Posts

The Future

My company continues to ask me about the future. One day, a coworker said, “What’s the succession plan?” I had no idea what he was asking me. “Wanted to discuss the future,” he said. “I don’t have one,” I answered. And it’s a weird time because I don’t have any idea on what to do. There are days when I feel like I need to slow down. The next day, I feel like I can go on forever. But the company knows how old I am. They would also like to work with my clients somewhere down the road. “You can stay as long as you want, obviously, but when you have an idea on what you want to do can you give us some lead time?” “You’ll be the first to know,” I said. And I know that people retire so they can spend their time doing what they like to do, but there are certainly days when this is exactly what I like to do. There’s a social aspect to my job. I have a lot of good friends out there. Most of them know that I’m almost eligible to collect social security. “Can we get a few more years out of you?” O...

Disgusted Again

Joe Biden’s cancer has spread and is now in his bones. His son broke the news, and mentioned that the man is in for some serious pain. Someone thought it would be good to ask the pedophile pig what he thought. His response was vicious and vile, and called to mind that he is the most disgusting American human being to ever walk this land. As I read his words (I won’t ever listen to him say anything) I wondered what the evangelicals, who post photos of him next to Jesus, think about such words. Joe Biden is a good man. He lost a wife and a child. He served in the Congress for decades and wasn’t anything but a gentleman. When Graham died, Biden put out a statement to honor him. Lord knows that they weren’t on the same side of the political spectrum. And it’s insane that we have fallen so far so fast. George W. Bush was wildly criticized. So was Obama. They reached across the aisle knowing that being president was something they shared, and believing that they had a responsibility to show ...

Opening Day at the Palace

The $2 billion dollar palace is open in one of the poorest cities in the nation. Which sounds like a complaint, but it isn’t. The city is Bills crazy and of course, THIS IS THE YEAR. It was interesting to me that people flocked to the palace to watch practice, and get a look at the new digs, and of course, run to social media to complain about a shitload of things like the screens being too small, the food running out, an escalator that wasn’t working, and obstructed view seats. I spent some time there during the construction and thought the place was magnificent. I can’t see myself ever watching a football game there, but the Stones just released a great new record… …if Mick and Keith and Ronny come back, I’m there. And I don’t begrudge Bills fans as the old stadium was worn out and didn’t fit with the NFL’s adage of: “We want every nickel out of every pocket of everyone in the county.” People make the decision on how to spend their entertainment dollars. The tickets for the opener ar...

The Pepper Party

Once again, the Leone’s hosted the annual hot pepper party in North Collins. I didn’t have an idea for a pepper until late this week. We make Italian sausage from scratch. I was going simple. Stuff it with the sausage. What’s better than peppers and sausage? I made them Saturday morning knowing the result - it would be good, and I probably wouldn’t win because every year there are some very creative peppers. Doesn’t matter. It’s time to get together with family and friends, and eat a lot of peppers. I’m no longer good for 20 + peppers… …but I still can get to double figures, and I did, including 5 of my own. Chuck took home first place this year, and it was well deserved. He made a spicy Italian pepper that was light and delicious. Pops had another strong entry, and my niece Paige placed again. We sat around telling stories, laughing about some of the craziness through the years. We also paid tribute to those we lost along the way. The original pepper party was Jeff’s idea, and I don’t...

Leave Him Alone

It’s amazing to me that Anthony Fauci is suddenly the ‘bad guy’ for the MAGA world to focus on. They’re blaming the man for all of Covid, which is absolutely preposterous for those of us who can remember more than the last ten minutes. Fauci was brought into help, and he tried to, but the leader at the time was talking about drinking bleach and shooting ultraviolet lights up the ass. Masks were mandatory. The vaccine was fast-tracked… …all about those in charge. They even gave Fauci a medal! So, how did history twist it all into: Fauci and Tom Hanks and Bill Gates, and whoever the hell else they throw into the fantasy, developed Covid in a lab and dropped it in our laps so they could make a vaccine that they’d get rich off of. Fauci was pardoned because they knew they’d go after him, and of course, they did. Fauci didn’t bother to answer, and now they want to arrest him for contempt. He’s an 85-year old man who spent his life in service. Someday, check his accomplishments. There are al...

Bernie & Gloria

I stopped by 7/11 this morning and as I was pumping my gas and watching the amount I was paying to fill up approach $60… …I caught the store insignia and my memory kicked in. 1974. Over 50 years ago. Largo, Florida. Dad was doing a job there, and we were along for the ride. Six kids wreaking havoc in the sun. Mom and Dad went out, leaving us with a baby-sitting couple. Bernie was a laborer who worked for Dad. He had a booming laugh and he used that laugh a lot around us. His girl, Gloria was also very pleasant. After all these years we still talk about them, and perhaps it’s because they were a black couple. They were cooler than anyone else who’d sat with us! Back to 7/11. Bernie walked us down there and paid for what we wanted. I got 6 packs of baseball cards to get to the dollar gift headed my way. As a kid…I was 9…I was amazed by the generosity of the gift. Some 53 years later, I marvel at my ability to recall the gesture. We thanked Bernie all the way home, and told Mom and Dad al...

The Drop By

Saw a Threads post about how the writer missed the drop by. This is one of those back in my day posts, but of course, it caught my attention because at the big house on the hill the door was always open, and man, we got visitors! Grandpa was always there on a Saturday morning, and on the weekend, for the most part, there were neighbors and friends in the house, in the yard, or at the table. Doesn’t happen much these days. I’ve never seen the inside of the neighbor’s house. We’ve lived near them all for years and years. If one of them stopped by we’d wonder what the hell is wrong with them. Kinda’ miss those days, right? And I mentioned to an old former neighbor that someday people will once again that they need to hang out a little with other people. “The tide will turn,” I said. “I don’t think so,” the old neighbor said. “It’s something that will stay lost. People are too used to staring at a screen. Don’t see them ever making the effort.” One of us is dead wrong. I hope it’s him… …th...