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Showing posts from April, 2021

Designated Driver

Back in high school and in my early college years, I had a group of friends I hung around. There was a core group of 6 guys with a few more sprinkled in or out depending on the adventure. I was the designated driver. I grew up around alcohol. I am Catholic. Church picnics, school sporting events, mixers, weddings, holidays all had alcohol. It was used for celebration, socializing and sometimes to drown sorrows. I saw alcohol consumption result in fights (because of overconfidence), relationship breakups, and addiction. I chose not to partake. In the 80s it was illegal to drink under the age of 21 but rarely was it ever enforced. My buddies had access to beer and even stronger liquor, and getting into bars with a fake ID was super easy. The bars had the alcohol and the ladies so most Friday and Saturday nights that is where my crew was. As the designated driver, the local spots knew me. I got free drinks! I often chose juices (orange/pineapple was my favorite), and sometimes soda. I als...

Topless

Photo by: Tim Bindner This past weekend was a good one. Nothing spectacular happened, but it was one I enjoyed. Saturday Mark came over in the morning. He and I spent 2.5 hours taking his soft top off his Jeep, then replacing it with a new one. Neither of us had done this before, and though the directions stated it was a one-person job, both he and I decided two was the best option. The details of the disassembly and new install are not important, but what was was the time we spent together figuring things out. We discussed our upcoming trip, worked through the instructions, and finally got it completed. The 2.5 hours of labor earned me a $10 lunch, where conversations continued and my anxiety was gone. Photo found on Google Sunday began with a trip to downtown Louisville. I headed to my old work parking garage to meet Mark at 8am. The normal exit ramp I took was under construction, so the detour took me through Portland off the 22nd Street exit. As I made my way down 22nd Street towar...

Why?

Photo by: Tim Bindner Why? A simple question, but with a complex answer. It leads to more questions. It makes you assume things if asked with no context. Three brief letters and a question mark. Why? I had a conversation with a friend recently upon which she was questioning me about things going on in my life. I explained I write this blog to gain insight into who I am. I don’t reveal everything in my life, but what I feel I need to get out. Off my chest, if you will. I told her I like to push people to think. I have never claimed to know any of the answers, heck actually I am mostly wrong, probably, but what irks me is when people rely or others for their thoughts, goals, morals, standards, or decisions without researching, questioning and thinking on their own, before reaching their own conclusion. Society, the media, movies, television, advertisements and even social media drive the herd mentality that ultimately lead the masses to whatever conclusion intended. These are just some i...

Good Time, Bad Times

Photo by: Tim Bindner I have not written in a while because honestly; I am reaching the point of peace. I have identified a few sources of my anxieties and in all those cases I have dealt with them and have them under control. There are still stressors in my life, but they seem more manageable. So since I last wrote, I have had some things going on. Some good, some bad, but all I could handle. In no random order, here is what I have accomplished; I received both Covid-19 vaccines; I paid 48% of my principle home loan off; I discovered a $10,000 credit card was opened in my name under USAA Savings Bank; I had a meeting with my therapist; I bought a new camera lens; I completed the photographs and some of the writing for my second book; I have a goal to pay my house off completely in June of this year; I am leaving for a trip with my dear friend Mark in May, and then another trip in July with my wife, I am listening to an audiobook called Greenlights, and I found out this week Prince ha...