, not to sound like a teenage wannabe influencer, but the lack of feedback does get frustrating.

But there is another reason. One that I was not expecting.

I love being retired. I love being out of the rat race. I love not having to worry about tax season, or which loophole I have to find.

I like being with my pets. I love the time with Alison. Yes, I love reading and catching up on TV series and classic movies. I love my church, and I love being a lector, an intercessor, giving time and money to those in need, and even occasionally preaching. I love being more of a help in cleaning and taking care of the house. I love my library and reading at Story Time. I love seeing my granddaughter, even in FaceTime. I love my sons, sharing soccer games with my two older boys, and visiting the youngest, BenJerMan.  

The drive to be famous, the drive to prove my worth, has diminished. I don't have to worry about a job that constantly crushes my soul.

So, part of the problem is the lack of feedback.

But it's also because I'm no longer haunted by my sense of inferiority. 

I'll get in a better mood. Sometimes, I might write more, or do a play again.

But it'll be because I want to,  Not because I have to.

Sincerely, 

T.M. Strait

AOC '28

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

Welcome to the New Year

 

Welcome to the New Year.

Do I have resolutions?

Not many. Love my family. Love being a Christian Progressive. Embrace and support those who are daring to stand up to the political morass we have descended into, and defend those who are going to be prosecuted by the Christian Reich who are in control.

Strive to prioritize my health so that I can stay active and contribute.

Make this the year that I am a published author. Yes, I have some self-published books and this blog, but nothing where someone has paid me for a story or book.  

--------------------------------------

He's not President yet, and it's already horrifying. Much worse than I even imagined, and that's hard to do, believe me.

He's told you he was lying about lowering grocery prices. He likes the type of visa that brings foreigners over to do skilled jobs, such as computer programming, and do it at lower pay than Americans. He is not going to stop the desire of Republicans to slash and even eliminate Social Security. Medicare and other programs to help the indigent and working poor. 

He's mouthing off about taking over Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even Canada. He's mumbled about a "soft invasion" of Mexico. And all of y'all Orangeteers are okay with that?  

You know who else started his leadership with talks of taking over neighboring countries? Hitler. I don't give a damn whether you think the comparison is offensive or not. If the jackboots fit...

------------------------------------

It's getting harder and harder to find social media (and mainstream media) that hasn't been subsumed by billionaire supporters of the Orange conman. Twitter/X has been taken over by an egomaniac who is walking proof of why wealth consolidation is evil. Jeff Bezos is ruining Amazon and The Washington Post trying to make come to life the Post's slogan - Democracy Dies in Darkness - as he slowly turns out the lights. Mark Zuckerberg is eliminating fact checkers, ready to let the MAGATs run roughshod over Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. TikTok is set to be shuttered in about 10 days unless it is saved by being purchased by yet another Trump-loving billionaire.

The same thing is happening on our broadcasters and streamers. One by one, they are showing fealty to the one true moron.  

The biggest lunacy I hear is when my reich-wing friends talk about the liberal media.

HA!

On social media, we are left with Bluesky. On cable, MSNBC has a few liberal hosts, particularly in primetime, but they may soon change. Streamers comprise of Media Touch and a few other smaller organizations.

Liberal media domination, my sweet petunia!

----------------------------------

I hope to post when I can in 2025. Most of my writing efforts will be off-blog as I try to tempt the markets with my incredible prose.

For those who want light and fluffy, who don't want to see political rants - too bad, so sad.  

I have no intent on staying silent in the face of fascism.

Until next time, if I'm permitted to still speak out,

T. M. Strait

Staying Off the Grid

 I haven't blogged much this month.

Overall, things are going well. Both Alison and I have some minor health issues, but nothing devastating. We're enjoying life.

Benjamin is thriving in Warner Robins with his job and friends. We visit every few weeks.

My granddaughter is fantastic. She loves to call us by Facebook Messenger and share things she is excited about—Olympic Bed Bouncing, Fox Face Paint, and eating grapes off the vine. It's a joy to talk with her; we plan to see her in person next month!

I have a secondary income starting soon. Unfortunately, it's related more to accounting than creative work, but it's flexible hours and good people. 

While I did not agree with those who thought Biden was too old, I stand in great admiration for his personal sacrifice to support his country. It's one of the most selfless acts I've ever witnessed.

And what Kamala has done in the last month is miraculous. She has galvanized so much support and enthusiasm - it has even inspired this old cynic. And if her selection of her running mate is any indication of her decision-making ability - then we are in great shape. Governor Tim Walz is an amazing choice - a Midwest Dad that brings echoes to me of my own Dad. A down-to-earth Progressive who communicates well with ALL working-class Americans!

So, why haven't I blogged much?

Part of it is scheduling. I like to write in the mornings, but much of that time has been taken up by mowing, church work, and other errands. My writing rhythm is shot.

Part of it is laziness. I just haven't disciplined myself to do it.

Part of it is that I am mentally stuck on one topic and have been unable to articulate it. I need to address it, but it takes work in the county that I live in. I am trying to thread the needle between communicating my feelings and not crossing a line.

If you see me gone for a while, it's because I'm trying to tell it in a way that helps and doesn't hurt the ones who could be hurt by genuinely open communication.

Meanwhile...

please support your local public library.

Georgia Shoots for a Partial Eclipse

 

It's an omen!

Well, not really. It's an astrological event. symbolic of ... science.

It's not the Rapture, a theological construct less than 200 years old.

It's not a sign of the end times. It's something that has been set to happen at this time because, based on the movement of the sun and the moon and the earth, this is a scientific inevitability.

If it was truly supernatural in origin, you would hear the scientists say, "Oh, no! This wasn't supposed to happen right now! It defies the known orbits and movements of these celestial bodies!"

And...no one is saying that.

So, sorry. It briefly darkens the Ark Museum. It might pass over a couple of towns named Nineveh. No one is being raptured off the planet.

It is no more God-led than the recent earthquake centered near Trump's New Jersey golf course.

Will I be looking up at the eclipse when it passes this afternoon? No, mostly because I don't have the right equipment to do it. I have seen eclipses before and have not been particularly overwhelmed by them.  

From what I read, the eclipse in South Georgia will be about 70%. That may be enough to confuse some animals, but I'm not sure what we'll see without the right equipment. The best time estimate for peak coverage is around 3 PM.

I'll be home. I'll look to see if the yard gets any darker. Mostly if I see something, it will be via television.

I definitely will not look directly at it. I'm not stupid. I'm not Donald Trump.

Mystery Numbers

 

I'm not sure where they're coming from.

Last month was more typical. I received 1,046 views on my blog, The Strait Line.  

This month, so far, I have 8,688 views. I don't know why this month is substantially higher than last month. To date, I have 6 new posts in Mach, which is the same as in February. 

I know what it is not. It's not FaceBook because I get little to no response there. Facebook shows my Strait Line posts to few. Maybe because the blog is from rival Google. Maybe because it wants me to pay advertising money to show it to more people. I can't do that. My blog doesn't make money. I was lifetime banished from advertising more than a decade ago. 

I can see views made to individual blog posts, but I don't see anything explaining this month's numbers. Sometimes, my stories get reposted to more popular sites, but I don't know where.

It's probably some bot thing. I don't know. I'm trying not to get too depressed.

---------------------------

Speaking of not trying to get depressed, I bought Mega Million lottery tickets. The jackpot was $1.1 billion, and I figured if I was going to lose, I might as well lose big.

Which, of course, I did. The odds are such that wasting a lot of money on the lottery is really stupid.

Oh, well. Never said I was a genius.

--------------------------

There seems to be some joy in Biden's improvement in poll numbers in swing states.

But it's nothing more than a statistical tie for many of those.

Given what a lousy candidate and horrible person the Orange Conman is, I don't understand why anyone is supporting him anywhere.

But they are,  And now he's hawking "patriotic" bibles. I'm surprised they're not combusting at his touch.

-------------------------

On a happier note, we are counting down the days (roughly 60) until we can see our Granddaughter again! We could see my oldest son in roughly two weeks, and my youngest son is coming home for Easter!

So, that's all good!

-------------------------

Have a good week!

T. M. Strait

NOT Phone a Freind

 As all ye former landlubbers are aware, the nature of phones in our culture has changed considerably in recent decades.

It's changed from dialing an operator to connect with anyone, to party lines where you might be inadvertently sharing a conversation with half the town, to the Princess phone, to cordless phones, to all kinds of cellular devices.

My Mom was on the phone a lot. She had many long conversations with many people. My Dad was less enamored with it. His conversations were much shorter, even when conducting school business. Me? I was terrified of the phone. I had difficulty talking to people when I couldn't see their faces or gauge how they reacted to what I said. Even the rare times I might have a girlfriend, I talked very little on the phone with them.

The phone, now adapted to our all-purpose cellular devices, has changed in a more comfortable way for introverts. We get information about most callers and can decide whether to answer.  

Not only that, most of our communication now is in the form of texts. It is much easier to respond in writing than in a call. And my understanding is I'm not alone. Among the younger generations, texting is much preferred to calling.

Indeed, some are worried that, for the first time, we are moving towards an introvert-friendly culture. This is due to our social media culture, spurred on by the isolation of the recent pandemic.

I don't know. America is still a culture dominated by the socially aggressive, the gladhanders, and the snake oil salesman. Too many of us are attracted to the Trumpian, 

The whole introvert/extrovert thing is kinda weird. Many of us are not entirely one or the other. It's more like human sexuality - there aren't simply two points on the axis. There is a great variety of mixes on the scale between the two. Few are 100% introvert or 100% extrovert.

Society best functions when there are roles for all kinds of people. It fails when it is structured so only one or the other thrives.

So, some are worried that we are tipping too much to introverts. I don't know. That may only seem that way because this country had tilted too far to the extrovert side.

But only time will tell.

Meanwhile, I'm pretty happy with the way phones are right now. Text me, but be patient for how long it may take me to return the text.

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.

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.  

----------------

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

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. 

November Seconds

 

Just a short one today, and thematically unsound to boot. Feel knee twinges, so I need to make my desktop time short.

It's November already. I didn't write Monday or Tuesday - involved in Church Treasury work that disrupted my schedule. I know I'm writing less, but maybe next week will be better. Yeah, right.

With Reverand Kit retired, there's more to do now. We have to cover more bases.

I'm preparing for two speeches. One as part of the Church Stewardship campaign this Sunday. And then Monday at the Regional Library Board. I will do my best to adopt an extemporaneous style and not write everything down. It's a risk, but it may help the speeches seem more natural.

We distributed candy on Halloween night. We had a good crowd, but it was down since the last time we did it. There were a wide variety of costumes, although Harley Quinn and Spider-Man had a slight edge. Harley Quinn's history is varied. Sometimes she's a villain, sometimes a hero. There is an all-age version, a teen version, and an adult version. I'll have to do a blog story about it sometime.

Time keeps on slipping into the future, although there is a slight blip as we repeat an hour to adjust back into standard time (bye, daylight savings time). Someday we'll end this mess, as whatever point for it has long since passed. But that would take an act of Congress. Good luck getting those people together.

Seeing examples of it in France and now Brazil, I like the runoff system of electing the President. It guarantees whoever wins will have the majority of votes (at least 50% plus). Yes, I know. Our constitution is not set up for it. But it should be. It helps diminish the possibility that extremists can capture the Presidency. 

I posted this meme yesterday on Facebook. To clear up any confusion, this is meant to warn you to vote against fascists and fascists-wanna-bes in November's election. And by that, Rev. Pavlivitz and ME are referring to NOT voting for Republicans who are MAGA, deny the 2020 election outcome, deny teaching the truth about history, deny the LGBTQ+ their rights, want to cripple democracy and move towards a Christo-fascist state. To think anything else is delusding yourself and misconstruing what facsism is.

Knee twinges.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

The Lady or the Duck?

 

The lady or the duck? Or cat? We can look at the same thing and see different things. One thing can be two things.  

The world is filled with joy and wonder, but it is also filled with sadness and terror. One day we see hope on the horizon. The next, we see nothing but despair and the promise of a better tomorrow fizzle away.

One day you feel that you have done the best you can and helped make a better future for yourself and the ones you love. The next, you feel overwhelmed by how you have fallen short, and even the things you thought you did well were just an illusion.

It may seem I'm referring to bipolar or other health problems. These are serious concerns that need to be addressed, but it is not what I'm centering on here. Instead, this is the natural fluctuation most of us experience.

I once tried out for a play that was several counties over from where I lived. I knew no one else in the group. I went to prepare for a reading with another person I had been assigned to audition with. I tried to be helpful, giving my best advice as to how we could improve our performance and make a good impression. I thought what I suggested must have worked because we both got good parts in the play.

Later, when we had successfully performed our play (winning the Best Play Award for a seven-county theatre association), she told me she had initially thought I was an ass, that she thought it was weird for this person out of nowhere to give her advice on how to audition. Turns out, she was an insider in the theatre group and was pretty much pre-picked to get the role she did. One day, I did a good deed. The next, I was an ass.

I've always battled the fear my whole life that people talk to you one way to your face and another way when you're not there. And that many things you think you're doing right, you're actually doing wrong. They think you're bossy, and you think you're making positive input. You think you're shy and reserved, and they think you're sullen and mean. You speak out with passion, and all they hear is you're out of control. You think you're giving them a book, and they think you're forcing something on them and cluttering their living quarters.

You think you're creating a special occasion for people, and they think you're intruding on what they really want to do, and what they really want to do may not involve you.

I know it's impossible to please everyone all the time. Still, not knowing whether you're doing more harm than good is frustrating. 

And, on a broader scale, it gets frustrating thinking there is hope for the world, that we will straighten up, take on problems like global warming, the income gap, universal health care, and become stronger in democracy and diversity. And then I see it all slipping away as I see so many denying the climate crisis that confronts us, when they choose politicians who run based on hate and fear and who do not value democratic processes, when they descend on public libraries and demand to demonize and exclude others, when one brutal narcissist* gets away with multiple crimes, when we refuse to face our complex past, and so much more.

Please don't read too much into this. I never promised you a blog of nothing but puppy uppers. Sometimes there are doggy downers. I promise to try to be more upbeat next time.

Of course, even if I am upbeat, I can't promise some might misconstrue it anyways.

Sigh.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.**

*I'm referring to Trump, of course.  

**Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities.

Wandering Wednesday Wrap-up

 

Ellie has the right idea of what retirement should be like.

Unfortunately, I can't quite take on her attitude.  I feel driven to accomplish more than that.

It's been almost a full year since I retired from accounting.  I spent the first few months organizing and then selling a large chunk of my comic collection.  In doing so, I earned more than I would have working the whole year as a part-time CPA.

I've written some, read a lot, participated more at the library, doing my only accounting holdout as Treasurer for our church, slow-binged a number of TV shows, taken more walks, and increased the lever of house and yard work that I do.  We took a trip to see my new grand-daughter in New York, and also spent time with Benjamin and his roommate Eddie, a student from Sweden.

If you can read the magazine in Ellie's picture, you can see that it's a schedule for Turner Classic Movies.  So, yes, I am trying to watch more classics, particularly silent films.  I am trying to start with the oldest films and move my way forward.  Righrt now, I've started a Harold Lloyd classic, Hot Water, from 1924, an episodic comedic look at married life.  I watch about fifteen to thirty minutes a day.

I just finished up being in a play, Harvey, a comedy about a man who sees a six-foot rabbit.  I had been in it as a Freshman in high school and reprised the same part, an elderly judge.  Same part, less makeup. We had small but enthusiastic crowds.  I had fun, and the people I was acting with were a joy to perform with, but I think, at my age, about one play a year is all I care to do.  It's fun, but it takes a lot.

Being home, I could watch a lot of the 1/6 hearings.  It's scary and unprecedented to pursue criminal charges against a former President, for this and for his other myriad crimes, but the true danger to the republic is to let him get away with it.  No one should be above the law.

Alison and I have been able to take some day trips together.  Monday (Indigenous People's Day) we were able to spend the day in Brunswick.  I don 't often take pictures of meals, but this was an important discovery, Wee Pub, that had one of the best shepherd's pie I ever done et. If half the Shepherd's Pie looks different than the other half, that's because I was stirring and sampling before I took the picture.  Yeah, I'm not really adept at the art of culinary photography.

Beginning soon this second year of retirement from accounting, I hope to refocus slightly.  This should mean more writing, but it may mean less blogging.  I really need to focus on something that may at least theoretically bring in money.  I don't know if I can make much.  It would be awesome if I can make at least enough to cover our streaming services, and some of my book/comic purchases.  That may not happen, but it would be super cool if it did.

For fun, I'd like to go back to learning how to draw.  It's just something I've always wanted to do.  Maybe I'll even share some of my art on this blog.

👇

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Forebotten Topics

 Yes, there are some things that I shouldn't talk about. Some things are even too dangerous for me to go into.

Excluding topics that are obvious to avoid, like explicit sexual discussions, there are others that COULD be discussed, but I don't care to go into them. 

And some topics are primarily ones I avoid with in-person conversations, to some degree online, but mostly in person.

I'm low-keying this one. No pictures and very few social media postings.

 Politics while at the theatre

Although I generally like political discussions, I go out of my way to avoid them when I'm at the theatre. This is not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of downtimes where people discuss a lot of things.

My taboo on politics at the theatre has very practical reasons. I am very passionate about these issues. I can get loud and carried away in expressing my viewpoint. More importantly, it can hurt my ability to concentrate on my part. I get too wound up, and I lose concentration. Not a good thing for somebody who is the type who is still reviewing my lines before my performances and can't let my mind wander while I'm onstage.

When others talk about politics, I try very hard to keep my mouth shut, even when I have to listen to some really weird opinions. Remember, I live in an area where Trump voters vastly outnumber everyone else. If it gets too much for me, I just walk away.

I learned to practice the same philosophy when I worked at a place that had nothing bad to say about Trump while he was President but started joking and making fun of Biden about two days into his term. 

Generally speaking, believe it or not, I don't raise political issues with people (unless I know they are allies). Sometimes, in some situations, it's hard for me not to say something when others bring it up.  

Almost all of my political talk is done via this blog.

Covid

I've learned the hard way not to talk about COVID. When others bring it up, I just let them talk.  

People's attitudes toward COVID are strange. Some (well, very few) are very strict about it - very worried and protecting themselves. Others dismiss the whole thing and think there's something wrong with you if you are still concerned about it.

And God forbid you should tell somebody you haven't had COVID yet. The looks you get! They range from disgust to why are you telling me this to baffled silence. The worst response is saying you haven't had COVID is the equivalent of saying you haven't had cancer or some other disease. YOU ARE BRAGGING.  

Have I never had COVID? I know. I'm supposed to keep my mouth shut. The truth is...probably not, but who can say for sure? It's possible I had it, and it was so incredibly asymptomatic I didn't even know.

But...you don't want to hear that. I understand now.

Tattoos

This one is scary. Perhaps the scariest topic I could broach. Tattoos are so universal now it's difficult to say anything without upsetting people.

Let me start by saying that people getting tattoos is perfectly fine. There's not a religious or moral problem. Churches who pretend they're "open and tolerant" because they let people in with tattoos are kidding themselves - let's see how many people show up if you exclude them.

That said, here goes. And I hope you still like me when I'm done.

I personally would never get a tattoo. That's my own choice. I just don't like drawing on myself. When I was a kid, I didn't even like to write my name on my arm with an inkpen. I'm not telling anybody else what to do. That's their own choice.

Do I think that tattoos, of any kind, look attractive on people? Sigh. No, I don't. I don't think it enhances people's appearance. Cripes. I can already feel the slings and arrows coming.

Does it affect how I feel about anyone? Hell, no. I feel the same way about people, regardless of tattoos, piercings, or anything else.

The only other proviso is that I don't really feel like people who are serious about acting should have prominent tattoos if they can help it. It's best to be a blank slate that can be adapted to the widest range of parts. This, to me, is most helpful to those getting started in the profession.

Am I aware that there are a lot of parts now where having tattoos either do not matter or are helpful? Yes, I'm sure there are. But I still feel it is easier to add temporary tattoos than to cover up permanent ones.

-------------------

Well, I guess three forebotten topics is a good place to start. And for some, I'm afraid it may be a good place to get off the Strait Train. I hope not, as I love and respect you all. Even the Trumpeteers.

Well, most of the Trumpeteers.

Not the September I Remember

 

September is the most depressing month of the year.

At least as it relates to weather.

Growing up in Michigan, September was always the month when the weather started to change. There was a clear end to Summer and the start of cooler Fall weather. Leaves would change color. You would often have to wear a jacket. The mowing season was over, and the snow shoveling season had yet to begin.

One time, in visiting Michigan in late September, we went on a trip to Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. We wanted to go to Mackinaw Island, but it had started snowing, and the ferry service was temporarily halted.

So, even after all these years in Georgia, I still expect it to start to get cool and Fall-like in September, and I'm always disappointed.

Every day in  September, I wake up and think the Fall weather will begin. Yet, every day, my heart is broken.  

It remains hotter than hell. Yesterday, while I was out, the weather had me close to heat exhaustion. It was 90 with a feels like of 103. Yes, I know Southern California is going through a similar heat wave, with triple-digit highs. But what we have that LA does not is the humidity that hovers near 100%.

Our leaves are not changing color. Maybe in October or November. There is no cooler weather. When I walk in the predawn mornings, the temperature may be lower (the 70s), but the humidity is still off the charts. There is no jacket weather - you can barely tolerate wearing pants. And my lawn is still growing at a monstrous rate. We have thunderstorms most afternoons. And for the most part, the rains do not leave you more comfortable.  

Of course, with global warming, things may have changed in Michigan. Their Septembers may no longer be as glorious as I remember.

As I write this, at 9:17, the temperature is 78 with a feels like of 85. The humidity is 93%. The projected high is 92, which probably means another triple-digit feels like. Over the next fifteen days, the lowest high is projected for Friday, at 82.

As I write this, at 9:22, the temperature of Bridgeport, Michigan (where I grew up) is 59, with a whopping 59 feels like. The humidity is 90%. The projected high is 78. Over the next fifteen days, the lowest high is projected for Tuesday, at 72.

These differences are not incredible, but they do make a change between comfortable and uncomfortable.

You would think I would be used to this by now after over four decades in Georgia, but no, I am not. Every morning I get up thinking that Fall will begin. Every morning my soul is crushed by the continuation of relentless heat.

So, no, I won't get used to it.

Ah, September. You're not what I remember.

It's Another Manic-less Monday!

 

This view greeted me as I left the carport for my early morning roundabout.

My legs and knees feel much better, thank you very much. They're not perfect, but I am mobile, which feels good!

I just saw my health profile results from a recent testing. Blood pressure? My best reading in years! Blood glucose and A1C? For me, they were much better than I expected! They are still prediabetic readings, and I need to use caution. But I don't think there is a good case for medication. If I'm smart and continue to improve my diet and exercise, I can manage it independently.

Yes, my health situation is pretty good, given my age. My boys are scattered, but they are great people, and I love seeing them when I can. And I am one proud Grandpa!

The following are musings, which some consider negative or whining, so please bail if you don't want to read this stuff. Sometimes I kvetch. Fact of life.

Now that I've sold a large portion of my comic collection and have had some time to relax and enjoy life, I'm thinking about what to focus on next.

I hear about it and also sometimes meet seniors who still work - some out of necessity and some because their personalities drive them to it. For example, the two partners in my old firm may never quit - they wouldn't know how to fill the time if they did.

I don't have a problem with filling time, and Alison assures me that there is no necessity to me working,

Nevertheless, it would be nice to help build up our resources so we could do more traveling. And to provide whatever support we can to help Benjamin in his last year in college and his transition to a career,

Because travel is crucial to what I want to do, tying me to a regular employer and reporting to a workplace on a full or part-time basis doesn't seem very desirable.  

I don't want to do any accounting. I got my fill of that. I served my time in it and don't want to return to it.

If I had to grade my accounting ability, I would give it a gentleman's C. I did enough to contribute and keep a job, but there was no way I was ever going to shine. My natural abilities weren't great, and I would never put in the 12 to 16-hour days that some do in that profession.

I once told my employer that I was probably the lowest-paid full-time CPA in Georgia. He did not disagree. He also did nothing to change it. So, if anyone wonders where my sense of inferiority comes from - waalaa! That's a good chunk of it.

Even though I have given up accounting, I have grandfathered in the Treasurer's position at church. Recently, I have made some mistakes that made me aware of my limited abilities and have left me embarrassed and humiliated. It reminds me of why I no longer want to be an accountant.

I love writing. Most of the time. I would give my writing grade a B+.

But, so what? Many A-grade writers have trouble getting published.

I have shown no ability to market my books. My salesman grade would be a D-. That includes the ability to sell me and a book to a literary agent or publisher.

I have had a few things happen recently that have caused me to question my writing ability, which has shaken my confidence.

Nevertheless, because I love to write, I will continue to do it, and maybe I will stumble on a way to make a little bit of money off it.

I love acting. I would give myself an A grade unless dancing is involved.

Currently, I will be starting rehearsals for Harvey. I am playing the same part I did in 9th grade, that of an 80-year-old Judge. The significant change is, this time, I will need less makeup.

I have never figured out how to make money off of acting. Again, that requires a level of self-promotion I do not possess. There is a TV and movie industry in Georgia. Unfortunately, most of it is farther north of where I am, and the commuting costs would negate whatever meager money I might make.

I can't rule out being an Extra in something someday, but the odds are relatively low.

The one thing I can do at an A+ level is read aloud. Having a podcast, reading for audiobooks, posting children's stories - all that would be the balm. Besides my inadequacies in self-promotion, the only thing that stands in my way is technological issues. Can I, within my own home, create a studio with the right equipment and soundproofing to do what is needed for a quality reading?

There are considerable obstacles to making it work, but if I had my choice, it is what I would love to do.

--------------------

I may not achieve a moneymaking level with any of my creative solutions. But I'm going to try. And that's half the battle.

Or maybe 35%. Who knows? My math/accounting ability is quickly fading.

Anyhoo, y'all have a great day!

Thanks for reading.

I'll keep the blog on for ya!

A Tough Country to Love

 Sometimes, this is a tough country to love.

I know. Just by saying that, I have raised the ire of many and completely ruined my chances of ever running for political office. Oh, well. That ship has longed since sailed, anyways.

I've always believed in the Martin Luther King quote, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." When I was younger and more idealistic, I thought I would see that bend. Now, at 66, I'm not so sure.

Some things have gotten better. But even those steps forward have been brought with backlash and steps backward.  

I have seen some things improve. But I also have seen that the Empire always strikes back.

Voting rights are passed and guaranteed, only to see voter suppression legislation chip away and reverse progress.

Women's reproductive rights can be granted and then taken away.

And with the Supreme Court no longer supporting a right to privacy, we could see reversals in access to birth control, gay marriage, and even interracial marriage.

The very foundational creed of this country, e Pluribus Unum - out of many, one - is being challenged and abandoned as the racist, immoral, and WRONG Great Replacement Theory destroys everything meaningful about this country.

I know gun control measures alone won't solve the cultural sickness we suffer from. The promise of America is tempered by the sins of America.

We (the white Europeans) committed genocide against the original natives of this land - using our guns. We enslaved millions of people based on the color of their skin - enforcing it with our guns. Even after slavery was ended, that did not stop the brutality toward African-Americans. 

One of the significant factors behind us having more guns than people - it's not hunting. It's not even ordinary self-defense. It's not trying to take down a tyrannical government. It's FEAR. Fear that you will be treated as you have treated others.

And that's not easy to solve with simple gun control measures.  

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. 

Can you imagine if a plane were to go down because of a defective part or something that could be changed by a new safety measure, and we did nothing to change it? If we said, "Well, that's not going to solve all the plane crashes. Planes are still going to go down." Can you imagine dismissing doing anything?

Background checks won't solve all the problems. But it WILL HELP. Closing gun-show loopholes WILL HELP. Reviving the Assault Weapons Ben WILL HELP A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT.

But...the reality is that little to nothing is going to happen.

We need to control guns. We won't.

We need to reverse climate change. We won't.

We need to treat healthcare access as a human right. We won't.

We need to protect voting rights. We won't.

We need to preserve our privacy rights - women's reproductive rights, access to birth control, LGBTQ rights, and the right to marry the consenting adult WHOM YOU LOVE. I fear we won't.

The only thing that will change this is if PEOPLE vote based on these things. As long as politicians win who are in the pocket of the gun lobby, who kowtow to Christian Dominionists, who spread the fear of THE OTHER, who love fossil fuels and their money more than people, as long as they keep getting elected, then things will never change. The arc of moral justice will be delayed until nothing is left to save.

I believe in the American Creed. I believe in the melting pot. E Pluribus Unum. We are stronger when we are united, when we respect and love our diversity, and when we work to make things better for all. That is one thread of American History. And it's the thread that I love. That is what I envision when I say the pledge of allegiance - liberty and justice for all. THAT is what the flag stands for.

But there is another thread of our history - one this is vicious and mean and violent.

And right now, I fear that thread is threatening to engulf us all.

I love what my country has often struggled to represent.

I hate what it so often becomes.

You have a decision to make.

Which thread do you choose?

Choose now, while we still have a choice.