My morning routine is usually to get up and watch (also TIVO) CNBC "Squawk Box" to see what the stock market and the economy did overnight while I was trying to sleep.
https://www.cnbc.com/squawk-box-us/
After I discover that I may have enough funds left to make it through the day (see footnote below), I will go to the Clubhouse and try to see if there any new books in the "FREE LIBRARY!" It appears that reading (and writing these words of wisdom) has become a substitute for me actually having a 'LIFE.'
This morning I was presently surprised to find a book that I must have missed way back in 2013. Billy Crystal's book "Still Foolin' Em'" written to commemorate his sixty-fifth (as in 65 or Three score and Five) birthday. Having followed Billy's career I knew it would be full of some extremely funny stuff.
My usual custom if I find a book is to preview it to determine if I really want to take it home to read. What better place to do that than the clubhouse reading room. No sooner than I had sat down, I found something that irritated me. I am not easily irritated but some things are just not right.
After correcting this obvious breach of protocol (hint over or under) and spending a few minutes reviewing the book, I determined that I would indeed take it home. Our 'FREE LIBRARY' operates on the honor system. There is no need to sign out a book and no actual return policy since most people will use the return basket to get rid of all those books they have saved over the years and now find they don't really care to re-read them.
Here is a quick excerpt from the book which might prompt you to buy, borrow and read it.
My last stop at the clubhouse is the Scale in the Men's dressing room. I usually skip this but since I have been experimenting with a Fit Bit I wanted to see if my plan to "Maintain Weight" is working. My goal is 180-lbs. It looks like I am on the right track. That cheesecake has not kicked in yet.
Some of you might guess that the initial scan of Billy's book caused me to create this humorous post. That would not be entirely accurate. I don't really need any excuse to create a humorous post. That is part of my early or mid-morning routine. The criteria I use for 'humorous post' is that I find my musings humorous (its great to be your own audience). Maybe I could never have been a "Standup Comic, I gave that up years ago and after retirement decided that I would become a 'SitDown Comic Writer' instead. That has distinct advantage. I don't need an audience (See bold above). I can spread my thoughts without fear of rejection (I don't know when someone just deletes my Email Blog), and it gets me all the way to the Market Open at 9:00 AM.
---------------------------------------
Footnote: I say one day because my long time horizon is no longer in years. I also realize that one tweet can change the market's reaction. At this stage of life, I only want to have enough funds to last until I no longer recognize who I or anyone else is. After that it is someone else's problem. After all I spent a lifetime worrying about them.
He has been around for a really long time.
He was young when he got started, and started well he did. |
Billy Crystal is only 71 years old as of this article, so he may have many more years to go. His book was written at the tender age of 65 (2013). Like most aging men, he felt the need to tell his stories to anyone who would listen to it or read it.
Always a comic performer, Billy ends his story with this line, that may explain why so many of us want to put our story in print. "Finally, to my grandchildren: If I forget to tell you some of these stories, you'll always have this book." |
All joking aside, Each human has an internal gyroscope. Once the direction is set it will guide us to the destination. Long ago I realized that most of us operate on autopilot. Accordingly, I did not spend too much time trying to watch diet, exercise or specific program. I just tried to set a goal and let the gyroscope handle the details. It took me a while to learn that setting goals are often too specifically geared to the desired results rather than direction. I think this quote holds true for most things in life including even the most mundane.
Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit ; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. - - - Charles Reade |
And exercising and eating salads.
|
Congratulations on the weight. I am even more proud of you than TMc, because you lead the field, although Ted losing 23 lbs. or so is still pretty cool.
|
Space in Time Photographic Prints: Volume II | Somebody's Laughing, The Arts | Space in Time Photographic Prints: Volume IV |
[after James and Kerim bind and gag Benz, the Russian agent, James leaves while Kerim sits down to guard him]
Kerim Bey: I've had a particularly fascinating life. Would you like to hear about it?
[Benz tries to grunt "no."]
Kerim Bey: You would?