I was fortunate to escape the cold and snow in Costa Rica last week. One surprising dividend in flying on Jet Blue is the wide range of movie choices at your fingertips.  I went through the 100 or so selections, surprised by how tempting the old ones are for a re-watch.  And, they also have new ones, including the new Bond film, “No Time to Die”. On the flight there, I chose  “Pulp Fiction”, a Tarantino classic that I had never watched again in its entirety. It is dark, violent, quirky, and laugh out loud funny at times.   

I am an annual goal setter.  I like the idea of planning and thinking through what the year might bring.  I set personal goals and professional ones.  

I recently purchased a new “healthy” cereal. It depicts itself as healthy as it purports to be keto friendly, low in sugar, and high in protein. In reading the box I was intrigued to read, “Do you ever wonder why you grew up but your cereal didn’t?”   That question brought me straight back to childhood. My brother, sister, and I would often to come down for breakfast to find bowls and spoons at our places. On the table would be several boxes of cereal, most often the sugared variety of cereal.

Major League Baseball owners’ non-sensical lockout of its players puts Spring Training in jeopardy; maybe even the season. With the school year calendar no longer an issue for my household, I entertained thoughts of attending Spring training to watch my team some. Of course Covid-19 and reports by friends in South Florida how seriously or not many Florida residents take precautions makes me wary. Of course, the lockout’s length may obviate any need to make a final determination.

Driving along Route 110 on my way to work I encountered a purple car with these bumper stickers.      I'm not sure if I should smile or be concerned.             

Every weekday morning I get up bright and early and go to 5 Brothers (pictured) for the best coffee on the island served up by Pepe.   I wait my turn as the early bird (before 6:30 official opening time) regulars troop in for their daily dose of caffeine.  The regulars occupy the main bench next to the entrance and can be heard in their exuberant predawn chatter while I’m around the corner silently waiting my turn.  

Our soon-to-be six years old grandson recently shared one of his greatest confidences.“The bane of my existence is that I don’t know what the bane of my existence is.”I wonder whether he was simply expressing that he didn’t know what “bane of existence” mea

Early last month I drove to the Vipassana Meditation Center in Shelburne, Massachusetts to participate in a 10-day silent retreat. Vipassana is an ancient Buddhist tradition, often translated as "insight".   A major goal of the program is to develop your facility for equanimity - a mental calmness, composure, an evenness of temper in difficult situations, a grace under pressure.