dailyprompt

Amazing News?

I guess this all depends on a person’s definition of amazing, fantastic news. My definition is some news that affects the entire world not just my small piece of the world. For example, the fall of the Berlin Wall to me was fantastic news. Since I was born during WWII. Communism was a great threat while growing up. I had to spend two years in the army in Germany because of the Iron Curtain. In 1975 I took a trip and crossed the Iron Curtain from Budapest to Vienna Austria. The border was very depressing, 100 yards of defoliated land and machine gun towers 100 yards apart along the border. Fifty miles from the border the tour guide got off the bus. We asked why, she replied, “I am not allowed to get any closer to the border.” We have many freedoms we just take for granted. The Iron Curtain was to keep people in, not stopping people from immigrating in. The Apollo moon landing and return was fantastic news also.

On a closer note, I cannot think of something that was amazingly fantastic. A year ago, I thought I took my last breath. When I awoke from passing out and heard that the survival rate was three to five percent for this kind of procedure, I thought that was great and thanked the Lord for giving me a second chance. I had a good feeling but that is all I could do because I had to stay flat on my back for three days. So, I couldn’t get up start dancing and celebrate. The medical personnel acted like just another day saving lives. Link

I have not experienced a loved one near me survive a serious illness or accident and then survived. I do not know how I would react. I don’t play the lottery so I will never experience winning millions. I kind of doubt that I will ever experience a “great, amazingly fantastic news event”! Time will tell.

Daily writing prompt

You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?

View all responses

My Interests Have Changed

Throughout my many years I have had many interests. In my teenage years, cars and hotrods captivated my interest. After I got my driver’s license, I bought a 1940 Ford two door sedan. It was a refugee from the junk yard. I paid $125.00 for it. My dream was to make it a car show item. I didn’t have a garage and spent many hours in the back yard sanding, cleaning up and learning about engine repair and modifications. This was before all of these emission requirements, and they were not as sophisticated as they are today. I quickly learned that those hot rod items were expensive, and my budget did not have room for those expenses. A couple of years after high school this hobby was over.

After I got married, we bought a home where the basement was partially finished. This was my next interest, to upgrade the basement. Hanging drywall and paneling was one of the jobs. Putting drywall on a ceiling is a task you never forget. Everyone wanted a bar, so I had to have a bar. All of these projects were a learning experience. you learn to appreciate craftsmen that do this for a living. You could easily see that my projects were done by a “do it yourselfer”.

The most recent hobby I had was building birdhouses. We moved into a new home for us in 2016. This new home had a workshop and I started building birdhouses. One had to put this new workshop to use, right? I built many birdhouses. I gave birdhouses to neighbors. I sold birdhouses in garage sales. But after a while I had an overabundance of birdhouses. I finally thought enough is enough. In the end I gave the remaining birdhouses to a thrift store.

There have been other interests and hobbies that I enjoyed. Fishing, hunting, RV’s, computer repairs and others. As I aged and matured my interests have changed. The longest interest I have retained is writing. Computers and the internet have helped this interest. I remember that you had to retype many manuscripts before you had an acceptable piece. I have had this site since 2009. It was a little dormant for a period. Now, “I’m Back.”

My first post

Daily writing prompt

Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?

View all responses

M&M’s

I am addicted to M&M’S dark chocolate. I am not ashamed of it. I have been eating them since the announcement of the dark chocolate type. I still remember the saying, “M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your hand!” I think M&M’s originated in World War II. The fighting forces liked their chocolate, and the M&M was created to fulfill that desire and solved the chocolate melting problem.

The Most Popular Candy in 16 Countries

according to this link The US: M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

I get the family size package size, and gobble down approximately one a week.

After writing this post I must go grab a handful of M&M’s MMMMMM Good

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite candy?

View all responses

Time for Spring

I have king sized cabin fever! I am sick and tired of the cold days. I am tired of the funny winter hats. My hands are always cold. I miss sitting out on the porch enjoying the sunshine.

I received a battery-operated hand warmer last Christmas. The name on it is Zippo. I am sure many vets remember the name Zippo. In my military days everyone had a Zippo lighter. I guess the sales of lighters these days are not that high, so they had to diversify. The hand warmer is nice though. Rechargeable and you can plug into your smartphone and use it in case your smartphone battery dies.

Denver Metro had a record-breaking snowfall recently and that did not help at all. I did not go out of the home for three days and that does not help cabin fever one bit.

The older I become the more I cannot tolerate cold winter months. If I was twenty years younger, I may consider moving to a warmer winter month state. However, I am sure family would convince us to not even consider it. I guess all that leaves is to moan and groan about the cold months.

I need a break!

Daily writing prompt

Do you need a break? From what?

View all responses

Computers and Internet

The most important invention to me is the computer and the internet. I couldn’t do today what I am doing now. It is hard to imagine the world without modern day computer technology.

I wrote this blog on November 6th. How many computers do you have? This blog pretty much covers everything I need to write about my love for computers.

Daily writing prompt

The most important invention in your lifetime is…

View all responses

It Will Not Happen in My Life

WARNING! THIS IS A DOWNER POST!

I have a lot of tough requirements for me to have an ideal day. They are way beyond of what I have very little control over. But I can dream and pray that they will come about someday. Below is my list of requirements.

Recently powerful countries have hinted they may resort to using nuclear weapons. I was raised in the era where “duck and cover” was taught in the schools. Here I was maybe one or two years in elementary school, and they were teaching us in case there is nuclear event on how to improve our chances of survival. This was very scary. Something you never forget. Remember the phrase? “Mutual Assured Destruction” It appears that world powers have not learned a thing. Here we are close to the possibility of destroying the world again.
The world is on fire. Russia attacks Ukraine for reasons I don’t understand. How long will the conflict continue? Hammas attacks Israel. The conflict has spread to other parts of the Middle East. Houthis have attacked international shipping in the Red Sea. Three American soldiers have been killed in Jordan. United States has retaliated with bombing and destruction. Is this conflict growing.
Locally, the southern border is wide open, and millions have crossed. I have ancestors who immigrated to America. That was in the era of Ellis Island. It was organized and documentation was required. Many were sent back to their countries for medical or health and documentation flaws. Why can they now just walk across the border with very little information? What happened to the immigration laws and requirements?
Crime is rampant. Every day on the news you see and hear about car thefts, shootings and murders. Snatch and grab is new terminology that I have never heard before. What has happened to fear and respect for the laws? Homeless camps are springing up everywhere. Large cities are spending millions providing housing, food and medicine for the homeless. The cities with great histories have become filthy and dangerous. Many stores and companies are closing and moving out. They are slowly dying on the vine.
I have never seen so much hate and anger in the political arena. Very seldom do you hear the platform on issues and problems. All you see and hear is personal attacks on their opponent. Both parties are basically corrupt. They use any old law they can find to indict or impeach their opponent. This is the nastiest election I ever remember, and we are still 8-9 months away from the election.

These are just five items of concern for me that should be fixed before I have an ideal day. Have I lost faith in this country? No! But there is a lot of hard work and time to fix these problems.

Daily writing prompt

Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.

View all responses

Happenings Plus Time Equals Your Life

I have many years to go back and review events that have been in my life and see if they changed anything about me. I have had medical issues, accidents, romance, spiritual issues, and a near death event. I am near journeys end. It may be soon or ten years from now. Only time will tell.

There have been many events in my life that I have published here already. Below are links to the events if you are interested in.

My Blood Clot A Strange Tale Memories of Faith Touched by God A Journey of Faith

The above and other events have changed my perspective. That leaves the passage of time. I am different now in relation to my younger years. I feel I am smarter and wiser than years gone by. Many times, you may have heard, “What is the purpose of life?” My feeling is you are put on this earth to learn and experience events. From birth to death, you learn from whomever you encounter and events in your life. I firmly believe that death on this earth is not the end of your journey.

Daily writing prompt

How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

View all responses

I Avoid the Kitchen

This was Friday’s prompt, and I had a senior moment and failed to publish it. So, here it is!

As you can see from the title the kitchen is not one of my favorite places. I try not to cook. I never learned how to cook. I was raised with a mother and grandmother who did all the cooking. My mother was a homemaker and did not work outside of the home. My grandmother was with us until she passed on when I was fifteen. I don’t remember if my mother offered to show me how to cook or I did not have any interest. Also, grandma needed something to do, and she helped mom cook. The era I grew up the mother and the father had specific duties. The father worked and brought home the bacon. The mother was the home keeper and raised the children. The most I remember about my dad was him coming from work and sitting in the living room reading the daily newspaper and waiting until dinner was ready. After supper he would continue reading the paper or magazines until bedtime.

I lived at home until I was drafted into the army. No cooking lessons there. Unless you want to say peeling potatoes and cleaning pots and pans is a cooking lesson. Meals and food were provided by the army. After my tour was over, I returned home.

I lived with my parents until I married. I married a woman that was some years younger than me. she just graduated from beautician school and didn’t have a job. She needed something to do so she started doing the cooking and worked for a temp service. Pregnancy came soon after marriage vows. This marriage lasted about ten years.

You are what you are exposed to. I grew up in the atmosphere where the husband works, and the wife is the homemaker and child raiser with very little crossing of these duties. I think this was part of the problem in the marriage. During that time, I didn’t see it, but, as I age, I am seeing things differently.

Here I am divorced, living in an apartment by myself with very little cooking skills to my name. Me and millions of others are the reason fast food, frozen dinners, microwaves are so popular. Who wants to come home from work dead tired and cook something so you can eat alone. Those years were the hardest years in my life.

I then met a great woman who was willing to take on the challenge of me. We have been together for over forty years and was married in 1995. My cooking skills are still very limited, but I am willing to cross over the line and help. I also clean up after a meal and put the dishes in the dishwasher and other duties around the kitchen.

In conclusion, the kitchen is not my favorite room. There are times when I wish I would have learned more about the kitchen and cooking.

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite thing to cook?

View all responses

Cleaning Out Files

Yes, I have files and paperwork over sixty years old. Why do I keep this stuff? I have tax returns back to 1995. Isn’t the statute of limitations five or seven years? I have cancelled checks and bank statements back to 1977. Files on previously own cars. Who cares when the oil was changed on my 1973 Vega Chevrolet. I have about two drawers full of credit card statements and purchase receipts. Many of the credit cards have been closed long ago. I could go on and on with examples of more than likely useless files.

I also have files on homes I previously owned. I am hesitant to get rid of them. For example, some years ago I received a letter from a utility company saying that I owed back money because the renter stopped paying. These bills were after the time the house was sold. I had to verify that I sold the house before the bills were dated. I am glad that I never destroyed that information.

Files and records are a necessary evil. The hard part is to decide what should be kept and what is unnecessary to save. Paperless records have helped since saving an electronic statement is much easier than filing a paper document. Seven years ago, when we moved into our new home, I had the ambition to clean out my file cabinets. How boring! That did not last long, maybe two hours. Yes, it is on my list of things to do, but I kind of doubt if it will ever happen. My family can do that after I leave.

Daily writing prompt

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

View all responses

Vintage computer

A long long time ago, 1994 to be exact. I purchased my first computer. It was purchased from a fellow worker who built computers from scratch. If memory is correct, I spent $700 for this computer. We are so spoiled these days comparing this computer back in 1994. The most time spent was waiting for the computer to compute.

Windows 3.1 was the operating system. The transfer system was a floppy disc. The capacity was under 500 kilobits. This was before CD disc drives. New programs came on a collection of floppy discs, 2, 3, maybe 4 or 5. During those days everyone shared programs. Copyright license laws were useless. “Hey Joe, I got this new program want a copy?” It had 2 megabytes of RAM. Gigabyte memories were not even thought of. The hard drive was way below 1000 megabytes. No such thing as USB or thumb drives. Oh, how spoiled we have become.

You have a computer, so you need a printer to be complete. A printer is added. More memory is used for the printer. the computer becomes slower. Oh, I am getting into the computing thing, a flatbed scanner is needed. More memory is needed. The computer becomes slower. Somewhere in that era combination printers/scanners start showing up.

To be a computer guru you need a modem to get online. 32k modems were the thing and the big event was when the new revolutionary 64k modem came out. Phone line connection only, no Wi Fi at this time. you get online and wait, wait and wait some more. Oh, all this took more memory, and your computer became slower and slower.

If I remember correctly, I kept this computer until after Y2K. Most equipment did not have facilities to handle anything beyond 1999. I forget how this problem was solved. But I do remember it created a lot of panic. Since my first computer I have lost track of how many computers I have purchased in the last 30 years. I am sure it has been over ten. Most have been Dell or HP. A relative had an Acer and all they had was problems. I favor Dell over HP. Never had an Apple so I can’t say much about them. These days you have tablets, iPad, smartphones, smart tv’s and others I can’t think of now. I can speculate that someday the desktop or tower computers will be discontinued because of the declining sales for these items.

On my first computer back in 1994 there was a financial program called Quicken. I became accustomed to using it and still use it today. Naturally it has been updated and revised many times, but I still enjoy and rely on it. I have been through hard drive crashes, virus attacks, incompatible hardware, software and running out of memory. It has been a fun and enjoyable trip through the land of computers.

Daily writing prompt

Write about your first computer.

View all responses

Heights

I hate heights. Always have and probably will for the rest of my life. I don’t know why. It is just some phobia I have. I can climb a ladder and roam around on a single-story roof, but anything higher than that I begin to get nervous and the higher it goes the more nervous I get even to the state of panic. Oh, I can fly in a passenger jet or go in high skyscraper buildings. I have been to the top of the pre-9-11 World Trade Center and the Empire State Building and felt a little uncomfortable but no more. It is just that vision of being on the edge and viewing the ground way down there with no fence or railing to stop me. However, I could not even go up the Space Needle in Seattle. I stayed on the ground.

When I was young, I had dreams of falling off a high spot or being pushed. I always woke up before I ever hit the ground. Someone said to me when I was young that if I ever hit the ground in my dreams I would have died. I don’t know if that is a fact or not. I wonder if that is a reason. Maybe in a previous life I fell off or was pushed. I am afraid of heights even today. The only consolation I have is that many people have the same fear of heights I have.

I would never make a paratrooper. Who would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?

Bloganuary writing prompt

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

View all responses

Complaints, Complaints, Complaints

What is happening to this world? Across the world you see unrest with massive demonstrations, violence, armed conflicts with many deaths. Russia and Ukraine are in a war. Gaza and Israel conflict goes on. China is threatening Taiwan. Three US soldiers are killed in Jordan. Farmers in Scandinavia and Paris are having massive demonstrations.

On a local level. The actual number is not actually known, but millions of people have come across the border. This is putting a tremendous burden on the health system and social services. In large cities crime is rising. You see videos of smash and grabs where large swarms of people just go in and grab anything they want. Homeless camps are springing up everywhere. Fentanyl deaths in the past years are scary.

Inflation is alive and well. For example, I recently purchased a large package of toilet paper, and the cost was twenty-two dollars. Six months ago, the cost was eighteen dollars. That is an over twenty percent increase. My property taxes just increased nine-hundred dollars. These increases are pinching my fixed income.

In politics all you see and hear is anger and hate. There is no longer a civil discussion on the issues. All they do is attack their opponent. Truthfulness is dead. Anything is said to fit their agenda. There is no accountability for out and out lies. Many government entities have been weaponized, and they use their authority to push the agenda. Equal justice under the law is currently missing.

So, what is a mere mortal like you and me do? Complain, complain, and complain some more. Another very important thing to do is, learn more about the agenda these politicians are pushing on us. Finally, vote in November.

Bloganuary writing prompt

What do you complain about the most?

View all responses

The lottery and me.

First of all, to win the lottery, you have to play the lottery. I don’t play the lottery. I can’t remember the last time I threw away money to buy a lottery ticket. I have many friends and relatives that faithfully purchase lottery tickets every week. Has anyone won? Not that I know of. When the lottery first started, I played the scam. I think the most numbers I ever got was two. This convinced me that the chances are slim next to none.

Therefore, theoretically if I ever won millions I would disappear and change my life totally. First, I would acquire legal advice and a financial advisor. I have heard that these multimillionaires suddenly have relatives come out of the woodwork and friends that you haven’t heard or seen from for years. I want people to be around me for who I am, not what I have. Charities and good causes would get a portion of my good fortune. The largest concern I have will I be any happier or complete than what I am now.

My life has been full and rewarding. I am in my seasoned years and have had more good things and people than bad events. No, I am not rich. I am just a mere mortal that is living comfortable, happy, and that would be hard to replace. It would be a tough job for those millions to replace what I have now. Therefore, I do not intend to start playing the lottery anytime soon.

Bloganuary writing prompt

What would you do if you won the lottery?

View all responses

Decision

I have been retired over sixteen years and all my time is leisure time. After sixty years of working earning a living, raising and providing for a family I am entitled to leisure time. Since I retired every day is Saturday! I wake up and think what will today bring just like I did when working but just one day of the week then. Now it is every day.

With that I have enjoyed doing many different things at different times. Before I retired, I had passion for model trains and this passion went through its course. Since I have retired and moved into our new home the workshop, I have in my basement. I spent a lot of time. However, that interest has decreased lately. Of course, I am aging like everyone else, and this is affecting what I can do and not do.

Lately I have been spending a lot of time writing and reminiscing about things that happened to me. I have become active in WordPress again. I had this account since 2010 but became active in it since August of last year. I have dabbled in podcasts and videos. Maybe someday I can say they are pretty good.

In conclusion, it will be close to a year since I experienced a life-threatening blood clot. I was standing in front of Death’s door and Doctor Death was holding the door open. I surprised everyone and beat the odds. What I enjoy the most since that event is living! https://tomt2.com/2023/08/10/my-blood-clot/

Bloganuary writing prompt

What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

View all responses

Something I missed.

I was born and raised in Denver Colorado. Except for a couple of years in the army I have lived in Denver Metro area for over seventy-five years. During school years they would have field trips to this attraction. The attraction has close to 500,000 visitors a year. It was established in 1862. There are only five in the entire nation. For a period of time, I worked at a place that was only a block away. I don’t know how many times I have driven by it and thought, “I need to go there.” Have you figured it out? answer below

Bloganuary writing prompt

Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

View all responses

The answer is: The Denver United States Mint

https://www.usmint.gov/about/mint-tours-facilities/denver

Life is Fun

I have been retired for seventeen years. Since 2006 I haven’t worked any job. Pensions, Social Security and savings have provided my wife and I with everything we need. Most of the things I do is for fun or enjoyment. Life has been good. There have been medical issues but all in all life has been good to us. Here are the first five things that I thought of to have fun.

the most interesting thing at the present time is writing. I enjoy writing and reminiscing about events in my life. That is the purpose of writing on Word Press. I do not expect to ever receive any kind of financial compensation for my writing time. I just enjoy it. I am glad I discovered the daily blog prompt. This is ideal for my random ramblings.
I enjoy eating out at restaurants. it gives us a reason to get out of the house for a while and interact with people. Humans are social creatures and social contact is necessary for healthy living. I had a job where I would have contact with people that spent a lot of time alone. You could tell they were lacking social contact in their life, and they were craving for this necessity. They would try to keep me there as long as possible just to have contact with another human being.
Puzzle books are fun for me. I enjoy crossword puzzles and sudoku. I am not a big fan of word search. However, my wife enjoys word search puzzles though. One must keep their mind active and working.
I have a workshop in my basement. I enjoy repairing items around the house and building small items. For a while I was into bird houses. I found out though that there is just not much demand for bird houses, and I was floating in bird houses.
I like to grow stuff. All my life I have had a garden where I lived except the short time I lived in an apartment. Flowers, vines. and vegetables are on my list of plants. We sure enjoy fresh tomatoes during the summertime. Unfortunately, our home has growing space, but it is too shady, and I haven’t had much success here.

These are the first five things that came to mind. I have many more things I do for fun.

Bloganuary writing prompt

List five things you do for fun.

View all responses

I don’t Have a Pet

It has been many years since we had a pet. But we do have many fond memories of Missy. She was a peekapoo and we got her when she was just a puppy. Never weighed over five pounds. The only time she got mad at us was when we took her to get spayed. If looks could kill, we would be dead. But she forgave us and was a loving, friendly, and loyal companion for over thirteen years.

when Missy was a puppy, she jumped off the couch once and broke he front leg. Taking her to the vet and watching her walk around with her little cast created a bond and love that cannot be explained. When we had pork chops, Missy got the bone. She knew and just sat there waiting for her bone. What a fond memory. After many years of love and enjoyment she began to show her age. One morning I let her outside to do her business. I always went out to keep an eye on her since we had an open yard. She finished and was walking around just sniffing stuff and she looked up at me and fell over dead.

Missy will always be remembered. Throughout my life I had many pets, Ginger, Jughead, Boots, and many more. Missy was the best!

Bloganuary writing prompt

If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

View all responses

I was named after?

Many babies are named after the father, relative or a friend. The trend these days appears to be named with names one is not accustomed too. Such as Ace, April, Fable, Huxely, and many others.

I was born four months after Pearl Harbor, in the middle of World War II. I asked my parents who I was named after since my older brother was named after my dad. Here is the tale they told me. They said that they couldn’t think of a good name. At that time the local newspaper listed the young men recently drafted into the military to fight in the war. They said that they went to this list and found a name of Thomas Lee and that is how I was named. If this is true or not, I will never know. Just like you will never know if I just made this up or not.

https://tomt2.com/about-2tts/

Bloganuary writing prompt

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

View all responses

No Dream Job for Me

I am beyond a dream job. I have been retired for over seventeen years. Now I dream of staying healthy and hoping my financial situation out lasts me.

A long time ago I had a dream job in mind. When I entered junior high school, now they call middle school, I was put in what they called an accelerated class. This was composed of kids that was in the top ranking of the proficiency tests they gave us. At that time, I loved science class, especially chemistry. My friend and I stayed after school and helped the science teacher around the lab and classroom. My dream job then was chemistry or engineering. Towards the end of ninth grade, they gave us a standardized test that was supposed to inform us what kind of career to pursue. The results came back, and chemistry or engineering was not on my list of careers. This shattered me, my dream was destroyed! I continued to high school, and I barely graduated from high school.

For the next forty-five years I had a job. Some jobs were good high paying jobs and others were just to survive jobs. 1987 to 1991 were the most difficult financial times. I was laid off from my high paying job and unemployment was at seven and a half percent. It took over four years to find a good job. None of the jobs were my dream job. However, I am retired and satisfied with my current situation.

I do have a new dream though, that is to have many subscribers and followers that read and enjoy my ramblings. https://tomt2.com/about-2tts/

Bloganuary writing prompt

What’s your dream job?

View all responses

A Good Leader

Many follow, a small percentage can lead. A leader must have and show confidence in themselves and their decisions. Good leaders consult their associates for their input and suggestions before making a decision if available. One must delegate to associates. Do not attempt to do everything. Analyze your successes and failures to make more successes and fewer mistakes. Finally, share your success, do not hog it all.

Bloganuary writing prompt

What makes a good leader?

View all responses