Just another beautiful sundown scene from warmer, better days.
ICE is in town raising hell. This week, an ICE agent shot a woman in Minneapolis. Some mourn, some cheer, all of us are hurting. On the streets, the ice is slippery, dangerous. It’s been that kind of winter—dark clouds, rain, sleet, slips and falls, apprehension and death in the air. Time moves slowly sometimes, but this will end—the dangerous chill, the numbness, the ice.
Keep the faith.
Sacred spaces come in all shapes and places…
Sutherland Park in Sioux City has made these pages before, because every time I’m home visiting the parents, I BreakAway daily to this beautiful relic of what used to be a buried water tank to serve the neighborhood. It’s also a park—a large, private square block atop a high hill that overlooks 3 states and more.
My friends and I gathered there routinely for decades, and still do when in town, which happens not so much as most long ago moved on and the years fly by. Frisbees, guitars, beers, lawn chairs, boom boxes, sundowns, and friends. Don’t cost nothin’. Life feels great. And the memories never fade, no matter how thick the fog.
Nice camel, though those probably aren’t the humps most men see first.
I’m no prude, and generally maintain that people are going to do what they wanna, regardless of the morality police and local cops. But when I read that Peter Hafiz, the gentleman behind most of the seedy, sexy establishments in Minneapolis, wanted to open a topless steakhouse, even my eyebrows rose. He died recently, and most people spoke very highly of him—as happens when people pass, yet the comments seemed entirely sincere.
Then I happened onto this picture from early last year, when I again found myself in Vegas to watch my son play for the Raiders. Now I remember: Signs for that “strip” club were all over. But then again, it’s Las Vegas. Perhaps that’s where Mr. Hafiz got the idea.
Marilyn Maye may be 97, but still mesmerizes crowds nationwide (and me, holding her hand) with her delightful songs, stories, and stage presence. (Photo date: 12-5-25)
BreakAway traditionally preaches about the benefits of long-term travel and other escapes from the routine shuffle., AKA career breaks. But of equal importance: Finding the routine hobbies and habits that make the daily grind more meaningful and enjoyable.
For me, nothing beats music for that salve. Listening to the background tunes also helps fight back against my stubborn and annoying tinnitus—highly recommended!
And of course, nothing beats live music—like Ms. Maye’s performance in the photo. We go WAAAY back, having worked together in nightclubs in the 1980s. And I still see her here, in Okoboji, and beyond at least 3 times each year. She’s still got IT, has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning twice, and was on the Johnny Carson show a record 76 times…
This begs the question: What will YOU be doing when you’re 97!?!
Let there be songs to fill the air
— Grateful Dead
The media recently broke a story about a study that suggests that listening to music consistently decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s by 39%, while also improving cognitive memory skills.
Playing an instrument regularly also helps, with a 33% decrease in dementia risk and 22% in cognitive impairment.
What’s more, the study found that playing music for people already dealing with dementia (and throughout life, for that matter) does lots to help with processing emotions, boosting imagination and mood, and easing stress. Nursing home residents who often listen to music they like from their past have less incidents of agitation and aggression.
So…Listen up! You’ll feel better now, and again in the golden years when you may have memory problems. And while you’re at it, why not uncase that old guitar and pick away?
The beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada finally achieved their independence on February 2, 1974. Less than 10 years later, U.S. troops invaded.
You know, it’s funny how perusing old pictures doesn’t always conjure up the same memories and responses. Exhibit A: Being a part of Independence Day festivities on Grenada in February 2009 was a blast, while also bringing an education of the youth and fragility of their nation, which left U.K. rule on February 7, 1974.
In less than 10 years (1983), US troops invaded Grenada to quash a Cuban-tied coup.
Dubbed “Operation Urgent Fury,” that effort became Mission Accomplished in a mere 8 days—and yet left scars and wide-ranging opinions about Americans. This pic takes me to the giddy celebrating and the impassioned conversations about politics, America, and war. Naturally, some people didn’t much like me and my family—simply because of our homeland. Some still wanted to be tied to Cuba; Fidel Castro posters remained a common sight.
Lately, Trump’s idea is to torment the Caribbean-tangent nation of Venezuela via “Operation Southern Spear,” with goals of curtailing drug flow. So far, we have about 12 Navy ships and 12,000 sailors and marines down there—and have killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks on boats allegedly hauling contraband. Meanwhile, the U.S. has offered a $50 million reward for the capture of their rogue leader, President Nicolas Maduro.
They say a picture paints 1,000 words. This picture feels more like 50,000,000. I adored my time in Grenada. But today, I’m grateful to be nowhere near Venezuela.
I recommend carving out some time with family & friends every late October to bring pumpkins to life. Who knew these orange orbs had so much personality hiding inside?
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend a frightening $13.1 billion on Halloween this year. That’s an average of $114 per person. And we wonder why we feel pinched! Oh well, people need a Breakaway from their routine and persona. I mean, who doesn’t love pretending you’re someone else for an evening? Even these lowly pumpkins agree…!…
The Ran-Ham bowling alley decorates with hundreds of dollars that customers contribute. But around the country, most people are dealing with a severe shortage of bucks.
You hear the news every day. Talking Heads say things like, “Consumer confidence is down,” “People are pinched to pay their bills,” The job and housing markets are leaving millions behind.”
Stock market indexes continue to race skyward and break records, with the S&P 500 nearly doubling in value in the last 3 years. So if you have a lot of money in stocks, you’re making more, and maybe getting rich. Why? Well, companies are making money! They don’t seem to dance to the same drummer as the people they sell to. To put it simply, the rich are getting richer.
A Star Tribune story today states that CEO pay is at record levels. To quote, “The median total compensation for S&P 500 companies in 2024 was $16.4 million, up 11% from the prior year.” We’re happy for them, right? But…the downside is that their average employee earns about 1/280th of that.
Fair? Probably not. And the disparity symbolizes the present political push to favor the top 1 (or 5 or 10) percent, and punish the rest. Just study the Big Beautiful Bill, with cuts in healthcare, food assistance, and overall government support and services for the vast majority of Americans…while inflation keeps rising way more than cooked government numbers admit.
This story runs often, but a recent CNBC online article tells us that, “About 71% of U.S. adults surveyed say monthly debt payments prevent them from building wealth or savings.” Yep, credit card debt is (again) breaking records. And, really, will someone explain to me why the banks behind those cards are allowed to charge up to ~24% while the same banks investments in interest-paying holdings pay about 1 – 4%?
Credit card debt has reached $1.21 trillio—while most people can’t save a meaningful amount, no matter how much they cut back or how many jobs they work.
It’s easy to say, harder to do. But once again, here are BreakAway’s 11 Commandments of Fiscal Fitness (because 10 is not enough). Today’s favorite: Know credit—or no credit!
It’s never too late to make some meaningful monetary changes, and never too early to save whatever and however you can.
Keep the faith!
Boo! I mean YAY! Photos can’t really capture the magnitude of this display. I mean, for example, dozens of life-size, wooden caskets surround the entire yard—which is 99% full of realistic, ghoulish stuff. Crazy? Maybe. But I applaud all efforts to create and connect.
When in Sioux City recently to visit ailing parents, my mom told me to drive past this house. So I did. And was so stunned (and a little spooked) that I hit the brakes and stopped. In the middle of the street. Yes, I have a soft spot for twisted-ness. But really, when someone has such passion and drive for something so unique, that’s inspirational.
Note to self and all selves: Don’t be afraid…Get off your phones and make something!
Roundabout, I have learned (usually) to keep some controversial opinions to myself. But truth be told, the MN State Fair doesn’t tickle my thrill bone the way it does most denizens. It is because I didn’t grow up in this state? My leg is full of metal, and I can’t walk and stand all day? I shun deep-fried you-name-it by the pound? Crowds scare me unless it’s for, say, Bruce Springsteen?
A: All the above. Still, when I DO go—and if I bring the good, big camera—the event may be the most photogenic day of the year. No wonder I seem to dig into the archives for a FotoFriday shot almost annually. Which reminds me…
I better go next year. I need some fresh shots. Meantime, I hope this young lady got a good nap.
Dude needs to learn to chill out someday…
Pardon us for being late to rave, er, reflect on International Relaxation Day. IRD (that’s right) happened last Friday, August 15. I hope you were so chilled out you missed it too. Wait until you see what happens here for Universal Procrastination Day!
BreakAway supports this, and preaches the gospel of chill the h*ck out, which ain’t as easy as it used to be. All the more reason to ignore the noise and grab whatever (or whoever) pleases you, which may be Heavy Metal festivals, mammoth hikes, or yoga. Regardless:
Just un plug.
How do you relax? I like watching water, sipping something, and blasting music—for starters. However you unwind, we hope you get to do it almost as much as whatever is keeping you from that higher priority. St*ff can wait. Relaxing won’t. Keep the faith.
BREAKAWAY TAKEAWAY: Relaxing happens now, not later.
1 kid, 5 islands, 69 days
Here's my son’s blog from an '08/09 BreakAway in the Caribbean.
1 planet, countless cultures, 120 days
In 00/01, when the internet was a pup, I went RTW and posted these words and pics en route.
