Sometimes I wonder where I am going with the new “freedom” in my life. My children are finally on their own, leaving my husband and I to play together and apart, depending upon our moods and which hunting season it is. I am pulling away from the necessity of being a “model” employee and actually …more

My parents seldom celebrated special events or holidays, and they hadn’t exchanged gifts in years. Dad had long since given up buying anything for Mom, who was as difficult to please as he was easy. But Mom and Dad received copious gifts after moving to Portland to be near us in their so-called golden years …more

(random thoughts from a guy who has nothing better to do) I’m so-o-o tired of those treacly reminiscences by people telling me what they would do if they had their lives to live over again. “I’d love more, I’d see more sunsets, I’d send more birthday cards, I’d smile more, yada, yada, yada.” As far …more

Here in the retirement home we’re all experienced coffee drinkers. We’ve been drinking coffee since World War II when you couldn’t get coffee at all. Some of us were drinking coffee before the war. We know every coffee story that’s gone around in the past 50 years and we’ve tasted every coffee blend that’s been …more

In a casual conversation with a friend recently I happened to use the word, pedantic. Almost immediately, my friend remarked, “Whoo, whoo, whoo. Listen to the big words.” (I guess it was meant to be some sort of a not-so-subtle put-down.) I replied, “Are you accusing me of being a sesquipedalian?” * Hell, I know …more

When you exercise regularly, it is very easy to get into a rut. Experts say that it is important to vary your workouts to keep them interesting and challenge different muscles. In an effort to spice up the fitness class line up at the Wellness Center, they were piloting a new type of Pilates class. …more

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As all true Brits know, it is impossible to get a decent cup of tea abroad. Many have tried over the years, and failed miserably. Tea is the true Brit’s favorite beverage, closely followed by a large gin and tonic, and is one of the reasons that expat life fails miserably for some people. No …more

(Oops, too late) Now that I’m retired with a lot more time on my hands, I find myself wondering about stuff that I ignored before – probably because I was too busy or concerned with other things. I love to read signs. Here’s an example. I saw a sign over the photo counter at a …more