Turning 66

I still consider myself as being young because i don't: *wear blue jean shorts *wear white leather walking gym shoes *drive a golf cart around my neighborhood *pull my pants up to my chest *have the shakes *drive at a snails pace on the road *collect social security *cut my lawn 3x a week *go on cruises *drink tea *play bingo *wear house slippers *wear a robe *power walk at the mall *eat jello for dessert *carry hard candy in my pocket *write checks at the grocery *do crossword puzzles *wear pajama sets *send holiday letters *consider myself old Have I convinced anyone that 66 is not as bad as everyone thinks? Have a good day

New Times

As I stumble into 2021, still dodging the people that refuse to wear a mask or the ones that wear them so low you could groom their nose hair, I really miss seeing my kids and grandkids on a regular basis. I want to try to camp and kayak a lot more this year. I want to ride my bicycle, sell my Harley and try to increase my exercise. I want to eat better and lose some of the 80 excess pounds that I carry around on my arthritic Knees. I want to get vaccinated for Covid-19. I want to continue to work , which makes all the things I want to improve on nearly impossible. I want to start writing on here daily just to sharpen my focus and keep my eyes looking forward to make an effort to achieve some of these things. Getting older sucks from a physical point of view , but I'm still the guy that likes to dream a little See you the next time- man I like it how the sun will be out for the next week Later

A Cloud of Evil

I work locally in an area of town where you can feel an evil spirit in the air. Not a day goes by that you hear gunfire, some close ,some distant. In the 3 months I've been here, there have been killings and body dumps all within walking distance. I work in construction, and build beautiful commercial buildings. There is no value for life in this area. Drugs and weapons are out of control. Prostitution is in your face. I rarely see a policeman except the 2 times he came on the construction site looking for a fugitive or a body dump. This is the norm for this area. A heaviness hangs in the air. I try not to make eye contact with the locals and usually hold my breath when they pass. Alcohol, drugs and disease accompanies them. Evil lurks here. Its starting to affect me. I am more negative than I usually am. (I know that's hard to believe).My energy is sapped. None of the locals work. they panhandle , beg, and steal all day long. The 3rd set of emergency vehicles just passed me since I started writing this. This spiritual climate eventually challenges your spirit. With only 4 years to go until retirement, every year gets harder. Thank God for kids and grandkids. They always lift my spirit. I try to think of ways to help make this a better place. I better just stick to the business end and get out of these surroundings asap. I will surround myself with family and friends to escape this cloud of evil that hovers over me every day. Sorry for the downer, but I feel better Later Steg

Total Panic

Yesterday morning during a routine gag session due to my week long cold, I decided to be seen. Since I was working way up in Westchester, I went to a Kroger Little Clinic and got antibiotics and pills for my cough. Went back to the job at lunch time and relaxed in my truck after eating my brown bag sandwich. I figured this was as good a time as any to take my antibiotic,and why not try out these cough pills. I popped one in my mouth and reached for my glass of water that I promptly spilled. I fumbled around looking for my water jug, keeping the pill stored under my tongue for good safekeeping. Found the water, quickly poured another glass, and my phone rang. It was my safety director so I promptly answered and said hold on a minute while I take my pill. I grabbed the water, took a big swig and started choking, the water went down wrong so I couldn't stop coughing, gagging trying to catch my breath while that stupid little pill stayed under my tongue the whole time. I finally took another drink and while swallowing the pill, it burst before I got it down. It burned a little and I started choking again so with my safety director yelling into her end of the phone are you all right, my tongue started swelling. I hung up the phone , scrambled to find the pill bottle and in big bold letters it read DO NOT CHEW OR CRUSH. I started to freak out because I could no longer talk or swallow. I drove 3 buildings south to the hospital, snorting and gagging tring to breathe throgh my mouth. I pulled in the emergency ot and screeched to aa halt running into the emergency room holding my throat and waving the pill bottle. The nurse working admitting ran to get the doctors. It seemed like everything was in slow motion. I remember looking directly into the eyes of 2 other patients and the were lokking at me terrified like i was going to puke on them or something. I just wanted to swallow. My tongue started loosening a little and I realized I had snot all over my face where I was struggling to breathe out of my nose. While I tried to clean my face, 2 doctors helped me to and emergency room where all of a sudden my tongue started returning to normal fairly quickly. The doctor looked relieved and just stood there watching me saying how about now. After 15 minutes of monitoring me, and explaining to me that I shouldn't chew the pills, he closed the curtain and said he wanted to observe me for another 1/2 hour. Meanwhile, my sister who works there had 2 of her friends from finance and administration visit me since she was off that day. I talkede to her friends deassuring them that all was ok. When the last gal left the room, she left the curtain partly open. I noticed people from the nurse's ststion lookin in on me and overheard somebody say he must be a celebrity since I was getting the royal treatment, Wow, were they disappointed. After I was dismissed and I threw open the curtain, they see me in my grubby construction clothes and boots. I just smiled and left. I have never experienced that sort of panic, and for the record doc, I didn't chew the pill. Point taken, slow down and enjoy life. Don't let it pass you bye. Now I need to eat lunch and get ready for the grandkids.Sorry to bore you nwith this, but I want to come back someday and read this again. Blessings Steg .

6 Weeks In

I am feeling like the ultimate zombie lately. I am nearing the end of a job and am working an average of 11-13 hours a day. My new ways for the year are in a holding pattern. I'm digging my way out of the rut I put myself in. Family-what family? Not enough hours in a day now , but change is coming. Hang with me Stegfam-I'll be back. I promise.

Week 1 of 2013

I have worked 3 straight days since the first of January and averaged 10 hours a day and I'll be working Sat and Sun at least a half day each. I hope this is an isolated week. This always happens when I take a couple days off. I got good reviews from my bosses so I guess it was a good week workwise. Fam wise another fail. Next week will be different. It's 8pm and I will be lucky to make it another hour. It's heck to get old. Blessings Steg

2013 The last post was exactly 1 year ago. I posted a list of want to's and I want to weigh in on each . 1.See my children more I give myself a fail on this statement. I got self absorbed in my work. At my age , it seems like I had to prove myself all over again and got so caught up that I ignored everyone around me. As Lor said "Self centered" 2. See my grandkids more Another fail.See above 3. See my wife more-more vacation Another major Fail.In the past 4 years, I've had 7 days of vacation with Lori. We both are guilty of getting caught up in the job game, trying to get ready for retirement. 4. read more FAIL-haven't read a thing other than work notes 5. Volunteer more I would give myself a D. Only involvement in this area is Alpha, SOS and this past Christmas downtown feeding the poor. 6.work out more and eat less Fail-too tired from work and fast food bingeing Seeing this really makes me think how I've basically wasted a year of my life. At my age , time becomes even more precious. I vow not to shut out the people I love and get caught up in the job game. I am going to try to keep my focus by posting a short something daily on here to try to maintain my focus on what my purpose in life really is. It's time to focus on health and family instead of the "job".