Travel Catching Up

     In Sept of 2024 we went to Australia and New Zealand. Now I only have to go to Antartica to have been on all 7 continents!! Very few people can say that. 

    I can't remember when we went to Portugal to watch a MotoGP race, but we've done that within the past year or so as well.

    In Aug of 2025 I went with Bill G riding motorcycles for a week in Arkansas again. Last year we rode around the NWA portion, this year we focused around Hot Springs. The plan is for him to accompany me to Greece for a ride in 2026. In May, for my birthday.

    In Sept of 2025 we went to London and Scotland with Max and his new wife S. Just the four of us. It was a great way to connect with each other. I played a round of golf for the first time, and of course it was at St Andrews. You know, the home of golf. hahahaha. We saw cool sights and we are fun food. The only negative was shopping with them for souvenirs. May they were indecisive hahaha. Oh, and I drove a right hand drive car on the left, with zero issues I might add

    I need to work on importing pictures from my phone to my laptop, or to publish from my phone. Either way, here is an extremely limited set of pictures from just stuff of late.

More and more

     I'll be trying to write more and more here. Though I feel adrift in what my main theme should be. Previously I just wrote about my life in southern California, focusing on my hobbies, food, entertainment, and travel. With just a small amount about family or criticism of world events.

    But since it has been years, years, since I've written with any regularity it feels new and unfocused. Also now I no longer have a hobby that dominates my spare time, nor am I working in any field. It seems issues with my health dominate my days and weeks, but I don't want this to focus solely on that part of my current experience in living as Rowdy. I may have no other good option.

    I do still read a considerable amount about the Cold War, The Great Game, the dissolution of the USSR, terrorism and other security issues. Would anyone be interested in my commentary or opinions? It's hard for me to feel the answer is yes.

    Should you be one of the 20 or so people still subscribed and still actually reading a blog, whereas it seems podcasts now rule, leave an anonymous comment about the direction you'd like to see my writing occupy. I may not follow it all exactly, but an external prompt could be helpful.

    One thing I've thought about doing is some retrospective, biographical videos on my YouTube channel. Just talking head videos as I discuss memories of my life. Maybe I'll cross post them here with my own commentary that isn't in the video's dialogue.

    OK, what's in the near future for me? Weekly pickleball league with Mel G. Weekly golf sessions with Mike M and others from church. Family coming to visit for the week of Thanksgiving. And in February a trip to Finland!! Focusing on the Arctic Circle/Lapland area. Brrrrrrr, freezing.

Official

 I have been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. At age 53. In 5 to 10 years I will be dead. In 2 to 5 years I will be living in a facility. This is all very weird for me.

Not only is my onset early, I was diagnosed early so I am aware of the changes I'm experiencing. (For now)

Be patient. It's not my fault. But I'm changing.

Changes

 I have a history of concussion with loss of consciousness. This has happened 6 times in my life. I also have a neurological issue that made me completely deaf in one ear. Genetic testing showed I carry two variants for Alzheimer's disease, increasing my risk 12-fold. I also had multiple brain MRIs this year to assess my function.

After a year of noticing smaller issues, I was referred for testing with a specialist neurologist. More testing, more blood work, more genetic testing and hours or neuropsychological testing.

All this led to a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment secondary to Traumatic Brain Injury.

That diagnosis has advanced now to Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. At 53 years old.

Now you know.

Time Travel

I think it is fair to say most of us would have no issue with someone going back in time and killing Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and other leaders of countries who were mass murderers. 

In my ethical view, some people should be killed for their actions. But not for their beliefs. Not for their beliefs. Assassination of a citizen, entertainer, journalist or politician simply for their beliefs is completely wrong. They're just thoughts and words. 

 It's only when their actions directly contribute to the deaths of innocent others that they become legitimate targets for removal from society.

Spider Man

We all know the line from the movie, with great power comes great responsibility. What is one of the most powerful items a person can own? A firearm. I think the top three are a device connected to the internet, a car, and a firearm. Those three items give a person more options to influence others, which is what power is, than anything else they own. 

 Unless wielded as a contact weapon, very few people can directly kill someone with their phone or laptop. I do recognize there are other forms of damage, but I'm only interested in loss of life for this discussion, as it is the ultimate loss. 

How many people are killed by cars is a matter of public record and we know the contributing factors or alcohol, drugs, distraction, rage, poor vehicle control, and road conditions. Most readers of this blog have a driver's license and can still remember the process it took to require it. Younger readers needing more education and training than their older counterparts. In my case, I took a semester of driver education in high school and had to have a learners permit for at least 6 months before taking the written and driving tests for my license. My motorcycle endorsement took extra training, testing and demonstration of physical skill as well. Then I'm required by law to provide insurance against my accidental or negligent use of a vehicle. 

 Over my life I've owned greater than 60 firearms. I've used them for recreation, hunting, competition and work. The only times I have been required to demonstrate any level of proficiency and knowledge of safety has been for hunter education certificate and concealed carry permits. Items falling under NFA rules required a background check, but no demonstration of skill or knowledge. A great number of people have received training in firearms safety and knowledge through Boy Scouts, service in the Armed Forces, as part of a security or law enforcement career or from paying for professional firearms instruction. There are currently in place, proven means to deliver training to a wide number and diverse group of learners. 

 I know you can tell what I am getting at here, that there should be requirements for training, use, safety and insurance for firearms ownership commensurate with their potential for ending life. I want no changes to the Second Amendment. I want no changes to capacity or types of firearms people can buy. But I do want a higher bar set for ownership in the form of training, storage and insurance. Have your right but exercise responsibility equal to it.

A Mirror

Sometimes I wonder if my failing physical body is a reflection on some emotional, spiritual or intelectual failing in an other aspect of my life. Also, I don't support Trump and I think his politics, morals and business sense are ruining America.