• What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

    Humor sometimes.

    I was writing an essay yesterday.

    The first paragraph is my writing.

    The second must have picked up by a phone conversation in the other room mixed with one with my son in Berlin.


    There was a social event in our neighborhood that I didn’t really want to go to. It was a meeting where we argued over large subjects such as how many trees to plant in the park and what vendor we should hire to refill the dogs poop bags. Our agenda today was to check the speed bumps over on Lincoln Road.


    Hey, are you home? Call go how was the flight? How long was it? That’s not bad. How much did that cost you? Just just curious what do you remember? What airline are you serious? No wow that’s pretty cool. That was she says on the phone with her friend from Connecticut

  • Mark 11.11

    Mark 11.11

    What does it mean to be a good person?

    In the United States, we throw religion around like it’s a badge of honor, much the same as ICE agents throw around cruelty like it’s a badge of religion.

    I’m not the most religious person in the world, but I probably know enough about religion. I’ve studied religion, critique it and tried my best to participate.

    I have met some of the best people I’ve known in church, but they’re just good people. It’s not because they go to church.

    Kindness and Generosity: Goodness involves active care for the vulnerable, such as helping the poor and showing generosity to those in need (Proverbs 19:17; Galatians 6:10).

    It’s that simple.

    But stepping away from the Bible because of the Bible alludes to characteristics such as empathy, compassion, and kindness as positive traits in a human being.

    The Quran is not much different than what is stated in the Bible. One underlying truth and what is stated in both, it assumes, you must have faith towards that religion and their gods.

    I hate to be so blunt, but it sounds pretty much like the cult known as Trump. But that is a little judgmental on my part at the churches I’ve been involved with have been open to my alternative point of view.

    Which makes myself and many others not a good person by their definition. I find this judgmental stance a core problem, in many religions.


    Disclaimer – I personally do not like unsolicited advice. Your religion is your religion. Somebody else’s religion is their religion, and my lack of religion is my religion.

  • There is Always Iowa

    There is Always Iowa

    What’s a country that’s at the top of your bucket list?

    You know what is really cool when your kids get to a bucket list country before you do. My son is an extraordinary skateboarder and got a sponsored trip to Albania.

    He enjoyed the trip tremendously. Another trip our kids relished was to Turkey.

    Prices are cheap right now. Nobody wants to fly to the United States. Tell my wife and I book a trip to Turkey and Albania, and it was rather inexpensive.

    I’m looking forward to it.

    Here is a trip. I just learned about this weekend. It makes me a little teary, even thinking about it.

    But then again, I’ve never been to Iowa and maybe I will someday.

  • October 2026 -Voting

    October 2026 -Voting

    I honestly expected this to be a very chaotic month.

    I handed in my ballot today.

    I never thought the election would come true as I thought the current regime would declare a state of emergency for some made up emergency.

    I have done my part wishing I could do more.

    Why don’t we get right to the point and impeach Trump.

    He has committed treason many times over.

    Treason used to be death be firing squad

    I would not watch.

    That’s barbaric.

    As is this regime.

    President Trump in TIME Interview Doesn’t Rule Out Declaring National Emergency or Using Insurrection Act During Elections or Sending Ice Agents to the Polls, But Seems Mostly Unaware of the Issue

    ,

    Don’t let them scare you get out there and do your job and vote.

  • La Rutina

    La Rutina

    Tell us about your morning routine.

    Today I am heading to the airport, with my wife, and I reflected how it wouldn’t be a lot of fun to be back in the morning routine.

    I get up, do some German lessons and go for a run. Being retired, I have no routine I must adhere to.