Retired Navy after 23 years. I retired at the age of 40 years old. I've been out longer than I was in. All of the ships I served on have been made into razor blades. I had fun and I lived my life the best I could. Most of my shipmates are gone and I try to stay in touch with the remainder. It continues. Substance abuse counselor, builder of wooden boats, furniture maker, prison non-violence workshop facilitator, life observer, activist, reader, writer, geriatric subject of interest, generous tipper. I stay involved.
Today I co-facilitated the first day of a three day workshop in Maine State Prison Medium Unit. We have a fine group of participants. Getting to this point has been like the proverbial herding cats but it is all worth the effort. I’ve learned that it all works out in the end, mostly. I’m not … More It’s Been a Week! Greasing Skids, Moving Kids, All Good.
Yesterday was a odd type of day. I had many good things happening around me as I wandered hither and yon. My day began at Maine State Prison. I met one of my Alternatives to Violence Project, AVP, co-facilitators just before noon to go inside the Medium Unit to make preparations for our scheduled workshop … More How It Should Work (As Opposed To How It Works) or Prescribed vs. Described. Also John Trudell, hero.
Yuk, yuk. I was riding up to Augusta the other day. I was on my way to Bagel Mainea. They have very good bagels and a tofutti veggie spread to die for. I buy a baker’s dozen and cut them and freeze them. Delicious! On the way I heard the NPR news person talk about … More One Psychiatrist Meets Another. He Says, “You’re Fine. How am I?”
I have finally caught up with my age. The years have been good to me but my eyes are starting to fail. First went the legs and now the eyes. So be it. I am happy to have what I have. I won’t go through the list. *I heard that!* There is a birch tree … More Aging, Sparrow Hawks, and Norma Desmond.
Minds are wonderful playgrounds. I am performing my morning ritual (!) of sipping dark coffee, listening to one of my recorded nine hundred odd tunes on the laptop, and playing games. My mind relaxes and wanders smoothly over a long life of dodging important events and obligations. That’s a joke. Andres Segovia (there’s an accent … More Free Car Wash, Andres Segovia, and Assassination!
Don’t fret. I’ll tie them all together eventually. This morning I wanted to get into my usual routine of booting up the laptop, turning on the burner under the kettle, and using my submarine style bathroom. The bathroom is called a “head” in the Navy. So I go to the head means just that. “I’ll … More Georgia Steak Sandwich, Arrogance, and Beautiful Boats!
In my eighth decade I’ve seen a thing or two. Only by observation can one really gain insights. Reading instructions is good enough to put you in the ballpark but it takes direct observation and participation to bring it all home. Enough of this business and lo and behold it doesn’t take great amounts of … More Watching a Master Craftsperson; Feeling the Confidence.
I first moved to Maine to stay in March 1987. That winter had been horrendous. My wife and I had been living on Commonwealth Avenue out near Boston College. I was working at a methadone clinic at Brighton Marine Hospital. I’d wanted to learn to build wooden boats since I saw one on the island … More Boatbuilding and Very Dry Humor.
There is a phenomenon here in the Region during the Summer. I mean besides the tourists and their terrible driving habits. In the afternoon around 1 P.M. or a little later the wind will shift around from the west to the southwest. The temperature will drop around ten degrees quickly. It is a wonderful thing. … More Star Travel and Natural Air Conditioning
I’ve been reading about Trump’s problems. His lack of knowledge of how government works. His lack of skills working with other moneyed, privileged white men (Legislative Branch), his doofiness in his approach to business deals. His success must accrue because he has been dealing with underworld mentalities that don’t play into the ruling class savvy. … More Intimidation, Bullying, White Privilege, Expectation, All the Things Bad.
Playing Fair and Being Kind 