I'd like to embrace a two-word philosophy for everything but the most important things: "Good enough." It's tempting and easy to find fault or something to complain about in every situation, event, material things, etc., and complaining about that kind of thing is really just an unnecessary distract...

Because of declining health, COPD, heart problems, knee problems I have had to scale way way back on stuff I can do. The COPD is the biggest problem. So since I can't get out and around as much as I used to I decided to try doing something creative. My daughter has convinced me to give crochet a tr...

Maybe a way to address, by the by, recent discussion re: vigor and vitality here...

Anyone have particular hopes for personal development or growth in the New Year? New projects? New hobbies?

Have you watched Narcos or Ozark? Narcos just released its third season, and Ozark only has 1, so it'd be easy to catch up. Both are excellent, excellent dramas.

Nice, Gary! I stocked up on various marzen and marzen-style beers a few weeks ago; once Saturday hits, when Oktoberfest gets underway in Munich, I'll start dipping into the stash.

I was browsing the bourbon selection at the liquor store attached to Costco this morning. The clerk said "you're a bourbon guy, right?" I said yes and he went to the back and brought out a bottle of Blanton's. $59.00 plus tax. It's mine now! I asked him how many he got in his shipment. Six bottles....

Gary, I have started getting a little more selective on my use of social media. I have been a heavy social media user for some time. But filtering out the noise is helping m think more positively. I really is amazing how surrounding ourselves with negativity...whether it be negative people, or nega...

Congrats, Jay. Fantastic news, both practically and in fulfilling you! Also, check your PM box.

Mike, I need to be on the lookout for a bottle of Larceny. Heaven Hill makes some very good whiskey. I would like to try one of their wheated bourbons. Thanks for reminding me. Heaven Hill is one of those distilleries that produced a variety of quality bourbons that are especially cheap in Kentucky...

A friend left a bottle of Larceny at my house a few weeks ago. It's treated me well.

One thing I really enjoy doing is doing Public Address Announcing for my son's high school baseball games. His team plays in the Alabama State semifinals tomorrow afternoon. There will be a double header and if necessary a game 3 on Wednesday. It will be the last time because if they advance, the f...

The Litigators by John Grisham. Nice send-up of mass tort attorneys. Most Grisham books are "check your brain at the door" types, but they make me feel better about being an attorney. I've lately discovered the John Sutter two-book run by Nelson DeMille, as well as the Harry Bosch work by Michael C...

Just checking in, gents - it's been a while, and I've missed the place. I had to wait until May to formally graduate, but here's proof it actually happened. I toyed with the idea of pranking my family by telling them I'd been accepted to law school...I've been in some academic program or another for...

I didn't pick up the ingredients necessary for serious margaritas, which I last made when I defended my dissertation (the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe). That would have been an excellent way to unwind this evening!

I've been fascinated with Scotland since I was a small boy, so I would really like to go there and spend some time getting to know it. My family's origins go back to Wales, so I would also like to spend some time there. Many years ago, I lived in Brazil and in Portugal, and I would like to revisit ...

Lately I've been mulling over selecting just 1 source for my news, while being skeptical of everything I read. 1 source means it's hard to get inundated. So, for example, I have Google News on my phone, which I set up for topics of interest and certain alerts. Aside from that, I don't read anything ...

Florence, Italy.

Thanks, gents. I've been extremely busy with side jobs and the *lovely* process of finding a *real*, full-time job once my funding runs out...

My wife and I came to the University of Notre Dame in August 2011 to start my PhD program. After five and a half years of work (and having 2 kids along the way), I defended my dissertation in December. I'll officially graduate in May, but for all intents and purposes I'm finished. Just wanted to sha...

We have a few local roasters that I patronize when the wallet lets me. If I need to be a bit more thrifty, I'll hit up the bulk whole bean bins at Fresh Thyme. Or, if life is doling out more bills due than usual, it's something like Cafe Bustelo. Method-wise, I throw something freshly ground into th...