Updated: September 24, 2024
What I’m Up To
- For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been developing blog posts on several topics. I often start out with a Readwise highlight from my reading, then start to map out my thoughts in a MindNode mind map. I’m a graphical learner and thinking, so I use mind maps instead of outlines to develop blog posts.
- I’m reading another nonfiction book, Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic. I find Seneca to be one of the better Stoic writers. As opposed to Epictetus’ brief guidelines, Seneca tends to develop his ideas.
Adventures
- Since this summer, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site has been working behind the scenes to hire me on a part-time basis. As is true with most government organizations, the National Park Service hiring bureaucracy moves slowly. Last week, I received my “tentative offer of employment” and started the online onboarding process. The best guess is that I may start working toward the end of October. I’ll be doing as a ranger pretty much what I’ve been doing as a volunteer: leading tours and greeting and interacting with people who come to the Visitor Center. As a volunteer, I was working one day every other week; as an employee, I’ll be working two days a week. They are understaffed and need all the help they can get. The downside is that it’s about an hour and fifteen-minute commute each way; a lot of my pay will be covering the gas bill.
- My wife Lanette and I walk at least two miles several times a week. We want to stay healthy and mobile as we age, and understand that walking is one of the best activities we can do. We often go to Canyon Lake Park here in Rapid City. It’s a beautiful park with a lake and a creek. Last week, after I was done and sat at one of the tables, I was visited by a very friendly squirrel. I imagine he gets lots of handouts from picnickers. Eventually, he left disappointed.
Media
Amazon Prime is sponsoring the original series, The Rings of Power. We watched the first season and were disappointed. But since we’re big Lord of the Rings fans, we decided to watch the second season. We were hoping it would be better this season. We’ve watched three episodes so far. It’s okay, but I wouldn’t say it’s really good. But maybe others would like it more than we have. We don’t care for some of the acting.
I got the idea for this page from David Sparks, aka MacSparky, who got it from Derek Sivers. I don’t like using social media for updates, so on this page I can update you as to what I’ve been doing lately