Tired of the long, cold winter? Try a game of rock-paper-scissors....

   Mom dropped Jimmy and Adam off in the toy aisle, telling the brothers they could buy one new toy, but both had to agree on the toy to be purchased.

   “I'll be back in ten minutes,” she told them.”But remember, only one new toy that you both will have to share.”

   Within two minutes, they had pulled about a dozen toys from the shelf and began to argue over which one to buy. A minute or two later, they had narrowed their choices down to one each, but could not agree on the final selection.

   “Rock-paper-scissors?” asked Jimmy.

   “OK,” responded Adam and within a second or two, in the middle of the toy aisle, the selection was made. Scissors beats paper! 

   For those unfamiliar, rock-paper-scissors, often call Ro-Sham-Bo, is a hand game usually played by two people, where the two use an outstretched hand, both 'thrown' simultaneously, in the form of one of three shapes. According to the rules, the “rock” (clenched fist) beats the scissors (two fingers), scissors beats the paper (open hand) and paper beats the rock. If both participants 'throw' the same sign, the game is considered to be tied. On the count to four, each participant reveals (throws) the hand gesture, hoping to defeat the opponent.

   Not unlike flipping a coin, drawing straws or rolling the dice, rock-paper-scissors is a method often used for choosing something, 'like who gets the ball first in a football game' or maybe, on any given day, it is played on any playground at any school, the game being used to pass the time until the recess bell rings and the kids return to classes, or...it could even be used as a way to pick up some extra lunch money from the unsuspecting new kid at school. But what seems like a harmless kid's game actually has a long, storied history.

   Dating as far back as 200 BC, over the years the game developed into an important cultural activity, challenging the minds and thinking of its players and forcing them to develop new techniques and ways to fool, exploit and take advantage of even the smartest opponent.

   And, like many games of Asian origin, it didn't take long for its popularity to spread across Europe and by the early 1920's it was being played in many local pubs and bars, in parlors and family rooms and at parties. I would give it a 'hands down award' to its rapid rise in popularity.

   With a game that sounds so simple, there must be easy strategies in order to gain the advantage over an opponent... unless you are playing against a 'truly random' person. Stated in a different way, most of us think and operate in a logical and orderly manner and within minutes it is easy to outwit or out smart an opponent because you have figured out his or her strategy, their pattern of thinking. But against someone truly random, an opponent who is purely free wheeling, it is next to impossible to anticipate the next move.  Often in tournament play, yes, tournament play, the frustration that grows when playing against a 'random' opponent often leads to the use tricks or tactics in order to confuse the other person, which eventually could lead to illegal moves and eventual disqualification. What a game! The anticipation and excitement must be overwhelming, almost like the outcome of the Super Bowl!

   To insure that participants and observers follow sportsman-like conduct, in 2002 the International Rock-Paper-Scissor Society (???) established and standardized sets of rules for international play. Who knew that a simple school yard game could attract so much world-wide attention and require such analytic thought?

   Stuck in the house on these cold wintery days, challenging a opponent to a round of rock-paper-scissors might just help pass the time. It only requires two players,  no set up time, and playing time... only an instant for each round, with the potential of random chance to win very high and... there are no skills required, except maybe for a bit of luck and a wee bit of psychology used against your opponent. 

  But if you are really looking for something to do, you might want to think about attempting to beat the Guinness Book of World Record and call all of your friends and family. The record for the largest tournament was set in 2010 with slightly over 6500 participants. Or...you could just pop the top of a cold Guinness beer, grab a good book and settle in and enjoy the warmth of the wood stove.

PS. If rock-paper-scissors doesn't spark your excitement, there's always arm wrestling\! 

What happened to Mom's chair?

    Several weeks ago, I bought a lovely needle-point chair at the auction. It was a nicely sized 'sitting room' chair, with  dark green fabric, a neatly stitched floral vine design on the seat and back that complemented the mahogany legs and arms. Across the back was stitched the name and date of the person who had obviously spent many hours on the project.

   I had looked at the chair just prior to the auction beginning and determined  it was in excellent condition, no pulls in the material or stitching and no scratches on the woodwork. Real solid. It was the type of item I generally do not buy, but if the price were right...

   The chair did not get a great amount of attention, much to my surprise, and I was pleased as I placed it carefully in my car. I thought I could either sell it or swap it out for one at home. It was very nicely done, but the last thing I needed was another antique chair around the house, something my kids keep reminding me of quite often. “Dad!. What's going to happen to all this stuff when you and mom are gone?” (Am I going somewhere?)

   The chair sat in the corner of the room for a few days and I finally decided to sell it and put it in one of my booths at the antique mall. Perhaps someone else would enjoy its beauty and if it didn't sell within a few weeks, I could always bring it back home.

   The chair looked very handsome in among the other pieces of furniture that were for sale. I put, what I thought, was a reasonable price on it and headed home. I returned two days later, only to discover that the chair had been sold. Two days mind you! But here is the interesting part of the story.

   The person who bought the chair was the son of the lady who had restored it and spent hours and hours on the needlework. He was unaware  someone  in the family had sent the chair, along with some other furniture, off to the auction to be sold. But remembering the wishes of his mother, he and several other siblings had understood that the chair was to remain 'in the family' . Without hesitation, he purchased the chair and returned it to its 'rightful home'. That chair had far greater  'family value' than any price tag I could have put on it and this story did have a happy ending. But sometimes that is not always the case. 

   Auctions, antique shops and yard sales can be very interesting places to browse and can reveal a great deal about “families.” Each week, with regularity , there are pieces of furniture, jewelry, glassware and china and pictures, often hundreds of family picture and albums that are sold to someone looking for a buy, when in reality, perhaps the intent was that the items  remain in the family and passed down through the generations. Did grandpa intend to have his oldest grandson get his favorite gold engraved pocket watch?  Did anyone in the family know that was grandpa's wish?

   Tucked away in the bottom of a cardboard box where several very old, autograph albums. For those not familiar, autograph albums were 'pre- facebook' in which people would share their secret thoughts and ideas, sometimes only for personal reading or, on occasion, to be shared with only the closest friends. In several of these albums were entries dating back as early as the 1830's. I am not sure the writer ever expected his or her personal thoughts and ideas would ever be shared with the rest of the world, but these old, musty and well worn pages have created a great deal of interest for others who collect written history and memoirs. Famous people? Probably not. But were the thoughts, ideas and secrets on these pages meant to go public  almost 200 years later?

   Over the years, as my parents got older, they began to downsize, getting rid of things they didn't need or want any more. (I am sure my children hope I do the same, downsize, that is.) Some  have been  passed along to me, some to the grandchildren and some to the auction every once and awhile. My mother still has several lists of items she kept that were important to her and my father and the lists indicate  her wishes in terms of who and where they should go upon her passing. 
   For my family, it's pretty simple. The family tree doesn't have many branches and while I have joked about the lists in the past, I think I am beginning to understand their importance and the need for some planning. Whether large families or small ones, I think I understand how a beautiful needle point chair might end up at a place where it was not intended, and if it had not been by chance, a son walking by an antique booth at the mall, who knows where the chair might have ended up.

   But, I guess it's time to start planning and downsize. So... for the sake of my kids....would anyone like a couple of pairs of slightly used cuff links and a few old tie clasps.? (At this rate, this could take a while.)

AHA! So that's where they all go.....

   It was late morning. The sun was shining brightly and although it was chilly, we decided to take the opportunity to do a bit of shopping. It was a quick stop at a local fast food restaurant for a late breakfast and then off to the store. There's a new store in the area, opening just before Christmas, that we had yet to visit and today would be the perfect opportunity. The name scared me a bit...Hobby Lobby...because I wasn't sure what they sold, although I could guess based upon the name. But, there would be room to move around for exercise, it would be warm  and there should be plenty of parking,  being the middle of the day and the middle of the week and all. I mean, who goes to a 'hobby store' during the middle of the day in the middle of the week?

   I can remember telling many of my clients as they were approaching retirement...”we work now so that some day we don't have to”. But when the day arrives, I am not sure we are ever really ready. 
   The first couple of weeks are great. Eight to ten hours a day of extra time to do whatever you want! All those projects and activities that never got done while you were working... now completed, and it's only day four into retirement. For sure, there are many advantages to being retired, but I will add there are some things I had not anticipated.

   For the most part, being retired allows you to go where you want, when you want and not have to fight the crowds. Many of the fast food restaurants offer free coffee to seniors along with the purchase of one of their breakfast sandwiches. Some stores offer senior discounts while other may even help load your purchases into the car. "Do you need some help, sir?" (Do I look that old? ) 

   When it snows, I don't have to go out in the middle of the night to clear out the driveway. There is no need to rush out. I am not going anywhere in the morning.

   In the summer, I can mow my lawn on a Thursday instead of Saturday like everyone else and it helps keep the air clearer from all the pollution  coming from the lawn mowers running at the same time.

   I can stay up as late as I want... to watch the Late Show with Jack Paar. (Who?) I didn't really have any interest in watching the show when I was working, so why do it now. But    I'll just DVR it if I change my mind.

   Those are some of the good things.

   I am not sure what I had expected a life of retirement to look like, having watched only my parents and a few of the neighbors navigate the retirement years. I didn't think my parents' experience was the norm. And for some reason, I have noticed the retired neighbors are still out of the house by 9:00am most mornings. I wonder where they all go?

   Growing up, I remember the 'great American dream' was to retire at 62, collect social security and live a life of leisure. But today, that dream has changed just a bit. People are living longer, they are healthier and it is not uncommon to find retirees living well into their 90's. And living off social security these days.....

   From my observation, the new dream is to retire a bit later, maybe 63, take a few years off to unwind, get all those odd jobs done around the house, and then maybe pick up a part time job for a bit of extra spending money or do some volunteer work, putting  some structure back into the day, not every day mind you, but a couple of days each week. The reality is  you can only hang out at Tim Horton's each morning for so long. It's nice to see your friends on a regular basis, drink plenty of coffee and eat a couple of donuts each day, but every day? And after awhile, it can get to be a bit expensive.

   As I turned into the parking lot...AHA! I may have discovered the answer to why and where the neighbors might be going each day. Look at all the cars!

   The new store in the area that opened just before Christmas is huge. Not only is it packed with almost every imaginable craft and hobby items, but furniture, home decorating items and alike. Its one stop shopping for just about anything for the house. And filling the air ...soothing music, almost 'sing along' type. Isn't that a Mitch Miller song?
   Although the parking lot was full and well cleared of snow, there were still plenty of spaces to park. The aisles where easy to navigate with shopping carts and baskets. And most of the the people walking up and down the aisles, aside from a few maybe under the age of 40...the majority looked just like me: retired couples, of similar age and older, in similar retirement dress (LL Bean flannel, I assume), filling their shopping carts and baskets with projects for the next stormy day.. and the days beyond!

   So this is where the neighbors go!!!!

I promise I won't write about the weather...

  Often some of the 'inspiration' for my blog comes from being out in public and just listening. It could be the local store or restaurant, while getting the car serviced or just watching people moving about the aisles in Marden's. ( Marden's is a local discount store and often a great place to shop.) But the weather this week has forced many to stay inside, including me, and so I had to 'dig a bit' for some ideas for this week's blog. Some ideas came from reading the local news on-line, others from listening to the 6 pm news.

   I am not going to write about any of the recent football games, either college or professional. I used to be a football fan but I am beginning to have some second thoughts about the sport in general and the consequences of the injuries that often occur. Is it really worth putting your 'brain on the line' and impacting the future quality of life at the expense of a game?

   My guess? Within the next ten years, most community recreation programs and high schools will drop football because of the legal liabilities and potential health risks kids might suffer. Colleges will struggle to fine new ways to replace the revenue lost from the once 'rich' and lucrative football programs since there will be very few willing to play and colleges may return to their mission of.... educating.

   And the professional teams? The league will be on the verge of bankruptcy after paying the thousands of dollars in lawsuits filed by former players. Many former players will never know they received a settlement because they suffer from Alzheimer, dementia or other severe head trauma. Anyone interested in buying a slightly used football stadium?

   I could write about the increase in the number of telephone calls and advertising I have been getting to change my service provider for my television, telephone and computer. I especially like the ones that guarantee to lock in low rate if I sign up within the next two minutes. First...What ever happened to the laws passed for the “Do Not Call List”? And second, not only do they call my home phone number, they also call my cell phone.

   I remember the days when there was an antenna attached to the roof of the house for television reception (and it was free) and a line coming into the house for the phone. Today I can get television and movies on my cell phone and get wrong numbers on my television. ???  Some things never change!

   This is an area, technology that is, that will far exceed our ability to understand its potential because technology really is moving faster than many of us are able to think about and comprehend. Remember those iPhones that were selling for hundreds dollars when they first came into the cell phone market? I recently saw them advertised as 'free' if you signed up for a multi-year service contract. But then there is always the no service contract program at Wal Mart. How do they do it?

   I could write about how excited I am that 2014 is an election year in Maine, but that would be a lie. What frustrates me about elections are the never ending television commercials and millions of dollars spent to get candidates elected. If not mistaken, I believe a great deal of money comes from what are known as PACs, groups set up to support particular causes and candidates. What about a PAC for the 'common folks.' I might be willing pay to not see the endless stream of advertisements. By the way, I like my tea in a cup.  I don't want it in my politics too!

   Here is an interesting consideration. I will bet the money that comes into Maine from 'out of state' to support the candidates for governor and Congress would be enough to pay for at least three years of health insurance premiums for all those currently uninsured in Maine or...it might be enough money to fund the cost of  public education for all the kids in grade K-8 in Maine for at least one year.

   I could really support some type of “election reform,” perhaps one that sets a cap or limit on the amount a candidate would be able to spend or maybe... for every dollar raised, the candidates donates half of the amount to a charity or cause of his or her choice, perhaps domestic violence, as an example.

   I grew up in the '60 and '70. It was a time that was 'unique' and known for it's music, alternative life styles, clothing, free sex and drugs. Our generation had been part of a world conflict that, even to this day, few  ever really understood why. But the social and political costs of it changed a generation forever.

   I am referring to the Vietnam conflict. It was an age of rebellion from the social norms and expectations and for some, it became a back to the land movement of sorts. (Some even  moved to Maine.)

   I find it very interesting that, according to the news, there seems to be a current trend where many are giving up lavish life-styles, expensive toys, having fewer cell phones or giving up their television cable service that provides 300+ channels for... a more simple way of life. Does it mean that history has a way of repeating itself or are we just  resetting out priorities?

   Although we know that playing football can have serious health consequences, we still do it. Why? We understand the importance a good education or the need to discover new medical cures or scientific discoveries, but we allow other, less important, issues to take a higher priority. Why?

   Perhaps it would be simpler to write about the weather. The weather is something we can always talk about but also know we can not control... at least not yet!