Thoughtful Thursday

Follow the yellow leaf road

(The picture doesn't do justice to how the sunlight made this a golden path)

Philadelphia Freedom - Veteran's Day

Cool replica of the Liberty Bell at Philadelphia Airport.

Let Freedom Ring

Salute to Veteran's Day

It's a Darn Dish Towel

Oh yeah - this sweet old senior looks harmless.  But inside his heart is a design diva extraordinaire.
(By the way, he's no longer using the walker. He's graduated to the cane in just the week I was home. I shall take full credit)

Are you tired of Dad stories?  Too bad. Here's one.

So, I do laundry and include the kitchen towel that hangs on the oven door that is near the kitchen sink. (Don't question the kitchen design. Think cramped space).  Anyway, I say, "Let's change things up." And I go to the towel cupboard and select a totally different one that's tan and has a design. "There. That's spiffy."

Dad is sitting at the kitchen table. I go do something and come back.

"Well, I don't like that towel. It's muddy looking."

"Okay. What do you want?"

"Get a brown one."  I remove the "muddy" one and get a brown one.

"That's too dark. Get the lighter brown."  I go and there are a selection of "lighter" ones. I bring him three to choose from and he does.

I hang it. I think it's just like the one I put in the wash.

"Now, that's perfect."

"As long as you're happy, Dad."

He gives a satisfied smile.

Black Friday Boldness Coming Right Up

Now that Halloween is over, we can contemplate Thanksgiving and then the super crazy season.
The Dallas Morning News story title says it all "REI's gutsy Black Friday idea: We're Closed"

REI's quote is "You shop, we're going outdoors."

The outdoor merchandise and travel store is giving their employees the day off and paying them to go outdoors, use their gear, and have fun with their families or friends.

Wow and good for them.

I admit I enjoy shopping. However, the whole Christmas season shopping season has expanded into Thanksgiving Day itself and become insane. Frankly, for me I have a certain amount of money I plan to spend on a certain amount of people and there are plenty of shopping days before Christmas for me to spend that dough. I assume that holds true for most folks.

With online shopping, more and more people aren't even stepping into real box stores. It's all about sitting in your pajamas and clicking a screen. It's up to the USPS, UPS, or Fed-X to deliver. Talk about lazy genius.

So, I hope that the Seattle retailer spurs a trend. Let's backpedal from this huge push for Black Friday insanity. Let's reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving and enjoy our time with families and friends.

Let's get outdoors!   (A waddle around the block will do us good after our huge meals)

Stand up Straight

I am in PA again with my Dad. He had his back surgery two weeks ago and yesterday the staples were removed. Now the goal is to get moving. He needs to wean from the walker and use his cane. He needs to do his leg exercises.

And he needs to sit up straight, and stand up straight.

We all do.

That's a lesson I'm learning with my time with Dad and the physical therapy nurse. Posture helps a lot with your overall health.

We writers and readers spend far too much time hunched over our computers, laptops, or tablets. Make a conscious effort to straighten up. Be sure to stand and stretch every thirty minutes or so. Best to take a twenty minute walk a day, if you can.

Hey, it's Friday. You can slack off a bit - get outside and roam. Your future back and self will thank you.   Cheers everybody

Basement Step Blues

Crappy picture, but trust me these basement steps at my Dad's house are steep. The railing is "okay" and yet feels a tad precarious. The top fluorescent light takes forever to flick on (if it does at all), which adds to the bad horror movie atmosphere.

These are the steps down to the washer and dryer in the unfinished section of the basement. The finished section is total retro stuck-in-the 60s with panel walls, off color stick-on tiled floor, leftover saggy furniture, and a television with an antenna (I don't think it works). It's the land that time forgot and is musty.

The unfinished section has always creeped me out. The hulking furnace groans in the corner. Thousand leggers roam the concrete floors, and huge spiders could stroll by. One meager light bulb flickers overhead. Shadows are eerie and noises echo.

Something always creaks, crackles, or whistles. (and no, I don't mean my knees)

I managed to swallow fears and conquered laundry here in PA. (Once again up to help Dad - more stories to tell)

But the words, "Go to the basement" bring a chill down my spine.

How about you?

Movie Review - Bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies is an excellent film. It's a winning combination - director Stephen Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks. Both are at the top of their game in this Cold War telling of a story based on true events. It's 1957 and both the US and the Soviet Union have spies on both sides of the ocean. One man, Rudolph Abel, is caught in Brooklyn and tried for espionage. Tom Hanks, an insurance lawyer, is called upon to defend him. Ultimately, Hanks as Jim Donovan, seeks a fair trial for this man who's being railroaded toward the death penalty. The judge already has him convicted, as do American citizens.

Abel neither confirms nor denies his innocence or guilt. Acted with subtle grace by Mark Rylance, he appears to accept his fate and trusts Donovan. The two grow to respect each other. One point Donovan makes to the judge is that Abel could be used as a pawn if the Soviets catch an American spy. We'd have trade material.

Hmm. Meanwhile, we watch as Gary Powers and other pilots are trained for top secret flight missions over Russia to photograph locations. What happens to Gary's U2 spy plane? Is he broken in regards to giving US intel? Does Rudolph Abel ever break? Are they high stakes swap material? And is a poor US student caught up in the mess in Berlin as the Wall is erected.

Oh it's spy vs spy and cat and mouse game with deft negotiations by Donovan. Tension mounts and Bridge of Spies proves to be a thrilling political action film. Well filmed and acted, this is just the start of the fall movie season. Salute the standing man, and ask, "Do I need to be worried?"

Don't duck and cover - open your eyes and enjoy this film.