Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Reflections on creativity, remembering Ray, recent writing, and a favorite Canadian escape.
As I ran through poor air quality this morning I thought back to this cartoon I drew in 2023. Has it really been 3 years since I made a concerted effort to draw funny things? But more seriously, what will the future bring for our outdoor happiness?
If you would, lend a hand and tell me what you think about my future cartoonish aspirations –
Sad news: my father-in-law Ray passed away at home on Sunday, June 14.
Ray packed a lot into 85 years — an Army Corps of Engineers career that took him and Diana through 13 moves in 15 years, a marriage that started with a blind date and lasted 49 years, and a vibrant life even after heart surgery, a neck fusion, and Guillain-Barré. He spent his last years in Trumansburg happily obsessed with his gardens, and after Diana died he leaned hard into his daughters, keeping a family text thread going every single morning for six and a half years.
Last Sunday afternoon, we all worked hard to give him the backyard celebration of life he wanted, beneath sunny skies in the backyard he made.
I wrote two posts recently: one about a 16-foot medal rack I made as part of our gym refresh (a fresh coat of paint will always do wonders) and the other about the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon – the goal of my spring training block. Check out the feature photo from the Gorges post below: it’s probably my most favorite running picture ever.
I mentioned in the last dispatch that I was going to play the role of Thomas Jefferson (center, yellow vest) in Encore Players’ production of 1776. We had an absolute blast putting this show on July 3 and 4, despite sweltering temperatures. It was historically accurate, though, if you’ve ever checked out these lyrics from the show:
It’s ninety degrees! Have mercy, John, please
It’s hot as hell in Philadelphia!
– Sit Down, John
Amy and I also enjoyed a long weekend in Montreal. Delightful runs, delicious food, and as always, a trip to a Scandinavian spa.
A Tip for the Modern Worker
Leverage your benefits. Your workplace may offer extra benefits on top of medical, dental, and time off. Look for discounts on cell phone plans, entertainment, travel, and more. Also, some companies will match your charitable contributions. These are all wonderful ways to maximize your compensation.
This tip is one of 365 in my Handbook for the Modern Worker. That followed my first book, The Art of Working Remotely, about my experience working from home since 1998. Depending on where you work and which way the wind is blowing, these may be banned books or fan fiction. I hope it’s the latter.
Mail Bag: If you work remotely and have come across an issue that needs solving, a thorn that needs removing, or just an observation you’d like to share, hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.