HETTY

Category: Answers to Daily Prompts

  • Tropical Heat🥵

    What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?

    I’m currently in a country with a Mediterranean climate, even though it’s technically winter here. Not too hot, not too cold. It rarely snows here, although a jacket and knit cap may be required during the night time. I dealt with frigid temperatures before, so it’s comfortable enough here.

    However, next month I’m traveling to a country with a tropical climate, and it’s hot and humid almost all year. Near unbearable heat, similar to Miami weather.

    I’ve endured extreme heat and cold before, but that climate is something else.

    I’ve been to the country before last year, and I tried everything to stay cool without access to more expensive air conditioning. Drinking ice water and cold drinks, wearing shorts and t-shirts, swimming and showering several times a day, having a fan close by blowing wind on me, staying in shade, and minimizing my activity outside. Having a frozen water bottle cool me down. Very little relief, still sweating like crazy.

    It got to the point where I was suffering heat stress and developing health issues. So after 3 weeks, I finally gave in and stayed in lodging with regular air conditioning. Finally, some real relief, and my health improved.

    I plan to stay in this country for 6 months, at least! Possibly longer. I don’t like extreme hot or frigid weather, but between the two, I’ll chose the hotter weather. At least I don’t have to deal with the snow and gloom.

    I don’t know how the local people tolerate the climate, but they adapted well enough that they can wear long shirts and pants outside. And here I am from a Midwestern climate, sweating buckets minutes after being outside in shorts and a t-shirt.

    And it could get even hotter in coming years! Yes, a challenge I’ll try to meet. I still like being in the country though, I just complain about the climate. I’ll manage somehow.

  • The World Needs Misfits

    What advice would you give to your teenage self?

    Oh, I would have to make a list of the things I would tell my younger self. But I’ll start with changing the mindset about loneliness. Being alone can be an advantage in some ways , and I developed in such a way that I can tolerate isolation better than others. Maybe not try so hard to make friends and date. It will happen in time with less pressure.

    Save money as much as possible. I fell for the materialistic creed, and thought that I would always be fairly comfortable financially. There were definitely lean times in my life, and there may be more in the future. So try to be more frugal.

    Study engineering in university. I wouldn’t say that I have a talent in engineering, more like a general interest that could have developed further with formal schooling. Maybe I could have worked as in robotics, materials science, or even in artificial intelligence. There’s more opportunities for engineers than the other fields I studied.

    Don’t smoke or toke, no matter how stressed or upset you get. I developed bad habits in my late teens and twenties, mainly cuz I don’t cope with stress well. I didn’t know that those habits would cause more stress and difficulty over time, plus I would be able to save money if I didn’t develop those habits. I didn’t fully understand how a mind could be addicted to substances.

    Read more science and philosophy. I read a lot, but the stuff I was reading as a teenager is different than what I read now. I would recommend Bertrand Russell, Arthur Schopenhaur, Albert Camus, and maybe some other ones, since their works would help me understand the world better, and help me cope with problems I would have throughout my life. I could have developed a different mentality.

    Walk more, and be more creative. I still love music, but I can barely play. I could have developed my music skill more, maybe using studio software. And walking and biking seem to exercise that I can tolerate. Paint, draw, and write, maybe some opportunities would come up.

  • A Cuppa Coffee for a Neurodiverse Mind

    What is your favorite drink?

    I have a cup of coffee near me now. Instant coffee and heated mineral water, a little milk, and I currently don’t add sugar, or add a little sweetener. I probably drink way too much coffee. When I brew coffee, I can easily drink a pot or more a day.

    I do like other drinks, like Soda (Pop), fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, tea at times. Milk I only drink if I can get a gallon jug of it, otherwise I use it for cereal or for cooking. But since I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I limit consuming the other drinks.

    Coffee is relatively affordable, healthy, and a comfort to drink. It’s possible that I self medicate and stimulate with coffee due to my autism and possible ADHD, but it probably does contribute to whatever sleep and anxiety problems I have.

    My parents and grandparents were coffee drinkers, and I’m currently in a country with several cafes. I tend to make my own brews though to save money. I don’t mind Espresso, but my go to coffee is brewed American style. I feel like I get my money’s worth, even though it’s just extra water.

    Coffee has been repeatedly proven to have several antioxidants and can offer resistance against several diseases and increase lifespan. And perhaps the coffee grounds can be used as a bio-char to add to strengthen concrete. So there’s probably a good reason why I drink so much coffee.

  • Blue Dockers Hiking Boots

    Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

    I’m not picky when it comes to shoes, which seems to be a problem for my brothers. As long as they are affordable and they fit me, I’ll wear them. However, the best pair of shoes I ever owned were dark blue, black, and gray Dockers Hiking boots.

    I didn’t buy the high rise shoes myself, but rather they were a Christmas gift from my youngest brother some years ago. He most of all would complain about me buying cheaper lower quality shoes that I tended to wear longer than the time they should have been replaced.

    I liked the stylish almost futuristic design, they were snug and comfortable, and looked good with various articles of clothes. They kept my feet warm and dry, especially while walking in several inches of snow during the winter. The soles had good grip on ice and other slippery surfaces.

    While I wish that I can say that I traveled far and wide in different countries while wearing those shoes, but in most cases I wore the boots around my hometown. I wore them when I went to bars and clubs, wore them outside during the winter and walked in puddles and grassy areas, and when I visited family and friends. I’m sure I wore them at work when I was allowed to.

    I kept the higher quality boots for over 2 years, probably closer to 3 years, but I eventually replaced the hiking boots cuz they were worn out and uncomfortable to my feet. And I’m sure that I went back to the affordable lower quality shoes. Hey, old habits die hard.

  • ShowTime Pizza!

    ShowTime Pizza!

    Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

    I went to ShowTime Pizza Place as a kid, likely after getting on my parents’ case begging to go. I remember being told no more than once, they can’t afford it. Understandable now, I didn’t understand at 8 years old. 50$ was a bigger chunk of change then.

    ShowTime Pizza was a family friendly Pizzeria with a gimmick. It had a video game arcade with many of the most popular cabinet video games at the time- Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Joust, Defender, Burger Time, Sinistar and so on. Maybe some more obscure games that I don’t remember playing.

    It also had a dining hall with a stage featuring singing and talking Animatronic Animal Characters, like Billy Bob Brockali, Looney Bird, Rolfe DeWolfe, and various other animal characters. These animatronic characters, along with the Chuck E Cheese Animatronics, were the inspiration for the antagonistic robots in Five Nights at Freddies “horror” movies and video games.

    No, I never thought the animatronics were creepy. I thought of the furry characters as robots, which I continue to be fascinated by.

    Anyways, my parents gave in, and I was able to go to ShowBiz Pizza Place for my 9th birthday. I remember the Pepperoni pizza and pitchers of Pepsi were tasty enough for a grade school kid. I remember being proud that I could eat 4 slices of pizza then.

    I loved the video games, of course, and tried and failed to play the Legendary laser disk game Dragon’s Lair. I loved the Don Bluth animation, and that game ate up many of the tokens my parents gave me. I couldnt go far with that game though.

    But what I remember the most about that pizza party at ShowBiz Pizza, was during the birthday meal, “The Rock-afire Explosion” band “talked and sang” to me directly to wish me a happy birthday. And I remember being touched by the nice gesture and being near tears that my parents cared enough about me to arrange the birthday shout-out with the Pizzeria staff.

    So, yes, I enjoyed my time at ShowBiz Pizza, and I understand that it later merged With Chuck E. Cheese Pizza. One of those nostalgic fond memories, and it also contributed to my interests in robots, video games, comedy, and good food.

  • Financial Anxiety

    Write about your approach to budgeting.

    I live on 2 pensions, and I’m grateful I have them. I’m a disabled veteran with a good number of invisible disabilities. Maybe the fact that I wear hearing aids is the most evidence that I have a long list of physical, psychological, and neurological disabilities.

    Unfortunately, I have debt and bills, but I live a decent lifestyle so far. About a third of my monthly income goes towards debt, phone bill, insurance, and other fees, a third goes towards rent and other expenses, and then a third on food, transportation, entertainment options.

    Every month, I use the calculator on my phone to figure out my monthly budget. It’s based on financial anxiety, cuz I try to figure out my expenses after I pay my bills and rent, and see if I have enough to have any disposable income.

    The expenses vary month to month. Some months I stick to a budget, other times I go over and have to use credit or cut expenses elsewhere. I cook my own meals more often (food service experience has come in handy), I tend to buy the cheapest food products of foods I will likely eat. I will shop at thrift stores and discount supermarkets. I buy the cheapest brand of cigarettes, or switch to vaping if it’s the cheaper option.

    I have a smaller amount left over for fun money, and sometimes I help out family and friends. I’m treading water financially, but I lived through worse. It’s at the point where I’m looking into passive income and side gig work.

    I wish that I was better with money, but at the same time don’t want to give up certain comforts and conveniences. I have made small investments that I hope pay off, and I hope that I have the wisdom, connections, and funds to see a good bargain or opportunity in the future.

  • The Observer

    If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?

    I had to think about this prompt question for awhile, but The Observer is probably the best title for a biography I could come up with. Maybe if I’m ever worthy of someone writing my biography, the author can think of a better one. But it’s a safe yet honest title.

    I’m not famous or infamous (yet), and as much as I’d like to be remarkable somehow, I’m likely unremarkable in every way. I have a certain skill set that’s probably outdated in the 21st century, but what I do best no matter what is observe.

    I’m an introvert, although I sometimes wish that I wasn’t. I can be quiet, and passive to a fault. And I’m alone most of the time, although I do attempt to be social. However, I observe people and see mostly mundane behavior, although there were moments where I saw violent or unusual behavior from a distance.

    I observe animals, wild or domesticated, doing their own things, I observe the daily life of cities and towns, cars passing, people walking, sometimes with pets, children, or companions. I detect stimuli through whatever functional senses I have left. I see debris and garbage around, and I’ll pick it up and dump it if I’m in the mood. And I observe whatever scenery I’m around when I’m outside. I’ll observe nature do its thing, but I have been in various environments and climates. Deserts, temperate forests, mountainous regions, larger cities, beaches, tropical areas, and green fields.

    Oh, I’ve been on the outskirts of historical events or situations at times, but not as any of the main “actors”. Again, just observing the good, bad, and neutral among people, places and things.

    Sometimes I’ll write about it or photo/video record it. So far, it hasn’t led to anything special or lucrative. And based on prior evidence, I doubt that it lead to anything special in the future. I could be wrong though. Here’s hoping!

  • I Outlived My Father

    What were your parents doing at your age?

    Unfortunately, my father died at 48, when I was 11. I so far outlived my father by 4 years, although I have many of the same vices he had that likely contributed to his early death by cancer. Smoking, drinking, probably not having the healthiest diet, although I made changes here and there. I’m eating oatmeal and flax seeds more often!

    As for my mother, she was working as a property manager at a senior residential apartment until her own death of cancer. It was work, talking to the senior residents at the property, talking to family and friends, watching TV shows, cooking and baking her favorite recipes, listening to her favorite song playlists on the internet, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. The bright spot of her later years was family.

    My mother remarried twice after my dad died, and her second marriage was ending around that time. It was amicable; she and her husband at that time were working different shifts, and weren’t spending much time with each other. And they did have different backgrounds, and probably didn’t have much in common otherwise.

    The second oldest brother got married, and had 2 sons, and my mother was thrilled to have babies in her life again. She would spend time with my nephews, and of course baby sat at times. Being around little kids was a joy, and she would beam in many of the family photos taken during that time.

    I’m trying to value what time I have left on this rock, not sure how much time I have left. But I have changed since my mother died. ~H

  • Legal Corporate Personhood

    If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

    Ok, this is a thinker, and I had to research this some. I’m not a lawyer or work in law, so I hope that this makes sense.

    I would change the concept of Legal or Juridical Personhood. It is a legal concept that’s the foundation of a number of laws in different countries, including the 14th Amendment in the US. By law, corporations, non government organizations, colleges, hospitals, churches, and really any non human entity like rivers can be granted Personhood if it has certain qualities like paying taxes and owning property. It’s a concept that seems to exist in business, government, and the judiciary.

    It’s by law a fictional type of person. But this concept has powers that real persons do not, like surviving the deaths of owners and corporate members, and since many of these corporations ( not all) focus on profit and property, they often have more resources than real working people do. So they do have more power and resources than the ordinary person does.

    They can hire lobbyists to influence government, invest more in political ads on different media, donate to candidates in their favor , have the resources to hire top lawyers, own much more property than the average person, have better access to bank loans and political deals, and sometimes be a monopoly in a certain business.

    It just seems unfair to have the needs of fictional abstract “persons” to often take priority over real persons. So I would change that part of the law. Corporations are organizations with certain mechanisms that help with a goal, like making profit, or accomplishing a mission like healthcare. They are the legal equivalent of a bot. ~H

  • A Home for the 21st century

    Write about your dream home.

    I’m not a home owner and never been a homeowner, and I prefer to rent. There’s advantages to renting. But if I could afford my dream home, it would be a modular home. Those interest me, what I know of them. The capacity to add on more square footage to a home, maybe one bedroom to start, and adding 2 or more bedrooms over time. The beds are comfortable memory foam.

    I would like the home to be energy independent and efficient, so I would add solar panels, solar heating, and battery storage. Also heat pumps depending on what region of the world I would live.

    I would like to have the property on at least 2 acres of land, with a garden to grow plants, vegetables, and maybe even egg laying chickens.

    To prepare for any potential emergencies, I would like to have an emergency shelter buried deep underground, with water filters and a storage of non perishable food that can be stored for several weeks, maybe up to a year.

    I would like a spacious living room with a decent entertainment center and comfortable seating, although I don’t need the state of the art with that. Just a game console or 2, and the ability to stream movies. But I prefer to have a fully equipped kitchen with a decent refrigerator and freezer. I or my potential spouse will try to cook more meals at home.

    It would be nice to live in a pleasant suburb near a large city, like Chicago, Las Vegas, or Boston. Maybe possibly in another country, since I’ve been traveling.

    I would like to have WIFI throughout the home, of course.

    A balcony and/or patio, with the ability to grill out if I wanted to. A fenced in backyard, and in a decent neighborhood. And this dream home probably already costs at least a million dollars in the US. It’s good to dream though.

  • Get a DNA test done.

    Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

    I’m curious about my genetic history, including my full ethnic background going back hundreds or even thousands of years , and my genetic propensity for certain diseases and conditions that may happen in the future. So I would in time like to get a DNA test done. I keep on putting it off.

    I already participated in 2 genetic studies that use genetic samples I’ve given- SPARK and the Million Veteran Program- because I’m an US veteran with an Autistm Spectrum Disorder. Unfortunately, the results of my donated DNA aren’t available to me, since it’s confidential information. But I would l like to do a private DNA test.

    So why haven’t I done a DNA test yet? It’s always a money problem. I never seem to have enough money to pay for a DNA test. And as I understand, 23 & Me is one of few private companies that offer analysis of DNA samples, but it recently had financial woes.

    Getting a DNA test done is more of a want than a need. One of these days, I’ll get a test done. I hope so.

  • A Shared Desktop

    Write about your first computer.

    Game consoles are technically computers- in which case my first computer was an Atari 2400 back in 1982. My parents bought it for my brothers and I. We were thrilled, and the whole family enjoyed playing games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders, and lesser known games like Yar’s Revenge and Pitfall. None of us knew then how advanced video games and computers would be in that future.

    As for my first personal computer, it was an HP desktop that my mother and I split the costs on. My mother was being treated for cancer, and I lived with her to assist her while going to University. The desktop ran on a Windows Vista operating system. Even though I had an Information Technology related degree in 2003, I couldn’t afford to get my own computer until 2007.

    I was more experienced with computers than my mother was, so I would show her at times certain websites and apps. I did college homework and research, read news articles, watched videos, listened to music, and used early era social media, while my mother mostly played video games and went on Social media.

    My mother died of cancer in 2009, so the desktop PC became mine. I kept that computer as long as I could, even though it was running very slow by then. The PC was discarded in 2019 during a move out of state.

  • No Favorites

    What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

    I’m not a Sports guy, even though I have family members who are, and I come from a American city with 2 major league teams. One team even won a Championship in recent years.

    It’s not if I never watched sports. They don’t interest me. Football, Soccer, Baseball, Golf, Boxing, and Mixed Martial Arts matches and games are hard to avoid on big screen televisions in numerous bars and restaurants. I rather play a video game or watch a movie though.

    However, Baseball is probably my favorite, since I understand how the game is played, I can play it and I’m not terrible unlike other sports, and I’ve been to some games, including major league games. But I don’t follow closely, and I don’t care who wins. I know that makes me part of the minority.

  • Oh, the dream!

    What would you do if you won the lottery?

    Understand, I don’t play the lottery or gamble all that much. I know that the odds of winning a good sum of money from the lottery are really bad, and I maybe gamble once or twice a year at a casino, and it’s been small amounts that I can part with.

    I know that I can get out of control with gambling, but I think over time, I’m out 200$ between my lifetime winnings and losses. The most I ever won was over 400$ in Las Vegas, and I bowed out and paid bills soon after.

    However, if I did win a jackpot or even 100,000$, I would pay off any debt, give gifts to my family and friends. Maybe 2000$-$5000 each, depending on the winning amount. I would donate to some charities and the underdog political party of my choice, and then buy a ticket to The Netherlands or a Caribbean region country, get an investment visa, and try to live a comfortable and peaceful middle class lifestyle for the rest of my life. Invest and save a sum if I have any money left over. Of course, pay any necessary taxes.

    Of course I’d buy stuff, and I have my eye on some pricy items. No house or car though.

    Oh, and if I ever did ever win the big jackpot, I’m choosing the installment pay option. I don’t want to get too stupid with a large amount of money.

    And the dream bubble popped! Back to a humble existence. ~H

  • The Internet Is My Best Friend

    What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

    It’s true. I read a lot, and the internet has plenty of reading material. I learn about various subjects of interest, and will occasionally read about subjects that doesn’t necessarily interest me, yet has interesting click bait headlines. Like I probably have more knowledge about nutrition, life hacks, and epidemiology than the average person.

    Theres videos, images, music and audio files, various apps like video games. I don’t even use streaming apps so much, but I could use them if I wanted to.

    I’m using AI apps more often, cuz I do queries for information, or it visualizes ideas I have. Yes, I have a distrust for AI, but curiosity got the best of me. And I have a rationale for using it as much as I have.

    Oh, I have family and a few friends. I’m not around them as much as I like, but I’ll text or video chat with them.

    Like many people, I’m on my phone or computer often, cuz it helps with boredom. Like cigarettes for me, the internet is the friend that’s always there. It has enriched my life in certain ways, although there are some aspects of IT tech that annoy or disturb me. Other parts I plain don’t use.

    Because of the Internet, I’m more knowledgeable about various subjects. I have my favorite apps and websites. The Internet is a positive in my life. Now if only I can figure out a way to make a better livelihood using it….

  • A Complicated Answer

    Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

    I’m actually a perpetual tourist now, so this is a complicated answer. I’m country hopping partly because the United States has gotten too expensive for someone on a limited income. But I was born and raised in Milwaukee.

    There was a good number of attractions that Milwaukee has that I never visited. It was partly because I live on a lower income, and could only afford to visit places that actually interested me. But the War Museum near the Lake Michigan lakefront was a place I would be close to but never visited, and the Pabst Mansion was another. Both buildings contain a lot of history. I also don’t drive, so I couldn’t afford to stay longer in nearby towns like Kenosha and Racine.

    I tend to be a home body, partly because I associate going outside for prolonged periods of time with spending money! Seriously, if I want to go somewhere else besides my local neighborhood, I more often than not have to spend money. It adds up.

    Anyways, I’m currently in a Central European country with its own history and attractions. I’ll try to visit the Bunk Art museum attraction sometime during my stay here, but I already been here over 2 months, and I still can’t afford to visit yet!

    I’m hoping to check out the unique architecture and exhibits in the largest city next month, even if it’s a one day tour. So many places to visit, but so little time and money.

  • “Fun times”

    List five things you do for fun.

    1. Listen to music. Bangers and the occasional classic rock, disco, and pop song.

    2. Watch comedy bits, like funny scenes from movies and TV shows, and comedy bits from stand up.

    3. Eat comfort food. Fast food, junk food, cheaper yet tasty food.

    4. Nightlife- clubs, bars, and lounges. Sometimes concerts. It’s getting less fun as I get older.

    5. Private vices. I gave up one, but not the other. I may take up the other one again if I can find a reliable plug. 😉 2026 isn’t looking much better than 2025 so far.

  • Social Media Lost Its Novelty

    If you could un-invent something, what would it be?

    When I read this prompt question, 2 answers came to my mind. Either Plastics or Social Media. It’s sort of difficult to choose which of the 2 is worse for humanity at large, but I think Social Media has the edge over whether it should be un-invented.

    Plastics I think, could be redeemed with new innovations and regulations. Like with aluminum containers, there should be a return fee for plastic containers so they could be recycled and reused. More laws banning or regulating single use plastics, and more stores should sell reusable cloth shopping bags. I wrote a blog article recently that the plastic waste problem could be solved with enough regulation, innovations, and public will.

    Social Media, however, I find it hard to find the positives. It’s been used to spread propaganda and dumb conspiracy theories, used for more annoying advertising and marketing, scammers try to bilk money from other users, and others have made social media posts to post of horrible crimes, war atrocities, or dangerously fatal stunts. Cyberbullying, trolls, at times cyber attacks, and toxic influencers.

    And despite the potential for social media to bring people closer together and keep them better informed, more people are reporting increased feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and isolation. And other media pushes dumb trends and misinformation.

    Everytime I get a friend request or a follower on social media, I have to check to make sure the user isn’t a scammer, a bot, or trying to sell me something I don’t want or can afford. I’m more selective with the social media I use, and I use some apps way less often then I did at the beginning.

    Again, this is a technology that could be improved with increased moderation and regulations, but there doesn’t seem to be any effective way to do so yet. The profit motive is too strong.

    Rant over!

  • Right now, the kitchen

    Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

    I’m a fairly disorganized person, but I will take time to organize the home. Right now, the most cluttered area is the kitchen. I have food and other items on the counters and table. It could take me 15 minutes to get the kitchen organized, and I’ll probably do it today. Thanks for the reminder and extra motivation.

  • Doritos!

    What snack would you eat right now?

    I snack too much, and I have snacks right in front of me now. Some pretzel and cracker mix I had yesterday that’s good and I bought cuz it’s more affordable than Doritos.

    Yes, I love Doritos, and I do buy them. I can’t afford to buy them as much as I would like though. And I have other snacks at times, like cakes, ice cream, chocolate, mixed nuts, crackers, potato chips, and so on. I’m not a fan of the diet type of snacks (apples with peanut butter, celery with low fat dressing). Popcorn is ok at times. Doritos all the way for me, even better with nachos and dips!

    I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a Doritos addiction, cuz no other brand of tortilla chips are as satisfying as Doritos are. It’s a comfort food for me, one of many.

    Yeah, Doritos!

  • To Create, Assist, and Educate

    What is your mission?

    My life changed for the better once I was formally diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. I am odd, shy, cope with depression and anxiety, struggle with formal education, have unusual special interests, and I have various quirks, but there was a reason that wasn’t of my doing. Because of that, I became more of an advocate for autism. There’s pros and cons to being neurodiverse, and I try to focus more on the positives, and give insight about the negatives.

    I tend to be pendatic, but maybe some people’s eyes glaze over when I am. But sometimes I do reach people if I explain things in simple language, or they are curious about a topic. I have some experience as a tutor, and sometimes give instructions or advice.

    I always wanted to be an inventor or innovator, write a book, and live a comfortable middle class lifestyle. I dabble in various hobbies (including this blog). But seeing that there’s a polycrisis in recent years, I think I have to help others survive the 21st century and beyond.

    I went to college to study journalism, technical writing, and an information technology related field, so my idea to create the HETTY blog that combines my various skills, experiences,.and interests in a series of articles. Some of the articles are food service related, since I was a cook for years, and I struggled financially much of my life. Some articles.are science and technology related, since I’m pro science.

    I’m still figuring things out, but in simple terms, I want to create, educate, and assist others as I can. This century is looking very challenging in several ways.

  • Nope, not for me

    What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

    There’s that famous quote from Woody Allen, which I will paraphrase, “You can live to be 100, if you give up all of the things that make you want to live to be 100.” That aligns with my own philosophy.

    I would argue that longevity is causing more problems than it solves, although there are some exceptions with some individuals. Like there’s some centenarian individuals still working, still in decent health, still active, and have a good mindset. They seem to be uncommon among the elderly though. There’s various ailments associated with advanced age, including dementia and cancer.

    I smoke, drink, eat the less healthy food at times, and don’t exercise as much as I should. And I’m coping with serious existential problems, along with millions of others. I’m already world weary. I’ll probably make it to my 70s or possibly 80s, and I’m fine with that. Any longer, I may become more reckless with my health, like eat Fugu Sushi or dance badly in traffic.

  • College instead of Military

    What could you do differently?

    This is the choice I had as a senior in high school back in 1991, about to graduate and make my own way in the world. My dad died when I was 11, so my mother worked a lot trying to support my 2 brothers and I. Since it was a struggle to support the family on a single income, my mother gave me the choice of either joining the military, where I could learn a job skill or several through apprenticeships, or stay with my mom and brothers, and go to college for a formal education while she paid for my tuition and books. Maybe I could work a job to help with the fees.

    I had my reasons to join the military after high school graduation, one of them being that I didn’t want to burden my mother with the extra expenses of school. Learning a job skill, seeing the world, maybe toughening up some since I was a gawky nerd while in public school. I was very green, naive, and sheltered. But I would qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, if I joined the military. I could go to college later, if I chose so. (I did, 10 years later.)

    Was the Air Force a good experience? Yes, and no. I met some good people, did go to different parts of the US and some other countries, learned how to be a professional military cook and basic service specialist, learned some military culture and lingo, and didn’t screw up so much that I was able to get an honorable discharge after 2 terms of service. It was sometimes stressful, sometimes loud enough that I developed tinnitus from the noise of war machinery, and I had to cope with the politics (workplace and geopolitical). I also developed habits like smoking and the occasional binge drinking, and I became more jaded and vigilant. I wasn’t burned out yet, but I lost a spark I had at 18.

    I started to go college when I was 27, sometimes older than the other students. While I did study and did well enough in some courses, there was some other courses I couldn’t keep up with, or in some cases was completely lost. Astrophysics 2 showed that I’m terrible in advanced math, and intermediate algebra seems to be my limit.

    I got so burnt out from reading college textbooks that I don’t have the attention span for reading books anymore. I’ll read online summaries or specific quotes or facts about a topic instead. I ended up dropping out of getting a bachelors degree partly cuz my grades weren’t good enough (with autistic spikes), and I couldn’t afford to finish college.

    So why would I chose college over the military after highschool? Money, time, and energy. I was more energetic, healthy, and idealistic at 17-18 years old than I was at 27-28, college was cheaper (yet still costly), and I would spend more time with my family. I would probably have a better formal education than I do now, maybe working as an engineer or professional writer. I also probably wouldn’t have developed the wanderlust I have for travel if I just stayed in my hometown, instead of the 7 countries I was able to visit while in the military.

    I’m not sure if it was a better choice, but maybe I would have chosen a different fork in the road knowing what I know now.

  • My first job

    Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

    I don’t remember the details of my first job, so the answer will be a little vague. But my first job was as a pickup delivery person at JC Penney, a department store built into a shopping mall in Milwaukee. My mother was a sales representative in the Jewelry department, and she talked to management about hiring me. It was my first part time job at 16, while I was still in high school.

    I don’t remember how much I was paid for the work, but I imagine that it was minimum wage back in 1989. I remember that there was a pickup area in the backroom warehouse, where large items that were paid for in the store departments were pulled from stock based on the product code, taken to the pickup point in the back of the mall, and put in customers vehicles. Furniture, home decor, boxed items, maybe even large boxed toys at times.

    I did remember that I had to wear slacks, a dress shirt, and tie for the backroom stock area. I would do mess cleanup, trash disposal, and some product stocking at times, but the job was mostly pulling and preparing stock at that pickup point.

    I do remember being in a decent mood after working that 5pm to 9pm shift, being excited about my first job. Not tired, and upbeat when the first shift was done and my mother picked me up from work. And I remember having a crush on a blond sales representative working in the children’s clothes department. I admired her from afar, and I was too shy to even ask her name even after several months.

    So that’s the vague story of my first job.

  • Despair and cynicism

    How have your political views changed over time?

    There’s a good reason why some voters/people become independent or apolitical over time. I found that out in recent years.

    I lost hope, and I don’t think any solutions are possible through politics. Only periods of time when the system is more stable and functional. Corruption runs deep in several countries, and can ruin any halfway decent functional government and nation.

    There is no perfect political or economic system, only less bad ones, so I’m country hopping to find a suitable country that is a better fit for me. I lean more progressive/Social Democrat in the US. I left the US last January, so I’ve been exposed to different systems and cultures over the past year. I may not return to the US, if I can help it.

    Yes, I’ve become more depressed and cynical at my age. Interesting times indeed.

  • Adorable Animals and Children.

    When are you most happy?

    I have severe depression and moments of anxiety, so it’s a struggle to be happy in middle age. Especially knowing what I know. However, there are bright spots that I live for. I really like comedy, even though I find it hard to laugh at most comedy. I tend to find sight gags and written jokes funnier than most stand up comedy. And I tend to lean more towards dark humor.

    Music is a bright spot, especially if it’s a banger. I like a lot of the R&B/Funk/Disco type of EDM, if it’s original work or samples older songs I haven’t heard before.

    But cute and friendly dogs and cats, and adorable children? When I’m around them, I can be funny and sometimes even giddy. I’m one of those people who watches funny cat, dog, and baby videos. When I’m around dogs, cats, cute animals and babies, I can sing funny ditties, tell jokes, pet and/or cuddle, and sometimes feed pets or children. My mindset changes, and I feel better, if temporarily.

    I have a daughter now, less than a year old, and she really is adorable. So it brightens my day when I see her or when I’m with her.

  • Crippling Social Anxiety

    Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

    I have both performed on stage and given speeches before, but only in school and it was years ago. I remember performing skits in class, and I either blanked out and was fed the lines, or I had to read from a paper. And then with the speeches, I mostly read from the essay I wrote, only briefly looking at the audience. I even took a speech course in college, and got a better than average grade.

    However, I don’t find public speaking or performing pleasant. I was visibly uneasy in front of others, and sometimes I cut the speech short so I could return to the classroom desk. It was before I was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

    Imagine, that I like stand up comedy, and would like to perform stand-up one of these days. I never have, so it remains a dream. Curse you, social anxiety!

  • A Couch Potato who Travels

    I never been big on exercise, although intellectually I understand the need and benefit of it. I tried the fitness center membership route twice in my lifetime, and was barely going.

    However, walking and traveling seem to be my preferred method of exercise. I go different places, and I’m more likely to walk and carry heavier objects like luggage and groceries. I have to work with the quirks of my neurodiverse brain.

  • Enchiladas, Nacho Salad Dip with Tortillas, Hot Ham and Cheese on Rolls

    What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

    These aren’t necessarily my favorite meals, with the exception of that Nacho Salad Dip. But my family are big Green Bay Packer fans, and if we all had the Sundays off, my 2 brothers, their combined wives and children, my mother and I would watch the football games together. My mother was able to buy sliced ham and cheddar cheese from a deli/corner store she worked at part time at a discount price. With soft butter or mustard slathered on the rolls, it’s actually pretty good, and they were easy to make meals.

    If my mother was in the mood or it was requested by my brothers, she would make a version of chicken enchiladas that used refried beans and cream of chicken soup. Baked in the oven in a Pyrex platter for roughly an hour, my brothers were bigger fans of that casserole type dish than I was, but my mother liked making it for the family.

    During special occasions, including when the Packers made it to the playoffs or Championship game, my mother would make Nacho Salad Dip. Now, that Nacho Dip was actually a favorite of mine, and I keep trying to remember the exact ingredients so I can make my own version. Avocadoes mixed with cream cheese, some chili powder, garlic powder and other seasonings, squeezes of lemon juice, the guacamole mixture spread in a plate, topped with shredded lettuce and Mexican cheeses, chopped onions tomatoes, and olives. Sour cream may also be an ingredient, but I’m not sure. Served with Doritos or another bag of tortilla chips. So fattening, yet so tasty! Sometimes I try to look up online recipes to see if there is a version of that dip. It is one of those foods I’ll remember fondly, even if I don’t know how to make it myself yet.

    Otherwise, I like to make various types of Stir Fries, variations of Spaghetti, and chicken fajitas in my own home.

  • I’m an Aloof Introvert (Autistic)

    What’s the first impression you want to give people?

    I’d like to give off the vibe that I’m an introvert, and can be standoffish. But also I’m often deep in thought. In many cases, that’s true. However, if I’m able to help someone when approached, I will. Sometimes I have conversations with strangers, but every once in awhile. I’ve opened up to a few people in my life. I can be generous, knowledgeable, and funny around certain types of people.