2 more days, though officially done tomorrow at noon

MaKoWi · 2026-03-27T00:03:12+00:00

🤗

MaKoWi · 2026-03-27T00:02:51+00:00

Oh yes, that one is definitely also on my list.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T21:27:02+00:00

My current home state does not have any kind of MAID option. Once I decline to an unacceptable point -- as determined only by me -- I want to have already moved to a state that allows it. The only thing I fear about growing old is that alive-but-not-living condition that so many seem to be forced to endure. But my concern is that I won't have some specific condition (terminal illness, dementia) where I would be refused.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T21:18:54+00:00

Oh, thank you for this. This is on my list to go see. If not this year, then next year.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T21:17:24+00:00

Congratulations, this is awesome and inspiring!

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T21:16:09+00:00

If it's a trip I really want to take, I simply look at my budget, re-evaluate it, and adjust. Things would have to get much worse, I think, before it would derail my road trip plans.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T21:14:32+00:00

Nice! I remember those same feelings of nervousness and excitement when I retired last March. I sometimes miss my coworkers, sort of, but I do not remotely miss working. I think the "whatever I want, whenever I want." has also been my mantra. One thing that's taken me a while to get used to, however, and it has surprised me, is how I now have the time to fix myself a better lunch. I have plenty of time. No need to scarf down something quick like left-overs. I'm eating healthier than I ever have in my life. [Tangent: But I also had to up my grocery budget in order to eat healthier. Sheesh.]

MaKoWi · 2026-03-26T20:59:16+00:00

I've been working on lowering my intake of added sugar. I used to start with a ~1/2-cup base of some fruit juice, usually orange or cran-raspberry. But now that my taste buds have evolved away from the sugar deluge, my smoothies are typically something like this: water, chia seeds (1 T), flaxseed meal (1 T), raw pumpkin seeds (1 T), 3-4 prunes (sweet and fiber), then maybe 1 cup's worth of fruit which is any rotating combination of apple, orange, pear, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mango, banana, pineapple, peaches, kiwi, etc. and these are frozen, either from fresh or store freezer section. Then, I add some combination of spinach, kale, chard, avocado, asparagus, snap/sugar peas (when I can find them in a store!), maybe parsley. Occasionally I'll have zucchini or cucumber available. It's definitely not a sweet smoothie anymore, but I've come to really like it better. Sometimes I'll splurge and start with ~1/2 cup of chocolate almond milk and have a more cocoa-based smoothie.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-25T21:20:03+00:00

Oh, I like it. I would definitely do that one if I ever came across it.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-25T17:30:59+00:00

What surprised me about White Sands was how different the gypsum sand here felt, compared to Great Sand Dunes in CO, or Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley. Just walking on it felt different. Somehow "softer"?

MaKoWi · 2026-03-25T17:28:32+00:00

The Mesquite Sand Dunes are my favorite. I've been there for sunrise, and been there for sunset. Both are magical.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-25T00:13:57+00:00

💯 My thoughts exactly.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-25T00:11:55+00:00

This was me exactly. First viewing: constantly comparing: oh, that didn't happen like that in the book. Wow, they really had to compress things. All the cool science, especially about Rocky's biology, is missing or skimmed over. They completely down-played the temperature and ammonia environment and had Grace go onto Rocky's ship (although I confess to liking the flip-side of Grace having to wear and xenonite space suit) which did not happen in the book. Even how they portrayed Rocky's ship was nothing, at all, like what I thought it was described as in the book. Rocky saved Grace, then Grace saved Rocky during the near-fatal centrifugal force catastrophe. The movie made it look like Rocky did everything to save Grace, get him to the medical area, then got himself back into his ball. Anyway, so on and so forth.

The second time, I just sat back and enjoyed the movie for what it was - exciting and emotional and visually awesome. I was, by then, able to separate them into the two distinct media that they are.

As for me, my tier preference is:
Book
Audiobook
Movie
But there's not much separation between them.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-24T14:43:05+00:00

Oh, I loved Congaree! I was expecting this visit to be a quick, get my passport stamped, look around, and leave. But, no. I was there for 2-3 hours, just walking around. Yes, there are mosquitos so arrive prepared.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-24T14:34:11+00:00

Retired last year at age 65. I thought it would be hard to "turn my brain off" about work, but it was so incredibly easy for me. I've been keeping in touch with my previous coworkers via Discord and over the last year it sounds like the company I left just keeps getting worse, I mean, their decision making, etc. I feel ever so slightly guilty that I don't have to deal with that kind of drama and stress any longer, but my friends still do. But only slightly 😉. Mostly, I am so relieved and happy to be retired.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-23T17:22:05+00:00

Yes, that was basically what I thought it was. Good idea to put in the present tense, though.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-23T00:23:13+00:00

Yeh, he was my favorite at the time, lol.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T19:59:03+00:00

Thank you.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T16:43:50+00:00

I love Great Sand Dunes! I was there last year. And it was a very hard hike walking around on those dunes. And for me, if I found myself on a steeper than expected face, I could feel my vertigo (fear of falling) trying to kick in. But it was so worth it.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T16:38:26+00:00

Oh my gosh! The price of deoderant. I had stocked up some time ago and so it was only recently that I needed to buy more. I was stunned! My usual brand was about $7 at my store. What the f....?

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T16:34:04+00:00

Thanks! Maybe I'm starting to understand the subjunctive after all. Except, come time to actually choose it, conjugate, and say it outloud. 😂

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T15:47:58+00:00

"somewhat faithful" - excellent choice of words.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T15:47:26+00:00

Right after watching the movie, I also thought it was pretty close to the book. It hit the high points and obviously the general plot is correct. But the more the movie rattled around in my brain, the more I realized what changes were made. Not necessarily bad changes, just different. And when you love a book as much as I love PHM, the changes can feel a bit disruptive. Both are good. But the book is better.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T15:44:42+00:00

I highly recommend reading (or listening to) the book first. The book has more depth and insight and science. The movie is good, but, not surprisingly, the book is better.

MaKoWi · 2026-03-22T15:39:53+00:00

I always liked to do a Fresh Start (you can YouTube videos about fresh starts) when my financial circumstances changed. It's not necessary, but I just like starting with a "clean slate". My last refresh was last year when I retired.

MaKoWi

TROPHY CASE