Naturalist Maneuvers on the Beach

I will often pre-excuse myself by declaring that I don't, or haven't had time for one undertaking or another, when it would be more precise to state that I haven't taken the time. So now that you know where I'm going with this... on with the show.


Freedom Year is nearly a month gone. Contrary to the way the event might seem, Freedom Year began at noon on December 16th, 2016 - my official last day of work. There were exit procedures to attend to which delayed my departure by several weeks, however I did make it out and on January 10th of 2017 I landed in Fort Lauderdale to officially begin the next leg of this adventure.

My timing, as usual, was fairly lucky - I believe that luck runs in our family. Legend has it that our (my cousins, siblings and I) great grandfather was struck dead by lightening. In my imagination, real or not, his sacrifice has cast a blanket of good fortune upon us for countless generations forward. Most of that luck is a matter of timing. I arrived at Fort Lauderdale International airport several days after the shootout took place. I also missed Southern Florida's two-day winter, during which, I am told by a friend, she had to don her thermals.

I didn't know what to expect when I got down here - I wasn't thinking that specifically. I've had two new experiences - one planned, the other more of an opportunity. On the 12th of January I caught my first (well second) ever moon rise. This was the first one on the beach. I caught it on video, however it's not as good as I could have been. I have to gain a bit more experience with my equipment. I have a remake, remix, myself into a photographer again... as well as a videographer.

Second new experience was chillin' out on a nude beach - well clothing optional - I went full Monty however. People have commented about it being liberating. I didn't find it especially liberating. I didn't even find it out of the ordinary after a while. It was nice to be outside naked... so now maybe my bottom half will catch up with the top half in depth of color.

Nudity is such a taboo - or has been - but it probably still is, in this Judaeo-Christian, Puritan culture that whatever we (or, I) consciously want to think and/or believe is over-ridden by what we've been conditioned to believe, how we behave and how judge others on their behaviour. So in that sense maybe it is liberated and perhaps I haven't been completely liberated yet? Or, conversely, I didn't need to sit out on a nude beach to become any more liberated. Either way, I thin

Mary Kay, Friend, Fan, Follower

k I'll go back.

Don't ask for any pictures... although I was going to take a selfie and record an update, one never knows who will be caught with their pants down... quite literally... in the background.

I have yet to explore the City Miami. I have a few spots I want to go and at least one friend I want to catch up with. But there's time for that... maybe. I plan to exit Florida around the first of February, but I might stay longer. I am on a mission and I have promises and an itinerary to keep. Although it doesn't sound like freedom I still believe it is. I am exercising the freedom to fulfill the promises I made.

So, today... I got two workouts in. I can do this here a couple of times a week, probably. I'm feeling the soreness now, probably from the one this morning - it was all body weight and movement.. like the animal movement, low to the ground, crawing... low game, I call it. I haven't graduated to creeping... very low to the ground, yet, but that will come. I want and need to do more work on my arms... balance, handstands, etc. Maybe once a week... on the first day after a break. I will continue the 500s - that, I believe it doing wonders for the Bod.

Okay.. I think I can wrap this up. In fact I need to, I am sore and need to stretch.

Last Day In Philly

I am out of here in less that 12 hours now.

Last Day... start building and healing tomorrow.

I originally began this entry with a declaration of having no new words, nor any more eloquent thoughts about leaving Philadelphia, than I had five or more years ago. (Five will do...)

If there was ever a time in my life when I (even loosely) planned something, it was getting out of Philly. If everything goes reasonably well I'll be able to catch the sunset from Sunny Isles tomorrow evening.

Today a good bit of anxiety came out during a tea with Dan at the Green Line Cafe. I don't think I'll be able to find something as quaint as this in South Florida, but it's worth looking for... I'll have more time this time around.

Got the middle room sorted somewhat and got the dishes and a few other items to a good home.

I don't have much more to say. I feel the anxiety coming again... until the time I can just say "forget it," and take off.

Maybe this will be edited, or not.

Last Year 1-18-16 at the Y... for context.

Edit One: Ever since leaving the gig I've been losing weight. For this past week I have maintained weight between 174.2 - 175.8 and 14.1 - 14.5% body fat, without exercising... as I usually do. I have however been doing quite a bit of work around the house to prepare to leave. In any case, as I expected, not sitting at the desk for 4 to 6 or 7 hours has shredded some fat... but I've also dropped below 78 lbs of muscle as well.

When I get out of here, for the three or four weeks I have in South Florida, it will be time to add some muscle. Go back to the old school lifting with a combo of old school body weight exercises as well... and a few walks along the beach. We'll see what that does.

Got a few more chores to get at before I "disco" nap for an hour or two. Maybe...

Happy New Year 2017

Surviving 2016 and ready for 2017 with my Brothers

Yesterday I reached my twenty year weight goal. Weighed in at 175 lbs. Whew!! Big exhale. At some point I will recount the story of weigh gain and weight loss and what I learned. It will probably start with an e-book I am currently writing and continue with a series of reports.

So let's get to the balance of the day.

I thought I'd be able to stay in and clean house, but a text for brunch kind of changed my plans. Today,  realize I probably have more food at home than I can eat in two weeks, so I'd best not eat out much this week.

So back to yesterday.

I wanted to have breakfast at Aquarius Diner, along with Blossom, however the waitress seemed grouchy and her body language as well as her behaviour was rude, or at the very least unprofessional. I felt that she had some kind of problem with me; or it could have been her, the day, her situation, etc. Nonetheless the vibes were so bad I couldn't raise them up and my guest was overtly having a bad experience. After a cup of tea and coffee, we headed out.

There are many examples of our server's non-professionalism but no need to go into that. I may not get to go back to Aquarius before I leave, but if I ever do, I will be sure to avoid her section.

Blossom and I went to a coffee house called Five Points; a mom and pop place with a pleasant atmosphere, however the food was a bit lighter.

All things for a reason, so no worries.

We spent so much time at Five Points I was hungry again by the time we got back to my spot. Blossom got the the glasses I'd saved up for her and a pair of shoes.. perfect fit too. She'll be back for the dishes.

The Llama came through and we went out for a protein shake. This has become a thing with him. He will literally drive an hour to get a shake from this place. I go along for the ride and we get to laugh and talk about the past and the future, walk around town and sometimes... shop.

Finally to the New Year's Eve party hosted by Julia and Tim. Great atmosphere and an opportunity to meet new friends and get different perspectives on today's issues. I Actually drank and still survived. Three slow-motion dark-n-stormies with actual Gosling dark spiced rum. Long time since I had Gosling. The ginger beer was a kind of lucky find.... picked up four bottles at a spot that was still open... like a deli or something. Anyway, I used Reed's, which was used in the first D-n-S cocktail I ever had... adequate. I couldn't get Citadel.

The night ended a few hours before sun up. About 0400. I prepared NOT to be hung-over this morning. ACV (apple cider vinegar), Chlorella and Carnitine and Arginine (Amino Acids) were taken before the nod.

Just a quick note, I've been experimenting with taking arginine and carnitine before bed based on the idea that the body repairs itself during sleep. If aminos are building blocks, they should be best utilized during sleep. How do I measure the results?? I have no idea. However, if they do no harm, then I'll keep up the practice.

Well, today is Mr. Honey's 88th birthday, so I have to head up and do the family gathering thing. More important now'adays. It's a nice, relatively warm day (high 30s and sunny) so I might just take that walk up to Mom's.

I'm beginning to feel the lack of group fitness class conditioning as I exert myself in certain situations, which suggests... strongly, that I need to grab an Insanity tape, or better yet, practice my own "Come Back" session.

Okay, this is the report of the day. It could be just me or shared to those who've subscribed. I've still got so much to do. Better organization and discipline is the key.

Happy New Year.

Baja'Exit - Adios 2016

Old School Pool @ South Bowl: Philly 12-30-16

For some reason, yesterday I woke up at 0300. I still don't know why, but I didn't have anything to do so I rolled with it. It was an opportunity to get more work done in the house. I still don't think I'll make it in time. But that's another story. I got a good bit done. Maybe I don't have as much stuff as I thought.

Okay.. so 0300 to sun up I cleaned and cleared and scanned and shredded until the 1000 meet-up with Dan at a small cafe called The Green Line. It lies somewhere between the University of Pennsylvania and the University of the Sciences. Luckily it's holiday time so there are not a lot of students mulling around. So we chilled there and talked about the e-book, business and passive income from the internet and such.

There's so much going on and so many opportunities I get a bit confused at times. It makes me a bit anxious.

After the meet-up I went home and nodded. The afternoon siesta.

Good move too. In the evening we rolled out to play pool at South Bowl. I called it "Old School Pool" because that's one of the first rituals we launched back in the day.

Finally we rolled out to Trestle Inn and listened to some authentic Old Soul selected by DJ Lil Dave - who happens to be the DJ I've experienced most this year. It just worked out that way. Anyway, Trestle was thin, but fun. You know one of those nights where not a lot of people showed up, but the people who did REALLY wanted to be there and party!!!

On any normal night out we'd have hit a diner and maybe arrive home with the rising sun, but we streamlined it; A quick stop at Wawa for an all-protein night cap. I was still fairly energetic by the time I pulled the sheets over my head... somewhere between 0200 - 0300.

Today I figured I'd be in most of the day... once again, cleaning and clearing, but no sooner than I rose I was tapped for a brunch. Not so very far away so it won't take much time away from the work. I think I'll probably get more done the closer I get to leaving. I may have to come back to tidy up.

The next update will likely be in 2017... So Happy New Year. I know a lot of us will be happy that 2016 is over. It seems like a new start, but I predict it will be even trickier.... but I'll cover that when it comes.

Happy New Year.

2016 is like a Societal Disease

The day moves rapidly when you wake up at 0900. It's the perfect day to stay in and get work done. Cleaning and packing. I have to rescue item I don't want to throw out... just yet. Privately, I can't throw them out. I don't think I'd mind if I were discover they'd been thrown out if I were to return ten years later.

Havertown, Pa early 1990s. Approaching fatness.

Despite the Vagabond Philosopher handle, I don't want to get too philosophical, not now anyway. This is just a break. I have more today. This blog will be a work i n progress. Begun at 13:00-ish, it will be completed when I am completed.

It's dreary and rainy. Perfect day to stay in. It's 12-29-16, that no-mans-land week after Christmas and a lot of people emotionally rush to escape the current year. Especially this year. A lot of emotionally challenging events occurred this year. No need to enumerate them.

2016 has been like a disease. Literally. Many people have felt, or today feel ill at ease, which is literally the definition of disease. The 2016 disease has manifested itself in several unhealthy ways, mostly fear and hate. Those emotions, similar to the way a sneeze can transfer a virus into another person, have manifested into hateful actions, designed to cause even more fear. Some of those actions, (hate speech, hate posts, hate graffiti, micro-aggressions, et al) have further spread fear, suspicion, and distrust, even among people who considered themselves friends.

As friendships dissolve so does unity and the co-energy that makes us strong and healthy. Thus, the 2016 disease metaphor comes alive, as in addition to our depression over the events of the year, we also generate negative emotions towards those who, let's say intellectually betrayed us with their positions on politics, social justice and the like.

This social media disease, I observe, has spread like a contagion and manifested itself in emotional status updates, mean memes and withdrawal.

Not everyone is affected. Some of us seem to be immune. Perhaps we were inoculated in the past or have built up an immunity during events like Vietnam, Water Gate, Reaganomics, The Gulf War (I), 9/11, the Crash of 2008 or the countless false flag events of the last four years. We don't allow these events, authentic or not, get into out hearts and souls and eat them away from the inside. We have our coping methods, however, little if any of them include self pity, cursing the times, or some abstract diety or becoming cruel to our friends and colleagues.

This is all I have. It just came to me in an auto-write fit. I should go on, but I have to get back to cleaning. I hope you get to read this. I keep reaching out, little by little... maybe you'll reach back.

Mas tardes.

I spent a lot of time shredding pictures today I saved a lot as well and this evening I will scan them. I got out of the house after sundown for two reason... first, simply yo get out and second to get some stock for my smoked turkey soup. The front room is a bit cleaner. A lot of stuff has been boxed and a bit more has been trashed. It looked like there was more than there was.

I have several tasks to work on this evening. I also have to exercise. That will take priority. Looks like it will be "Home Work" for the duration of my stay. Might not get back to the Y unless I catch up with this work. I think I'll put clothes on the agenda tonight although my go-to clothes donation contact is MIA.

Remind me to rant/explain how to tell if someone who claims to be a friend is indeed a real friend... or basically how to tell if you should actually rely on them for things they say they will do.

Anyway, let me get this up and get on with teh rest of the night.

Ciao.

Freedom Year... Next Level

Blowing smoke, Limerick, Pa. 12-28-16 selfie

It gets a little more real with every meeting. Today was the Pension Board where I found out I won't get another paycheck until February 13th, 2017!!! Gasp... an early Valentine's gift. I wonder where I'll be that day. Wonder if I'll be able to check it from my mobile device. Until then I'm just gonna chill and roam and NOT shop.

Not only did I get that bit of business out of the way I made a few other moves that will help ease the pain of not having a steady, fortnightly paycheck. Note - I'll only get funds in once a month. Talk about being on a fixed income. I am in for some lean years, but I've been warned.

It's worth noting that I ate both meals at home today. I've been on a 176.8 lb. plateau for 4 or 5 days... all days/nights I've eaten out and not trained (too much). It would be ironic if I gained weight today.

Before I got back home and started pretending to be a FOREX trader, I took one last walk down to Wricley's (the wholesale nut factory, which I have only called The Nut Spot and then mispronounced when I tried to big them up.) As mentioned in one of two of my video clips, it's a place I will miss. I like their products. And come to think of it, since I've been retired and not sitting around eating trail mix for 3-4 hours I've dropped a pound or two. Makes me wonder if the trail mix was keeping my weight at a certain level. I expect a lot of changes as I move away from my at-work behaviour.

After a few hours of cleaning up the house... more or less.. Roll Dawg came by and we took a local road trip. Whenever I get in the vehicle I don't even ask where we're going. This time we ended up in Limerick, Pa. (I thought those smoke stacks looked familiar) for some outlet shopping. I am not a shopper, in fact my series Men on Shopping is a reaction to having a friend who likes to shop. (I have to do something while I'm waiting.)

In a classic act of irony a lovely lady handed me a coupon with a deal attached. But three items and get an extra 10% off. Did I mention this was a Tommy Hilfiger outlet store? Did I mention that I am NOT a TH fan?? So I bought these socks because they came out to like $4.00 a pair and they weren't white sports socks... I figure they will be comfortable on the train, plane, or bus.

Other than that the day wasn't very eventful.

If you're still asking how it feels... it's comfortable, it feels free and I notice I am a bit friendlier and open to people. I talk more freely and openly - if you can imagine that. I have nowhere to be. No curfew - I'm not abusing it... I don't think. Heck, I was up at 0400 this morning working out. If this becomes my thing, so be it. I'll keep getting up at 0400 until I stop. I'm not going to force anything.

And that's today.... I'd better start looking for flights. 

Neo-Xmas X'it Traditions

I'm taking a little shredding break. I feel like I am accomplishing something when I shred. This evening it's photos.

Pop-pop with his first grands - c. 1988

In terms of occupation, I've been a photographer for more than thirty years. I used to run around with a camera and pockets full of film... rolls that is, taking pictures of events, DJs, bands and such. As a result I have stacks of them that have been sitting in my house in various locations for a long-ass time.

It's tough for me to get rid of images because they hold memories. That's exactly what they are supposed to do, and as a photographer and someone with a freakishly good memory I put a sentimental value on both; especially when it comes to my children.

However, today's reality is that I must give up some of these moments and memories, at least in solid form. Some of the subjects in those memories have changed dramatically to a point where they'd rather not have the memories of those times rekindled; others have passed on... almost all who have, left us too soon, if not tragically.

In other Christmas news; as expected I didn't rush to get out of bed. No kids, no Christmas tree and no one else here or anywhere to answer to. What wasn't expected was the 2 miles I combo'd (mostly run, but partial walk, 31 minutes) this afternoon. Once again, some other part of my Me took over and next thing I know I'm huffing and puffing down the parkway and back. I didn't even have time to make one of those clips I imagine I've become so infamous for.

Other than that, the day is going along well. It's just the cleaning and discovering of such items as photos, mix cds, and booklets... lots of diary-type notebooks mostly filled with daily exercise routines, weight and percentages of body fat and muscle mass, but inter-sprinkled within are some bits of wisdom.

Also on the front, of the items to be completed list, is to get my wealth-game in order. I've been listening to the whispers of the Freedom and Liberty media and while I don't buy all of their rhetoric there are a few strategies that I feel can benefit me during Freedom Year. Of course I am hesitant to mention any specifics in a public forum. Wealth is like Health... in fact their etymologies are connected, in that I don't give advice on either, except when I've tried a particular strategy and have had satisfactory, or better results with it. What makes sense to me, financially or physiologically, might not make sense to anyone else. I think I'll be experimenting in the next year on the wealth side and see what happens.

I envision needing wealth for the most basic things, mostly food, shelter and transportation. I won't be out purchasing comfort amenities.

Later... The cleaning continued and I came across more photos that I wanted to save. After a battle trying to find free software to operate my scanner.... which is probably a clunker by today's standers (at least it has a USB connection) I rescued several classics and now I can triple save them for the future. I can also put the originals away to display just in case I decide to settle somewhere and I want solid images from a hundred years ago to hang onto the virtual all in my virtual apartment... or whatever they will call the space that far in the future.

Home Boy

Thought for the day

Well it's Day 7 of Freedom Year. The first week is over and after a week of hanging out meeting up and gym time and goodbyes... it was time to stay in and get some work done. Of course it was the nicest day of the week; fairly warm and sunny out. My only consolation is that it's one of the shortest days of the year, so time-wise I didn't miss that much sunlight.

I can't even remember the last time I was in all day. Occasionally I would have a day like this when I couldn't bring myself to go outside, but that's changed. I don't remember when, but it has changed.

The theme of the day was clean up, clean out; I don't have that much stuff, but it's too much. I've been trying to give much of it away for the last five years. I've been pretty successful with vinyl(s) [ha ha ha], CDs and movies. Dishes and cutlery have been more difficult and clothes... well I have a contact for them. I don't just want to dump them into one of those bins. My massage therapist collects clothing for homeless men and those generally in need. Some of the stuff is in pretty good shape, so she shares some pieces as well.

Also, my son is the same size as I am, just longer above the waist, so he can grab some if necessary. There is too much to travel with. And if I fill up my dufflebag I won't have room to collect any new items along the way.

Another act I did today was pull my camera out of its bag and start taking pictures. I have to rekindle my love of taking pictures. Ironically my profession, as a photographer, all but killed it. When I got my first camera I would take it with me and just go around snapping pix of just about everything. So I did that today. So here are the results of today's photography... and house cleaning/clearing.

Front Room... the speaker is spoken for.

Weight bench and not an ironing board.

My exercise area. Home gym, (banister)

I don't sit in this chair. It must go!!

I did some shredding today.

Arial view.