Major twist and tweak…
Since only, seven people read this blog entry previously, and we are in Christmas time, I decided to majorly tweak, and repost an “oldie”. If you read it the first time, you can see everything that is new. If you have not read it, enjoy as it is all new to you.

“And now our feature presentation”

Turning my knight into day…(redo)
Trying to find the best new light bulbs for my house, I have done a lot of research on all of the light bulbs currently on the market. We have been using incandescent light bulbs since their inception in 1879. They have not changed much, over the years. The standard incandescent light bulb uses 70% of the energy that it consumes, as heat. As inefficient as the incandescent light bulb is, it took over 100 years until the light bulb was reinvented. Yes, a new lightbulb was badly needed!

The compact fluorescent lightbulb (aka CFL) was invented in 1976. These bulbs come in many shapes and sizes, and even several different colors. The CFL bulb has a higher up-front cost but can save over five times its purchase price in electricity cost over the life of the bulb. This energy saving bulb, last eight to fifteen times as long as the standard incandescent light bulb. These bulbs lost popularity, partly because they were filled with toxic mercury. This mercury complicates their disposal. Many countries have even banned the disposal of CFL bulbs with regular trash. Furthermore, they have established a special collection system for CFL’s and other hazardous waste. Also, LED bulbs took the position as a more energy efficient light bulb.

The LED, light emitting diode, light bulb is the more energy efficient bulb. The LED bulb tends to “sip” energy, and not “gulp” it like the incandescent bulb. It is hard to pin down an exact year, that the LED bulb was invented, for the residential light bulb. The date it was invented for home use, is so nebulous because it had so many other lab uses in its early days. The first diode was also extremely expensive. For this reason, it took a while before someone decided to simply group theses diodes together, for a light bulb for the home. However, in 1962 the first visible-spectrum LED, in the form of red diodes, was invented.

Many companies are currently going one step farther and making their LED bulbs “connected”. This means that the bulb is able to be controlled by your smartphone. Many of these new light bulbs look extremely different. And some people don’t like that these bulbs look so drastically altered. I personally spoke with a woman and her husband, when I was lightbulb shopping. She did not like the bulb I chose because it looked so different. (Let me pose this query to my readers. When was the last time that you looked at one of your lightbulbs, EXCLUDING INSTALLATION? Yeah, me either.) Some of these new bulbs look flat like they were sat on by a sumo wrestler. Yet, others look like they are wearing a medieval suit of armor. It is understandable, and even extremely beneficial, that these companies are making their smart light bulbs dimmable, as well. This dimmable aptitude means that not only can you simply turn a light on, from your phone, but you can also dim it as needed.

However, some of these bulbs are being made to do things that are feckless, in my opinion. The part that seems senseless to me, is that they also change colors…why??? This skill seems like an eccentricity that is simply pointless. Although, I suppose if you want to show off for your friends, it would be cool for a few minutes. But, after a few weeks, color changeability will become, as useless as a submarine with a screen door.

Sadly, the majority of these light bulbs are downright expensive! I have seen several of them go for over $50, PER BULB! I would definitely never pay that kind of money, for a “one trick pony”. I even saw a kit of three bulbs with some sort of “mini-hub” to control them, which costs over $200! The light bulbs I chose, for my house, are the Cree connected bulbs. They are one of the least expensive “connected” LED bulbs on the market, today. What I really like about them, is that they have a great customer rating, and the manufacturer stands behind their product, with excellent customer service. I also like the bulbs, because they are simple, and have no useless flashy “bells and whistles”. I mean if you want to pay over $50 for a bulb that allows you to change the colors, more power to you. However, I bet like most people who buy them, you will only change the colors a few times to “show off”.

Connecting light bulbs to a Smart Hub, to control them from your phone, is even more convenient. Even greater yet, is if you get a Voice assistant like “Google home” or “Amazon Echo”. For someone like me, it is especially advantageous. I go through a significant number of steps to do any of the tasks that are significantly simplified by various smart technologies.

Some have said that this technology is useless. I (sort of) get their point, however, I say it is extremely helpful for someone in my perfectly problematic predicament. When I am going to bed, after putting my PJ’s on, I would normally have to get back into my wheelchair and roll back to the light-switch and turn it off. At this point, in the dark, roll back and get into my bed. Now, I can simply use my phone and turn off the light, from my bed. When I am in bed, if the temperature feels a little off, I can adjust the thermostat from my Google Home. When I am sitting on the couch, and someone rings the doorbell, I can check who it is, from my smartphone. I can even see and speak with them. While sitting on the couch, and using my phone, I can also unlock the door, and let them in.

I knew someone when I was a kid, who was in a physically challenging situation. Although they too lived alone, they needed someone do a lot for them, including dealing with their money issues. I am a private person. I pay my own bills, thanks to internet banking. I can buy things that I need or want, thanks to internet shopping. Because of all of this technology like the internet and connected devices, it is possible for me to live an extremely independent life.

I used to think that smart technology was silly and a luxury only for the people who could afford it. I’m guessing some of you may have felt the same way. However, in many ways, we would be wrong. The more that I welcome these terrifically timely technologies into my home; I learn more about the benefits that they have. I also learn about new technologies that could also make my life easier and more comfortable.

2087-18-12
The Brady Bunch was a good TV show, which I enjoyed as a kid. This is my journal entry for today. I am eager to see what is on the horizon for 2088. If I have said it once, I have said it 1000 times: time is FLYING by. Honestly, I am never ready for the next year. Most days I feel like life is a soup and I’m a fork.
Only one time did I ever wake up to “rock” music. That day was like the first time waking up at boot camp for the Marine Corps. It scared me so badly, that my hair ran to hide, and never returned. In boot camp, to wake you up from your deep slumber, they would repeatedly bang on an old style metal trash can while yelling. It was like getting a shot of the caffeine from, 12 expresso coffees, in a fraction of a second. Waking up to rock music was quite the same way, especially in the home sound system of today. Of course, it did not help that the sound system was turned up from the party, the night before. Sure, it was a party of one (me), but I love playing my music loudly.
I am always surprised at the lack of socio-economic status of this time. It seems like in my thirties and forties people were always trying to be better than everyone else. It’s like they were thinking “I’m a doctor, I’m better than you”. And the nurse would say “but I’m better than the janitor”. I remember, in my 40’s, a woman asked me what I did, for a living. She apparently did not “approve” of my answer, so she simply cast me aside. She did not want to get to know the real me, the person who I am. I feel that to truly know a person, you have to have a decent conversation with them. A quick, one question and its reply, cannot tell you much about that person. Maybe, back then it was a status thing, who knows. Now it seems that an attitude like that does not exist. Now, you’re not an engineer you’re Bob. You’re not a janitor you’re Steve. You’re not a doctor you’re Janet. Life now is more of a “utopian” way of life.
I spoke with the inventor of the Sputnik yesterday. I was surprised to hear that he did not know anything about the actual Sputnik. His grandfather worked for NASA and had talked about Sputnik many times. But apparently, he did not listen to what his grandfather said about Sputnik. He did not know that Sputnik was the first artificial satellite, which was launched into space in 1957. He simply liked the word “Sputnik”, and a name was…reborn.
Although this Sputnik device, is annoying at times it also has its benefits. When they implant one into your head, they sync it to not only your brain but your house system, as well. This helps in several different ways. I personally like that I can be listening to music on the street, and as soon as I move into the house, it switches automatically to the home audio system. Also, you can say what you need out loud and the home assistant hears you and does whatever you ask of it. Ask it to: make a phone call, add something to your grocery list or to simply make dinner.
When you get a sputnik implanted, it actually boosts your memory, as well. Since I am in the human trials of the Sputnik they did not know all of the pros and cons. They did not mention how much the memory would be boosted. How else could I explain all of these detailed memories at 113 years old?! My dad forgot a lot in his mid-sixties. At 113, that is not the case, for me. After this trial is over, and they start correcting all of the issues, the Sputnik will sell like hotcakes!
Actually, hotcakes and bacon sound like a good breakfast, for today. Migro has done a few machines that are junk, but they do a lot of good machines as well. One example is the machine that makes food at your request. Migro made a machine that can make any food that you want. This machine reminds me of the “futuristic” movies of my past. It works slower than it did in old movies, but there is no effort needed. However, you do need to buy the groceries and have them in the “chill box”. For example, breakfast today will take 3 to 5 minutes. The good thing is that, again, I don’t have to do any of the work. Plus, it tastes much better than all of the TV dinners that I ate in the 2000’s.
Basically, I still live like a “bachelor”. Although I must admit that a bachelor lives quite differently today than over 6 decades ago. Now we don’t have TV dinners. As long as I buy the food and put it in the “chill box”, the house can cook it. The delivery of groceries is also a huge help. Lastly, we have the house assistant, to help us live better lives.
I will not be writing in this journal again until next year, 2088. WOW again, how time flies! It seems like just yesterday it was 2080. I say this every year, but I hope next year is my year of romance. Otherwise, 2088, and my 114th birthday will be another boring and lonely year.

Captain’s Log 2087-11-12
Okay, even at 113 years old, I am still not funny. However, the original Star Trek was a great show, even though I only saw it in reruns. This is my journal entry for today. I have been writing in this journal for over 70 years now. The year is 2087 and I have been single for 87 years…I am not sure, but I think I am cursed or something.
This morning, as the sun Shields on my windows open slightly while the visors stay closed, I listen to the information coming across my Sputnik. They tell us that we are going to have a high “solar toxicity” day. This is our warning to wear our solar protection suit when going outside. I know that the suit is for our protection, but it is simply “AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE”, so I will avoid going outside today. The Sputnik implantation device, in my head, seems to be, malfunctioning sporadically. It is only 5 years old and yet it seems to be on the fritz already. I don’t want to go back for another surgery, to fix it just yet, no matter how unobtrusive they say that surgery is now. The Sputnik is a device that is implanted into the brain. It is a “turbocharged” version of the old “voice assistant” that was introduced 71 years ago, in 2016. The voice assistant started out as a simple “smart speaker”, and has grown into a device implanted in, and powered by the brain. Who knew that things could be powered by the brain?
The life expectancy of a human in 2017, when I started this journal was 79 years old. Now, in 2087, it has jumped to more than 150 years old. I LOVE my mom, but now I get to hear her complain about me being single, for even longer. After the Google and Microsoft merger, together they were able to skyrocket human life expectancy. In this merger, the two of them became the powerhouse “Migro” (the name sounds like something you put on your flowers to help them grow). Migro, as the largest and wealthiest company in the world, has purchased many companies like Facebook and Amazon. I heard on my Sputnik, that there was going to be a merger of Facebook, Apple, and Amazon. However, Migro was too powerful and Apple was left out in the cold, barely hanging on. Apple might have to close their doors for good.
At this point, I am known as a man of few words. I do this journal so that I have someone to “talk to”. Of course, I write in this journal, using old-school methods. I actually use a computer, keyboard, and type with my hands. Others constantly make fun of me for this. “Typing with a keyboard is so antiquated,” they say. I say “at least I am not using a typewriter”. That always stops the conversation in its tracks. I went out to dinner with my mom and some of her friends the other day. One of her friends said to me “my husband bet me, that I could not get you to say even three words tonight”. She then looked at me and said: “what do you say to that?” I simply replied “you lose”, and said nothing the rest of the evening.
We have all of this technology, which seems to help us. And believe you me, there is a lot of tech and it helps significantly. Yet, this journal shows me that, I am still an extremely boring person to talk to. As I said, I have been writing in this journal for 70 years and life has not changed much. Ok, let me clarify, “MY” life has not changed. Actually, my “ROMANTIC” life has not changed. Every year I thought “this or that” might change things, but sadly they did not. Having a significant other ALWAYS makes life better. After I moved into the house that I built in 2017-2018, I should have taken the recommendation to use a matchmaking service. We now know, if there is one thing that I am really good at, in my 113 years of life, it has been “procrastinating”. Yet, if there are TWO things that I am good at, then “making excuses” is the other.
In all of this technology that we have, we still do not have a time machine. No time machine means that I cannot go back and change anything. I would not go back to win the lottery nor would I invest in Google, although I’m sure many would do both. Instead, I would go back and talk to that woman that I used to work with, even though she said libary instead of library (kind of annoying). I would go back and ask that woman, that I met at the grocery store over 6 decades ago, out to dinner. The truth is that money means nothing without a significant other, and that is why I give so much away. I also would not have implanted this, very annoying, sputnik device. Although Microsoft merged with Google, apparently Microsoft still makes the computers and sputnik devices, and they are not very good. This “thing” in my head did not even go a full five years, without problems. Hopefully, tomorrow is a better day. Kirk out…nope, I’m still not funny.

Those of you, who know me, know that I am an honest person. Honest to a fault, some might say. So when I tell you this story, you know that I am being “honest”. WAIT! I don’t know where those quotation marks came from, sorry. Just know that I am telling you the “truth”. There they are again, those annoying quotation marks! Anyway, here are the “facts”…Ugh, of the story.
Over the summer I was on vacation. I cannot tell you the location, but it was sunny and hot, so you know that I LOVED it. Later you will see why I can’t say where I was. Anyway, I was sitting at a table, next to the pool of this gorgeous hotel. I saw a guy who was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses. He was drinking an iced tea, reading while relaxing poolside. He had a white beard that was pretty long, which was surprising for a hot vacation spot, like this. He actually looked a lot like Santa Claus. So much so, that I kind of laughed at the thought. I wanted to talk to him, but I am a shy and quiet guy and did not want to “bother” this gentleman. However, several of my friends are constantly urging me, to step outside of my comfort zone and simply talk with people. So I decided to interrupt his reading. I asked him if he minded if I sat next to him and talked with him for a bit. He said “sure Scott”, and winked, “have a seat”. I asked, “How do you know my name?” He simply smiled and said, “I have been to your house many times, you are one of the good ones on my list.” I thought about that for a minute and then shrugged it off. Surely he would explain that a bit later. I said, “Do you realize that you look like…er…uh…Santa Claus?” He roared with laughter and said, “I’ve heard that, a time or two.” (Let me explain to my readers, his laugh was very…“Jolly”) We sat there for an hour or so, snacking on delicious finger sandwiches, drinking iced tea and talking about everything under the sun. The more that we talked, the more that I realized, this WAS Santa Clause! How could this be? I mean…I guess Santa needs a vacation too. He knew that I had figured it out. Just then a young kid came around the corner and said “hey…” he stopped when he saw me and then looked back and said, “hey, Dad I scheduled you and Mom for a massage at 2 P.M.” As the kid was talking, I looked him over a bit. I knew that this MUST have been one of Santa’s elves. I could not see his ears because they were covered up by his hat. It is hard to explain, but I was pretty sure…no, I was POSITIVE, he was one of Santa’s elves.
“Since I know who you are, and you know that I know who you are; can I ask you a few questions that I’ve always wanted to know?” I asked. He laughed, then took another drink of his iced tea, and said, “Sure, no one will believe all of this anyway”. “I’d like to ask you about your “delivery” job.” I winked, trying to help keep his “secret identity”? “You deliver all over the world, so how many languages do you speak?” I asked. Again he laughed and said “I actually speak fewer than you might think,” he said. “Remember, while I am in these other countries, it is at night while everyone is asleep”. Then he winked and said, “and don’t forget, I now have Google Translate.” Laughing he said, “Even an old man like me, knows about Google”. I laughed out loud at that.
“Well, I have also wondered, with all of the advancements in technology, why don’t you just order and deliver through Amazon,” I asked. He sat back and laughed (he laughed so often that, it made me laugh a lot too). “First, we still make more toys, by hand, than you might think,” he said. “Plus, there are 7.5 billion people on earth, now subtract out those on my naughty list. Do you think that Amazon and shipping companies could handle that?” I laughed at that and said, “good point, I didn’t think of that”. “So then how do you do it?” I asked. “Scott, do you remember when you went to Philmont Scout Ranch?” He asked. (I guess he IS always watching) I said, “Of course I do. I will never forget those 12 days of backpacking in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains.” “And how did you get your food?” he asked. I explained that we carried the food in our backpacks. “Yes, but not all 12 days of food at once”, he corrected. I explained that, from what I remember, they had food “drop points”. These “drop points” were at specific locations in our path, we would hike to those spots. When we got there, we would drop off trash, and then pick up more food. “Exactly, and that is similar to what we do. We have “military style” helicopters that drop new toys in my sleigh along the way,” He said. He told how these helicopters dropped more toys directly into the sleigh, as the toys in his sleigh run low. “This is all done mid-air,” he said. “Think about this, in the past when my sleigh was full of ALL of the toys in one trip, my sleigh was heavier and the trip was slower,” He said. He then told how, NOW, the trip is simply faster. “This means that, when I stop at a house, I can eat a few more cookies.” (For the record, I thought the cookie thing, was made up by parents, I guess not.) “A few houses even leave apples or carrots for the reindeer,” He said. (I guess the reindeer need snacks too.)
We laughed and talked for a while longer, not only about Christmas but about other things too. He even complimented me on my charity that I have to help children. I talked about my very small blog. I explained that I have only had it for a short time. This blog only has a small number of readers. “Chris” (I am hiding the name that he used) “Can I write a blog entry about our meeting here today?” He thought for a long minute, as he took off his sunglasses because the sun was going down. “You showed me the stats of your blog, and no one will believe you anyway”, he continued to think. I quickly told him that, if he said yes, I would send him a copy of the blog first. This way he could give his “yes or no” before I posted it. He said, “let me think about it, I will let you know”. He gave me a way to contact him, through a few other people, who also know his secret identity.
About a month later, he got back to me. He agreed to let me blog about it, but with one simple rule. As long as I waited until December to post it, the answer is yes. However, he still wanted to approve the blog entry. I later asked Santa to keep me up-to-date on how things are going. He told me that he would let me know how his “deliveries” went this year. I asked him about the possibility of coming up north to visit his “company”, still trying to keep his secret identity. He told me that would not be a very good idea. I then asked if there was a way that on Christmas when he delivered to my house if I could see the reindeer. He roared with laughter and said “what makes you think I’m coming to your house this year?” then he winked at me. (He was a very funny guy, who loved to laugh, a lot).
I now have a very different outlook on Christmas. I also have a new respect for the work that they all do, in the far north. He later explained that they vacation in a new place every year, so it is unlikely that I would see him again. To anyone reading this blog, I am good at keeping secrets, so don’t think that I will share how I contact Santa. I have kept much bigger secrets, so if you want to be on the “good list”, simply be a good person, do good things, and you too can be on that list.

When I was a boy and I had something weighing on my mind I would enjoy camping and hiking, immensely. The woods were the ultimate counseling session. Something about being able to commune with nature makes contemplating my captivating conditions conceivable. There is truly nothing as beneficial, to my psyche, as simply walking on dirt in the great outdoors. I enjoyed nature because the woods were my healing elixir. For the city folk out there I can understand, not comprehending a love for the woods. However, smelling the intoxicating fresh air of Mother Nature can truly be a magical experience, again “for me”. It is my absolute respite, from the hustle and bustle of an uncontrollably “hyper” city life. No matter the issue, life is better with hiking boots and a tent.
In 2000 after my divorce, my life took a turn for the “not so good”. Sadly, I did not handle it well and things went a little “haywire”. Luckily, that “bumpy” road lasted just over 6 months. After that time, I began heavy weight lifting with my friend who I grew up with. In mid-2001 he began to train me, for my very first, 26.219-mile marathon. He began to fervently encourage me, reminding me that if I can do USMC boot camp, I can do anything. Amazingly, he had done 8 marathons to that point. However, MS had different plans. I was truly discouraged when MS had begun to rear its ugly head. This had put the kibosh on the idea of a marathon. Sadly, I never got to do my first marathon because of my MS, and my friend became fat and lazy. Just kidding, he has become a fireman, saving lives and doing all that “show off” type stuff lol.
What I should have done in 2000 after my divorce was something I always wanted to do. I should have walked the Appalachian Trail, or at least part of it. I should have gone back to the days where Mother Nature was my therapist, something I needed at that time. The Appalachian Trail was a big trail for my big problem.
The Appalachian Trail opened in 1923 and held the title as the longest foot trail in the United States until 1968 when the Pacific Crest Trail had opened. The Pacific Crest Trail has a total length of 2650 miles. Although the length of the Appalachian Trail is continually debated, it is approximately 2200 miles. Thousands of people every year, attempt the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, they are called “thru-hikers”. Of those thru-hikers, only about 25% actually complete the AT in total.
Many in the USA have become so lazy that they don’t seem to understand the simple concept of “hiking”. Let me give you an example of a true experience: hiker comes out of the woods and asks a man getting into his car where “a specific” store is. The guy says “it’s about a mile down the road, where is your car and I’ll give you directions” “I’m going to walk” the hiker said. The guy looked at the hiker and said “are you sure? Because I think it’s actually nearly two miles.” “That’s ok, I like to walk,” the hiker said. The guy says “okay, but if you change your mind there is a cab company around the corner.” This shows that people just do not understand that some people would prefer to simply walk places.
Consider this: for 93% of ALL trips outside of the home, no matter the distance or purpose, Americans take the car. All of this “actual” walking that Americans do equals a total of 1.4 miles per week! This, “barely” 350 yards a day, includes all walking in the home, office, grocery store and to and fro all parking lots.
As a former hiker, it is truly disheartening when an able-bodied person drags or scoots their feet, instead of simply picking up their feet to walk. Have we become so lazy and our muscles so weak, that picking up our legs to walk is too strenuous? Another annoying thing is when someone struggles to find a closer parking spot. They drive around for 10 minutes to get a parking spot that is five spaces closer, than 10 minutes before. In case you are wondering, the average parking space is 8.5ft wide making the 5 spaces, a 42 feet closer parking space. I feel that people simply take their legs for granted, afraid to walk even a little bit more (apparently 42ft more). If they could not walk, would they miss their walking abilities? I know I do.
Things are very different now that I am in a wheelchair. Getting “therapy” from Mother Nature is not likely going to happen again. There is a local park that has a paved walking path; they even have wheelchairs to borrow, at no cost. I have visited that park, but there is still something that is missing. Although the smells of nature are there, the other therapeutic effects just do not exist anymore. Not to mention, the feeling of the dirt, rocks, and leaves under my feet, as I walk, is also missing. Going to the woods now and getting only some of the benefits, just does not get the job done. It’s like going to hear a band and the drummer and bass guitarist don’t show. You can still listen, but there is no way you will get that “feeling” you got from before. So I say to everyone out there, go out and experience nature. We must do this before the only way to see a tree is in a museum, and you have to use a power wheelchair because your legs are too weak to walk.

Moore’s law states that technology will get twice as powerful every 18 months. When I started this blog, it was simply going to be about all of the advancements in the world of technology. I planned it to be strictly informational. I wanted to talk about all of the automation that we will have in the near future. However, the more that I have learned, the more that my ideas have evolved and the leerier I get at what is coming. The technology that I thought was more than a decade away is presently becoming a reality.
First, self-driving cars have driven nearly three and a half million miles on our roads, to date. We did not realize how close these automated machines of wonder really are to be released to the market. The scarier thing is that anything with a computer can be “hacked”. I saw a story that showed how a couple of hackers hacked a car while it was on the road and someone was behind the wheel. Is Moore’s Law the same for hackers, as well? Will hackers get twice as powerful every eighteen months? They are even linking our cars and our smart home devices. Making these “techno gadgets” live in our lives together in a state of symbiosis. This way, when we do have autonomous cars, they will have comprehensive control over EVERYTHING. Let’s be honest, if robots “take over”, they might as well have, an all-encompassing and total domination of…well…our existence.
Second. Four-legged robots, that sort of look like pack mules, are soon to be used, for our soldiers in war zones. These robotic “slaves”, will carry supplies, and the like for military personnel in battle. This will help lighten the loads in our soldier’s packs and make the units agiler, with a more rapid response time. These soldiers, currently have reconnaissance drones, which can be carried in a backpack. Additionally, these model plane sized drones, can be launched from a soldiers hands, and be controlled by a remote that is just as small. I saw how, they will soon be releasing, reconnaissance drones, that will be the size of a dragonfly. The military robots, on the horizon, will likely be used for a civilian police force as well. There are a great number of things, which have gone from released only to the military to a “civilian release”, much faster than we realize.
Finally, we have simple vacuum cleaners that clean on a schedule, while no one is home, although they can’t think for themselves…YET! However, there is so much more coming, that it will scare you. In fact, now in my eyes, it is plausible that robots will take over the world. The question is: will we be able to keep this from happening?
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not going to be like in the movies, where robots come in and simply start shooting up the place. (Sadly, humans are, sort of, doing this to themselves.) Robots are being made very smart. This simply allows us to weaken our bodies and even our minds to the point that we won’t be able to defend ourselves if there is an “uprising”. I believe that there is a lot of good technology available, but at the same time, some of it is developed to foster our own laziness. Consider the “Segway” like devices currently on and those coming to the market; these are going to weaken our muscles. I can tell you from experience: “use them or lose them”. Think about it, the less that we use our muscles, the weaker we become. It is believed that robots will be able to repair and build themselves, like elves working in Santa’s workshop. They will have this “self-creation” competence, within the next two decades. This will eliminate humans from the “building” equation. Although I am not technophobic, I am now, a bit distrustful, of robots. All of this makes me wonder, how far off the movie IRobot, really was.

As I start preparing for this move, my thoughts are running at a thousand miles a minute.  I KNOW that it will be a positive and beneficial move for me, to move to my new house, yet I am still apprehensive.  I have been in my current neighborhood for nearly 20 years.  In my current neighborhood I know people, and more importantly, they know me.  If I ever have a problem, they would be more than willing to help, and more importantly, I’d be (sort of, maybe) willing to ask them for help.  Not to mention, the woman across the street, sends a plate of food, on several major holidays.  Home cooked food is the best, it shows love, something the world needs more of.  I will honestly, feel like a fish out of water, for a while.  I fear the forlornness of the situation.  I know that because of the big guy above us, am not “alone”, but I still feel “lonely”.  Sadly, not knowing anyone will definitely not help me feel less lonely.  I will have to fight the feeling, and KNOW that “better things” are coming.  I have recently learned that the community center for The Pinnacle is about one mile away, from where my house is being built.  Since there are sidewalks, that should not be as bad as it could be.  To be honest though, it is still unlikely that I will go.  I do have a motor, that I can easily put on my chair, to “shrink” the distance.  I am just not sure if people actually use the community center.  In the beginning, I had to go to the community center to sign some paperwork.  Other than the five of us, there was no one around.  Not to mention, one mile in a wheelchair is a long distance, to be involved in more “solitude”.  Conjecture tells me that somehow I NEED to find and make friends.  Of course I mean, friends that are more than just waving “hello” when we pass each other in the driveways or on the street.  Maybe, some of us can hang out and do something sometime; I’m not sure what, but something.  Sadly, it has taken me forever, to make the few friends that I have.  Although they are great people, we don’t do things together, mostly because they have lives and families.  Basically, for me making friends is hard…obviously, I am not an extrovert.  I need to have the fortitude, to socialize, and make new friends.  I can talk until I’m blue in the face about what I SHOULD do, but until I am there it doesn’t matter what I think or say.  Everyone has a fear or phobia of something.  Some have a fear of clowns, and some even have a fear of the number 6.  The thing that I am most afraid of is lonesomeness.  A person said something about having “Facebook friends”.  Just because you have “friends” on FB, sorry to say, does not necessarily mean much.  You may have thousands of FB friends, but how often do you really talk to or actually see them?  Would they pick you up if you ran out of gas?  Ok I’m getting sidetracked here.  I lived with VERY little social interaction for 10 years, so I know the feelings and I want to avoid the “replay”.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, we as humans are “social creatures”, built to love and be loved.  I apparently missed the “socializing” gene, for lack of a better term.  People have said to me a million times, something to the effect of, “just don’t be shy”.  WAIT…WHAT???  How can you just change who you have been your entire life?  I’ve also been told many times to get on a dating website and “go crazy”.  I’m not sure what “go crazy” means, but I am still shy and nervous to talk to people.  No dating website is ever going to change that.  I’m shy, and I’m not much of a conversation starter.  I can (sort of) be a good conversationalist, if a conversation is started but I’m not good at starting, said conversation. I fear that I am doomed to be alone.  I know that I need to stay positive, but ten years of “isolation”, does not easily leave your memory.  The other aspect of this move that is…challenging (trying to stay positive) is that choosing things for the house, ie curtains ect, is better done with a significant other (IMHO).  Instead of putting my likes and dislikes only, having another’s input is very important (again IMHO).  So this move is definitely a bitter sweet endeavor.  It is good, because physically it will make my life easier.  I need to simply, focus on that part specifically and not think about anything else.  I need to have faith that the rest will come together and fall into place.  It is sometimes difficult to simply, keep the faith.

Who should get the “credit”, when a doctor does a phenomenal job on a surgery?  Surgeons typically say that, they do an excellent job, because they are the best.  Sadly, there are those that they are forgetting to thank.  If a gymnast does a good job on their balance beam routine, again, who should get the “praise”?  If a football player does a particularly good job during a game, they usually say that they thank God and their team mates.  They are also, forgetting to put someone on the appreciation list.  In all of these cases who deserves merit?  Who is the unsung hero?  The truth is that, yes, the individual themselves, should get a portion of the credit.  Yes, the team mates are also, a part of it.  God DEFINATLY played an important role.  But the person who is rarely appreciated, as much as they should be, is the coach, the trainer, the instructor or the teacher.  They “sometimes” get thanked while training, but all of the people mentioned, would not be where they are, if they did not have a good trainer, teacher, coach or the like.  Training is like this: 10% luck, 20% skill, 30% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 35% pain and 100% reason to remember your instructors’ name (If not, it’ll be more “pain” lol).

I have a friend who is a firefighter.  The lives that he has saved, or helped save, is partly due to his skill and his associates.  However, he would not have those skills, if it were not for his instructors.  It is undeniable, that architects have exceptional knowledge.  Yes, their success is partly due to their own creativity, but they too, would not be where they are, if it were not for the teachers that they had.  No matter how capable a person is, at a specific task, they were once a neophyte.  

I spent two years at the local YMCA taking an aqua therapy type class.  I did this because it is extremely beneficial and safer for me, to move in the water, as opposed to exercising on land.  The entire time, at the YMCA, I saw very minimal benefits.  Don’t get me wrong, no matter how small the benefits were, they were still “benefits”.  Then over the summer, I moved to the local community center.  They have a great pool, an excellent staff and an exceptional instructor.  For the record, I’m sure all of the instructors are great, but I’m talking about the one that I have worked with the most.  In the beginning, I needed significant help.  The “chairlift” puts me in the water about 200 feet from where the class is held.  At that time, the instructor would, have to walk backward holding my hands, as I struggled to walk to the class location.  I always hold a water noodle, under my arms.  However, I was so unstable, that when I got to the class location, I would cling to the wall, like a gecko, sunbathing on a window.  I did this while I did my exercises, on my own, as I really could not participate in the class.  Often, the instructor would come over, to guide me by showing me exercises that would benefit me, and correct my form as needed.  As time went on, with her guidance, I got stronger, more stable and even braver.  I now, participate in 98% of the class, doing a few minutes of specific arm exercises.    Within 3 months, of working with her, I saw SIGNIFICANT benefits.  Now, 4 months later, I have also, swam to the deep end several times, using a very technical device called (I may misspell this), a waist floatee swim thingee lol.   I know that, it is extremely unlikely that, I will ever walk again, unassisted on land, as I have MS.  However, with her continued support, we will slow the MS progression considerably.  I have thanked her many times, and she has often said that, I did all the work.  And sure, you could put it that way.  Yet, as the instructor, her coaching and teaching is just as important.  My instructor understands how crucial, it is to me, to maintain my Independence.  She also recognizes, most of my limitations, and never hesitates to say “do only what you can”.  And at the same time, she encourages me, to go a little farther, when I am willing and able.  It is imperative for me, to not stop moving, because when you stop moving, you “rust”.  I also, have the willingness to push my boundaries, and implore her to, not let me “slack”.  This shows that, we make an excellent team, when it comes to my physical health.  

As you can see, the individual, and the fortitude they must have, is very important.  However, a great instructor is also tremendously important.  We all at one time, or another, needed to be trained, in some way.  So no matter if you work fast food, flipping burgers or work on the international space station and are fixing the oxygen system.  Trainers are extremely important and help keep us improving our skills.  So no matter if it is your teacher in school or your trainer at work, don’t forget to say “thank you”, frequently.  It may seem silly to say “thank you” so much, but the knowledge that they impart on you, may just save your life, or at least help you continue to make improvements.

What happened to “civility”?  What happened to the simple “thank you” and “you’re welcome”, in life?  Humanity seems to be failing us, as “civility” gets, tossed out the window.  This seems to be, the world according to ‘’me-isms”. When I was a kid and I, or anyone, would do something for someone else, one person would simply say “thank you”, and the other would simply say “you’re welcome”, and the matter was closed.  We did not “look in the bag” searching for more.  Some people in life, apparently, do not follow, the kindness “protocol”.  If one person has three “apples” and the other has none, person number two, is happy when given one of the “apples”. He does not search out a way to get the other two.  It is called “share” not “take”.  Humanity seems to have lost that “trait”. 

My church passes out rolls of wrapping paper, at Christmas time.  Last Christmas, they went to the parking lot, of several different stores.  Talk about, “wondering about humanity”, some stores did not allow the church do this, WAIT, WHAT?!?!  Sometimes, it was not even the store, but instead one specific manager, double: WAIT, WHAT?!?  I was told about one manager, who allowed it.  That manager even spoke with the church volunteers, and told, how they were doing, such a good thing.  When the new manager came on shift, he chased the volunteers away, stating that it was not allowed.  Yes, this is even after they told him, that the other manager had allowed it.  Sadly, I think people are too skeptical of, someone doing something nice, just to be nice.  For the record, the church does not, and was not, asking for anything.  They were asking for, no donations, no church attendance or anything of the sort, so again nothing was required.  They simply said “Merry Christmas” and here’s a roll of wrapping paper.  They were simply wishing people a “Merry Christmas”.  What is wrong with this church, right? Lol.  Showing kindness on Christmas, how absurd?  These “churchy” people are, obviously, mentally disturbed lol.  From my understanding, people were not very receptive to the idea, of taking this wrapping paper.  They seemed to think that, there was some sort of “obligation” attached.  Surprise, again, there was no obligation or requirements, it was simply a gift.  Good people doing, good things, what a concept. 

Some friends, got together, and made bags for the homeless.  Included in these bags, where all sorts of necessities and goodies, I was not there so I don’t know the contents.  Then, when they saw a homeless person, they gave this person a bag.  Again from my understanding, several people looked in the bag and said “what, no money?”  WAIT?!? REALLY?!?!    There is a simple: “gratitude” and “graciousness”, which I THOUGHT was a common practice.  I personally, started learning this in Boy Scouts, as a young man.  Apparently, not everyone was taught this simple, lessen.

THE WAY IT “SHOULD” WORK: The other day I went out to lunch with some friends, and I paid.  I’m not telling this to “brag” about myself, but I am still simply “disappointed” in society, and wanted to show how things could and should work.  We went to Red Lobster during lunch, so the meals were less expensive.  Keep in mind that, they eat like birds anyway, and we are only talking about $8 or $9 meals. They seemed to be unsure of how to deal with my treating, but after a few “attempts” to pay me back, there was a simple “thank you” (several actually J), then I said “you’re welcome”.  Issue closed. Everyone knows me, and they know me well enough to know, that when I do something kind, I do not “expect” anything in return.  It is called “kindness”, hoping to brighten the day of others, again what a concept, right? 

It is obvious, that society has become more about hatred, greed and indifference.  However, we should not be skeptical of every “act of kindness”.  There are many of us out in this world, who have nothing, but kindness and love in our hearts.  “Compassion” needs to be the shining factor and not “greed”.  Obviously, not everyone can buy lunch for a group.  We each need to, find our own way to help, make the world shine.  The only way to start making this world better is, for each of us, to “Be the Change”.  We can do this by adding, joy, altruism and outstretched hands to this world.  Let’s leave footprints of “kindness” and “love” wherever we go.  LOVE MUST PREVAIL! 

Thankfully, Doctor Indiana Jones is not here, yet.  If I do this correctly I will “RULE THE WORLD! MWAH HA”…wait! Not actually “the world” but, I will “RULE MY LIFE!! MWAH HA”…well actually, the “Big Guy” rules the world and my life, so…I will “CONTROL THIS MOVE THE BEST I CAN, DEALLING WITH WHATEVER HAPPENS, THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW, AND WITH A POSSATIVE ATITUDE MWAH HA HA HA!!!”

Contemplating this complicated conundrum of craving capacious containers to carry this clutter, I realize that I am in lack.  I don’t know if Indiana Jones could, understand the clutter that is in this defiled decayed and defective debris, but I will do my best, before his arrival.  Of course, just when I dig through one pile, another tumulus appears.  Doctor Jones and I are in a “race” to discover as much as possible, to see who will control the destiny of the artifacts.  I want the artifacts to be used and not simply sit, taking up valuable space, in a museum.  As I dig in the space called, named by a local tribe, a “garage”, I find odd things.  I found, what looks like some sort of footwear, 2 different types, for a one legged man.  Although, I found no signs of any children, I found what appears to be “art” that could have only been done by an adolescent.  Realistically, the “art” could have also been done by an adult who indulged excessively in some sort of ritualistic “wine” dance.  The artifacts that I am finding are confusing, at best.  Some of these antiquities resemble those found in Greece, as if someone lived there, before living in the “dwelling” that I am currently digging in.  I don’t mean to be anthropocentric, but it appears that they also had some sort of feline, living with them.   It looks like they must have “worshiped” this creature.  I read some research papers, showing how some cultures will “worship” specific animals, like a deity, that lives among them.  There are also plenty of pictograph signs of the tribe that lived here.  

Surprisingly, someone suggested something about the storage structure outside, more STUFF I forgot about.  Maybe, that is where Doctor Jones began, in the outdoor structure?  Interestingly, these artifactitious items seem to be never-ending?  Apparently, the ancient storage structure out back has some sort of “lock” that has no signs of any type of “key”.  This means, as I delve into this conglomeration of physical remains of this “ancient culture”, I am also searching for the “key” of “725Powhatanstructure”.  The “725Powhatanstructure”, appears to be, a burial ground for more of these “historical artifacts”.  I do not want to dig these artifacts up, only to rebury them in a new location.  It looks like; I will find them before Doctor Jones has a chance. Meaning, I will decide where the artifacts will go.  I believe the best choice is, for me to give them to the local tribe.  I know that Doctor Jones wants to give them to a museum, but I believe the local tribe would benefit more.  I understand the “reasoning” that Doctor Jones has for wanting them to be in a museum.  However, I know that the local tribe will “share” them or use them to barter with the tribes down the river.

Archeology is not my specialty, however, I learned a lot from this dig.  Sadly, the artifacts from the tribe, from this dig, are perplexing, to say the least.  It appears, from various relics, that they lived in only a handful of locations, before deciding to stay in this domicile.  Since I will be scattering these relics, the proof of the existence of this tribe, will all but disappear.  Although, it appears that they were joined in some sort of “matrimony”.  It seems they saw the sun circle the earth, seven times while in this “wedded state”.  Since they will no longer reside here, nearly all proof of the existence of this tribe, will be gone.  It seems that this tribe ended its “wedded state” over a decade ago.  And although the pictographs show pure joy, it is hard to imagine the cause of such a tragic ending.  No matter if it is the Romans, the Mayans or this tribe; it is truly disappointing to see a “tribe” disappear in such a disheartening way.