Fatty, Fatty, 2x4?

Yesterday, there was a layoff at work. I was not impacted (although a couple of my projects were), unlike Oct 2012 when I was let go. While I didn't really think it had an impact on me, I notice that I did struggle to wake up this morning. And once I did, the song that came to me during my shower today was Elton John's 'I'm still standing'. I was thinking the words "Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did, Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid...."

Should the worst case happen some time, and I am again on the job market, maybe I can become a scientist and study coprolites. Sounds like an interesting study, right? Well, it may be a valid and valuable study, but it is actually analyzing fossilized feces. Yep. What can be learned? According to the article, [scientists] found that King Richard III was infected with roundworm; in another, [they] identified an early example of how irrigation channels might have spread disease. [Other] work has looked at the effects of natural climate fluctuation on tapeworm infections on the coast of Chile, and how the expansion of the Incan Empire affected parasitism in agricultural villages.

If I do end up seeking future employment, I do not plan to move. This is where the kids and GRANDS and parents are, so we will hope to stay put. I did see a study noting that if we want to improve our sense of well-being, we should leave the Lower 48. According to this study, Hawaii reclaimed the top spot among states in the U.S. for well-being as 2014’s highest well-being state, Alaska, slipped to second. Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Utah, Arizona and California rounded out the rest of the top 10. Kentucky and West Virginia continued to have the lowest well-being in the nation, ranking 49th and 50th, respectively, for seven straight years.

I do still need a job, but today's devotional reminds me that meeting day-to-day needs should not supplant my need for spiritual sustenance. The author talks about Matt 5:6, which, of course, is the chapter containing The Beatitudes. Today's verse reads, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." The devotional includes this statement, which I found insightful. "Desire is an inward longing for something we do not have but feel we need. Hunger and thirst are appetites God gave humans to make us aware of a need. Hunger for God's Word and His attributes are the spiritual appetite God gives Christians to make us aware of spiritual needs. Do pagans pray to their idols and ask them for love, joy, internal peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, meekness, or self-control? They ask for other things — material things, material blessings."

On the other side of the serious nature of spirituality is today's groaner of a joke from my Joke a Day calendar.
"The foreman at a construction site noticed that one of his carpenters, who was shingling the side of the house, kept throwing away every second or third nail. “What are you doing that for?!” he called to the carpenter. From his ladder the carpenter replied, “The head is on the wrong side of some of these nails, Boss!” Exasperated, the foreman called back, “Well, don't throw them away! They're for the other side of the house!”

I like that more and more states are including financial literacy in the topics students needs to learn. I want my kids and grandkids to be smarter about money and be more prepared for retirement than I am. The best way for that, both in terms of starting early and understanding the opportunities they have, is to introduce it in the curriculum. The article notes, "Financial education classes offered in the K–12 setting don't delve into complex concepts, she said. Instead, they teach students practical life skills, like how to balance a checkbook, the effect of interest rates and how investments can benefit from compounded growth."

I know there is a homeless dude in Detroit who understands finances. He will now take donations via credit and debit card. That's right. No, I would NOT feel comfortable giving a homeless man my credit card info.

In today's 'Things I might have to have' update, how about an Air Bonsai? Yes, a little bonsai tree that uses magnets to remain floating in the air? There is a Kickstarter campaign for it going right now.

You are not alone in thinking that your pants and belt must have shrunk since last month. Check out this chart. Details around all of the pieces that make up our diet are in the article, including less red meat and more added fats.

Yesterday, I shared a NERDsery rhyme from 2010. Luckily (or maybe unluckily) for you, it was not the only one I wrote.

I am certainly glad I still have a job, but I also still need my time off. We made it to the weekend, so I plan to do no (or at most minimal) work after tonight. And we are keeping the GRANDS on Saturday night, so I will certainly not be working then. We do have a couple of things on which we need to work that are not related to our jobs, though. Clean the garage. Finish gathering items related to estate planning. Begin gathering documentation for filing our income tax returns. Maybe those should wait until after I get caught up on The X-Files? Have a good weekend, my friends.

The Drought Continues

I'll take another scan through a couple of sites in a moment, but so far, I have not found anything to share yet. So, we will start off sharing some photos from WDW. First is the cool symbol posted above seating areas in Port Orleans: Riverside, the resort we stayed in (yes, proper English would dictate I should have worded that as 'in which we stayed', but that sounds weird). Anyway, I thought it looked cool.

Out near the bus staging area in our resort was this landscape arrangement that looked stereotypical of the Deep South bayou/lagoon look. A water feature, Spanish Moss hanging from the trees, some grass, some peat moss. I liked the way it felt, which I am sure was the goal of the designer.

Here is a look back at the entrance to Magic Kingdom from a man-made lagoon on our way to another of the resorts. I took several shots as the entrance and castle played hide-and-seek behind trees and the dock structure. I liked this where I could see both of them between trees and without blocking each other.

I don't know what happens during your showers, but mine is usually one of two mental activities. One is a morning prayer wherein I spend the time during the rote activity of showering in a brief prayer. Are those days characterized by the needs of the prior day? I'm not sure. My shower is before I read through my morning devotional, so it is not prompted by the Scripture of the day. Anyway, the other is when I wake up with a song in my mind. The range of songs is from Christian to Folk to Broadway. I have no clue where those come from. Today mental activity was the Elton John song 'Where To Now, St. Peter'. Why that song? Are you listening to me? I just said that I don't know. That song, though, brings up strong memories of a morning paper route that I shared with Architect Bro. The song features lyrics where Elton John would jump up an octave into a falsetto. AB and I would try to copy him and would frequently miss the octave (it was around the point where our adolescent voices would break, making the octave a challenge). Between that and it being 4am, we would each laugh uproariously and looked forward to those days when we would hear that song on the radio (this was in the days before cassettes or CDs).

Do you have those types of memories triggered by a song? Not too long ago, I played a song (I do not remember what it was) and my mother said that reminded her of a time when her father would sing it. Maybe it was something by Sinatra? Those triggers are interesting.

Today's devotional was based on Ecclesiastes 7:11-14. As the author notes, "Solomon is comparing two powers that offer their possessors the ability to defend themselves against many of the vicissitudes of life. On the one hand is money and on the other, wisdom. Money can help one avoid and even preserve a person from many of life's difficulties. Wisdom, however, can give him something no amount of money can—life." These verses invite us to evaluate what is more valuable to us, wisdom or money. I don't like that question. It is too close to home. I know what the answer SHOULD be, but I also know that I would more often land on the wrong side of the equation. And that is exactly the type of personal introspection that I want a devotional to ask of me. They often bring a familiar Scripture to mind and then demand that I meditate and evaluate on how I actually live the values espoused. So, what will I change to align with what the verses say to me? I think verse 14 should be my guide, "In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him."

One of the links that I saved from late last year was about a portable chair that can fold down to the size of a beer can. It is also recyclable when you want to dispose of it. It is still in the Kickstarter phase, so do not rush out to buy it yet.

In 'So you're telling me there's a chance?' news, a company is going to build 300 replica DeLorean DMC-12 cars, just like the one in Back to the Future. While I do not think it include a Flux Capacitor, they are still quite eye-catching vehicles. At almost $100K each, though, I will probably not be looking to own one.

I normally would not order an appetizer with my meal, but I know the family likes things like mozzarella sticks. Guess what? You can get them at McDonald's. Oh, with one difference from the ones you often get at your local sit-down restaurant. They may or may not contain cheese. Yes, yuo read that correctly. Check out the story.

Oh, one more thing.

I have a conference call in 20 minutes, so I had best go earn my money for today. Uh oh, should I have not mentioned that after today's devotional? No, it is OK since Col 3:23 does say "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Have a Thrilling Thursday, my friends.

A Post Containing a Surprising Number of References to Money

This could be a disappointing day. First, I need to call the dentist and make an appointment to have that troublesome tooth reexamined. I may not get in today, but I need to call. Second, I need to pick up a car that is in the shop. Yep, there goes another $500. Third, and perhaps most devastatingly for each of you, I have found ZERO interesting articles in my initial pass through the usual sources. I do have a couple of stories saved from previous days, but I don't want to use them all today. Maybe we'll just make it short and sweet, huh?

So, first is a story about Google making several museums available digitally, so we can visit them for free. For example, here is a view inside the Palace of Versailles. That could be a good way to waste a little time before lunch today.

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How about learning some new tidbits about The Twilight Zone? I am sure you all know about the classic series from the late 50s into the early 60s. Rod Serling was, of course, the genius behind it. He was not, however, the first pick as narrator. Serling is not only the creator and narrator of the show, he also wrote the script for 94 of the 156 episodes. TZ was also the first to feature an entire black cast for the episode "A Big Tall Wish" during the first season. Sterling wrote the script to prove to audiences that black actors were the same as white actors. Go check out the other things you may or may not already know about one of my favorite TV programs.

Last night, on my way home from choir practice, I needed to swing by the store and pick up something for my lunches. I debated hitting Whole Foods, which is right across the street from the church, but decided that was a little pricey and went to our local grocery store. This morning, I came across an article highlighting that "the grocery chain Whole Foods has had to lower its prices. The company is both planning a lower-priced offshoot chain and lowering prices in its current stores. According to a recent survey of their customers, that effort really isn’t paying off: customers still think that the chain is expensive and not worth the extra cost." So, I am not alone in this. A week ago, I picked up a few items, and walked out $75 poorer. I like the food, but that is just too expensive. Yes, that $75 lasts through 4-5 lunches, but I picked up 3-4 lunches worth last night for only $25. Which would you choose? Exactly.

I did see this story yesterday about a guy in Brooklyn who constructed an igloo near his place and offered it on airbnb. The listing was taken down, but not before all the publicity. Would you have considered it for only $200/night? Would like to visit one of those ice hotels I see advertised in the winter? Both sound a little cold for me, and I don't even warm the house that much.

A few years ago, the family was passing through an area called Alabama Hills, CA. It is near Lone Pines, CA (which is where we stayed for a night). I was drawn there by a photo of an arch showcasing Mt Whitney that I saw at an art exhibit once. We didn't find the photo location I was seeking, but did learn that this was a famous movie location and vowed to return one day. We haven't returned yet, but I came across this photo today and liked its simplicity. You can see his other work here.

Are you caught up in the hubbub around the election? I am personally worried about which candidates we will end up with. We may end up having to choose between two people, neither of which we want. Anyway, that sort of drove the topic of today's Clarity of Vision.

I stretched it out a bit, but have run out of content for today. You are probably bored anyway, so I will close the book on this chapter of my blog. We did make it to Wonderful Wednesday, so celebrate that. See you soon.

I Must Be Hungry (Hangry?)

It has been a while since we had a 'cookie-off' (is that what you'd call a taste testing of different brands of cookies?). Today, I found a Yahoo test of Chips Ahoy! and Oreos. Which do you think will win? Oh, it's not just the plain flavors, it is the specialty ones. Well, you'll have to read it to find out.

And you can maybe cook them in this smartpan. What is a smartpan? Here is a quote from the website, "Pantelligent will alert you BEFORE your pan gets too hot – and before all of your hard work ends up in the trash." Look at the graphs below for one of its benefits.

What? Another cooking-related article? It's true. Look at this next photo. It is a Red-Velvet Poke Cake. If that sounds delish, you can see the recipe here.

What? Another food story. Yup. This one involves McDonald's, french fries, and chocolate sauce. All three together. That's right, but for now, it is only available in Japan. You will have to read the article to see if the author liked them.

I think I may have shared this before (or one a lot like it), but I saw this online today and thought it was fun. There are a lot of other well-designed trucks in the article.

Like this one.

Or this one.

Do you like vegetarian dishes? I do, even though my diet nowadays does include chicken and fish. Anyway, this farro salad with Tomatoes, Green Beans, and Chickpeas with Basil Vinaigrette looks really tasty to me. However since it takes 15 minutes to prep and 2 to cook, who knows if I will ever make it.

It appears I have worked through my glut of food-related information for today. So, let's shift to music for a moment. Last night, I downloaded some more songs from the free library resource. In case you wondered, the last few artists I pulled were Michael Martin Murphey, Bill Withers, Cat Stevens, Piano Guys, and The Wood Brothers. Prior to those, I did bring down Adele's albums, including 25. I like it.

Do have a kid's space that needs a cool platform bed so you can also incorporate storage? Well, this dad built one using standard IKEA components, and he made a nice youtube video (often in fast motion) to show us how. Check it out. And near the end of the video, check out the cute little black-and-tan dachshund on the bed.

I played with an idea to build on yesterday's Clarity of Vision, but it still needs refining. Let's reminisce with a classic from a few years ago.

And that will do it with another thrilling episode of 'Legend In My Own Mind'. Tune in tomorrow, same COV-time, same COV-channel, for more fun and excitement.Until then, be safe and have a Tantalizing Tuesday.

Pigskins, and Potatoes, and Burritos, and Buns

Longtime readers will know that I love it when I can find a way for you to spend your money. Today, I found a way for you to drop $1.5 million on a lovely photo of an Irish potato. Yup, a photo Kevin Abosch took of an organic potato has sold for one-and-a-half million dollars. I guess you can't really spend that to get it since a businessman already bought it, so if you want it, it'll be even more money.

If you want to spend a whole lot less, get a few fixings at the grocery store and make homemade cinnamon buns in less that 30 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly. Check it out and, then, go do it for breakfast.

Are you ready to go back to Chipotles? They are hoping so, and will give you $50 back if you buy Burritos by the Box (at least 20) on SB50 Sunday. Who's with me? Maybe I should ask, "Who's looking for a discount on norovirus"? I am not ready to go back there yet, even though no outbreaks have happened near me. Still, let's see some longer term results before I take a chance, even if they offer me $50.

Let's not beat around the bush. Let's circle around the lagoon. Check out this bridge in Uruguay. Why did they build it like that? Architects designed it to expand the number of drivers able to cross from Maldonado into Rocha while at the same time curbing the speed of the cars themselves. AZ considered building a bridge designed by that firm, but ultimately went much simpler. They mention it in the article.

Yeah! I heard the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl! Wait?! What?! They're not. It was a good game, though, right? Like the Broncos-Patriot squeaker of 20-18? No. It was decidedly not. It was a 49-15 blowout. I did not even watch the entire game like I did the AFC game. Oh well.

Do you think they lost the game because it was cold in NC and they are used to AZ weather? No, I don't either. They were simply outplayed. Even so, there is a difference in climate between the East Coast right now and places like FL, AZ, and SoCal. Which do you prefer, better weather in winter or better weather in Summer?

Listen, it is time to start talking about yesterday's games with coworkers, so look for the water cooler talk to center around NFL today, and back to office politics tomorrow. Until then, make it a Magnificent Monday, my friends.

Mouses and Droids and Luck Dragons. Oh, my!

Check out this crazy Rube Goldberg-esque soda machine in youtube. The guy who created this machine spent over 140 hours on it.

Photo-realistic art is pretty cool. You can see the artist working on a hot dog and bun in the screenshot. Watch the video for a bunch of others, some of which I could tell the difference, and some I could not.

Here is a poster from Disney Springs of Walt Disney's signature character and his girlfriend.

And then, in the 50s, non-animated features were produced by Disney. This plays with that history, placing Mickey, Goofy and Donald in a submarine which looks a whole lot like the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This cartoon parody is even named using a play on that title.

And now, they have a new signature franchise. I do not know of any short movies or locations with this name, but the poster is kind of cool.

Because it costs $1.99, I am not likely to place the Exploding Kittens game on my smartphone. I also don't often play any games with other phone users, making it even less likely that I will add it to my cadre of games. If you are into that sort of thing, you might check it out.

In the 1980s, a movie came out called NeverEnding Story. Do you remember it? Our family enjoyed it. Now, on Etsy, a woman has started offering a 4-foot Falkor replica, and the internet has gone crazy for it. In fact, the woman cannot create enough, so she has started selling the plans to make your own for $14. I am just setting it out there in case you have been wanting your own Falkor.

In the winter, does your electricity bill fall or spike? Are you ever worried about pipes freezing? Either way, there are some tips that can help. One is to be sure to lay something in front of doors where the warm air leaks out (it would be better to replace the weather-stripping, but do this in the meantime). Also, a liberal coat of WD-40 on the exteriors and joints of pipes and taps both indoors and outdoors can help prevent freezing damage. WD-40 can also help if the lock freezes on your car doors. Ice on your car windows? Vinegar and water will help clear that up pronto.

Looking for a used car? There may be some online options that can help. I scanned through one of them last night (Beepi)and it does seem like a possible source of a quality used car and a good price. Then again, it may only be something I use to aid my local search. I am not sure just yet.

I just read an article where the famous practice of performing a 180-degree turn in an spaceship is treated more realistically than most sci-fi adventures. The TV program The Expanse sort of acknowledges that doing such a 'flip' would exert the human body to G-forces it simply cannot handle. Sorry, Millennium Falcon.

At the start of the playoffs, Microsoft Cortana predicted that the New England Patriots would meet the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Cortana has made its picks for the NFL Conference Championships this weekend. New England Patriots (-3) at Denver Broncos — Patriots 53% chance to win. Arizona Cardinals (+3) at Carolina Panthers — Panthers 61% chance to win. Let's see how it does.

Do you like Chick-fil-A? Come on, you know that you do. Now, C-f-A is offering a kale-broccolini salad as an alternative to cole slaw. Would you try it? This journalist did, and ... liked it. Maybe I will try it next time I hit 'The Chick'.

Do you watch any of the various Gordon Ramsay shows? You know, Masterchef, Masterchef Junior, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares? Well, Clarity of Vision has as idea.

BTW, I did not need a root canal yesterday. Do not celebrate yet. The reason is because that tooth already had one. It looks like it could be a gum-related cause for the pain. So, I am on antibiotics right now, so the pain is not gone. My cheek still is swollen. I am supposed to call him back on Monday if it is not a lot better.

The week is over, my friends. We all made it. See you next week.

Poetry, Planets, Power Plugs and Putty

Some art I think is better seen in the media than on the walls of suburbia. Take this Lego-ish creation depicting Donald Duck. I was obviously intrigued enough to catch a photo of the pixelated image, but I actually like it better in my photo than I did in the store. It primarily functions from the straight-ahead view, so I like it in that aspect.

One night in Orlando, while waiting for the fireworks in Magic Kingdom, we were on the beach at the Polynesian Resort watching a mini-light show. It was fun, and the GRANDS enjoyed it. Here is a shot of one (three?) of the little boats being pulled through the lagoon.

This set of lights was near the end of the show. You can see the lights of Sleeping Beauty's castle to the right.

Are any of you X-Files-o-philes? I watched several episodes, but did not make it through any complete season. So, I am mildly curious about the new episodes, but may or may not watch them. For those of you who wonder if the truth is really out there, I came across a map that displays the locations the team visits in each of the original episodes.

If these is anything out there, maybe it lives on the possible ninth planet of our solar system? If it exists, scientists estimates its 'year' (the time it takes to orbit our sun) would be between 10,000 and 20,000 of our years.

This is not your daddy's bicycling. It's not even mine nor my kid's. This is crazy Parkour biking.

What image does the name OUTlet bring to mind? Mainly the fact that my fingers held down the CAPS key for too long? From now on, it will make you think of a pop-out electrical outlet being pitched on Kickstarter. And it does look pretty sweet.

Keeping in the same vein, what image does 'liquid glass putty' bring to mind? It meant nothing to me, but it did cause the folks at Vat19 to film a guy taking a bath in the stuff.

Vat19 also offers a device to make your own healthy potato chips (or any other veggie you choose) at home. They also offer a product for your own microwave popcorn (you do know that the packaged microwave corn is really bad for you, right?).

Let's end with an homage to Sarah Palin. Or maybe it's an homage to Walt Whitman? Anyway, an article makes the case that Sarah Palin's rhetoric should be seen more as poetry than straight political speech. Here's an example, as formatted by Jason Gilbert of Fusion:
I Sing the Body Apoplectic

We all have a part in this, we all have a responsibility.
Looking around at all of you, you hard-working Iowa families.
You farm families! And teachers! And teamsters! And cops, and cooks!
You rockin’ rollers! And holy rollers!
All of you who work so hard,
You full-time moms!
You, with the hands that rock the cradle!
You all make the world go round,
and now,

Our cause is one!

Well, I likely have a root canal scheduled for this afternoon. Hmm, is it worse having to come in to work, or having a tooth worked on. Neither is that much fun, you know? Have a Thrilling Thursday.

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No, this is not a photo of my den. It is also not a photo of a furniture store that only seems to stock one single option in recliners. It is a photo of the theater where our department from work went to see the newest Star Wars flick.

Here are a bunch of us kicking back and getting ready for the show. Looks comfy, right? It was.

During our trip this weekend, we visited an antique store. I didn't buy anything, but I did see a painting that i wanted to remember as inspiration for a treatment for a photo. I'm talking about the big one with the trees, not the flag motif in the lower right.

Another thing we did during the visit to the mountains was build a snowman like Olaf from Frozen. No, I suppose it does not look exactly like him, but close enough for the 4-year-old to proclaim it was Olaf, and that's enough for me.

That's Olaf off to the left of the stairs of our cabin.

I just read some SHOCKING news. It seems that Judge Judy in NOT on the Supreme Court. Say it ain't so! That is one of the mistaken beliefs held by 1 in 10 American college graduates. Who is the president of the Senate? If you don't know, or want to see what else these graduates believe, check out the article.

I just read some much-less-shocking news. There is another new flavor of Oreos. Cinnamon Bun Oreos. Interested? I will probably not try them, but don't let me discourage you.

Does reading about these cookies make you hungry? How about some yummy artisanal spam? Is your mouth watering yet? Sorry, but this is not the kind of spam you eat. It is a new trend in sending junk emails that get past email filters.

As I write this, I am listening to a couple of songs from Graham Nash's new album on youtube. In between songs (it is a live session), he is talking about the story behind one of his famous songs. He was walking with Joni Mitchell one day in LA, and they passed an antique store on the way back to her car. They went in and she saw a vase that she liked and bought. It was a 'great, drizzly Los Angeles mornings that sometimes happens'. They went back to her house and and Graham said, "Hey, why don't I light a fire and you put some flowers in that vase you just bought?" He then sat down and wrote Our House in about 90 minutes.

And yesterday, I looked back over an old article about songs that apparently don't mean what people thought. One of them was the Beatles tune Blackbird, which is actually about civil rights and black rights in the 60s. OK, I could see that. Sorry, I did not save the link.

We were sitting at home last night when I heard someone say 'carry on' on television. I asked MBH to send me an email with those words in the subject because I immediately had the idea for this comic. So, you can rest assured that this is not an old, dead idea I saw laying beside the road. This is fresh stuff.

How are you reading this blog? At home on your personal network? In a coffee shop on a public network? At work on the corporate network? Did you enter a password to connect? Is there a password on your computer? Are you on your phone and does it have a password? I just looked over the list of the 25 worst passwords. 'baseball', 'football', 'monkey' are among the losers. Check our the list and make sure you have moved beyond these. Luckily, I have.

I am in big-time pain, so waiting another 30 hours to get a root canal is going to seem like forever. Enough whining. Let's get Wednesday underway.

The Post-MLK Workweek Begins... Way Too Early

We spent the long weekend up in the mountains. As you can see, it was a little cool outside, but that made for great fun with the GRANDS. For today's shots, I got up early and went out to capture the resort without anyone in the pictures. You can see the sunrise just peeking behind the trees.

While they were playing, we did not sit in the swing and watch. Since the snow almost reaches the bottom of the swing, you can see that it was quite deep.

See that fence there on the left. It surrounds a small mini-golf course that we usually play. This trip, though, you cannot see anything of the fairways, greens or holes, so there was no way to play.

Here, you can see Hole #2, which usually tees off there right in front of the tree.

Today's devotional was about the belief of the Catholic Church that the Pope and priests should not marry. The author refutes that by quoting the places where it mentions that Peter's wife's mother was sick. Matthew 8:14 is one of those verses. The devotional author further notes that not only was Peter married, Timothy 4:1 also says that religious leaders should be the husband of one wife. I do think this would have at least limited the severity of the recent scandals involving Catholic priests.

I can never understand how someone like Einstein could come up with his Theory of Relativity. In fact, even reading the simplified explanation I just linked above, I couldn't understand it. So, when I came across an article claiming that "It’s possible that there is a 'mirror universe' where time moves backwards, say scientists," I had to look at it. Nope, could understand that, either. Did you?

Can you believe the recent spate of deaths of famous celebrities? Dan Haggerty, who played Grizzly Adams, was 74. Alan Rickman, the actor was played Severus Snape, was only 69. Glenn Frey of The Eagles was even younger at 67. And those are the most prominent so far in 2016. It leads me to question when I will retire. Sure, the longer we can wait, the higher our Social Security checks will be, and the more likely that your other retirement funds will last your lifetime. However, if you only live as long as these people did, you might not get to enjoy your golden years. What is your thinking on that? I had been thinking maybe wait until 68 or 69 or even 70, but now, I am not so sure. Maybe I should jump in at 66. I accept that no one knows when they will pass away, and if I live longer, my funds could be much tighter, but I do want to enjoy my retirement. I want to be in good enough mental and physical health to appreciate a retirement lifestyle. Well, I've still got a little time to decide.

I did see a story about Glenn Frey, who just passed away a couple of days ago. It was about how the Eagles were formed while a couple of the members, including Frey, were playing for Linda Ronstadt. Go read it. It is kind of cool.

I saw in more than one source a story that the richest 62 people in the world control more than half of the world's money. That is crazy talk, right? The report released by Oxfam, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty, states that the poorest 50% of the world's population is worth an estimated $1.76 trillion, which is also the estimated net worth of the richest 62 people in the world. Their report did not name names. Let me give you a hint. I am not one of them.

Both MBH and I need to go to the dentist fairly soon. I am having some serious pain around tooth #30. What? No, of course I don't remember about tooth numbers. I looked it up so I could write this paragraph. It is in the middle of my lower right, so that looks like #30. Anyway, it reminded me of when I went to a new doctor last year and saw an odd question on the New Patient Questionnaire. Yes, this was an actual question on the actual form. Nope, I didn't create the form.

And so, a new workweek begins. I hope it is a good one for both of us. I need to go call my dentist, so feel free to leave when you are ready.