How to fill time in retirement

 I am not really a Paperback Writer , but I am a reader of Paperbacks, Softcovers, and Hardcovers. Here are the first five books I have read in 2025. I raised my goal from 36 books to 40 books after reading 39 in 2024. Here are Books 1 through 5... Sense and Sensibility (#1) Written by Jane Austen; published in 1811 This was the first novel written by Austen and the third I have read. The cover is not from the book I read since I have one book with all four Austen novels: Pride and Prejudice , Emma , Sense and Sensibility , and Persuasion (still need to read). It was an enjoyable read and it is interesting to read about England in the late 18th century. It also became the 75th book on my Bucket reading list. I give the book a 3.5 (Great to Excellent). Dry (#2) Written by Neal Shusterman and son Jarrod; published in 2018 I ended up buying this book on a recommendation by Stephen King on Goodreads. There are plenty of books by Neal, and it was his son Jarrod that helped him write thi...

 Well, a second member from my drinking group has passed. Not sure why, but just Because . Jim Austin Sr. left this world on February 6. 2025. He was 96 years old, having only 24 Birthdays since he was born on a leap day. I had hoped to celebrate his 25th Birthday in 2028. I have never been to a party for a 100 year old. I met Jim through my boss John Pitkethly. John had previously worked with Jim and was bringing him to Hubb's Pub for Friday afternoon beers. One time Jim brought his wife Ann, and I chatted with her knowing she was from Vermont, just like Jim. She said she had gone to Beeman Academy and I found out that she knew the Shacketts; Stella, Bobby and Lillian. Stella is my mom. Small world! I continued to see Jim after Ann died, and he was a regular at Coasters. Then in 2014, I retired and I started to hang with a small group on Tuesdays and Fridays. Early places included Coasters, Rum Island Grill, and Charley and Jakes in Indian Harbour Beach. Then we found a great plac...

 It was cloudy in Melbourne and there was a SpaceX launch at a reasonable time; that is not in the middle of the night or after sunset. I wanted to get some pictures, but Tell Me Why I should drive all the way to Jetty Park and found out it was just as cloudy there. In reality, I just wanted to get out of the house so decided to drive up. First, they are making A1A hell going through Cocoa Beach. The speed limit has dropped from 35 mph to a new 30 mph. Also, for some insane reason, they are starting to put in speed bumps. Not sure why but maybe it is too expensive to have cops patrolling the roads. Regardless, the trip is going to be about 10-15 minutes longer for me. I got to the Port and it was cloudy. This is looking South from the fishing walkway at Jetty Park. But it did clear up some to the North so I could see the beginning of the launch. It was right on time a 1:53 PM. The Falcon 9 is about 230 feet long so that is a big flame... The clouds did add a little contrast to the ...

At the rate I am visiting restaurants, It Won't Be Long before I reach my goal of 52 different places in 2025. So far I have visited 8 places, two of them NEW. The goal was to revisit a lot of the places I have liked in the past. As the year goes on, I am sure I will start going to repeats which won't count to the total. Here are three of the latest. Rising Tides Table & Tap Probably one of my favorite places at the Port, I have taken a few different visitors to this establishment. I was actually asked to leave early once so Elon Musk and the SpaceX team could have a party. Recently, they changes the menu some but I always like to go for lunch after walking and photographing at Jetty Park. They have like sixty Beer taps. I usually start with an Orange Blossom Pilsner, made in Orlando. A few of the beers on the menu including the OBP. The second beer, which came out with the lunch, was a Crooked Can Florida Sunshine Mango made in Winter Garden. Some more of the beers on the...