Category Archives: Idle Ruminations

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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Downsizing

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Jim

I’m going through a senior rite of passage: downsizing to a smaller house. This has required a lot of thought and soul-searching because I’ve always been a big-house guy. I grew up in a tiny apartment while my parents saved … Continue reading →

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The death of the phone call

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Jim

When my phone rings I rarely answer it. That’s a big cultural change for me, because I spent much of my career working for a telephone company where answering the phone (within three rings in a tone of unflagging courtesy) … Continue reading →

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Good times in the war room

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Jim

My war room experience was with the telephone company. The principle of a war room is to bring all the decisionmakers together in once place to bypass bureaucracy and act quickly. This concept makes sense for utility companies that must … Continue reading →

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Farewell to newsprint

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Jim

When I walked out to the driveway, my morning newspaper was missing. Again. No problem: The Albuquerque Journal has an electronic edition and I read it on my iPad, as I do when I’m out of town. Then it occurred to … Continue reading →

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