Taking on the next phase in life

This is what moving into retirement feels like...  After 43 years and 90 days, I'm working my last day at a regular job.  Really looking forward to focusing energy on some projects around the house that have been on my to-do list for many years or months.

Anyway, maybe I'll update this blog more frequently or just let this one age out.  Don't know just yet!

Onto the next phase...

2016 - Do people still do blogs or personal pages?

Just wondering if any private blogs or websites still exist?

With the general widespread use of Social Media like Facebook, Instragram, Twitter - do individuals even post updates?

I had forgotten I had this site until I logged into Twitter to test my memory of the password for the site - looks like I still remember!

So, happy 2016 - probably gonna forget about this site and wait another 6 years to post something, anything here.

See ya later!

Odd Rock and Roll Musical Instruments

I was thinking about this the other morning while listening to music during my morning workout. I've been a music fan for about 49 years I suppose. My Mom used to tell a story about me when we lived in Germany. I was maybe a year old. When I'd hear the old Telefunken radio playing, I'd run downstairs yelling "MockNow, MockNow!" (which was my pronunciation of music?) and sit down with my legs under the radio and listen. As long as I can remember I've listened to music and to this day I appreciate a really good musician, regardless of their style of music (although, I am loathe to call "rap" music).

Anyway, I was recalling all the instruments that seemed to come and go in popular rock songs. Some are still around, some seem to have lost favor or be out of style.

In no particular order:

• Mandolin (new)
• Accordion (Weird Al?)
• Cowbell ("more cowbell!")
• Saxophone
• Violin
• Piano
• Pedal Steel Guitar
• Organ
• Flute (Jethro Tull anyone?)

Seems like I thought of a few more when it was fresh on my mind. Now, not so many.

How many other are there out there? I may review some of my older library of songs to see if there are a few more to add to this list.

Are blogs relevant anymore?

Seems that with the popularity of social networking sites, the poor old blog has lost some of the appeal it once had?

I know I rarely post here these days and do much of my updates on the increasingly evil FB. I'm thinking about just pulling back completely and just writing letters :-) Recently one of my cousins sent a regular old fashioned letter to the house with an update for their travels, family and other items - in the US Post? What? How 1975 of them. But I can go pick up the letter again and read it when I want. No power is consumed. Completely green now that the printing is done, the letter posted and received, etc (even had a cool Christmas stamp, which made my wife check the post mark to be sure it had not gotten lost somehow).

How are you updating your friends and family? Email, phone calls, text messages, social networking?

Finally, an update on my goal to get healthier. The follow up doctor visit was excellent news. My higher than normal cholesterol and tri-somethings all went back to normal/good levels. This proved that in my case, exercise & eating can control them - no special TV ad drugs for me. I've lost about 55 pounds and am close to getting under 200 for the first time in about 20 years. Only down side is having to buy new clothes and that's no down side at all.

Until next time, I have nothing clever to say.