Share Your World

Share Your World — 06/27/2022

Fandango8 Comments

It’s already the last Monday in June. Can you believe that? But because it’s Monday, it’s time for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? If you’re retired, what’s something you now include in your schedule that you dreamed about while employed?

I didn’t really dream about this when I was still working, but now that I’m retired, one of my favorite activities is bike riding, especially now that I have an ebike. Yesterday my wife and I met up with our daughter and her fiancé to go on extended (~30 mile round trip) bike ride. Because we were riding at the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay, it was cool (in the sixties) compared with the 95° temperatures we experienced further east where we live.

Now that Covid isn’t so strictly monitored and folks can go out and about again, are you into after-work happy hours?

As a retiree, going out after work for happy hour is a thing of the past. And truth be told, I rarely went out after-work for happy hour even when I did work.

What physical traits do you share with your relatives? (Example: I have my mother’s nose.)

Both of my parents had blue eyes, and my eyes are blue, so there’s that. I inherited my mother’s dimpled nose and my father’s cleft chin, although with my beard, you can’t see my cleft chin.

How long does it take you to decide if you like someone or not?

I can tell if I like how someone looks almost instantly. But as to their personality, intellect, sense of humor, perspectives, and other non-physical characteristics, that can take a lot longer.


Feel free to share some wisdom you live by.

In addition to “whatever floats your boat,” another boat metaphor I live by is “we’re all in the same boat and there’s no such thing as a hole only in your end of the boat.”

Share Your World — 06/20/22

Fandango7 Comments

Another Monday has rolled around and that means it’s time for another edition of Melanie’s Share Your World. Here goes.

What are three scents you like?

Coffee, bacon, freshly baked bread.

What is something true (factual) that most other people don’t believe?

I think a true fact is that most people can’t tell the difference between fact and fiction, nor truth and lies, especially when it comes to politics and religion.

Would you rather have a massage or get a facial?

A massage…with a happy ending! 😉

Have you ever thrown someone a really extravagant party?

My daughter’s wedding reception.

GRATITUDE SECTION

Share Your World — 06/13/2022

Fandango18 Comments

Another Monday has come around and that means it’s time for another round of Melanie’s Share Your World.

What is one topic you really like to talk about? Or something you really want to tell people?

There of two of me. The one here on WordPress you know as Fandango. And here, I like to express my views, perspectives, and opinions about what’s going on around me, including those three classic controversial topics of sex, religion, and politics. In other words, I’ll talk about anything.

And then there’s the real world me. And for the real world me, when it comes to sex, religion, and politics, I will keep my mouth shut (except with members of my immediate family).

What do you normally never tell strangers about yourself? (Be general, I don’t need to know details or invade privacy.)

I rarely tell strangers anything about myself. Why would I? They’re strangers, for crissake.

Have you ever broken anything? (Can be health related, emotion related, or situation related – you define “broken anything” for your own satisfaction.)

I’ve broken a big toe, a couple of fingers, a few ribs. I haven’t broken any hearts that I’m aware of. But I’ve broken my fair share of glasses, plates, and bowls. And when I was in college, I broke the world’s record for continuous hours in a shower, which record was broken only a few months later.

Is having a big ego a negative trait or positive trait?

Having a big ego isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We each have an ego and our ego helps us define our sense of self-worth. A positive self-worth enables us to feel pride in our past and confidence in our ability to deal with the present and the future. There is nothing wrong with feeling positive about yourself. But the ego needs to be kept in check. The problems with an oversized, unbridled ego arise when it turns a person into a self-absorbed, arrogant person who feels that he or she is superior to others.

What aspects of your city or neighborhood are you grateful for?

We live in a safe, friendly suburban town with nice neighbors, a quaint downtown with good restaurants and shops, and all in a rather scenic area at the foot of Mount Diablo.

Share Your World — June 6, 2022

Fandango13 Comments

It’s hard to believe that it’s already June, isn’t it? Well, it is and it’s also the first Share Your World prompt of the month. Here are Melanie’s questions.

When you were a kid, did you eat the crusts on your sandwich or not?

I did. My mother refused to cut off the crust, claiming that the crust was the healthiest part of the bread. I still don’t know if that’s true.

Are you a fan of musicals? Why or why not?

Live, stage musicals are okay. Some I’ve really enjoyed. Others not so much. But I’m not a fan of movie musicals.

Is it difficult to do what you do (for a living, hobby etc.)? If you’re retired, what you ‘did’ previously for a job can be substituted.

I’m retired, but when I was working I had a lot of roles, from managing a large call center to system design to tech sales support. And all modesty aside, I was damn good at my various jobs. Were they difficult to do? Well, if I could do them successfully, how hard could they have been?

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? (Doesn’t have to be a rock concert either).

I’ve been to so many live rock concerts that it’s hard to pick just one. That said, Jackson Browne recorded his live album, Running on Empty, at his concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on August 27, 1977 and my wife and I were there. So that one definitely stands out. Billy Joel is great in person and I’ve been to no fewer than four Eagles live performances and they were all outstanding. Oh man, I could keep going, but suffice it to say that I probably suffer today from tinnitus for having gone to hundreds of rock concert over the years.

Looking back over your life, what is one thing you’re grateful for? One thing you really regret?

I’m grateful for having met and married my amazing wife. I regret that I was too self-absorbed when my parents were still alive to take the time to hear their life stories.

Share Your World — 05/30/2022

Fandango14 Comments

Melanie has given us another round of eclectic Share Your World questions to consider. So let’s consider her questions and craft our answers.

Has anyone ever tried to scam you?

I once get an email from some “girl” in Russia who wanted me to send her money so she could come to America. And I still get occasional emails from what appear to be legitimate companies telling me that I need to log in by clicking on a link provided in the email to update my personal information or to change my password. Fortunately, I have yet to fall for one.

What’s the best thing about parties?

When someone else is hosting them.

Do you listen to people’s advice if you didn’t ask for it?

I don’t listen to people’s advice even when I do ask for it!

Why is it impossible to spell funeral without fun?

For the same reason that if you drop the letter “f” in funeral and switch around the letters “e” and “r,” it spells “unreal.“

How was last week for you?

Not the best, not the worst.