Bob Unembellished ⋅ 62 ⋅
More than a quarter of a century writing on the internet. I've shared a lot. I've learned a lot. Let's go for a half century!
Entries 138
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K-town, Shmay-town in Book Two
Kaohsiung. I’ve been here since December 1st and this year in my quest to not get too comfortable, too complacent, too mellow, too boring, too, too, too, what’s wrong with too? It’s too easy, t...
Life is about… in Book Two
Life is about time and distance, and happiness and other things. It is about the banality of weather. The weather is all around us and impacts our daily lives everyday yet talking about it is ...
Drunk at 6am in Book Two
Up at 4am. Out for breakfast before 6. The sky still dark, like it tends to be a half hour before the sunlight begins to shine behind the Pingtung Mountains. There is a table of five next to m...
Choose retirement. in Book Two
Choose retirement. Choose downsizing. Choose condo boards, reserve funds, and elevator blocked for move in move out. Choose your daily pills lined up like little soldiers about to storm the ...
Not lost but hard to find in Book Two
On the way across the prairies in early October, I continued erasing my old identity. I went through my iPhone address book and deleted 95% of my contacts. I kept my family members, close friend...
A girl from Estonia in Book Two
I met a girl from Estonia. She makes her living by being good-looking. Good gig. She’s a model. And in Taiwan, most people don’t stare at you, not like in the old days. But I think she gets a l...
Alone but not lonely in Book Two
Another day, another day. Yesterday was fine. Turned out more or less like I thought. The market was not fruit or seafood as I had assumed but little restaurant stalls, like you might find in S...
Five Tigers of Yancheng in Book Two
Up at 4am, which is fine with me. I have three bananas that have to eaten today, so it will be banana smoothies for breakfast. I’ll have a big lunch at a Beijing restaurant for my ‘meal of the ...
I met Scott on Thursday. He recognized me from my Youtube videos, dropped his breakfast and chased down the street after me. The next day we had a quick breakfast together. I had a 抓餅, he had a ...
mud volcano, check in Book Two
It’s been a full day and it’s only 2pm. I suppose that happens when you get up at 4. I have this rule, I mentioned it before. So I found myself at 興隆居 having breakfast at about 5:30. There were ...
Chasing boats with a drone in Book Two
Today was much better. I woke up at 5:30. Originally, I woke up at 2:30 and I thought ‘oh oh, it’s going to be a long day.’ I put on a podcast and zzzzzzz. Anytime after 4am is a fine time to ...
Today is today somewhere in Book Two
This one is really off the cuff. I’m back in Taiwan. I got here this morning at about 4:30, almost exactly 12 hours ago. And naturally, I am discombobulated and out of sorts in all kinds of ways...
I’ve come to think of my time on earth (or wherever this is) in terms of dog years. Next year, I will be 9 and starting another 7-year cycle. My golden doodle (Cheech) lived to be 16. My goal is...
Snow and -2C back home in Ontario. 10C clear and bright here in the Okanagan. 23C with light drizzle in Kaohsiung. My thoughts are on Kaohsiung. Less than 3 weeks now and I will be back the...
Bad place to lose a needle in Book Two
The drive across the country was beautiful, quiet and uneventful. I talked to a guy in Northern Ontario that said everyone went home after Thanksgiving. The roads were open and free of RVs and o...
Ho hey. It’s been a month since I’ve been here and wow and well, I’m half way across the country. It took five days and four nights to drive west and west and west and west into the warm embrac...
8 more days in Book Two
I’ve been sitting around here since May. I am so ready to go. And go I will. Eight days, 8 more days till I start the road trip west to BC. And then after about a month there, setting up the new...
I truly don’t need much. Access is more important than ownership. We’ve got the back of the truck half loaded. Two bed platforms and some Ikea chairs that have been taken apart. On the weekend...
Blissfully unaware in Book Two
Sometimes the most reasonable explanation is conspiracy. Like there is a conspiracy for the New York Yankees to lose to the Blue Jays in the devision finals. Like there is a conspiracy for the A...
Evening and before that in Book Two
I took a late afternoon nap and then barbecued hamburgers and sitting on the gossip bench, had a big glass of dark beer. The sun had set and the patio lights clicked on and I thought, “it is get...
The problem with some people is that they have high expectations. If you keep your expectations low, you’re easily satisfied. If your standards are high, normal people and normal services cannot...
Four hours in Mississauga in Book Two
A perfect Autumn day today after yesterday’s day of intermittent showers. I sit on the front porch in my hoodie and crocs and watch all the neighbours walk by with their dogs, one after another....
Small section of a Venn in Book Two
I had coffee yesterday with a new friend. We talked about living in Taiwan, the Taiwanese, retirement, Youtube and things related. I realized recently that all of all of my friends are new frien...
The two Joes in Book Two
I heard from my friend Joe. He says he’s finally settling into his retired life. I think I know what he means. But I would like to hear it from him. Does it mean that he does not care about the ...
A new puppy in Book Two
I made a long list of all the things I don’t miss about working now that I am retired. It was a satisfying exercise. My neighbour Mary has a new puppy. I confirmed that fact yesterday morning ...
