Author: Thomas Walters

So much of our lives change overnight when pandemic strikes – from the small routines like stopping for coffee or going grocery shopping, to life events like weddings, funerals, and the upcoming Easter season.  Each night, local and national news is filled with statistics, updates on where the disease is hitting hardest, how people are coping, what new information is available that we should know.  I’m becoming overwhelmed. Continue reading “Adjusting, With Some Profiles in Courage”

The idea of keeping our distance from others really brings out the differences in our individual traits and personalities.  Nothing highlights the introverts and the extroverts more than a pandemic that requires us to isolate.  That’s why it is so difficult for some people to stay home, while for others it’s almost a welcome relief and a reason to continue their solitary lifestyles without looking, well, strange and reclusive.  My guess is that, during the Black Plague in the 14^th century, many nobles were anxious to get out and about, returning to normality with ambitious campaigns to pillage, and conquer, while others were quite content to pull up the drawbridge and wait for the whole pandemic thing to blow over. Continue reading “The Good and Bad of Social Distancing”

I recently blogged about Americans travelling to trouble spots in the world with only a passing thought that it might not be wise.  In that vein, I issue a follow-up that implies we as a people don’t always think things through before we do them, and in hindsight, perhaps we should be thinking . . . . . no. Continue reading “Don’t Go There II – Americans in Shutdown”

Several higher profile candidates have ended their quests for the White House in recent days, and weeks, ending much of the speculation about a crowded field and overlap.  For those that merely dabble in the political orbit, the new language is “suspending” rather than “dropping out”.  It’s virtually the same but sounds lighter and fluffier. In the interest of complete transparency, I ended my campaign quite some time ago, and my exploratory committee, in addition to my entire campaign apparatus is missing. (Should you see them someplace, please ask them to “phone home”.) Sadly, however, few of my followers noticed, and even fewer noted their despair at the void this would leave in the field.  (But thank you, Rebecca in Billings, Montana, for kind words of support.) Continue reading “Suspending My Campaign”

Another “Ripped from the headlines”. There is a news item headlining today’s paper.  It’s about a gentleman that runs a restaurant in New Hampshire.  He escaped from his native Lebanon some years ago and recently became a citizen of the United States.  For some reason unclear to me, he decided to make a trip back to his native Lebanon to visit relatives.  It appears that parts of his former life in Lebanon didn’t escape official notice and he’s been detained.  To make matters worse, he’s suffering from a chronic medical condition about which I suspect Lebanese officials care little to not at all. And while I feel tragically sorry for him, my question first and foremost, with Hezbollah currently running Lebanon, is, “what were you thinking?” Continue reading “Don’t Go There!! Americans Abroad”

Remember that feeling either of joy or dread that everyone felt back in January when the tax forms and information started to roll in?  Taxpayers are divided into two categories – those that are getting a refund, so the savings account will get a bump or that new refrigerator seems possible – please issue that refund before the Presidents Day Sale, and those that will owe  money, and thus will be standing on tiptoes on the cliff of mid-April before filing. Continue reading “Tax Prep, or The Taxperson Cometh”

As my global readership knows, I’ve written somewhat extensively on the health benefits of napping, as well as various techniques and formats for napping successfully.  Therefore, it’s high time I set up a niche market in consultation – the Nap Consultant.  Actually, I’m a bit conflicted – do I call myself a “consultant”, which implies a degree of support and empathy. Or I could use the term “specialist”, which suggests a high degree of expertise and training.  While we’re at it, this is not to be confused with a “sleep specialist”, who deals in sleep disorders and uses a whole array of plug-in electronics and/or medications.  Nay, nay.  This is pure, natural, healthy midday sleep that rejuvenates, restores, and allows human beings to extend their day well into the evening and beyond. Continue reading “Art of the Nap II – The Nap Consultant”

This is not an endorsement for any candidate, as I feel that would seriously jeopardize my credentials as an impartial, independent blogger / influencer.  For those of you that don’t understand the primary system, it’s a convoluted, messy, scrappy way that we pick delegates, and sometimes really good delegates – they’re called superdelegates, state-by-state that will eventually elect the party’s nominees. We have dozens of candidates blowing through gazillions of gallons of jet fuel crisscrossing the country in attractive geometric patterns, and its ultimate purpose is to take all of the mystery and surprise out of the conventions. That’s it in a nutshell. Right now, there’s a lot of fun going on here in New Hampshire surrounding our primary because it’s the first officially scheduled one, except for Iowa, which is a caucus and not really a primary.  The difference is that people go to polling stations and, well, I’m not really sure what, but somehow they indicate their preferences.  We use a paper ballot, which is much better.  Then we have Russian nationals to count the ballots and tell us who won.  No, we don’t really, but Mr. Putin has offered his people to help. Continue reading “Heading Into the Primary – An Update”

How things have changed over the years.  While it seems that many establishments, from medical practices to service providers and retail stores are spending less and less time worried about customers actually in their buildings, they’re very concerned about customer feedback after the experience. Continue reading “Advances (Or Not) in Customer Service”

As we’re well into January and knocking on February’s door, I’m reposting my stern advice as a service to everyone about Christmas decorations going on too long. I can’t help noticing the number of people that still have festive wreaths up on doors, bows on the windows, and Rudolph grazing in the yard.  The people that really ought to be reprimanded are those that still have up the large inflatable crap figures all over the front lawn. What is with these people?  Somewhere along the way, Americans have lost all sense of taste. Continue reading “Take Down Christmas!”