Month: August 2024

My Playground

PODCAST

TO READ

I am too old to drink. I can’t play softball or shovel the snow. However, I can still type and that is what I do here. I have had a WordPress site since 2006 and lately I have been active. Totally I have posted over 240 posts and intend to post many more. I am over eighty and want to show that things can still be done in your senior years.

Here I try many new projects for me. I have a collection of books, magazines, podcasts and videos from my blogging adventure. As I become more comfortable with the platforms and software I attempt to try new things. This keeps my brain active and learning new things along the way. To me it is amazing what modern computing can do compared to when I started with a personal computer.

Back in 1994 I bought my first desktop computer from a co-worker that build computers as a sideline. I think I paid around $700 dollars for it. Those were the days of Windows 3.1, floppy discs and memory of under a megabyte. You spent more time waiting for the computer to compute than for you to actual work. I remember, “the blue screen of death.” This screen appearing meant you were in deep trouble. The internet was just an infant. The 32k modem and then the 64k modem. It is staggering how this tool has progressed in thirty years.

This is my playground! I spend many hours in my playground. If computers were not around, I would not have written any books. I just cannot visualize me sitting behind a manual typewriter and writing what I have written. I have a magazine section which is a collection of my blogging stories throughout the years. The buzzword these days is “podcast”, everyone has a podcast. On my blogs I now include and audio file for the ones that prefer listening instead of reading. It has become one of my most popular features. Many times, visitors download ten or twenty podcasts at a time.

I have also dabbled in video. But this has is too time consuming for me and the files are usually large. I am allowed 13g of storage space on WordPress and since I am on a fixed income, it would be hard to justify paying for additional storage.

In conclusion, this is my playground, and I am enjoying writing and sharing my stories, tales, experiences with the visitors and subscribers who have found my small speck of cyberspace.

Daily writing prompt
Why do you blog?
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Writing for Fun

I write for fun to express myself, share interests, and connect with like-minded individuals. Below are items I try to use in my blogging.

  1. Choose a Lighthearted Topic: I Write about something I enjoy. It could be hobbies, travel experiences, or even anecdotes from my daily life. I do not do politics on this site. There is way too much hate and anger in politics for this site.
  2. Use Visuals: I Include images, GIFs, or memes to add visual appeal. Visual content enhances the overall experience for the readers.
  3. Engage with Your Audience: I Encourage comments, ask questions, and interact with the readers. I could do better in this area.
  4. Experiment with Formats: Besides traditional blog posts, I try other formats like podcasts, videos or short stories. I attempt to keep things interesting.
  5. Share Personal Stories: I share events from life, spiritual experiences, and medical history.
  6. This is my playground, and I do not intend to make a dime.

Now I am attaching an audio podcast to my posts. The podcast page has become my most popular page. Many visitors download ten-fifteen podcasts at a time. Most are short and I have started to use my own voice instead of some AI voice from the internet.

My next project is to start an email campaign of my posts. If interested, send me an email at mail@tomt2.com

Thank you for stopping by and hope you come back again.

Daily writing prompt
What do you enjoy most about writing?
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Why have beards become so popular?
TomT2.0

Hello, this is TomT2.0. I have wondered why beards have become so popular. Therefore, I went to the local the AI for some comments. This is what AI came up with.

Ah, the great beard renaissance of the 21st century! Here’s why humanity has decided to embrace the facial fur with such fervor:

  • Masculine Identity: In an era where traditional masculine norms have been under scrutiny, beards have become a symbol of masculinity. It’s like men are saying, “I’m not just a guy; I’m a man with a beard that could house a small ecosystem.”
  • Cultural Trends and Media Influence: Remember when every TV show had at least one character with a beard so majestic it could be seen from space? Shows like “Duck Dynasty” or the rugged looks of actors like Tom Hardy have set the trend. If TV says beards are cool, well, who are we to argue with the small screen?
  • Perceived Health and Dominance: There’s a notion, backed by some studies, that beards make men look healthier, older, and more dominant. It’s like nature’s way of saying, “This guy might have survived a few more winters than you think.”
  • The Hipster Effect: Beards became a staple in hipster culture, symbolizing a rejection of mainstream grooming standards. If you’re going to be different, why not start with your face?
  • Historical Cycles: Beards go in and out of fashion like bell-bottom jeans. We’ve seen cycles where beards were all the rage, then vanished, only to return with a vengeance. It’s almost as if facial hair has its own sense of fashion timing.
  • Social media and Beard Envy: Platforms like Instagram have turned beard care into an art form. Men see these beards, think, “I could be that guy,” and thus, the beard trend spreads like wildfire.
  • Backlash to Grooming Norms: There’s a bit of rebellion in growing a beard. It’s like saying, “I refuse to conform to the clean-shaven corporate look.” It’s facial hair as a statement of individuality.
  • Scientific Reasons: Some studies suggest beards might have evolved as a signal in mate selection, indicating good genetics or health. Plus, there’s the theory that beards might have protected men’s faces in fights, making them more appealing to potential mates.
  • Economic and Lifestyle Changes: After economic downturns, there’s often a trend towards more rugged, ‘survivor’ looks. Beards fit into this narrative of resilience and toughness.

So, why are beards popular? It’s a mix of fashion, rebellion, science, and a dash of wanting to look like you could survive a zombie apocalypse. But remember, while beards might be in vogue now, give it time, and we might all be back to smooth faces, wondering what the fuss was about. Human trends, much like beards, are cyclical and often, delightfully unpredictable.

In conclusion, my blogging offers audio or reading, your decision. Have a nice day. Contact me at mail@tomt2.com.

How do you plan your goals?

Setting goals is a meaningful but achieving them can be challenging.

The way I plan for a goal all depends on what the goal is. I may lay awake at night planning and strategizing. I may develop a chart or a written plan. I may search for information on the project. It all depends on what the goal is.

Without a goal in mind, I cannot say how I would plan for the success of the goal.

Daily writing prompt
How do you plan your goals?
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Time After Life

Ah, peace, that elusive butterfly in the human garden of emotions. What brings peace to one might be the very thing that stirs another’s existential anxiety. Peace, it seems, is as personal as it is universal.

Many find peace within themselves. Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of inner calm.” Peace often comes from feeling connected, whether through family, friends, or a community. Others turn to the natural world that soothes the human spirit. A walk in the forest, the sound of waves. For some peace comes from aligning with a set of beliefs that promise a higher purpose or afterlife. One engaging in acts of kindness can bring peace for others. Engaging in or experiencing art can be deeply peaceful. Some find peace in understanding the world through technology or the vastness of knowledge available today. Others find peace in writing; the explosion of blogging proves that.

I can experience peace from the above items. However, about a year and a half ago, I had a near death experience. I was laying on the operating table and a medical assistant said, “Doctor his blood pressure is dropping fast.” I was feeling very bad, and I thought I just took my last breath. I do not know where I went, but I felt a peace I have never felt in all my life. PEACE, TOTAL PEACE! I cannot explain it, but the feeling was great. I believe I had a preview of time after death. When I came back that feeling of PEACE, TOTAL PEACE! disappeared and I have not felt it since.

In conclusion, I believe that I will not experience that feeling until the time after life.

Daily writing prompt
What brings you peace?
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A Two Letter Word

“Hello, this is TomT2.0, welcome to my podcast”. This is where I ramble on about anything. You can listen or read, whatever your preference. The prompt is “What is a word you feel that too many people use?”

“Uh”, is the word I feel is used way too often. Many, many times people use the word uh, between thoughts or paragraphs. This tells me that your brain is thinking of a response and the word uh is filling the silence. As if silence is bad. It is not too bad in a face-to-face conversation, but a public speaker saying the word uh many times is irritating.

Another phrase used too many times is “you know”. A comment is made, and the next phrase is “you know” How do they know that I know? I guess that is enough moaning and groaning for now.

If you want to receive notice when I post another blog, send me an email; at mail@tomt2.com or anything else you want to say to me. https://tomt2.com/

Daily writing prompt
What is a word you feel that too many people use?
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TomT2.0’s Shop

Good evening! The voice you hear is TomT2.0. The voice you hear is me. Not some AI voice I picked up from the internet. Dominic, a relative of mine. I am related to him somehow but, that is another story for later. He suggested that I use my own voice because it will add a personality to the podcast. Therefore, here I am. Email me at, mail@tomt2.com and let me know what you think.

All of my employment history is working for someone else. In 1987 after thirty years of working for someone else, I was laid off and had to learn how to look for a job at 46 years old. These were difficult times. Recently divorced and had two teenage sons to provide for. I almost started a small business then. I incorporated and thought I would continue a service that my former employer provided. Unfortunately, or fortunately my previous employer turned down the proposition and went another route. If I opened the business, I could have lost everything because the industry changed dramatically and the need for what I was going into disappeared five years later.

For a period, we would go to flea markets and sell anything available, and I was a distributor for an importer for oriental made items, I guess you would call them impulse items. I thought of getting a location and opening up a gift shop. However, having two teenage sons the financing was just not there. After four tough years I finally found a full-time job and retired in 2006.

Now that I am over eighty, I do not have a vision of opening a shop. This is my playground; this is my fun. My email address is mail@tomt2.com. Let me know what you think.

Daily writing prompt
If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?
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Life Support

Around a year and a half ago I experienced a near death event. I had a massive blood clot between my lungs, and I thought I took my last breath. I don’t know where I went but wherever I was I experienced something I have never experienced before in my life and that was peace, total peace. I believe this was a preview of time after death. I cannot explain what it felt like but, I must say it was great. Since then, I have not felt that way since.

My experience can be read at My Blood Clot Link.

Since that time, I have been on a blood thinner prescription. The medical team could never determine what caused my clot. I did not fit any item on their laundry list of reasons for my blood clot. Therefore, I was put on this medication and told to expect to take this pill every twelve hours. They told me to try to be consistent. If I start taking them at seven in the morning, then take one at seven in the evening. Getting in the habit of taking one when I get up and one when I go to bed is not consistent enough. Since it may vary by two to three hours. Also, they said if I forget one do not double up the dosage. This could cause internal bleeding. In other words, they gave me a good scare, be consistent or maybe pay the consequences.

Sure, I make sure that I take my keys, money, driver’s license, and all the other necessities. However, the most important thing for me is to carry one day’s dosage on me in case I am delayed somewhere. I think I can say, “I am on life support.” mail@tomt2.com

Daily writing prompt
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
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Streetcars in Denver  

This is really stretching my memory. I was somewhere under ten years old. The time was before 1950. Streetcars were stopped in 1950. However, I remember riding streetcars in Denver. Those yellow painted wooden streetcars that would lumber down the middle of the street and many times when going around the corner the electrical power source would disengage from the main line and the streetcar driver would be required to disembark from the streetcar, go to the back and move the power line to the overhead line so that the streetcar could move on.

We lived just east of the Barnum area near First Ave and Federal Blvd. In those days Barnum was the place that Barnum and Bailey Circus stayed during the winter months. That is how Barnum was named. I don’t ever remember when the circus was staying there. Maybe I just don’t know what I was looking at. I do remember sometimes a religious revival would be in the area and you could see the large canvas tent from the road. Maybe they rented the tent from the circus for the revival. I was under ten years old; I am lucky I remembered the canvas tents and revival. Recently, I heard that Barnum bought the land, but they never stayed there during the winter. 

I do remember going downtown with my mother on the streetcar. There was a route that went to the Barnum area from downtown Denver. This was before checkbooks and all the conveniences we have now. Once a month my mother would take the streetcar downtown to pay all the bills. They were paid in cash and a receipt was vitally important in those days. If you could not generate a receipt, you had no proof of payment.

We would catch the streetcar somewhere near Grove Street. This was the end of the line, and a large circle would be made, and the streetcar would start the return trip to downtown Denver. If I remember correctly it would go for a period on Grove and then follow the gulley near 14th Avenue to downtown Denver. For a period of time, I believe it went east on Colfax Avenue. The route ended at “The Loop”. This was near 15th or 16th and Blake St. Many of the routes ended up there and would then turn around and take the designated route they were assigned. At the Loop there was a flower shop, meat market and other ones I don’t remember.

We would start walking up 16th Street and stop at American Furniture to make a payment on the furniture. I don’t know whether Jake Jabs was involved in American Furniture at that time, or he came at a later date. Following that we stopped at Industrial Federal Savings to make the payment on the house. My parents had a house built in 1941 and paid $5400.00 for that house. It is hard to imagine paying that for a house knowing what the prices of a house are now. 

Next was Mountain Bell to pay for that new modern convenience the telephone. Everyone had a party line in those days. It was either two parties or four parties. We had a two-party line. At least with a two-party line we did not have to listen for different rings. How spoiled we are these days. 

Public Service was the next stop. Remember Reddy Kilowatt? There he was in the showroom, waiting to collect your money for the gas and lite bill. I remember this building at night. They had lights embedded in the outside walls and they would be on at night. Reddy Kilowatt was ready to sell you all the electricity you needed.

It was getting near lunch time and our mother would treat us to lunch at Woolworth’s at sixteenth and Champa St. That place would be jammed packed for lunch. Many times, we had to wait for a seat to eat. If we were really good, we would get a small bag of Cashew nuts to take home with us. To this day I still like Cashew nuts. Woolworth’s is gone. W.T. Grants and Neisner’s are gone. Denver Dry Goods Company has disappeared. Many names I grew up with have just disappeared.  

After lunch we would walk back to The Loop and get on that old wooden yellow painted streetcar and return to the Barnum area. What do I distinctly remember about the trips to downtown Denver on those slow lumbering noisy streetcars? I remember the bell. I can still hear the bell in my head.  Ding! Ding!

A Broken Branch

A couple of years ago our neighborhood had an early fall snowstorm. The leaves were still on the trees, and it was a wet heavy snow. Many branches were broken off the trees. My neighbor, Carolyn who lives across the street, had a branch break from her tree that was maybe three-four inches in diameter where it broke off the tree and maybe ten feet of branch with leaves. Carolyn is a widow for over eight years. She lives by herself and over eighty, maybe ninety.

I looked at the broken branch on her lawn for two or three days. I then decided to go over and offer to cut up the broken branch and throw it in her trash container. She was totally surprised and said she has called her daughter, and she was going to come over, but she did not know when she could come over. I said I could do it now and she agreed to allow me. It took less than an hour to cut up to the size so they could be put in her trash container. After completion Carolyn offered to pay me, and I said no. I was just being a good neighbor.

That is my story.

Daily writing prompt
Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.
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