Category Archives: Idle Ruminations

January at the gym

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Jim

It’s the first week in January and I am delighted that the gym in my over-55 community is not crowded.  I’m not a big fitness buff, mind you. Fitness, yes; buff, hardly. I began hitting the gym regularly when the … Continue reading →

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Credibility is not rocket science

Posted on August 27, 2022 by Jim

I’ve been watching with bemusement as one American institution after another loses its credibility with the public. Fewer people believe much of what they hear from authority figures and I can’t blame them. I’m interested in this because I spent … Continue reading →

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Confessions of a recovering opinion pollster

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Jim

When I get curious about a controversial political issue (okay, that ‘s redundant) one of the first things I do is check the public opinion polls. That’s because I’m a recovering opinion pollster. One of the most satisfying jobs in my public … Continue reading →

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Watching history repeat

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Jim

I enjoy history, but the disadvantage of being a history buff is getting flashbacks to centuries past whenever I read the news. History repeats itself, often at the hands of people who failed to learn its lessons. Some current issues … Continue reading →

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Decking the halls

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Jim

Is it just my imagination, or are people embracing Christmas decorations a little more this year? My state of New Mexico recently closed the restaurants and most of the stores (again) and has pretty well given up on schools and … Continue reading →

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A pandemic Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Jim

I’m roasting a turkey breast for Thanksgiving even though I’m not expecting guests. Much as I will miss sharing the holiday with friends and family, I refuse to give up turkey leftovers. There’s a lot to be thankful for because … Continue reading →

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Here’s looking at you

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Jim

I recently attended my first homeowners’ association meeting as a new resident of an over-55 community. Because of the pandemic it was conducted online via Zoom. It worked pretty well once participants were reminded to mute their microphones when they … Continue reading →

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Kid reporter at City Hall

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Jim

“Hey, we don’t have any coverage of City Hall. Is it okay if I set up a news beat?” “Sure, kid, go ahead, “my editor replied.  I was a journalism student working part-time and summers at the Austinite, a weekly newspaper … Continue reading →

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Will working at home be the new normal?

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Jim

The Coronavirus is forcibly introducing much of the American workforce to the phonomenon of working at home. I understand what these folks are going through because my late wife and I had a work-at-home household for 16 years. I had … Continue reading →

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The census

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Jim

I got my census invitation in the mail and completed the questionnaire online. Doing my civic duty took about five minutes. It’s a simple process, as it always is every 10 years. The census carries a sense of importance and … Continue reading →

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