Focused at Fifty

source I like watching NCAA college basketball. I don't watch the NBA. Totally dislike it. When I watch COLLEGE hoops, I always root of course for my alma mater , Rutgers University. Yes I know, Rutgers isn't in the NCAA Tournament this year. In fact, they haven't made an appearance in the Tournament is a long long .... long long ... very long time. But I still love my Rutgers! I don't usually do the brackets though. I know it's based on stats, teams standings, player ability, etc. Just don't have the time to figure it all out. I do appreciate the passion others have for it. I got passion, just not for brackets. I did attempt to do brackets twice before. I was convinced by my buddy to have some fun and try it. We used to hang out at a bar called the Central Tap in Fleetwood, PA. We did the brackets about 8 years ago. I had no idea what the heck I was doing. So I was buzzed and figured I'd pick them based on my favorite mascots. Now I didn't tel...

Love the film noir look! One of the biggest issues in this recent election is that America is mad! They are tired of government, tired of being politically correct. You've heard it on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc. ARGH! Everyone is so mad mad MAD! Forget calling someone an ass, forget calling someone a #$&%*, forget using the forbidden words. Oh my God, I can't even type the forbidden words as an example for fear of the Internet backlash! I know what I'll do! When I want to use a curse or a forbidden word, I will substitute the word "bunny." Nah, that won't work. All the Easter bunny followers will have my head. Even though guess what... the Easter bunny is NOT REAL. And neither is Santa, nor the tooth fairy, nor the Hanukkah man! OK OK, I digress... Well I have the perfect solution for America. Our insults are so boring and predictable these days. We hear them on TV and the Internet all the time. "Lying Ted, Little Marco" (Shut up Donald!) Peo...

A couple months ago, an acquaintance I'll call Karen invited me to a gathering at her home. We were never that close but were friendly enough. We just never truly clicked though. It's neither a negative nor a positive thing. It's just a part of life. Now I appreciated being invited by Karen but I hadn't even seen her in the past year and then it was only for a couple minutes the previous Spring. I really didn't want to go to her party but felt almost obligated because a number of other mutual acquaintances were going. How could I politely decline the invite and what would my reason be? My close friend Jackie was attending but raised a good point:  unless you are family or good friends, you don't really owe them an explanation. You definitely owe them a reply, an RSVP, a response. But other than "Thanks, I'm very sorry but I can't make it", you owe them nothing more. If it were my sister, or my friend Jackie, I'd owe an explanation ou...