BagOfNothing.com

• I’m sorry I didn’t post a Bag of Randomness last week or give any notice I was taking time off. I was going through a rough time and the doldrums got the best of me. Truth be told, I have to be in a certain mindset to write. Most of the time, I’d rather not post than put up something cruddy. Hopefully, gray skies will clear up. I apologize to the individuals who were nice enough to reach out and show their care and compassion. I should be better at following up and replying. It’s just when you are in a dark place, it’s hard to get moving or make any momentum.
• BoyGeeding missed his last soccer game of the season because he wasn’t feeling well. I have a feeling I won’t see him play organized soccer again.
• It’s crazy how normalized mass shooting has become, even if it’s in your own backyard. The press briefing was maddening, 20 minutes of local officials patting each other on the back.
• Yesterday’s sermon at our church was Paul’s message about not getting a divorce. It felt strange being in the same room as my ex as it was being preached. It would have been interesting to take a trip inside her head during that time. In a weird sort of way, as it was being preached, I started to feel more and more vindicated. Not in an I’m right and she’s wrong sort of way, but more like a hug from God telling me that I stuck by biblical principles and gave it all to save a marriage and family from being torn apart. I’ll ever understand why she didn’t want to go to counseling at least one time to keep the family together. Family is worth the fight.
• The other night I was in my bedroom and BoyGeeding walked in. I grabbed a back scratcher to scratch my back, but he stopped me, “Dad, you don’t need a back scratcher, I’m here to scratch your back for you.” Funny thing, the only reason why I bought that back scratcher was because I didn’t feel comfortable asking my then-wife to scratch my back. It’s hard to explain, but when I asked her to do something for me, she often made me feel as if I was being an inconvenience.
• While I don’t like other people going through the same experience, it’s slightly comforting to know that I’m not an outlier – US Surgeon General calls for action regarding the ongoing ‘epidemic of loneliness and isolation’ – Recent research shows half of U.S. adults experienced loneliness daily.
  Recent research shows half of U.S. adults experienced loneliness daily.
• I had a delightful evening (in other words, a date) Saturday night with a published scientist. The next day we met and took a long walk together. I’m happy to have made a new friend.
• Reddit Video – Guide dog helps a blind person use the toilet

• Where are the lip readers? https://t.co/kdmELZhA7Q

  — Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) May 6, 2023

https://twitter.com/misslarrydavid_/status/1652947687254228992?t=VKB742xMpCdbZ4RpkA2Zxw&s=19

• I got eight stitches removed from my back yesterday.
• I look forward to this weekend all year. It’s the weekend I get together with my closest friends and we honor our late friend by awarding a scholarship in his honor.
• Cannabis company offers jobs to all 400+ Burger King workers laid off in Michigan – The workers would earn at least $16 an hour
• My, how the mighty have fallen. I never thought I’d see the day. I used to love that company and wished I could have had a career with them – Southwest is the worst airline in the US, according to a new study — take a look at how the 11 biggest US airlines rank
• At the CEO level, women finally outnumber men named John
• The Christian Post – Does 1 Timothy 2:12-15 prohibit women from teaching or having authority over men?
• Republicans Are Worried Legalizing Weed Will Put Police Dogs Out of Work
• I consider my marriage and my life as a failure. It’s been a real struggle. But, hearing Giannis speak about it has broadened my perspective.
  

  There’s no denying Giannis came up short, but this response to “failure” was fascinating.

  All parents should watch & show their kids. pic.twitter.com/jxoJpfolHG

  — Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 27, 2023

• Circa 1985. I was about ten years old and my brother was a varsity football player. For a fundraiser, the football team dressed up as a female drill/cheer team. A lot of them looked like Madea. As a kid, I thought it was hilarious, but was worried that one day I might have to dress like a girl. It happened, though in theater arts class. For a grade, I had to dress and lip-synch to Liza Minnelli’s New York, New York. There’s a videotape of it out there somewhere.  The way things are going in conservative Texas makes me wonder if stuff like that will no longer happen in Texas schools.
• In the sixth grade, there was a moment I was asked to dress like a girl for an Odyssey of the Mind event. I didn’t know how to say no because all the cute girls in my group thought it was a great idea. One of the many things I feared at the time was being called the three-lettered f-word that rhymes with “bag.” It took confiding in my dad and him talking to the team sponsor for me to get out of that peer-pressured moment.
• My kids attend a charter school. I have mixed feelings about it, not enough that I want them to continue their education elsewhere. Like most schools, I get text alerts sent to me. What I didn’t like was them giving one to a charter school PAC to keep me up to date on political stuff.
• A friend could sense I was feeling down the other day and sent this kind text:
  Love many Trust few And Paddle your own canoe
• Self-help tip of the day – Get grounded with a quick breathing exercise. Turn your right-hand palm up, then trace those fingers with your left pointer, starting at your right pinky. Breathe in as you trace upward and exhale as you trace down.
• I received the following email from Etsy. Why just discriminate against fathers? Why can’t I opt out of Mother’s Day emails? My mother is deceased and my ex doesn’t want me to get her anything because of the boundaries she’s drawn.
  
• Daylight come and we want go home

• AI + AR and the future of cooking.

  Now apply this to every specialty profession. pic.twitter.com/c9DdFophsQ

  — AI Breakfast (@AiBreakfast) April 25, 2023

• https://twitter.com/ilove_aviation/status/1650780960986652673