January 31, 2013
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News and Notes: January 2013
Sometimes I can’t really believe I’ve been writing this column, (and publishing my Xanga blog) for almost nine years! You know, that’s a long time! I’ve been going back to some random earlier columns to check what differences, if any, have occurred when I compare the long ago (mid 2000s) to my current situation in 2013. I won’t say everything is looking rosy through my glasses, but they’re looking more rosy collectively than they have at any time in the past nine years.
HEALTH: In Dec. 2004 I was seeing a neurologist for the pinched nerve in my back. In June 2008 I found out my 16 year old hip replacement needed repair. Sept. 2010 was a few months after my 2nd cataract surgery, and I hoped I didn’t have any other unforseen health problems coming up in the future.
As 2013 begins in earnest, most of my health problems have abated. I’m working out so much that I need to get heavier weights. I throw my 5 pound free weights around like they’re made of tinfoil. I’m planning on getting a weight bench soon, and work out on my legs and thighs as well. Good weather is around the corner, and then it’s down to the pool for laps! My next targeted “problem” to hopefully be fixed is with my teeth. After having four tooth pulled over the past nine years, and only two “replaced” (with a temporary bridge which doesn’t fit correctly now) my front teeth have “bucked” so bad that I can almost put the tip of tongue through the space between them. My poor parents are spinning in their graves, I’m sure. They put so much money into my mouth after the car wreck when I was 14 and busted my jaw. I possibly need not only implants but braces as well. My yearly physical is coming up next month. I just got over my 2nd cold this season (after bragging that I didnt’ get sick for two years, what goes around comes around.)
WEATHER: Jan 2005 found me musing about the worst storm season in SoCal in years, announcing the death toll at 10 and hoping I’d be able to put the top down on the car at some point in the future!
My blog is always filled with musings about SoCal storms during the winter. There seems to be more and more of them each year. Great opportunities for my “cloudscape” photos when the storms pass. (Check my Facebook timeline “wall” for some neat current cloudscpaes.) This past weekend was gloomy. However the weekend before that found me in Riverside taking photos of railroad trains. I do promise myself to take a Mini Vacation to the desert this spring to get photos of the wildflowers. Unseasonable rainfall makes for pretty flowers!
ENTERTAINMENT: In Mar. 2005 I surmised that “watching TV” as an entertainment choice for me was passe, because with my Tivo DVR, Netflix DVD account, and Hi Def monitor, I chose exactly what I wanted to watch, and when!
In 2013 I seem to be reading more than in a while, thanks to my Kindle Fire. Just finished one Stephen KIng book and am working on another. I did get lots of blu rays over the Christmas season, mainly classic films I already have on other formats. I cancelled three TV shows from my DVR schedule. No time to watch “procedurals” which just seem to waste time solving the same crimes with cookie cutter cops in the same requisite 47 minutes every week. I am excited about the new season of Smash, however. And I absolutely love Nashville.
As soon as the sun comes out, I’m usually turning off the HDTV, grabbing the camera, and going out to take pictures.
WEALTH: In Dec. 2009 I made a note to increase the number of dependents on my 2010 W4. I’d just bought my house and was living perhaps more frugally than at any time previous.
I’m itching to relate my latest financial news, but don’t want to jinx anything yet. Let’s just say the light at the end of my debt tunnel is about to become pretty bright.
LIVING AND HOUSING: July 2008 found me contemplating housing choices following the death of my friend and roommate Joel.
Next month I’ll have been at “my little house” for four years. This may be the year I build my enclosed porch! I’m thinking of putting up a fence around my back yard to keep the critters out! I had to spend over 500 bucks on a new heater fan in December. Home ownership is a bear, at times. (when something goes wrong that is) I’m spending more time at the clubhouse. I call the seating area on the stage (which I usually find empty except for me) my “third” living room. (The second one is my carport, where I have seating and tables set up) I stop my daily walk to spend about 45 minutes at the clubhouse reading. (When the weather gets better, I’ll be spending that time next to the pool on a chaise lounge.)
WRITING: Jan 2006 found me announcing my plans to write a short story called “The Copper Locket”. I wrote that story about four years later.
I began a fictional short story a month or so ago. The subject matter isn’t “nice”. (I’m reading too much Stephen King perhaps.) I’ll be posting as soon as I finish, but don’t really think of either FB or Xanga as story platforms anymore. (Funny about how blogging, for me and a select group of readers/correspondents anyway,) was always about writing. I never get that sense too much when visiting Xanga blogs nowadays. (with a few rare exceptions.)
I might utilize the “timeline” feature on Facebook to “publish” chapters of my memoirs in the years the events happened. Also I’m planning of resurrecting my over a decade old personal website sometime this year. www.allthingsmike.com has pretty much been a “legacy” website for the past three years with no updates. That could change soon.
TRANSPORTATION: I whined about my 10 year old car “falling apart” when I had to get a new water pump in Mar. 2010.
My new car loves her shiny new “Moon” hubcaps. Next is the subwoofer/amplifier set for the stereo. I was looking at window tinting places in Boyle Heights a couple of weekends ago. Mitsubishi already wants to sell me a “new” new car. Heck, it seems I just got the Lancer yesterday. Actually, it’s over a year old now!
SOCIAL LIFE: In Jan. 2011, I had 5 different visitors over to my house in the course of one day! But I complained that I couldn’t seem to meet any women who didn’t smoke cigarettes.
The social scene I initiated with “younger people” in their 20s-40s in 2011 didn’t work out too well. I shall blog about it someday. I joined the social club at the park last month and attended one meeting so far. I plan on adding one of my special dishes to the next potluck. I figure if I can cook for one, I can cook for 10 or more. Just add bigger portions! As I age, I don’t really care that much about socializing anyway. I would like to perhaps get in touch with my two siblings this year. Each time I’ve made advances in this area in the past I haven’t been rewarded much. Neither Bro nor Sis ever seem to want to get in touch or keep in touch. I guess they have their own lives. I am planning on going to a dance with my ex gal Liz at the Reagan Library in March. A swing dance no less. Will have to practice those Lindy Hop moves!
XANGA: In Dec. 2004 I was imploring people to leave comments on my latest ElectricPoetry post because I was afraid it would fall off the front page of my blog without having any comments. In Feb. 2006 I contemplated shutting down my writer’s group “The Internet Island” because it wasn’t as popular as I’d wanted it to be. June 2011 had me bowled over that one of my comments on somebody else’s blog had received 5 recommendations!
I guess these days it’s great to get 10 comments on a post. I’ve been lax in “returning comments” but I don’t really “socialize” on Xanga these days like I used to. Most of the blogs I seem to visit have a political or social “point of view” or people simply post stuff they found on the internet. I never can seem to comment about other stuff. If someone is creative, then they can post their own stuff. But everyone isn’t creative, and some people like to post every day. Well, as I stated earlier, I “hung around” with writers and ran a writer’s group almost a decade ago. I still pretty much use Xanga for the same exact things I used it for in 2004, 2005, etc. etc. etc.
Xanga may have “changed’ but I haven’t. Just not a lot of time in my life at present to “catch up” with the folks who leave me comments. (I actually do pretty good, but I’m not “perfect”. Who is?) Some of these “catch ups” aren’t appreciated anyway. One blogger recently replied that ”I didn’t know how to comment” cause I read multiple entries and summed up each one (datestamped of course) in a long letter/comment I posted on their current entry.
Frankly, I’m going to do what I’m going to do. As I’ve been doing, and will continue, till the life force is sucked from this aging but still vibrant body and I’m allowed entry, along with all humankind into the soul filled Universal Existence of which I’ve been writing for over a decade.
Until next blog, News and Notes is closed for the month!
Posted: January 29, 2013 6:30 AM
Comments (16)
Sounds like life is good!
Well, your actual life sounds better than it did a few years back
I have to admit that Xanga isn’t the same as it was before, especially with many trying to get their posts up and catch the first-page committee’s eye. Ah well, we love it here, right? 
Mike,
I’m glad that you are doing better and recovering from the colds. We’ve had a break in the weather but now it’s going to freeze and turn to ice and snow. I cancelled my appointments and plan on hibernating.
Strangely, I deleted accounts I didn’t use anymore to simplify my life, just to find myself wanting to go back to tumblr due to finding a new artist that I LOVE! Didn’t realize how much I missed art! I tried to find a really cool name, but all words ending with -sion, were taken. Luckily, I got my hesacontradiction back and figured it was meant to be.
I’ve taken the Watchtowers Earth onto facebook due to not many people are going to flip through 15 pages of environmental information. I figured it was easier to share stuff on facebook anyway. Besides, I need something to keep me busy since all my doctors think I just sit around on my butt. Now I’m going to hand them a card and tell them to look me up! Should keep them busy for awhile. Then I can gripe to them about living in their environmentally bad-for-them homes in Yuppieville!
ann
I hope that you’re “on” here for at least nine more years, and they continue to get rosier for you
I figure you and me are here for life!
What a wonderful post. It flows…we all have good and bad things happen but we tend to dwell too much on one or the other. I see in your post…life. I wish I could do so well (writing that is). I have always been, because of my childhood with a psychophrenic (diagnosed) and an alcoholic, crisis oriented. Makes for a good salesman but tears down friendships, body and souls. I have often wished that I could lay under a tree on a hammock and simply BE, yet for some reason it frightens me…what will I find Me to Be. Will I like her?
Never worry about your comments on my site. I will not forget the first time you commented me, how honored I felt that you would take the time to type to ME. I love your organized random style. I could sit at a bard’s feet forever and often do at our Celtic retreats and festivals.
Keep on writing my friend, and I’ll keep on reading any time I get the chance. Oh and be sure to share that reciepie.
this is a very detailed update…thank you for sharing. I like it that things are going well for you seemingly, and like it better that you seem to count your blessings and see the good in every aspect of life.
Congrats on the new house and car. I’m definitely waiting for the next circulation of Mike News / Publication…cheers for a great 2013.
You are a part of xanga and it would be a shame if you ever actually shut down.
As far as entertainment goes, you won’t find a single television in my house. Not one. I received some brand new digital ones as part of dividing up the furniture years ago and I gave them to YWCA, and even the people who arrived to pick them up were skeptical why I would donate new televisions.
I told them if I can’t own it, I don’t watch it. I use the computer to get what I’m interested in, Online, or I purchase it on DVD. One or the other.
I had cable television years ago and told Charter that I would keep it only so long as there were no commercials. Well, either they lied or wires got crossed somewheres so I started getting commercials and I didn’t like it, so I dropped it.
Most people get enough commercials Online the Internet without having to see them for broadcasts they pay for so – no TVs, not one. And it’s that much more interesting, as you said above, get to watch what you want when you want it.
And that means if you’re interested in a particular TV series, you get to stick with it all the way to the end and not be distracted by other shows.
Right now I’m enjoying all the episodes of Wild Wild West with Robert Conrad and Michael Dunn as Dr. Loveless. And I don’t watch very much “TV” a day either. Usually only an hour and at night before I go to bed. Sometimes I’ll watch something small, 20-minutes for lunch, but that’s about it.
I far believe that television outside of KERA and some of the educational channels has too much has rotted our brains and the only real intelligence left after a broadcast is, unfortunately, the advertisers who pay to be in them. I won’t be part of that master plan.
Some of the best “shows” I’ve seen so far are in Xanga, and that does include you, Bald Mike. While I may not be as consistent as other viewers, when I do decide to watch or read something Online, I most definitely give it my full attention.
So here’s hoping to a continued good health and that you blog many many more happy and successful years ahead ! Cause this is one viewer who gives you a thumbs up for your continued broadcast, Mike !
Your media and transportation is indispensible to a certain extent. Owning a car is like a marriage, you keep loving the car and it will take you to places.
Xanga the blog is not that good of a feedback system. Sometimes you put a lot into it and sometimes in a long rare moment in time it gives a jackpot of feedback.
I am surprised that Theo Dan has graced the comment section. I suppose missing bloggers after they are gone is really too late.
So when are you going to put more electrical engineering in your blog? Then again I doubt people have much use for wiring up of an amplifier and a subwoofer system.
In biology they have definitely proved that stemcells are very useful for heart attack victims. Injected stemcells go right into cell body repair and speed healing. That is almost like hearing they have discovered the fountain of youth.
You damn writers are so temperamental! I saw your dancing VLOG, so you can cut the horsesh*t right here and now!
I say, you don’t mention how many siblings you have or who you should like to see. I am surrounded by my three sisters (which is probably why I’m half nuts…..)
@slmret - Janet. Vida es Buena. That’s one of my new catchphrases. I feel like Benjamin Button, aging backwards, and loving it.
@QweenCat - Maha, I swear I never look at the front page of Xanga. (Unless one of my entries is up there of course.
He’s in Wisconsin. Next day, he called in sick at his place of business cause he was out shoveling 7 foot snow drifts from around his car. I’m so ashamed.
Please.
I tend to take things too seriously (or so everyone at work thinks. Of course I’m not being paid to be a comic.) I’m not only temperamental, I’m obsessive compulsive, anal retentive, bipolar, and as I get older I tend to forget stuff. (Alzheimers? I hope not.
) I’m also not “only” a writer. I’m a renaissance man. (or so I’ve been called right here on Xanga by some of my readers.) I have two siblings.I did mention it in the “Social Life” section of the column BTW. I owe you a visit. And you’re the next subject for one of my Xanga portraits. (Although I’m sure you’ll be surprised 
at which photo of you I’ve chosen. Nyuck Nyuck. 
Maybe if you had three more sisters you’d be “allnuts” (padumdum) (I absolutely LOVE your performance vids by the way. And, I owe you a visit too. Did I say that already?)
@hesacontradiction - Ann, A client asked me “how’s the weather” the other morning. I went on and on about how “cold” it’s been. (my tan is fading!)
@an_OM_aly - Linda, I love Xanga. It’s like my sixth or seventh living room.
@jerjonji - Jeri, Got your book on my Wishlist. (Already told you that) I missed the promotion to get it for free. Or win the autographed copy.
@mommachatter - Karen, I think Donna indicated you were ailing. I’m way past due for a “visit”. I’m praying for you.
@persephone_winter - Persephone, I like that you used the word “seemingly” one of my favorites. Along with “perhaps”. And “however”.
@TheTheologiansCafe - Dan, I’m honored that when I finally kick the Xanga bucket you’ll be around to write my eulogy.
@dw817 - David, It always amazes me when I read about “binge viewing” where people watch a whole TV series on Netflix or Hulu one episode after another.(as if it’s a “new” phenomenon.) I was a “taper” in the 80s. When shows like Twin Peaks or L.A. Law aired, I rarely watched them. One of my four VCRs taped them, and I “binge watched” episode after episode on my own time. Fast forwarding through the commercials. (Now it’s neat to go back and watch some of those ancient commercials however.)
@PPhilip - Philip, I created my blog specifically to present my creative side, and NOT to talk about work. (I will, and have written blogs about the retail industry, my first career, but while I’m still working in the electrical industry, I won’t write about it per se.) I did begin a column here on Xanga a long time ago called “Geekspeaking” about electronics and computers, but scared away most of my readership.
@Kellsbella - Kells, Use more emoticons!
@baldmike2004 - Lol, I stopped since Xanga broke down to different categories a few years ago.
@baldmike2004 - :) it’s all good! We will run another contest or price decrease or something in the near future and I’ll let you know then!
)) thanks for being a cheerleader for me!
@baldmike2004 - That is funny that you mention emoticons because it seems that people don’t know when I am serious (which I can be) and when I am silly (which is most of the time.) M., I was funnin ya, jes so ya know. It’s what we girls in the south do…
I will tell you that my intention is not intended to hurt anyone’s feelings for I’m quite fond of folks. Truly, it is not my nature. I like to fight and I like to play. Reckon I need to add one of these fellas, though, huh?
I should very much like to see a rendition of me from you. I must say that I was very impressed by your drawing of silly Shimmer. I find her to be a very beautiful girl, outwardly and inwardly.
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