late night musings – by john

this is a place where you can read and think about the softer side of life...  entries will be added as time and life permit...  comments are invited...  if you enjoy it , "Subscribe...  if you have family or friends who might enjoy this, tell them about it...  and come back often...   john

late night musings

Who started the divorce craze anyway? Final, finally...

Note:  My apologies to subscribers and readers alike. I Inadvertently published a draft version of this musing and withdrew it, ...

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Posted by john at 2/7/2010 2:30 PM | Add Comment

Answer not needed

Brief conversations can be amusing at times. I'm not talking about an argument between someone and their spouse or significant other though they are often involved in what I am suggesting. Rather it has to do with those often ...
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Posted by john at 2/6/2010 2:49 PM | Add Comment

When is old antique?

In talking to a few friends around my age, the subject turned to possessions, specifically our possessions. Having broken through the glass ceiling of seventy, you might correctly guess that a few of the items we own are rather old. ...
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Posted by john at 2/4/2010 10:37 AM | Add Comment

Grammys - music for the ages or those young in age?

The Grammys for 2010 are over and I have to admit I didn't really watch the awards show. I did, however, catch snippets of it and have to conclude that the musical world has passed me by. I'm not ...
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Posted by john at 2/2/2010 9:25 AM | Add Comment

They were here but now are gone

I was looking at some old pictures the other day - really old pictures. In one of them my Dad was holding me and in the other my Mom was holding me. My guess is that I was about a ...
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Posted by john at 1/30/2010 11:05 AM | Add Comment

A significant birth

In the grand order of this world it probably is considered trivial. In the grand scheme of the universe it probably is insignificant. Yet in the smaller world, smaller universe of family and friends it was significant event and of ...
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Posted by john at 1/29/2010 12:30 AM | Add Comment

Do you know your wines? A quiz.

The other night my wife and I joined a few friends for a wine tasting at a nearby liquor store. They hold these events about twice a year. While many attend to get a chance to taste the different wines, I ...
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Posted by john at 1/27/2010 10:21 AM | Add Comment

Time on more than my hands

During my early years, the style was just ending. I speak of a pocket watch safely secured in either a watch pocket just below the belt line of a pair of pants or in a vest pocket. But that ...
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Posted by john at 1/24/2010 7:23 AM | Add Comment

I don't know why I do

Although not of a religious nature, today I had a minor epiphany. I have no idea how or why it came to mind, but then maybe that is what an epiphany is all about. Anyway, for some inescapable reason, ...
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Posted by john at 1/22/2010 8:00 PM | Add Comment

More important than a gift

I guess this is more for the young as oppose to seniors since I think seniors already know it. If not, it's probably is too late for them to do anything about it anyway.
 
There is one thing ...
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Posted by john at 1/21/2010 10:53 AM | Add Comment

Dolly and Jean

It was a few days before Christmas and time for another of my bagel fixes.  When I want a bagel I have a choice of a few places to get one. Today it was Dunkin' Donut. Although it was around lunch ...
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Posted by john at 1/19/2010 6:50 AM | Add Comment

Martin Luther King: I Have A Dream - Repeat

The following speech, I Have A Dream, was delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.  It is one of the greatest speeches ever given.  It is worth reading again ...

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Posted by john at 1/18/2010 8:00 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Neither we or science are infallible

(Note to readers:  This is about more than just science - read on.)
 
Science is infallible, that is until the next theory proves it to be even more infallible.   In 1903, ...
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Posted by john at 1/16/2010 10:26 AM | Add Comment

The best and the worst

The title of this musing does not refer to some list of best and worst dressed or anything like that. Rather it refers to the opening line from Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities. It reads, "It was ...
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Posted by john at 1/13/2010 6:46 PM | Add Comment

A boy and his newspaper

About once a week I get an urge for a coffee and bagel. So it was the other morning. Although I have a few choices where to get a bagel, that morning I chose Einstein's Bagels. I am not ...
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Posted by john at 1/11/2010 3:26 PM | Add Comment

Hey Bob

You will see that, ultimately, this musing is about the idea called six degrees of separation. You might wonder about that when you first start reading, so bear with me. In case you didn't know, six degrees of separation (also referred ...
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Posted by john at 1/9/2010 5:55 PM | Add Comment

Early 1900s quiz

While writing a musing about the early decades of the 20th century, I was doing bit of research. I realized that there were many significant events that occurred in the first three decades of that century. Consequently, it seemed ...
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Posted by john at 1/7/2010 1:03 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

26,635

In the December 2009 issue of Popular Science there was an article about Stephen Wolfram who, along with his team, is developing the mother of all search engines. As opposed to giving you links based on your query, it attempts ...
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Posted by john at 1/5/2010 10:33 AM | Add Comment

Recalling times past

A good friend and high school classmate of mind, Jay, and I exchanged a few emails about memories. He had read my book, Late Night Musings, which served as a catalyst in his recalling some events from our distant past. ...
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Posted by john at 12/28/2009 5:27 PM | Add Comment

This too shall pass

When things get tough for us or for family or friends, the words we are apt to say or hear are purported to come from King Solomon's time, "This too shall pass."  It is our crutch, our hope for ...
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Posted by john at 12/27/2009 8:14 AM | Add Comment

Just a quick thanks to Charlie Gibson

Newscasters are like cars - everyone has their preferences and the rationale as to why. We each prefer some single anchor that appears on the major networks or the prime 24 hour cable news stations. I have no complaint in whichever your preference ...
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Posted by john at 12/19/2009 10:44 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

Charge of the Light Brigade

Every once in a while for some reason or another, I go back to reread a poem I read many decades ago. So it was that in talking with some old friends, our discussion turned to Alfred, Lord ...

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Posted by john at 12/15/2009 3:03 AM | Add Comment

Snap shots of years long ago

I was rummaging around some old photos of me and my parents when I was a teenager.  That led me back to pictures taken when I was a very young boy around the age of 5 or 6, posing with ...
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Posted by john at 12/6/2009 10:48 PM | Add Comment

A terrible way to die

There are so many ways of dying.  There is a multitude of illnesses that can cause it.  There are various ...

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Posted by john at 12/3/2009 2:50 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Late Night Musings - the book

As many of you know, during the past few years I have been writing a blog, www.latenightmusings.com .  Since I started I have written over 300 entries or musings.  I had no idea I'd be so prolific, ...
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Posted by john at 12/3/2009 1:18 PM | Add Comment

When Gods fail

I am writing this on November 30th, 2009.  The big news story is about Tiger Woods who in backing out of his driveway at 2:30 AM hit a fire hydrant then a tree, injuring himself and doing some significant ...
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Posted by john at 11/30/2009 11:20 PM | Add Comment

What makes a relationship successful

It was suggested that I write a book about marriage.  I can't.  One problem is that I run out of things to say after 200 - 300 words, not pages.  Secondly, I would think if you started writing about ...
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Posted by john at 11/30/2009 11:18 AM | Add Comment

Friendly is as friendly says

 

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Posted by john at 11/27/2009 5:28 PM | Add Comment

I thought they'd never end


Life is a fleeting thing.  Even more so are the pleasant occasions and events we experience in life.  As they say, what is here today is gone tomorrow.  We often think tomorrow
will never come, but what ...
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Posted by john at 11/24/2009 8:41 AM | Add Comment

Cell phones and the universe's trifecta

Today I had to visit the dentist.  Fortunately, no damage was done and I managed to escape with a very small bill.  It was while sitting in the chair, however, that I noticed
something.  The room I was in ...
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Posted by john at 11/21/2009 7:31 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Just a reminder

To subscribers and casual readers:



You are always invited to leave a comment regarding any and all musings.  Also, if you have any thoughts, questions, observations or just want to write, you can always do that.  ... << MORE >>
Posted by john at 11/20/2009 1:29 PM | Add Comment

More of life's lessons from the beach

The stifling weather of Florida's summer has broken.  The weather has become cool by our standards and the humidity has dropped off.  Consequently, it was time again to resume my
walks on the beach - and so I did today.  ...
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Posted by john at 11/18/2009 5:46 PM | Add Comment

Aging is a state of mind and then some

On November 8th, the News-Journal had a page one, above the fold story about 5 women who served in the military years and years ago.  Prominent on the page accompanying the story was a
group picture of the five ...
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Posted by john at 11/14/2009 5:52 PM | Add Comment

What's your "sewing room"?

Someone recently wrote me and mentioned her sewing room. It was in the context of maintaining her sanity.  She said she had a stressful day at work and when ...<< MORE >>

Posted by john at 11/11/2009 5:29 PM | View Comments (3) | Add Comment

A disturbing conclusion

In a previous musings ( http://latenightmusings.com/2009/09/22/a-class-reunion-and-a-time--come-and-gone.aspx 
 

It seems, however, there was one small portion of that musing which seemed to resonate the most with seniors.  It had to do with three sentences in that musing.  They were:
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Posted by john at 11/8/2009 10:31 PM | Add Comment

A mixed bag of this and that

I've always wondered who is in charge of distributing any weight we gain.  Who gets to pick where it goes?  It certainly isn't me or anyone else who gains weight.  I ask this only because it seems that extra weight always goes where we don't want ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 11/6/2009 11:35 AM | Add Comment

I search, I seek

For many the relationship they are in with someone is exactly what they want.  They have the person they want in circumstances that meet their needs.  Admittedly for some (many?) of these, it is a short term thing that time will end.  In any event, they ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 11/2/2009 4:11 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

A tribute to Halloween

Earlier this month (October 2009), the local newspaper, Daytona Beach News-Journal, announced a contest for readers to submit a scary story for Halloween.  The submittal had top be 250 words or less.  Winners would be announced just prior to Halloween.  ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/29/2009 7:30 AM | Add Comment

Deaths in the news

In reading the newspaper recently, I realized I have become immune to a certain type of news stories.  It is the type of news you would think would register strongly and would cause a strong reaction.  It has to do ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/27/2009 12:03 AM | Add Comment

Grandfathers aren't grandmothers

I was sitting in Einstein's Bagels enjoying a sesame bagel, toasted with a veggie cream cheese.  Although I was reading the local paper, I was aware of what was going on around me.  Directly in front of me at the ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/22/2009 4:01 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

The way they were

There are many who are judged by the way they look.  Those who are obese or emaciated, those who facial features don't fit the standards for beauty, are too often judged by the way they look.  Their intelligence, wit, warmth, ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/19/2009 9:21 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

The special ones among us

While attending my high school class reunion, I learned that one of my classmates is a poet extraordinaire.  She has an unbelievable ability to create rhyming poetry and is able to recall it decades later.  After hearing her recite the beginning ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/16/2009 11:11 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

Facebook and Late Night Musings

If you are a Facebook user, much of what I have written below is already familiar to you.  What might be of interest comes further down.  Still, you might enjoy a laugh by reading my feeble attempt in trying to explain Facebook.
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Posted by john at 10/13/2009 7:54 AM | Add Comment

Caregivers

Someone wrote to say she became a caregiver during the final stages of a friend's life.  That friend of my friend had a terminal brain tumor.  My friend didn't say how long this final stage lasted but I surmised it wasn't all that long - ...<< MORE >>
Posted by john at 10/10/2009 9:56 AM | Add Comment
Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.  Thoughtful comments are invited and encouraged, whether they agree with the author or not.  Vitriolic comments and character assassinations will not be published.  Comments may be edited for brevity but not to change content.  If preferred, write: john@in99wordsorless.com