Author: robertjames1971

I'm wicked tall.

Red Flag

Daily writing prompt
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
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There are a lot of personality traits that act like warning beacons for me. Lack of empathy, selfishness, unwillingness to pet cats when the opportunity arises. There is one that stands out above all others though. Really, it’s not a personality trait in and of itself. It is more like the result of a series of red flaggable traits.

The red flag of which I speak is being a trump supporter. Those stupid red MAGA hats are literally red flags that they stick onto their own heads. Thanks for that, I guess.

If you are a trump supporter then in the best case you are someone for whom racism, hate, greed, sexism, nationalism, selfishness, and full on fascism are not a deal breaker. That’s enough for me to avoid you at all cost. Worst case, of course, is that you are just a plain old run of the mill fascist and that’s enough for my country to go to war with you, as evidenced by that little blip on history’s radar from back in the 1940’s. Remember that? When half the West was conquered by nazis and the other half banded together to eliminate them? That little historical event? Yeah. That’s where your trump support leads.

That’s it. Simple. Support trump and set off all of my red flags.

I Have Not Forgotten

I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that it has been 22 years since 9/11. I was an adult when it happened. How can I have been an adult 22 years ago? Does not compute.

I wrote a recap of my view of that day back in 2018 so I am not going to write it again. Someday I might revisit things and then compare what I write to what I wrote before. I’ll view it as a time-affecting-perspective exercise. Not today though.

I haven’t forgotten how it felt, being mesmerized by it all. I never want to feel that way again, but whenever people post pictures of the burning buildings I feel like I am being dragged back into it against my will. Jen and I often spend a little time looking through documentaries, but that is something I choose to do. It’s also something I prepare myself for in advance. Popping onto social media this morning and seeing images of planes crashing into buildings just feels like a punch in the face and a kick in the balls. Even knowing the date, I am never ready for that sort of thing and it’s awful. I don’t need that sort of reminder, thank you. I mean, folks are going to do what they need to do, right? I just feel like, for me personally, today is a good day to avoid the socials. That’s all.

I have not forgotten, and I never will.

In the Office Day: Monday Edition

Wednesday is the official work-in-the-office day, but this week I’m bumping it up to Monday. The traffic was bad, but normal bad. It wasn’t 2+ hours like last week, it was just the usual 80 minutes for 40 mile bullshit today.

I parked as close to the back entrance as you can get without actually parking on the back entrance. Sweet.

The Ideal Week

Daily writing prompt
Describe your ideal week.
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This is probably going to sound a little on the boring side, but just remember… I’m old.

Right then, the ideal week…

  • Monday through Friday
    • Spend some quality time with Jen
    • Help one of my staff members figure out a complicated issue that helps a customer provide quality healthcare to their patients
    • Play some guitar
    • Take a couple of fun and interesting photographs
    • Hit all of my exercise, diet, and vitamin goals
    • Pet two cats
  • Saturday and Sunday
    • Spend some quality time with Jen
    • Play some guitar
    • Take a couple of fun and interesting photographs
    • Hit all of my exercise, diet, and vitamin goals
    • Go somewhere or do something fun. Take a drive, see something interesting, explore something new, it doesn’t matter what or where as long as Jen and I do it together
    • Pet two cats

And there you have it, gentle readers. My ideal week. Or should I say, the somewhat boring ideal week of a 52 year old red head in Massachusetts.

I hope you enjoyed that. You’re welcome.