Post-Retirement Reading

Thursday 31 January 2013

Glad the Mayans Were Wrong!

 
     So, that was January!  So, that was a great month!  So, I can't believe the year is half over!  

 
"Thar She Blows!"
 Whale watching!

A great week with my sister, Brenda.

Not always sunny skies but a good time nonetheless.

Relaxing January days at the beach.

Yup, this is how to spend January!

Room with a view.....literally!

Much better than a landscape of snow!!
      Yup, sure glad the Mayans were off on their prediction for 2013!  :)




Tuesday 22 January 2013

Carpe Diem

     Today, I learned of two people I knew who recently passed away.  I did not know either of them very well, but it got me to thinking about the importance of "carpe diem" or 'seizing the day'.  I used to think that 'carpe diem' meant to go out and do a whole bunch of things you liked to do in a day, but now I realize it is about mindfully doing things that work you toward 'following your bliss'.


     And so today, with more focused attention on how fortunate and grateful I am to be here having this wonderful time and opportunity, I went about my day with a more "Carpe Diem" focus in mind. 
     So as I rose at 8 am to bright sunshine and cobalt blue skies, as I went for a 10 mile run in bright sunshine, warmth (and short pants....in January!!!!), as I drove half a mile to the coastline and read my book about being happy ("The Myths of Happiness:  What Should Make You Happy But Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy But Does" by Sonja Lyubomirsky) on the sundrenched California beach until the sun set into the ocean, as I posted a letter I wrote to my Dad and sister,  as I went to a hot yoga class and then, as I ended the evening with a nice piece of chocolate cake and a chai latte, my luck, good fortune and gratefullness for all the opportunities I have had so far this year was not lost on me.   
     Now, as I look forward to having my siser, Brenda, join me here for a week, I realize that the approach of the half-way point of this tremendous year is drawing close and I am excited, grateful and ever curious to see how I can "seize" the days in the next half of the year as well!

 MOMENTS IN TIME OF SEIZED DAYS
OR:
TRYING TO LIVE IT RIGHT, SO ONCE IS ENOUGH!
 









 

Saturday 19 January 2013

On Becoming A Self-Proclaimed "Proclaimer" or The Day I Ran 1,003 Miles or "Run, Forrest, Run!"

  I would walk (run) five hundred miles
and I would walk (run) five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked (runs) a thousand miles
to fall down at your door
-The Proclaimers
 
 
 
     So, if my NikePlus running sensor is to be believed, today I surpassed 1,000 miles of running in 127 runs since Bob's Big Adventure began on the last day of school/first day of "holidays" on June 29, 2012 (1,003 miles actually!!)  Ironically, I ran the exact same route I did when I reported having reached 500 miles in September!  Luckily, I am staying at the same place I was then in San Diego and the route is right outside my door.  It was an equally beautiful day.  It's still hard to believe that it can be this sunny and warm in January, but it was! 
 
 

The endorphine-fueled face of someone who has just ran 1,003 miles!!
Wow!
The view at 1,000 miles!
Pretty much worth it!
The Pacific Ocean from Cabrillo Point in
Point Loma, San Diego, California.

...and no, the beauty and my luck and good fortune is NEVER lost on me!
      I enjoyed the hills, the ocean view and the warm, warm sunshine.  I am not sure I will ever get used to being in shorts in January, but I sure do like it!!  It makes me wonder when, where (and who the hell am I kidding) even if the 1500 mile mark will occur!!  I do know that I sure will enjoy trying to get there! 

Friday 11 January 2013

King Tides


king tides, noun

1. a twice-a-year occurence when, during a full moon, the tides are exceptionally high and exceptionally low because the earth is closest to the sun, the moon is nearest the earth and the earth, sun and moon are aligned
2. yet one more cool thing I got to experience this year

     These last few days marks the January 'king tides' and I have a perfect vantage point to see them! Right outside my apartment "home" lies the Pacific Ocean and it is putting on quite the spectacular show. Today's daytime's high tide was around 8:30 am and low tide was around 2:30 pm. And as you can see, the high tide certainly covers over some pretty great sights when it is in. Luckily, I was able to go out and walk around on it this afternoon and get a nice ''up close and personal' view!!

               High Tide View                                         Low Tide View









     Once the tide went out, alot of private beaches, hidden reefs, shells, grasses and other nautical nooks and crannies were revealed. It was great to walk along the ocean right at 'sea level' and see the ocean crashing in the not-so-far-off distance.
     This is something I never get tired of seeing.  Looking forward to finding more great stuff!!