Focused at Fifty

Gelly the Graduate!  While I was vacationing in San Diego this June for my niece Angelica's graduation, I pondered on what to write about. I wanted to impart some wisdom to her from her Crazy Uncle Marc. What could I say which she would appreciate? At her graduation party, I had already told her how proud of her I was. How I enjoyed so much watching her grow up, becoming a responsible young adult, graduating with honors, and receiving her diploma! There needed to be something more... The next day, I was in San Diego's Balboa Park enjoying a morning to myself wandering around the gardens, studying the architecture, all the while trying to allow my thoughts and ideas to come together through my surroundings. NOTHING. LOL. I sat outside the Botanical Gardens watching koi fish lazily swim to and fro. I got out my laptop and realized my laptop was dead! Argh!!! I forgot to check the battery! I was getting nowhere fast. I decided I'd grab a quick beer in the Prado Resta...

Eastern Box Turtle hiding.  Last Saturday John asked me to go to yard sale up and over Blue Mountain to hunt for some vintage and antique treasures. We'd get out by 7:30 AM and be at the yard sale within 15 minutes. My normal morning-self once again was lagging behind. I desperately needed a cup of coffee, some healthy carbs and a bit of protein. After that and about half a dozen various pills for ongoing ailments, I was ready to go! We were just chatting while driving towards the mountain when out of the corner of my eye, I spied a turtle on the side of the road starting to cross the highway. "TURTLE!" I yelled. "We have to stop and save him!" "Marc, NO!" John flatly exclaimed. "Rt 183 is too dangerous, the highway is too busy. I'm not gonna let you get into an accident just to save a turtle!" "John, I gotta save him. Don't worry I'll turn around where it's safe. I HAVE to save him. I'll be beside myself if...

There is a beautiful song called "A Boat on the Sea" by Kristen Vigard from the movie, Grace of My Heart with the lyrics "I never knew I was built so strong ... my heart is a boat on the sea ... I never knew I was built for hurricanes ... my heart is a boat on the sea."  There is a strength you get from getting older that you never had before. It amazes you, tends to harden you, and also greatly saddens you.  It is a strength you develop from loss. You deal with death with emotions, tears, anger and frustration, but you start dealing with it rather matter of factly as well. It kinda sucks but it also comes from a place of strength you gain in being exposed to it more and more. The heartbreaking emotions are still there but you learn to process them better. Time does not heal old wounds. The wounds still hurt, but you get through it, somehow, hopefully stronger. Forgive me for my rambling style, I may be a bit all over the place. I have found out this evenin...

Bloggers NOTE:  I posted a picture of a dead rabbit in the middle of the blog post. This blog post is also a bit graphic in terms of dealing with a dead rabbit. There is no blood though, just a recently departed rabbit. You have been forewarned! Covering the rabbit grave. On Monday, I had the unhappy pleasure of burying a dead rabbit which I found in my front yard. Yep, that was my evening. I had wanted to work out. I had wanted to do a nice bit of yard work. Nope. I had to dig a grave in the woods behind my house and bury an unlucky bunny. I had just pulled into my driveway and stepped out of my car. Glancing over between the bushes next to the car was a large rabbit, just lying there. I literally gasped as his size. He almost looked like he was peacefully sleeping on his side. But I knew he was dead. His one visible eye was glazed over and cloudy. He was just such a magnificent example of an eastern cottontail rabbit. Poor guy. Looked like a pretty hea...

BART So a while back, I went to a Starbucks at the tail end of a head cold, just wanting some good coffee. I placed my order and the barista asked my name. I said Marc and in her cheerfully effervescent voice, she exclaimed my drink would be right up and to pick up my coffee at the end of the counter. I went down to that area and waited. I picked up my coffee and on my cup was written "Bark."  YUP, as in tree BARK. Like someone would be named BARK?? Wouldn't you even question it??? Like, "Sir, did I hear you correctly, is your name Bark?"  I mean i know I had a very stuffed nose and my "M'"s sounded like "B'"s but geesh! Way to give a guy a complex!! I guess I should be happy she got the "K" on the end, even though it's actually a "C". Another Starbucks, another coffee and on my cup was written "Bart."  There is NO "T" in my name!!! UGH! BERT Fast forward to a week ago and ...

The other day, I saw an internet meme about the gym. It basically stated that the next time you go to the gym and make fun of someone overweight who is working out, you should realize that at least they are there making an effort. We shouldn't bash someone for trying! The newbies at the gym are (at the very least) realizing that they need to be healthier and doing something about it. And we should all be supporting each other whether it's doing the 50 day push-up challenge, day '1' at the gym or day '365'!! I have realized that this should also apply when I sometimes see someone walking very slowly on the treadmill or moving slowly on the elliptical machine. I don't know what their health issues are or their training capacity is. I need to give them props for just being there. When I had my surgery in December 2015, I took 4 weeks off from the gym. I got back into it slowly. I didn't want to overlift or overdo it with cardio for fear of (ICK) rippi...

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...