Category Archives: Life

A Homeless Guy, A Billionaire, And A Dumpster. Be Happy.

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blue dumpster

So a rich guy and a homeless guy walk into a bar . . .

Sorry, let me start over. So a rich guy and a homeless guy walk into a dumpster . . .

One more time. A rich guy and a homeless guy walk into The Washington Post . . .

America is officially a “Tale of Two Cities,” as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio says.

The grand canyon between extreme wealth and abject poverty has grown so wide and deep that we have lost all perspective. We have become indifferent and uncaring.

It’s common for the rich, especially, to believe that poor people choose to be poor. The rich imagine the poor are HAPPY.

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Cartoonist Takes Over Business Section Of Newspaper

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Of course you want to be happy in 2014! Doesn’t everybody?

Let me save you some time and eyestrain. Don’t bother reading the “happiness” story referred to in the previous post.

I won’t even name the formerly great newspaper. It’s too embarrassing. (Hint: The newspaper’s flag at one time included the words “And Times-Herald.” Jeff Bezos owns the paper now.)

To his credit, the author of the piece, Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip “Dilbert,” is totally, completely honest.

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If You Could Have What You Want, What Would It Be?

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So I get up this morning, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. It’s cold, gray, wet. The bleakest day in a string of bleak days. And here’s this headline in the newspaper:

“Read this if you want to be happy in 2014”

A headline among headlines! Maybe not the best headline, because it doesn’t tell you the subject of the story, it doesn’t tell you what happened, it doesn’t tell you THE NEWS.

“Read this if you want to be happy in 2014”

I have to read that story. I need to read that story. I must read that story. It’s the ultimate headline, the best headline ever written.

I wonder what the story’s going to tell me? “Read this if you want to be happy in 2014.”

Find out what happens next, here.

— John

Don’t Let The Light Go Out

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Gaithersburg Library Grand Opening

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If you persevere and read to the end of this post, you’ll be rewarded by the best part, video and music of Peter, Paul And Mary singing “Light One Candle.”

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January Is Time To Make Motel Reservations At The Beach

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OCEAN CITY SAND DUNE Photo by John Hayden

OCEAN CITY SAND DUNE, WITH A COLONY OF BIRDHOUSES. Photo by John Hayden

On these first days of January, phones are ringing off the hook at beach motels, according to my business contacts in Ocean City, Maryland.

It happens every year.

You might or might not be surprised to know that some travelers have favorite rooms at favorite vacation spots. Savvy vacationers jump on the phone in January to make sure they get their favorite room for the exact dates they want in July and August. Wait too long, and the rooms with the best views and amenities might be gone.

For some folks who honeymooned at the beach, it’s a matter of sentimental attachment. Same thing for couples who conceived a child while on vacation.

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Welcome, UK Readers

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First time ever, in my years of blogging, I’m getting more readers in the UK today than the U.S. I know they’re not visiting for our weather. — John

A Midwinter Night’s Dreams About Longitude and Attitude

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tree dupAs I sit here in Maryland on this freezing and snowy midwinter night, I understand why my brother liked Florida. He passed away in the spring, so this is the first winter he’s not in Florida, or anyplace else in this mortal world, which can be cold and mean.

If money were no object, I’d spend the winter months in Florida, summer in Maine, and spring and fall in Maryland.

But money IS an object. It’s a downright major impediment, to be honest.

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‘Street Pope,’ By Dan Rodricks In The Sun

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Dan Rodricks has a great column about Pope Francis, the “Street Pope,” in the Christmas Eve edition of The Baltimore Sun.

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Christmas Cards, A Vanishing Tradition

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American card, circa 1940

American Christmas card, circa 1940 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I regret to report that 2013 will be remembered as the year the Christmas card tradition died.

Based on anecdotal evidence, 2013 is the end of an era. People I know report neither sending nor receiving more than a card or two this year. I wouldn’t mind being wrong about this, but . . .

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Marriage Isn’t For You

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This post by Seth Adam Smith is one of the most-read posts in the history of blogging. More than 25 million views. Good advice that appears to resonate. Read the whole thing before you decide if you agree. I’ve had a request to repost it, so here it is. –John

Seth Adam Smith's avatarSeth Adam Smith

Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends. 🙂 I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. Was I ready? Was I making the right choice? Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each…

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