Jay – Page 21 – The Boring Old Man

Product/Brand Review: WOOLX

Anyone that truly knows me, knows I’m a fiend for wool.

It all started back in the 1980s with a hand-me-down Pendelton wool overshirt. I don’t know how old it was when I got it, but that shirt accompanied me on countless camping trips, surf outings and ski weekends. Not to mention many a cold day when I was working in the trades and spending my time in frigid shops and unfinished buildings. I actually held onto that shirt until late last year, when it finally went to the Goodwill. It’s still perfectly serviceable, but I’m a lot bigger now than I was when I got it, so it really didn’t work as an OVERshirt for me anymore. For over roughly 35 YEARS that shirt served me well.

Since that first Pendleton, I’ve been an unabashed fan of anything and everything wool. Shirts, suits, coats, sweaters, socks, hats, gloves, blankets and now…boxer shorts! What?!?!

Enter WOOLX. I found them by chance, during last Christmas’ shopping season.

I was intrigued to say the least at the idea of wool boxers, but skeptical. Especially when I saw the price. But, throwing caution to the wind, I decided to purchase a single pair of boxers.

All I can say upon initial receipt of the garment, is that I was even more skeptical. The material was thinner than any wool product I’d ever seen, and the texture was extremely smooth. Frankly, it didn’t “feel” like wool.

So, I put them through the wash (yes, they are machine washable!) and took them for a test drive for a full day at work. My impression after the first day of wear? AWESOME!! Seriously, the most comfortable boxers I’ve ever worn, by far. Nothing else has even come close.

After my first order, they sent me a discount code for my next order, so I got 2 more right away. Then I got another one.

Now, I’m completely spoiled and ONLY want to wear WOOLX boxers! Before my trip, I tried to order 2 more but sadly (though not surprisingly) they were sold out.

Last night I discovered that they had them back in stock, so I pulled the trigger on two more. Huzzah!!

Now to be perfectly honest, I feel the cost of these is outrageous. But the company has a good habit of sending out discount codes, so if you’re patient you can get a “deal” on them, though even then they are mighty pricey.

Frankly it’s too early to tell, but I’m HOPING that I get the same results from these that I have with my other wool products. In other words, that the high cost of the initial purchase is mitigated by the garment’s longevity. Only time will tell, but regardless I think the comfort factor cannot be underestimated. My ONLY “problem” with them is that they have the brand name woven into the waistband. I understand that pretty much EVERYONE does this now, which I despise, so I’m not holding it against them, but if I had my wish, they would lose the logo and make them a solid color.

And for what it’s worth, I was so impressed with my boxers, I bought two pair of wool leggings for the Mrs. from WOOLX, and she loves them as much as I love the boxer shorts.

My suggestion for everyone is to mentally prepare yourself for sticker shock, then head over to woolx.com and pick something out to try. Aside from the beloved boxers and leggings, they’ve got shirts and outerwear and other odds and ends as well. I’m pretty confident you’ll be glad you did.

And just to we’re clear, I am in NO WAY WHATSOEVER affiliated with WOOLX. I have received NO free goods, nor any other compensation for this review. I’m simply a super-fan of their products!

OK, I guess that pretty much sums it up. WOOLX makes expensive but AWESOME stuff. I’ll be a customer for a long, long time if they keep up the great work and the high quality.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Noir by Christopher Moore

Full disclosure, I am a HUGE fan of Christopher Moore. In fact, I’d say he’s one of two of my all-time favorite authors. I’ve read about a dozen of his previous novels, and while some are better than others, I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them. A lot.

Noir was published in 2019, and I’ve had it sitting on my shelf almost since then. (I went through a phase where I just couldn’t seem to read fiction…I think the Plague messed with my mind too much and I couldn’t ever “let go of reality” enough to engage in fiction, but I digress.)

I took Noir with me on our recent getaway, and I’m glad I did! When I laughed out loud on the plane, roughly two paragraphs into the PROLOGUE, I knew I was in for a treat.

It is a difficult story to describe, taking place in San Francisco, circa 1947… You’ve got waitresses and bartenders, a deadly Black Mamba snake, G-men, “Moonmen”, generals, gangsters, a crooked cop, some crazy SF Chinatown adventures, and a trip to the infamous Bohemian Grove. And then some, with a splash of razzmatazz!

True to form, Moore’s tale is wildly outlandish, action packed and positively hilarious. I laughed so much reading this book, I knew I couldn’t read it before bed without waking the Mrs.!

If you like fiction, LOVE to laugh, and don’t object to non-politically correct language, I can recommend this book with the highest regard. If you don’t love to laugh, what’s wrong with you?

But seriously, Christopher Moore is a lunatic in the best possible way with an amazing imagination and a terrific way with words. Get this book, or frankly just about anything else written by him, and buckle in – its always a great ride with Mr. Moore!

Christopher Moore; the man, the myth, the lunatic!

Thanks for reading!

Home again…

Well, our stay in paradise has come to an end and we’re back in the Bay Area. Our trip was fantastic, it really couldn’t have gone any better. Definitely one to remember!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so since I’m jet-lagged and already headed back for a day at the office (on Sunday, no less!) I’ll give you all a little photo essay.

The Mrs., on one of the happiest days of her life!

A final farewell on the way to the airport!

If you ever have the chance, I strongly recommend you visit Hawaii. It really is a special place. The Mrs. and I are already scheming on getting back there! It probably won’t be any time soon, but I can guarantee it won’t be another 15 years!!

Thanks for reading!

The Sun sets on paradise…

The end of an epic day…

Road Trip! And we’re off!

It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally on our way to Hawaii!! The Big Island to be a tad more precise.

This is literally one of my favorite places in. the. world. It’s hard to believe it’s already been 15 years since my last trip out to the deep Pacific!

My daughter and the Mrs. have been twice since my last trip to the islands, but I’ve been borderline berserk with excitement for this trip.

This time around it is just the bride and I, celebrating our 30 year anniversary. The girl will be back home, helping take care of our spoiled rotten feline.

We were up at 4am, in the car by 5am on our way to the Oakland Airport. Anticipation made falling asleep last night a little rough, so I’m starting out a little wacky on only a few hours sleep, but will have PLENTY of time to catch up on my beauty sleep.

It’s been raining steadily at home since yesterday and cold, so I’m extra happy to be leaving town for a bit!

The airport scene went as easily as you could hope for. No hang ups checking in, got sat with the early boarding group, the plane took off on time and landed at our destination 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Who could ask for more?

No issues with the car rental and the hotel let us check in early, every thing we could hope for and then some.

So happy to be back in Hawaii, it’s been far too long!

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Cannibal Reign by Thomas Koloniar.

Ok, first off, I would never and I do mean NEVER have picked this book up, simply due to it’s title. It’s got to be one of the dumbest book titles ever and frankly doesn’t really give you an idea of what the book is about. It sure as hell wasn’t what I was expecting, I’ll tell you that! I picked it up based solely on a recommendation from James Dakin, AKA Bison Prepper, one of my favorite non-fiction writers.

The book was written in 2012, the first novel by Thomas Koloniar. And while there are indeed cannibals in the book, they are really a small part of the overall story. Basically, you’ve got an “extinction level” event, with of course SOME survivors, and the story focuses on the lead up to the event and the first year or so of the aftermath.

Without giving too much away, the story revolves around an enormous asteroid colliding with the Earth. It leaves a new scar in the earth’s crust, dwarfing the Grand Canyon and what isn’t crushed is either engulfed in flame or covered in ash. Pretty much everywhere. Bad news for our protagonists.

Overall I liked the book. There were a few cliches and unrealistic elements, as in ALL post-apocalyptic fiction, but it hooked me right away and kept me engrossed til the end. My biggest beef was the sheer number of characters – it made it a little hard to keep track of who was who, especially with the lack of character development.

But, also like all good post-apocalyptic fiction, it made you think about the “what ifs”. I feel like a pretty well prepared person, but should an event like this one ever come to pass…well, I’ve had a good run and I’ll be sure to save the last cartridge for myself, if you know what I’m saying. I’ve no interest in a diet of “long pork”, thank you very much!

So with that, I’d have to say it was a good read and I’d recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in post-apocalyptic fiction. Thanks for the recommendation Mr. Dakin, I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks for reading!

Flashback Friday! Tropical edition.

Trying to get into the proper mindset for the upcoming trip! Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/MEGj4cfSgP8

Now before anyone goes bustin’ my chops, I’m fully aware that none of these bands are from the tropics. The music just evokes that vibe, in me at least. Must be cuz this is what I was listening to on a million trips to the beach over the last 35 years or so… Good times!

Ok, one more for good measure. After all, what fun is a beach trip without a Rock Lobster?!?

Thanks for reading!

Overwhelmed!

Things have been pretty gnarly at the office for, say the last 18 months. Who am I kidding? Its been ridiculous since January 2020! Then in January ’22 catching the Plague set me back further. Then I got the flu after that, making my previous setbacks even worse. But now things are REALLY heating up because next week I’m on long-awaited vacation! (More on that later.)

That is one of the biggest problems with (highly regulated!) 24/7/365 facilities…nothing, and I do mean NOTHING stops when you’re away. I’ve got a to-do list as long as my arm and 2 days left to get it done. And that’s the list walking in the door this morning, regardless of what I accomplish today, the list will be just as long or longer tomorrow. There is NO “finish line” here, just an eternal grind.

Thankfully I have the weekend to pack and get the dwelling in order, but sheesh!

This trip was supposed to happen last October, but due to restrictions from the aforementioned Plague, we had to postpone at the last minute and are just now finally getting to go. It’s even crazier to think we booked the trip in August of ’21, that is a loooong time to anticipate a trip!

The Mrs. and I are (belatedly) celebrating our 30th anniversary with this trip, so we’re planning to make it one to remember!

Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely excited to get outta town for a bit, I just miss the days of being able to take time off without having to work double before leaving, and triple upon the return!

All I’ve gotta do now is work like a maniac for the next 72 hours, and then I get to breathe easy! Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

Happy Birthday: Chaka Khan

Born this day, 1953 in good ol’ Chicago, IL. She’s a lady, so Im not gonna write her age, you can do the math if you’re so inclined.

Full disclosure, I was not “allowed” to listen to this type of music as a kid, as anything appealing to the ear was most certainly the work of the Devil… Nonetheless I would sneak the AM radio into the backyard and have my mind blown regularly. If I was really lucky, I might catch some American Bandstand or Soul Train and really get turned on to the musical world outside the perpetually parentally guarded bubble of safety.

A whole new world for this kid…

Now, I was only about 6 or 7 years old when Rufus and Chaka Khan hit, and I was VERY “sheltered”, so this was like an alien life form to me. Nevertheless, it made an impression on my young soul.

Her career would span decades, and she would become known as “The Queen of Funk”. She went on to sell over 70 million albums and she racked up 10 Grammy awards along the way. Not too shabby!

That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident, that is what true talent and hard work gets you.

Happy Birthday Ms. Chaka Khan! Thanks for all the inspiration and all the fun times on the dance floor! Best wishes to you!

Thanks for reading!

Some truth, if you want it.

This essay was directed at at very particular and precise target, but this one quote, IMHO, is nearly universal to the “western” civilization.

“Our lack of self worth and submission to idolatry and ideologues is the real danger. We have always been our own greatest downfall.”

https://roycewhite.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-to-the-black-bourgeoisie?s=r

I don’t think there is anything wrong with having heroes or “idolizing” someone that excels in an area that interests you. That being said, since the advent of reality television and social media, those being put on a pedestal these days are questionable at best. What we’re NOT seeing is the “best of the best” being celebrated. Instead, it’s the loudmouth, the braggart, the sleaze-merchant that is held in high esteem by “the public”. But why? That is the question that confounds me.

Why are so many people spending so much time watching other people play video games or “unboxing” stuff? So much so that those “content creators” are amongst the highest paid on YouTube! Now, granted, I’ve never really been a video game guy, even when they were first a thing back in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s. After a few minutes I lost interest. But WATCHING someone else play? That’s as bad as watching paint dry. And yet some dude managed to earn millions of dollars by filming himself playing video games for other’s entertainment. Go figure… And don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against those people that found a way to earn a living with no talent or worthwhile skills. More power to ’em. I’d rather a person earn a living like that, than say as a charlatan preacher fleecing their flock or leeching off The State.

What I really can’t wrap my head around is the appeal of this social garbage. When all you bring to the table is the ability to buy a bunch of stuff… what is there to look up to?

Everybody can use some inspiration. Myself included. But what do say, the Kardashians, inspire? Aside from “being rich”? None of them seem to be terribly happy or well-adjusted people. None of them can maintain a relationship. Other than pictures of themselves, they don’t produce anything worthwhile. And yet, they’ve become a household name and amassed tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars because… I’m sorry, I don’t know how to finish that sentence. I cannot answer the “because”, because it makes no damn sense.

Again, nothing against them exactly, I just don’t understand the appeal.

We, as a people, need to start holding up those of worth. Stop supporting the lowest common denominator, and search out the true innovators, the new thinkers, the DIY entertainers that are doing it all without the corporate machine shoving them down our throats.

They ARE out there. Artists, musicians, writers, Podcasters, builders, chefs, etc. Normal, passionate people that are out there doing their thing, because they can’t NOT do it. Regular folk, following their calling. Not for fame and fortune, but because it is a part of their very soul. Seek these people out, and kick the reality TV and the Billboard charts to the curb. Those people, and I use the term loosely, don’t care one iota about you or your life, why should you care about theirs? So you have something to talk about with your co-workers tomorrow?

I fear I’ve kinda got off track here… My point is, there are a lot of great people doing new, innovative, exciting things with their lives and that is what I wish for everybody. Sadly, a lot of folks are led around “by the nose”, never thinking for themselves or attempting to accomplish anything in their lives. That way leads to misery.

Everybody’s got their “something” (H/T to Nikka Costa for that line!). Everybody has their own dreams and aspirations. I just hope for you, that those dreams go beyond “being rich” or “being famous”… Those two “rewards” take an awful toll, not really worth the price of admission IMHO.

So think about it… What’s YOUR thing? What do YOU want to accomplish, to create? Now, with that “thing” in mind, go out and find yourself someone successful in that arena. THAT is who you should be looking up to, not the celebrity du jour.

And above all, believe in yourself. Nobody, not your parents, not your spouse or your partner, not your friends or colleagues truly KNOW what you’re capable of. I’m a firm believer in the idea that we’re all capable of doing whatever it is we need to do to make our lives better. But talk is cheap, the real value is in doing.

I realize this has almost nothing to do with the original essay that prompted this writing, but in the big scheme of things there are certainly parallels. That’s just the way this tired old brain works…a little acorn of an idea leads to something else entirely. Just something to think about.

Thanks for reading!