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 129
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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 ...
It looks like my neighbour Mary has a new puppy. She is leash training it in front of her house across the street. That makes me feel a little sad and envious. I really would like to have a dog....
Local colour in Book Two
In most towns I’ve lived in there always seems to be the local character or characters that you always see around. In this town it is Tina the Hunchback. She’s awful. She’s not a character as mu...
Unsatisfied in Book Two
And now it is the middle of the month and we are still waiting to hear from the builder about the completion date. So much waiting. Originally we were going to be spending the summer in BC, now ...
It is so great having the whole house to myself. I just do what I want, when I want. If it wasn’t for the cat, I’d be completely free. The cat got into bed with me at 8 o’clock today. That’s a...
mini-vacation in Book Two
With the ladies away for a couple of days, it’s just me and the cat at home. And we are both going feral. Despite my urgings at 9pm and again at 10:30pm the cat did not come home. She stayed out...
Bordering on lunacy in Book Two
I am happy that no one that I can see from looking at the front page here is taking about Charlie Kirk. We have Facebook and Youtube for that. Podcasts too. And you know me, I’m Canadian and I’m...
Running uphill in Book Two
The goal is to write here every day. Just three or four paragraphs. One topic. Sometimes two. It is a good intellectual exercise, getting thoughts down on paper. Writing here also has the qualit...
5 pillars of a happy day in Book Two
It is weird that I have been retired for more than a year (maybe longer) and still I am not sure what retirement is all about. As such, I have recently been watching ‘retirement’ videos again. I...
The best kind of remote in Book Two
We met for coffee at my favourite hotel coffee shop. It’s been more than a year since I’ve been there. I used to meet all of my real estate clients there. The Huether Hotel. A long and varied hi...
