How to fill time in retirement

 Some times it feels like I am not reading enough, and then some times I feel like I am reading Eight Days a Week . At this time, I am on schedule to read 50 books in the year 2025. I have finished numbers 6 through 10 and present them here. Outlander (#6) Written by Diana Gabaldon; published in 1991; BJ Score 3.0 (Great) This becomes book  #76 on my bucket list. Recommended by both my niece Lori and Vermont friend Tommy Bumps, I decided to read the first book in the series. It is well written and I like the story concept. What I did not know that it was a Romantic novel with a little too much sex for my normal taste, but the overall concept and narrative outweighed that. I may read a few more from the series. Migrations (#7) Written by Charlotte McConaghy; published in 2020; BJ score 4.0 (Excellent) This novel was recommended by author Emily St John Mandel. It is hard to explain the story but it is a beautiful read. It took me only 6 days to complete. Set in the future, the s...

 I met John Pitkethly back in February of 1980. Since then, it has been a Long and Winding Road , but John played an integral part in how my life turned out. He hired me as a Data Analyst I and I started ENSCO on March 17, 1980. And I retired 34 years later, as a Data Analyst II . Just kidding, I was allowed to flourish at ENSCO, and worked on many interesting projects with many unique scientists and software engineers. John's life: Work, Drinks, Golf, Drinks, Cruises, Drinks, Drinking, Drinks. (and Family throughout) This is what John looked like when I started work at ENSCO, the DCS Division, in Indian Harbour Beach at Shopper's World. John was 43... This is what I looked like when I started at ENSCO, I was 22. When I started, Norm Bush was our Division Manager. Eventually Norm would become the President of ENSCO and John would become Division Manager of the ARS (Applied Research and Systems) and then VP, moving our office to Suntree. In 1999, John decided to retire and new D...

 When I was at the Zoo recently I happened to stumble upon a demonstration and talk by one of the Keepers. It involved the two-toed sloth. Sometimes you just have to Slow Down and smell the sloth. Here are some of the pictures I took. I wished I remembered the Keeper's name and also the sloth. The keeper says that sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down. She went back to get the sloth to come forward where it would be in front of the guests gathered for the short talk. The little box in the back left is where I usually see this particular sloth. Usually napping. Food is always an incentive to get me off the sofa. We think of sloths being slow, and they are, but they also are a little quicker than you might think. The keeper kept dangling treats and the sloth kept crawling. Finally it passed into the front where a table was set up. I like the eyes. You can see the stick of celery the keeper is using as a treat. Finally the sloth reaches the treat... And chomps down. I as...

 A visit to the Brevard Zoo always allows me to relax my mind and get rid of stress. Seeing all the animals and plants is my own kind of TM (see title note at end). There were mammals and birds and plants and things, but sad to say there was no Rocky Raccoon . Here are a few of the over 200 photos I took. I know, going through the photos just adds stress, but it is a kind I don't mind too much. Upon entering the Zoo, the first choice to be made is whether you go left or right. To the left, in a clockwise circle, will walk you pass the Nyami Nyami River Lodge on to the Expedition Africa . Continuing on the circle will next bring you to Lands of Change , the food/bathroom station, Wild Florida and Rainforest Revealed .  That gets you by the four main expeditions. There is also a small loop called Caribbean Trail , an Aquarium with a swimming area for kids, and the Paws On barnyard. On my last trip I turned right and went immediately to the Rainforest Revealed . Entry to each o...