So Much For Regularity...

Well, here it is January 1, and I did say I was going to try to write once in a while.
Truth is, I've had lots to say, just have difficulty getting "around to it".

I sure hope I can call them better this year than last. My guy threw away the Presidency when he meekly voted for the bailout bill, and so "Hope and Change" are on the way. At least Mr. Obama is ticking off a lot of folks on the far left, with his staff appointments, and with the invitation to Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inaugural. Whether that's because he's just being politically expedient, or is actually more of a centrist than I think he is, remains to be seen.

I wish him well, as his doing well means my country is doing well. Although I didn't vote for him, and still wouldn't (given another opportunity), he will be my President in a few weeks, and we all owe him a chance to prove himself. Yes, it was a historic moment for our country (and I do mean that sincerely!). We'll have to see if he has the courage to keep us on a somewhat centrist course for the next few years.

On the personal side of things, I have a new granddaughter, Piper Ellis Flemming, born December 17, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Honey and I went to Fairbanks for Christmas, and to say hello to her and welcome her to the world. She's beautiful, and her family loves her dearly.

I am up and around, walking with a cane. Driving myself to work these days, as Honey is still up North with her grandkids. Hopefully by the time she gets back (three more weeks) I'll be riding the motorcycle again, and walking the dog for exercise!

This morning I started reading Bill O'Reilly's new book, "A Bold, Fresh Piece of Humanity". He's a year younger than me, and we both grew up in the East (he in New York, me in Maryland--at least my first ten years) and have a lot in common. Good read, so far! That got me thinking about my high school days in San Antonio. I was in the band in high school, and we were once invited to play for the Texas State Teachers' convention. The guest speaker was Sam Levenson , whose gentle humor inpressed me greatly at that age, and has tempered my family's somewhat sarcastic wit. I remember a small group of us got to meet him and speak with him backstage. During the conversation I said something I thought was funny. Mr. Levenson looked at me, smiled, and said, gently, "Ahh... the class wit!" Then he punctured my ego by following with, "...or is it halfwit?" He said it with a kind smile, which took away the sting. I've never forgotten that moment, and have (usually) tried to mellow my natural sarcasm with kindness.

So, How Did This (Finally) Get Started, Anyway?

I created this place -- title, format, layout and all, nearly a year ago, in October of last year in fact. The delay of eleven months before the actual first post is more a testament to procrastination than to a busy lifestyle. I kept promising I'd write, but somehow never got 'round to it.

Then, on the last day of August, I broke my right leg in a motorcycle accident. Nothing real flamboyant, just dropped the bike at very low speed (think of "Blue Maxy", the man in the yellow raincoat on a tricycle in "Laugh-In") and neglected to get my foot out from under the beast as it fell. Four days in the hospital, surgery (a rod inserted the length of the shinbone), and several weeks of one-legged living have given me plenty of time for reflection and thought.

That got me thinking of this empty blog, and the result was my opening post here. I'm returning to work next week, and won't have too many idle hours any more, but life will still be much slower, compared to before the accident, for many weeks to come. So, hopefully, before I get fully mobile again, I'll have acquired the habit of semi-regular writing.

Where to Begin?

As the title suggests, I am not a young man any more. That said, I 'm not at the end of the trail yet, either. This place will contain my thoughts on life in the Southwest, aging, adult children (and grandchildren!!), motorcycling, and as an old friend once said, "wood ticks, lunatics, and politics".

In spite of the length of time I've been bumping around this world, this will be my first real (and hopefully consistent) attempt at anything like a journal. Although I've written for work and other "business" purposes, I've never made much of a try at setting general thoughts on life to written form. We'll just hafta see how it turns out, huh?

You can expect to see funny stories, both those I've heard, and those I've lived. You'll see political opinions... mostly conservative, but many centrist, and maybe even one or two to the left of center! I am unashamed to say that, like John McCain, whom I hope will be our next President, one of my political heroes was Theodore Roosevelt.

You may get a description of an interesting ride through the desert or in the mountains. You may even get the occasional amateur analysis of a motorcycling mishap (hopefully those will be rare!)

These topics, along with an occasional Mexican food recipe, are what I hope to bring to light in these posts. Hopefully, some may find them worth the time they take to read.