The Saturday Morning Post - 50 States in 52 Weeks - Utah

Utah is in the far west, between Colorado and Nevada, north of Arizona, south of Wyoming and Idaho. I have been there a couple of times, changing planes in Salt Lake City, and drove through a corner of it on one of my adventures. There are high mountains around Salt Lake City. I flew out of there on a small jet, we had to circle inside the mountains to gain altitude to head to Montana.  

It is most famous for mountains, mormons and the Great Salt Lake (that is in danger of drying up in our lifetimes.) There are high desert plains, and high mountain peaks. 

I would like to go back and see the four corners region in the southeast of the state where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico come together, maybe stand in all four states at once. And ride the Durango to Silverton railroad. 

It is a state I have spent little time in, but I have been there. 
 

Frightful Friday - Happy Halloween

This belongs in Doc Spo's Office 

Every tree should have flashing purple eyes.

Fear not the dead, the ghosts of the past, it is the living who are most likely to harm you. 

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin to Appear. 

Halloween for Adults who indulge. 

 

The Thursday Ramble: Aimless ramble about life

I was listening to a friend the other morning, waiting for water aerobics to start.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with a stage four cancer, was treated with surgery and chemical warfare and was one of the small percentage of survivors. He said it changed his outlook on life. He no longer worries about things, something is going to kill you in the end, no matter what you do or don't do today, the thing that gets you is probably not something you spent a lifetime worrying about. So why worry? He is a decade or so older than I am, and lives each day as a bonus. So why is he doing water aerobics, because he enjoys it, and it helps him stay fast enough to keep up with his grandkids. 

My health insurance provider keeps bugging me to remember to take screening tests. Calls, texts, emails, and direct mail. They want me to worry and obsess about the 101 little things that might be the end of my life. I really wish they would stop.  I have stopped the phone calls, after about the third time of insisting that they stop calling me.  I am an adult, in consultation with my doctor, I have made informed choices about what I will do and won't do. That should be enough. 

When I was growing up, one of my father's flying buddies was a Doctor, a pretty good one. One Sunday morning at the airport he was in a foul mood, he finally let loose with what he was thinking, "these people who think they are going to live forever - bug me!" He had spent much of the night, at the insistence of family members, extending the dying of a patient. Interestingly, Doc died of a massive heart attack, driving a boat around the lake behind his house. He went out the way he wanted to - fast.   

Life has many ups and downs, but in the end, it all ends the same way. Have a lot of fun along the way. 

 

My World of Wonders - aka The Wednesday Ws - Closing out October 2025

What is the Photo? Someone asked to see the arts "Showcase." We ended up with a full house again, the items are numbered with a poster explaining each item, and who loaned it for display. The showcase is just outside the entrance to the community bar and restaurant. (Technically it is open to the public, but security won't let you in the front gate unless you live here or are invited by someone who lives here.)

Where have I been this week? The Community Center for four different arts committee meetings, the pool, the farmers market, a long walk in a shopping plaza, a long walk in old town Alexandria, a walk around the local neighborhood, National Harbor in Maryland, Crystal City in an unsuccessful attempt to spot Blobby running the Marine Corps Marathon. About 35,000 runners started the race, I missed him. Mt. Vernon for a walk. 

Who have I talked with this week?  It was an arts heavy week, Pratibha, Linda, Joan, Rebecca, Amy, Kevin, Ruth, Dian, Gail, Guido, and John.  I talked on the phone to Doc Spo. My Sweet Bear, lest anyone think he is not talking to me. Doug Braeburn, the CEO of Mt. Vernon - he was in the shop when I was finishing up my walk. 

What did I read this week? I finished two books, "In Praise of Idleness" was written between WWI and WWII and talks about economics and political theories, a shocking amount of what he talked about applies 90 years later. The second book was "How Do You Feel?, by Jessi Gold, MD, MS, a psychiatrist. She explores mental health among health care providers and medical students, during COVID.  It is informative and intriguing, but repetitive. Each chapter follows either her personal story or the story of a composite patient, through over a period of time. The format of each chapter being an update on the case, gets a little circular. I understand why it is written this way, she is a researcher by training, but for the non-medical reader it fails to bring each life story to a conclusion. Time to dig some light reading out of the stack and head to the library. 

Who deserves a nice scratch behind the ears this week?  The cutest Golden Retriever in the DC area, he was watching the Marine Corps Marathon, mostly sitting or lying quietly for almost 2-hours, never saying a word despite thousands of people around and running past. I could tell what he really wanted to do was run along, Good Boy! 

What is the blog quote of the week? 

"I also realized that maybe the most rebellious thing I can do to fight against this fury-driven fascist government of hate, is to continue to be kind; continue to help others in need; continue to be caring, compassionate, and sympathetic; continue to do what good I can, whenever I can, to whomever I can."

What made me cringe this week? Hearing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the first time in a retail store.  

Travel Tuesday: Jamestown Glassworks since 1608

I am fascinated by glass making and glass blowing, taking simple ingredients and lots and lots of heat to make something stable and beautiful. Glassmaking at Jamestown Virginia dates back to 1608.  I visited the glassworks in the 1970's with my grandmother, I was delighted to see that the glassworks had expanded and was still in operation. 

Moody Monday: Turning The Page

I will finish the year having read probably about 80 books, fewer than last year, more than my goal.  Most of them were good, a handful really great reads. Some real page turners.   

I am rapidly approaching two years in retirement. I continue to feel changes in my life as a result.  I am active and engaged, spending time doing things I enjoy, and being of service to my community and my profession.  At times the calendar is a little to full - it interferes with my desire to take a nap. Increasingly I feel the urge to turn the page on issues that filled my days in the past.  

I recall when I was working, wishing that the older generation would step aside and let new voices - new ideas be heard. I am hoping that I am doing that, I certainly feel the desire to do so. 

There are several places where I read obituaries, our community newsletter, the Bar journal, my original hometown newspaper. I always look at the age that people died at.  And think about my age, and if I live as long as they did, how many years do I have left to enjoy life - to turn the pages - to write entirely new pages, before the book of my life is blowing in the wind.  If the next decade flies by as fast as the last decade did, it will pass in the blink of an eye.  The time to turn the page and enjoy the adventure is now.  

Sunday Five: Turkeys

1: When was the last time you saw live turkeys (feathered or political)? 

2: Would you roast, or deep fry a turkey? 

3: Should stuffing or dressing be cooked inside or outside of the bird? 

4: Do you detest turkey? 

5: Canberrys from a can, or cooked from fresh? 

My Answers:

1: When was the last time you saw live turkeys (feathered or political)? This pair is out at Mt. Vernon, I check on them everytime I go there for a stroll. 

2: Would you roast, or deep fry a turkey? Roast. 

3: Should stuffing or dressing be cooked inside or outside of the bird? I have changed on this, outside of the bird. The bird cooks better, and the stuffing/dressing is just as good. 

4: Do you detest turkey? I rather like it. 

5: Cranberries from a can, or cooked from fresh? Cooked from fresh, let me know if you need tips on how to cook cranberries.  

Please share your answers in the comments.