Nature walk...

Enjoy nature? More than twenty years ago I got the audio book "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. What made the tape so good is that it was read by the author himself, with all the different enthusiasm and deflections in his voice.  It's an insightful and carefree adventure of walking the famed Appalachian trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. Light hearted and humorous the author relates his tale of adventure. The book now out of print can be bought used for less than five dollars,  and makes a good reading on a lazy summers day. Even if you're not a hiker, it's a good story about the historic trail. The A.T. runs right through Shenandoah National Park, as do hundreds of side trails most accessible via Skyline Drive. Myself... yes... I can honestly say I've walked part of the A.T. Okay, perhaps just a few hundred feet, nevertheless,  its a wonderful way to enjoy nature.

Protests for change...

Protests for change...

Small changes... right direction... but only a drop in the ocean. 

Prejudice and racism is predicated in every aspect of our society. Passed down generation to generation, from parent to child, by every ethnic group. Infused in television, movies, music, newspapers, news media, social media, books, stage, art, and historic events and monuments... in varying degrees it's everywhere. Add to this political and religious overtones pulling society apart and you have the perfect storm to perpetuate continued prejudice and racism. Crime and drug abuse also adds to social division. No law is going to change any of this. So what's the outlook? Small changes to a monstrous problem... overall the vast majority of things will never change. The only thing that will change is the false perception of change. Realist? or Pessimist? Each to their own thoughts and perceptions. I'd like to think things would be different. How did I reach this conclusion? All my lifetime (65+ years)... with the same fight to change things... things are no different and perhaps even worse. Realist!  But hopeful. Sadly... Even if its false hope.

DNA

Science is working to gain more insight into human DNA, and the many mysteries that it could tell us. Not only physical and health attributes, but even down to how our thoughts, feelings, and personality are influenced by genetic information passed down generation to generation. If your ancestors had a good peaceful life with good memories,  this is passed down. If they had a traumatic life, this too is passed down creating a life influenced by those genetic memories. Perhaps this explains why some have a peaceful life, easy going and happy, and others have in varying degrees a unsettled life where they are offended by anything symbolic from the past, a past that ancestors experienced.  This would certainly help explain many things happening today.  It would also explain why mentally and emotionally, these two conflicting personality traits can not understand each other.

Get-a-way

Here's what ya need to do. Road trip!

Get away to nature.  No news, no social media, no internet,  and mostly no cell service.  Go to the mountains. Pack some food, some snacks and some drinks. Take your camera. Relax and refresh your mind and soul. The solitude is absolutely perfect... just you and nature. Make a day of it. Let the mountain breeze blow all your worldly cares away. Enjoy the wildlife, the flowers, and the views. Treat yourself!

The beach

We stayed 3 1/2 years at the beach. Navarre Beach, Florida.  Thought I'd never get tired of it... But I guess I'm pretty much beached out.  No real desire to go to the beach... Any beach. But lots of great memories. Just another segment of the great life on the road,  full time rving.

REAL Crab Cakes

A word of two about crab cakes. Being raised in Maryland, we know crab cakes! True Maryland Crab cakes are 95% jumbo lump crab meat with only the slightest amount of filler (bread crumbs & mayonnaise) to hold it together. And perhaps a very small amount of parsley. Fried or broiled they are a delight to your very soul. Spices? ... yes, Old Bay Seasoning... Nothing else will do. Real Maryland crab cakes DO NOT contain anything else. To each his own, but green peppers, red peppers, celery, onion, carrots, and especially whole kernel corn... well, again, each to their own ( that's what you find in the South billed as Maryland crab cakes)... yuck! A little mustard on the side or lemon to taste. Outside of Maryland / Virginia area, you are 99.9% out of luck to find good crab cakes... even if they say "Maryland Style"... Don't you believe it. This is what real Maryland crab cakes look like... ahhh... yum.

Guns

First came the pandemic... gun sales explode.

Then came protests & violence... gun sales skyrocket again. Protest & violence spreads... ammo sales increase. Some states are advocating stoping gun & ammo sales... even more people buy more guns and more ammo.

Good news for now... crime rates drop. Go figure. Guess the criminals faced with gun owners is a deterrent especially when they're faced with death. Why death? Regular citizens with guns shoot to kill. No judging. What time does the gun store close?

It's true

It's true... 

This pretty much sums up my life. Youth, teen, adult, and especially second childhood as a senior. Developed and refined over years and years of experiences and changes in perspective.

Perspective

Perspective... You have yours,  I have mine. You share yours, I share mine, and we both walk away with a little wider perspective and understanding. It's a shame that this concept is lost on most people.  Common sense, common decency, and the ability to agree to disagree isn't fairing too well either. Too many people believe that everyone needs to conform to their way of thinking. No wonder everything is a mess.

Good morning

Good morning... Good weekend. Ahhh.... breakfast.

My new shirt...

My new medical screening shirt...

Any more questions? 

On the lighter side

On the lighter side... Thinking about Halloween. 
Too soon... I think not. 

2020

2020... The first 150 days ...

Only 215 more to go. 

Drama

Drama...