John Guthrie's Ready Room

My Podcast is Nearly Ready

After almost a month of preparation, constantly interrupted by life events, my podcast is almost ready for recording. I’m getting my intro and outdo segments completed and looking for the right music I can create for the mood I want. My script is in the final stage now, so

Feeling Flat

Friday started normally. Hal and I got dressed and started for our chiropractor appointments. As we rolled out of the parking lot, I heard an unusual sound coming from the back of the vehicle. I pulled over, and Hal got out and checked the back of the SUV to make

I am so sick of Barbie

Break The Chain

There is a fantastic song by Fleetwood Mac called “The Chain” with a long backstory. The song’s chorus talks about never breaking the chain. The chain refers to the relationships within the group. Still, when you listen to the rest of the lyrics, they talk about shattered personal relationships

Unexpected News

The good news is in short supply these days. I’ve learned to cherish any good news I can find, and when I get personal good news, I want to share it. A few days ago, I went for my regular checkup with my Nephrologist, and I wasn’t sure

Written in My Chair

Since becoming disabled, I'm not as active as I used to be. I treasure silence and calm over noise and excitement 100% of the time. Because of this, I view the world from my favorite chair, and I'm at peace with it. Hal and I are

When Writing is Unfulfilling

Originally published on Medium I’m falling out of love with Medium. There, I finally said it. The app has been acting wonky recently, and user interaction is sparse at best. I never joined Medium to make money, and I’m glad because otherwise, I would be disappointed with the

I Admit It. I'm A Perfectionist

I have experimented with my podcast setup, and I'm still not satisfied with the results. I bought a Cloudlifter to increase the gain on my microphone signal, so I don't have to crank up the volume on my mixer to get a clean sound. I am

Lifeguard Lesson Learned

Many years ago, I was a lifeguard for two summers at one of the public pools in my hometown. I was 13 and 14 during those summers of ‘77 and ‘78, but I was big for my age and passed all the requirements to be certified as a lifeguard. Most

Old Movies

With all of the distractions of modern life, it is beautiful to do something almost entirely innocent and harmless. After a delicious home-cooked dinner with some wine and a nice relaxing shower, it just feels like a time to keep the outside world away for the evening. I suggested Hal,

Snoopy Gets A New Home

Snoopy got a new home this morning. I needed more room on my desk in the bedroom, so now one of my Snoopys has a new home on the windowsill over the kitchen sink. I think he will enjoy the view from there. I don’t think Hal has even

Podcast setup almost complete

I am almost ready to start audio testing for my podcast. I set up an extra desk for my audio interface and repositioned my mic on my left side since that is my dominant hand. Equipment is almost all connected now. I might need a long USB C to USB

Writer’s Block

One of the worst feelings is writer’s block. I want to write something important and meaningful, but I can’t get the words out. Ideas are fleeting at times like this, and the only way to combat the malaise is to keep writing and hope to unclog my brain.

Mortality

Hal and I heard from a friend yesterday that he was hospitalized for an elevated heart rate. We haven’t seen him in several years since we left the DC area. It is never good to hear a friend is in bad shape, but his last text said his test

Admitting My Mistake

Recently, I wrote a story about the current political climate in this country. I wish I hadn't because it is too easy to fall back into my old habits and begin writing critical stories instead of positive ones. I don't want to be the person I

Road to Kindness

Kindness is more than a word, kindness is a lifestyle and a choice we all can choose. A lifetime of being conditioned for aggression and instant gratification leads us away from this universal truth. Realizing that we are all connected gives perspective and meaning to existence from a new perspective.

The Slippery Slope of Eroding Our Rights

I really don’t want to wade back into the cesspool of American politics, but the recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has upset me, and I feel that I must speak out. I’m not reacting out of hatred or anger. Instead, I’m sad and afraid.

Trust and Kindness

We can experience trust and Kindness daily if we open ourselves to it. I was relaxing in my recliner the other day when Henry decided to join me for some relaxation. This visit happens almost every day. Hal and I are so lucky to have such beautiful cats here. Our

Welcome to Aiden Lo

i’d like to take the opportunity to welcome Aidan Lo from Medium who joined the website thank you very much and pleasure to have you here. please feel free to read and contribute and have a wonderful weekend.

Reminiscing

Something caught my eye the other day. Hal and I were shopping at Kroger when I saw a young boy, probably eight or nine years old, with his parents. The thing that caught my attention and triggered memories was the boy wore old, beat-up Converse Chuck Taylor high tops. I

Growing my Creativity

Intro I have been working on this post for some time, several days. I want to get it exactly right before publishing. My creativity has made tremendous strides over the last few months. I am no longer ashamed of what I write and create. Starting my website was just the

ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH

DEAR FRIENDS TEST

Testing again

Blah blah blah

just a test

Podcast test0:00/0:201×

I Feel Terrible

Actually, there is nothing wrong with me, but I am hurt for the people lost at sea in the Mediterranean and for the people who are almost certainly dead at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the tragedies differ in scale and our reactions to them. Dozens, if not