Category Archives: Paul

May 3, 2026 · 23:11

No Context For You – May 03rd

I don’t believe in magic, way, way too stuck in the real world with facts and math and science and so on. But I really WANT to believe in magic – who doesn’t? “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could simply…” is a fun game to play.

But that’s lousy storytelling. There has to be a weakness, there has to be a price, there has to be conflict. Superman isn’t omnipotent. A wizard’s power drains them or depletes them. Anything that can be used for good can be corrupted for evil.

What we want isn’t to have magic, it’s to be GODS. And even then…

Being a God in your own universe, everything perfectly balanced and running like clockwork, no suffering, no pain, no conflict. And you would be bored to tears in days or weeks.

Okay, let’s get real. Years or decades, not days or weeks. It actually sounds pretty freaking cool for a while. I would really like to try it!

Where’s Rod Serling when you need him? I need to be taught a lesson!

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Photography

May 1, 2026 · 23:06

Anything Worth Doing…

…is worth repeating and over doing.

The world says, “Fine, fine, you’ve had your mid-life crisis crazy hair episode. I hope it was fun. You look stupid. Now, clean it up and act your age…”

I said, “NO! (Please be so kind as to fuck off.)” See, I said “please.” I’m not some kind of animal…

I also made silly faces while being gooped up. Because I can.

I have pretty pretty princess hair. I don’t have to play by everyone else’s rules.

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Photography

April 29, 2026 · 23:16

Happy 13th Birthday, WLTSTF!!!

Yeah, in previous years (for example, here, here, and here) I’ve done these big, long summaries of stats and numerical accomplishments – how many posts, how many likes, how many subscribers, and so on.

Not this year. It takes HOURS to dig through all of these posts and settings and media to get those figures. I’m too busy. And tired. If you really care (and none of you do, I’m sure!) just take last year’s post and add about 8%.

The tl;dr version:

My thanks to all of you for being here and reading this drivel!

I’m still posting almost every day, for whatever reason – I think I only missed three days this last year (01/24/2026, 11/07/2025, and 07/28/2025).

I seem to be posting more pictures and photography than writing – I would like to re-balance that mix. Again, really freakin’ busy… And we moved, and I’m STILL trying to unpack low priority things like the library.

Subscriber numbers continue to grow, but more slowly than in previous years. On the other hand, I seem to be getting more exposure, likes, and comments on social media.

On to year fourteen!

Let’s see what kind of stupid, whimsical, and bizarre shennigans I can get into! (He says, knowing what’s on tomorrow’s calendar…)

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Writing

April 28, 2026 · 23:24

Proof Of Life – April 28th

There’s one good thing about my beloved Kings getting swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs. My annual playoff beard is no more. I waited almost an hour after the game was over to shave it off.

The color has faded considerably to pleasant pastel shades. Plus, after almost six weeks, there’s a layer of grey underneath that is bothersome, at best.

As usual, with the beard, I look like a homeless guy. In this case, a homeless guy with $100+ to blow on getting pretty, pretty princess hair.

The question now is whether or not I will just buzz off the color and keep it short, or go back to Alonzo and have it re-colored. It could go either way.

Leave a comment

Filed under LA Kings, Paul, Photography

April 21, 2026 · 23:38

Proof Of Life – April 21st

Still here.

Here’s a horrible thought. If you’re not good enough in life, when you die, will you know? Or will you just keep doing the same things every day, the Zoom meetings, the spreadsheets, the reports, the lame TV repeats, and on and on an on? I make snarky comments about this being Hell, but what if one day it really is?

That would suck.

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Photography, Travel

April 20, 2026 · 23:16

No Context For You – April 20th

The frustration is real.

“Don’t let the bastards wear you down,” they said. (They “translated” it into bad pig Latin and put it on T-shirts.)

Some days that’s easier said than done.

That’s why there’s another day tomorrow. And then another.

The blessing and the curse are flip sides of the same coin.

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Photography

April 17, 2026 · 23:44

Needle In A Haystack

Some days it’s enough to remember spin training. If you’re flying your little Cessna 172 and you make a couple of mistakes and get slow and uncoordinated, you can end up in a spin. The first steps are to pull out all of the power and take your hands OFF of the controls.

Your immediate goal is to not make anything worse.

Some days that means recognizing the couple of actual honest-to-God wins that you got and worked hard for and earned, and while recognizing that there’s a whole freaking list from Hell of things you need to do and things you want to do and things you want to stop doing, the next best step after recognizing your wins is to not make anything worse.

What’s the next step after that? Step on the opposite rudder to stop the spin, then gently pull up to level and put some power back in to climb back up and restore any lost altitude.

If you’re not in the left seat at the pointy end of a plane, you can apply the same principles as needed to maintain the analogy. Stop the spin, pull up to level, restore your power settings.

So, in this case, post something for the day, finish up your day end task list, pick some little tasks that can re-establish control and show some progress, get some sleep, then start attacking the bigger, more difficult tasks tomorrow. Get moving, get shit done – if you can identify and complete some higher priority tasks, but get your ass moving.

Good talk. Now, hit post, then clean that monitor, it looks like shit.

Leave a comment

Filed under Health, Paul, Photography

April 6, 2026 · 23:33

Abused Palm Tree

Back when we were in Arizona for some Spring Training baseball games and a birthday celebration, we stopped at some random deli in Temp for breakfast on the way to the Angels’ game at Tempe Diablo.

This was outside our window, next to the drive through lane. The saddest, scraggliest, most abused stump of a palm tree that I had ever seen.

Other trees along the driveway were healthy and doing fine. This one was on its last legs.

I felt so bad for it. I wanted to run out and dump my large Diet Coke & ice on it to give its roots the tiniest bit of moisture to help it start its comeback. I wanted to go find a nursery and get a gallon of Miracle Gro to set up an IV. I wanted to go home and come back with my really excellent stick to lash to it to prop it up, to give it a crutch to lean on.

I did not do any of those things.

But I can’t help but wonder. If it had been a puppy or horse that was tied up outside in the 108°F heat without food or water, the ASPCA, the police, and Channel 7 Eyewitness News would be all over a rescue. But a palm tree? Nada.

It’s probably just me.

Leave a comment

Filed under Flowers, Paul, Photography, Travel

April 4, 2026 · 23:24

Fashionista

I didn’t dress like this today deliberately to be weird or make a statement, but once it all “came together” I walked by a mirror and said, “Wow! Even by MY ‘standards,’ that’s pretty bizarre!”

For the record, the hair’s the hair, the flannel shirt’s because I was cold (it was only about 65° in the house this morning), the shorts are because I was going for my first (and probably ONLY) pedicure so despite the chilly temps I needed easy access to my feet and little piggies, the knee-high compression socks are because I’m old and exploding, and the running shoes are because I always wear comfy running shoes these days due to a serious lack of fucks. The attitude and facial expression? Well, those come with the package and go without saying.

The pedicure? Fine for the most part, good to have my nasty, ingrown toenails (a byproduct of running, walking, and exercise) cleaned up, and the calf and foot massage was equisite. We (by which I mean everyone in ear shot) also found out that while having the soles of my feet exfoliated I’m ticklish as Hell. Twitchy, jumpy, giggling, convulsing, and looking like this to begin with? If only The Long-Suffering Wife had thought to flip on the video on her phone!

April 04th, 4-4, is also an easy to remember, somewhat bittersweet anniversary for me. 04/04/2009, seventeen years ago today, I took and passed my practical flight test and earned my Private Pilot’s license.

It’s bittersweet because I truly loved flying, worked hard to earn my PPL, and now it’s been over a dozen years since I’ve flown, and with every passing day it’s less likely that I’ll ever fly again.

So, yay me! But…

Leave a comment

Filed under Flying, Paul, Photography

April 2, 2026 · 23:30

Proof Of Life – April 02nd

About 15 1/2 years ago, I believe we were on the Mariner of the Seas. The Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta 7-day tour of the Mexican west coast.

This was the grand staircase onboard. Very grand. Very staircase-y. Just ever so slightly tilted and off-center. Much like me.

I’m whiny and pissed off tonight, stewing about many frustrating things. A couple of deadlines met, a couple of goals reached, all good – offset by several things that make me wish I had a punching bag to work out on.

I have a gym membership.

They’re open 24/7.

I wonder if they have a punching bag.

I wonder if it would actually help, or just leave me with two broken hands.

I know the answer. The way today has gone…

Leave a comment

Filed under Paul, Photography, Travel