Going To Paris

Hudson’s Seafood Restaurant Hilton Head May 4, 2026. 530 PM The above clip came from an email I received today. It reminded me of the important difference between being busy and being productive. My working at DOE was not rewarding. It was a job to pay the bills. It is where I first heard the expression “the illusion of progress.” We could get very busy at DOE but nothing ever got done. We fooled ourselves into thinking we were being productive while all we were was acti

Hilton Head May 3, 2026 "Dirty Myrtle" is a nickname for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, that originated from its reputation as a rowdy, high-crime, and party-focused destination, particularly during the 1980s and 90s. The term, often seen as insulting by locals, also refers to polluted ocean water from runoff and a generally unpolished, "redneck riviera" image. Key reasons for the "Dirty Myrtle" nickname include: Rowdy Atmosphere: Historically known for wild spring break parti

Hilton Head May 3, 2026 https://scliving.coop/sc-life/sc-life-features/unusual-sc-place-names-unlock-passwords-to-the-past/ A few years ago, I took an 800-plus-mile road trip around South Carolina to learn about the origins of 10 of the state’s most intriguingly named communities: Round O, North, Plum Branch, Ninety Six, Due West, Possum Kingdom, Cross Anchor, Prosperity, Coward and Ketchuptown. Colorful town names, I knew, would lead me down colorful backroads to colorful pl

Hilton Head May 3, 2026 Iamout of the rhythm of writing my blog posts. This one will be out of sequence, but I wanted to capture my thoughts about the second leg of my drive from Charlottesville to Hilton Head. Friday I drove the fast route to Florence by taking I64 to Richmond and then joining the masses driving I95 south. My detour into Wilson, NC was very worthwhile but the drive on 95 was as expected -- not much to see at 75 MPH. When I got in my car yesterday morning i

Hilton Head May 3, 2026 9 AM

Comfort Inn (15,000 points) Florence, South Carolina May 2, 2026 Yesterday I began my two-day journey to Hilton Head where I will spend the next two weeks. Pre summer beach trip. According to Google Maps, the fastest way there is to take I64 to Richmond and then join the crowd driving I95 south. I thought about taking “blue highways” but decided the extra time was not worth it — this time! It’s my second road trip in my new Toyota 4Runner. I love Hi Ho Silver and we’ve be

Resilience is built when life doesn’t go your way. I have learned a lot about resilience since August 25, 2016. Up to that time and for sometime after, I didn't understand resilience. I did not comprehend that resilience is "the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, or significant stress, allowing individuals to "bounce back" or grow from difficult experiences." I didn't "adapt" or "bounce back" from difficult experiences. I didn't change and ask what I could do dif

Who are you when no one's watching? I came across this question when reading an article about relationships. (Again, like my last post, not that any of the article was relevant to me -- smiley face). Living alone, I am well aware that I have developed habits and default behaviors (are those two concepts different?) that are suited for my circumstances. For example, I don't need to share my time, and I can do chores when I want to. I wonder sometimes whether that makes me u

Another article on my Google News feed. I thought I would share it even though it has absolutely no relevance to moi. (Smiley face). Key points We are genetically predisposed to all things living, just as the Buddha had a penchant for the lotus. Embracing the awe of nature can remedy and lower the heat of the stew brewing inside our heads. Even tending an indoor garden can boost our mental health. There is always a lotus flower in stories about the Buddha. This flower, the