Today I wrote a letter.  I took it in my car, with the intent of dropping it on the manager’s desk in our local Ralphs market. Hi, I really want to help out one of your checkers. All of my experiences at Ralphs have been positive. Your checkers and your staff always have a big smile. They are always willing … Read More

My essays usually are about things I enjoy doing. The thing I enjoyed doing in this essay occurred after hours of discomfort. Spoiler Alert: You may not want to read this. It is about my bout with constipation. After trying Pepto-Bismol to stop two days and nights of stomach flu diarrhea, I turned to Imodium. That stopped it quickly.  The … Read More

[Editor’s Note: We are proud to report that Mr. Ebsen, our intrepid, longest-serving essayist, valiantly soldiers on through all manner of weather, especially when he is under it.] Stomach flu – Day Two. How can I write an essay when I feel so blah? I guess I can try to count my blessings. I don’t have stomach cramps. I can … Read More

Yesterday I hooked up my new Piper security system. Today I canceled ADT. I am so happy with my Piper. Here are some of my favorite fun things to do. I can set rules for what happens when motion or a loud sound is detected. The tilt sensor I purchased separately can alert me if the garage door opens. What … Read More

Two solar panel people came to give us quotes yesterday. The first person said it is better to buy rather than lease the system. We would need 24 solar panels to cover our electricity needs.  It would cost $24,000, but with rebates and tax breaks it would come to $17,000. The second person said it is better to lease than … Read More

It’s great fun trouncing around in the backyard. Watering the flowers and trees, attending to the waterfall, swimming in the pool. Just organizing my stuff outside is fun. It was fun until it was time to re-enter the house.  Then the thought “Just how much mud, dirt, or yucky stuff will I track in today?”  This was immediately followed by … Read More

I call these life-awakening events Duhs.  As in, Duh, why didn’t I think of that before? I would have more Duhs to report except that when they occur, I am so blown away I forget to write them down. Weights Above the Water I have been moving hand weights below the water in my pool for over 20 years.  Duh. … Read More

Here I am in the waiting room at Kaiser Permanente. The nurse just called me in. After taking my vitals, she told me to take a seat in the main waiting room.  I am glad I asked why. Turns out the doctor was seeing a needy patient who was taking a long time. Then there are two patients before me. … Read More

Not me. I don’t have my wife’s permission to go on the roof. Our gardener/handyman will be coming over to put my three solar panels back on the roof. For one thing, we will save a lot of money by not using the gas pool heater so much. For another thing, I just LOVE getting free heated water into my … Read More

You have heard of hardening of the arteries?  I think I have hardening of the brain. Like this afternoon when I was on the phone with a woman who was helping me to register online for a class at the local community college. I was going a bit nuts trying to follow her directions. So, I admit that I am: … Read More