Category: Post
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Peace Like A River
Although I sang this lyric countless times as a child and during my thirty-year career as a music/arts director, primarily in mega-churches, I never truly experienced peace as a Christian. My primary emotions were negative: guilt, fear, anxiety, shame, and judgment. The first moment in my life that I felt true peace was soon after…
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Eight Books I Wish I Had Read Much Earlier In Life
We live in a world of media over-saturation—tens of thousands of streaming movie options, thousands of TV series, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and so many others. It may be hard to believe that my childhood home had ZERO computers, televisions, or cell phones. Yet, with all these options, I still do not believe there exists…
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To Gina On Our Tenth Anniversary
It has been a wild ride! And I would not trade this decade of happiness together for anything in the world. Every moment has been priceless—well, there may have been a few days we would not want to repeat when we were carving out a farm in the Appalachian wilderness, but still, I would not…
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I Took A Trip Yesterday
Often I wonder why some of us are allowed to live a charmed life. Yesterday was one of the most significant days of my six decades on earth. I never cease to be amazed that we live in a world where I can wake up in Dunedin, Florida, hop on a plane, and in just…
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Search for Best Sandwich in Tampa Bay (#8)
Next! The eighth tasting is the Cuban Sandwich at La Segunda Bakery. Gina joined me for the forty-minute drive to the restaurant. We had a bit of a surprise when we arrived in Ybor City and walked in—there was nowhere to sit—it was a legit walk-in bakery (they specialize in Cuban bread). The line was…
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Search for Best Sandwich Tampa Bay (#7)
Next! The seventh tasting is the Cucumber Sandwich at William Dean Chocolates’ Afternoon Tea. Gina joined me. It was a fifteen-minute drive to the restaurant. I have never had a cucumber sandwich, and in fact, I did not know there was such a thing. But it was delicious. The William Dean Cucumber Sandwich Rating: Bread…
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Search for Best Sandwich in Tampa Bay (#6)
Next! The sixth tasting is the Lobster Roll Sandwich at the Boardwalk Grill at John’s Pass. Gina joined me there. It was a twenty-five-minute drive to the restaurant. I have made Lobster Roll sandwiches at home and also had them at restaurants. And this amazing creation was the best of them all. The Boardwalk Grill…
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The Joy of Books (For Serious Readers Only)
Some people eat to live while others live to eat—books are both for me. I read to live and I live to read. My confession: I am a hopeless bibliophile who could possibly be enjoying the initial symptoms of bibliomania. Recently, I came across a fascinating list of books on stacker.com “100 of the Best…
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Search for Best Sandwich in Tampa Bay (#5)
Next! The fifth tasting is the Banh Mi Sandwich at Banh Mi Saigon Baguette Vietnamese Sandwich and Pho in Pinellas Park. My friend John joined me there. It was a twenty-five-minute drive to the restaurant. I have made Banh Mi sandwiches at home but never had one at a restaurant. And this amazing creation did…
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A New Adventure
Gina loves to travel and has been all over the world. Last year, she formed “Crewsin’ & More”—a travel advisory company with a clever take on her maiden name (Crews). The company has grown steadily (particularly now that Covid restrictions have been lifted and people are catching up on all their travel), and she has…
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Postscript (to “The Quest” by Randy Elrod)
(inspired by Umberto Eco) The Titles and the Meaning The title is meant to focus the reader’s attention on the idea of questions and adventure. The idea of calling the book The Quest came from my lifelong love of the Arthurian legend. What more noble calling can one have than to accept the challenge to embark upon…
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The Unspeakable Cruelty of Religion
It should be no surprise that the religious right (Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, white supremacists, and their ilk) are leading the red army to overthrow America and to drag her screaming backwards to the medieval dark ages. Throughout the centuries, religious zealots (such as those on the Republican Supreme Court) have subjugated women, disdained science, glorified…
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For Gina On Her Birthday
For Gina on her Birthday And to think, I could have lived my whole life without her. Without feeling the flush of warmth as she steals a glance my way. Without seeing her body so beautiful stretched out before mine.Without smelling her bouquet of pheromones, the perfect pairing.Without hearing her voice whisper my name in the same…
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The Day I Encountered Joe Rogan
Last week while relaxing in the jacuzzi at the exclusive Richard’s Rooftop aboard Virgin Voyages “The Scarlet Lady,” a young couple joined us. As we chatted, we learned they had just become engaged. He looked in his mid-forties, and she was in her late twenties. It did not take him long to let us know…
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Breaking Taboos
I know (from private messages, emails, and texts) that others share my quest for freedom from religious, political, and cultural censorship and taboos. Thank goodness, I am not alone, not the only one! This post is about those in the second half of life who have radically transformed our lives. And for those who secretly…
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Search for Best Sandwich in Tampa Bay (#1)
It’s on! First up is the Italian Beef Sandwich at Portillo’s in St. Pete. I can’t express how excited I was to find that Portillo’s had come to our area. My first and only experience (until today) was with fellow foodie friends while in Chicago about ten years ago. Portillo’s is a Chicago institution since…
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TASTING Tampa Bay: 26 of the World’s Best Sandwiches
If you’ve known me long, you know I LOVE trying new things. So I’ve asked Gina to join me as we seek to determine my world’s favorite sandwich in the Tampa Bay area. I was able to locate 15 of the CNN “World’s Best” 23 Sandwiches. 1.) Katsu Sando Sandwich (Japan) — Pin On Cafe,…
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A Birthday Chance To Be A “Grandfather”
Last night around 10pm my birthday was given the icing on my cake! My dear friend JR from Austin asked if he could facetime me. He had told his 7 yr old daughter Kaia that she would really like me and that I would really like her. It was our first time to meet. So…