How to fill time in retirement

 I ended up reading 39 books in 2024 and I Feel Fine ! Here are the last three books I read... Hyperion (#37) Written by Dan Simmons; Published in 1989 This was one of my B&N bargain buys. It ended up being a great book and I liked how the author wrote. I gave the book a 3.0 (Great) and would recommend it to my friends who like science fiction. I checked to see what the next book in the series was since this book ended at what was obviously another story to tell. I found there is a Hyperion Cantos Series which includes four Primary works and 26 different books that are offshoots. Good to know. The Goldfinch (#38) Written by Donna Tartt; Published in 2013; Pulitzer Prize winner for 2014 This became book  #75 from my bucket list. My second book I've read by this author, this one a Pulitzer Prize winner. The book is a wonderful read, I like the story and the author had great imagery. It is pretty sad in lots of ways but does make you think about choices we make in life. I g...

 This is my Digital Hoarding post XIV. The pictures truly are a Helter Skelter of images that I keep for multiple reasons. I keep adding new ones but some of the ones I am sharing are older. Most of these were collected back in 2022, with a few I just grabbed. Let's take a look... On the day before Christmas, Cocoa Beach holds annually a Surfing Santa's Party. This is a 2024 drone photo I grabbed. Most of the people are dressed in Santa Claus suits. in 1969, the Niagara Falls was temporarily shut down for maintenance. FYI, the water was redirected above the falls... Cool picture. I just grabbed this drone shot of Burlington Vermont. I spent four years going to the University of Vermont. In the background is Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest mountain. The shite steeple in front of the mountain is the Ira Allen Chapel on the UVM campus. My dorm was to the far right by the trees. Although not detailed in this photo, it is all up hill from Lake Champlain to the University. An...

 Yesterday, I finished the non-fiction book Robert Frost a life by Jay Parini. Growing up in Middlebury Vermont, we heard lots of stories about Frost and his life and visits to the area. Although he died in 1963 when I was only six, the influence of his poetry has inspired me my whole life. Before I talk about the book, which happens to be my 36th book of the year, reaching my goal, I want to mention a few things. First, there is a great Nature Trail located off of route 125 in Ripton Vermont. I have stopped and taken many pictures along this trail through the woods of Vermont wilderness. There are usually lots of flowers and plants, a running river, birds and butterflies, and just beautiful Vermont skies. Across from the Nature walk, there is a small picnic area that has a bathroom, or should I say an heated outhouse. Did you know that Robert Frost was born in San Francisco California in 1874? There are multiple trails to follow and they have a map at the entrance to the trails. T...

 My goal for books to read in 2024 was 36. I have hit 35 in November so I should make it. BTW, I am halfway through a Non-fiction book. Last year I read War and Peace by Tolstoy, and earlier this year I read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. I figured it was time to get Back in the USSR and read another Russian-author book from the bucket list. Here are my latest read books, number 31 to 35. OOPS!: The Worst Blunders of All Time (#31) Written by David P Barash; Published in 2023 I found this non-fiction book at Eau Gallie Library. It had some interesting facts and I did learn some new information, but I felt a lot of it was just hot air. Also, a lot of the stories I had read before so I just skimmed through those. My blunder was probably reading it. I give the book a 2.0 (Good). Calculating God (#32) Written by Robert J Sawyer; Published in 2000 Another book that my cousin Keith brought to me to read. The book was a memorable read until it got to the end, not so happy with how...