Summer Vacation

 

I'm about to have the summer off -- starting in May.  I haven't had a summer off in decades.  I'm making some priorities -- exercise, spend time with family, reading,  new hobbies.    I also started discussing part-time or interim work with an agency yesterday.  If I can make this work, then I will have no issue traveling for 3-4 months next year.

On another note, the sextortionists have not contacted my Burmese friend.  He is so upset about this.   I feel badly for him.   Today I will show him how to set up another phone number, and how to clean personal details off the internet. 

 

 

Sextortion

 

I could have also titled this "When Bad Things Happen to Good People"

One of my Burmese friends messaged me yesterday:  "I'm in trouble".   Here's what happened and this all unfolded on Saturday morning:

It started with messaging someone on Sniffies.

This extraordinarily good looking person wanted to meet him.   They exchanged some pics, including face pics and some x.   This guy wanted to chat on the phone, so they exchanged phone numbers and had a call.

Then it gets bad.  This person texted him a graphic collage of ALL his pictures with this heading:

Shameful nudes of GAY MAN!

Name, phone number, street address

Share and expose him nationwide so his family and friends will see it everywhere!!

Then another text message:  Should I go ahead and post or you want me to delete? I have all your family contacts.   A few accurate names were listed.

The demand was $2000.   My friend sent $1000.   That's all he had.  He can't afford that.    Sent via Zelle.

The guy blocked him on Sniffies and he hasn't heard anything else.

My friend comes from a culture where gays are not accepted.   If this graphic was sent to his family they might disown him, or worse.

I told him to not pay and go to the police or FBI.   He won't do that.  He doesn't trust law enforcement and thinks that they hate gays.   Will these people come back for more money?   Probably.

This is a horrible situation.  I do not know what else to do.   

There is a lot of personal information available on the internet.  I think you can request to have it deleted.   I'm figuring that out right now.   There is no reason to have all this available to the entire world.  I will help my friend delete his information.  I'll do it for myself too.  That would be a first step.

Any other ideas?

Acceleration of Plan

It's time for me to ease into semi-retirement.   Some things happened and I've had enough.  I just want to work part-time.  I'm now investigating what those opportunities might be.

It's no problem for me to do this.   The only annoying thing is the medical insurance I will need to buy until I'm eligible for Medicare.  I'll figure it out.  

This is really a slight acceleration of the plan.  I'll work six months.   The other six months will be travel and R&R.

The expectations for a part-time or interim employee are less than for a full-time employee.  That's important for me.  A few weeks ago I encountered problems with our computer system and found myself working twelve hours on a holiday to fix it and catch-up.   I don't need that.  And this is just one example. Those days are over for me.  

Why not just completely stop working?   That's an option.  However, I need some work for mental health reasons.   To stay engaged and active.  Having the extra money will mean I can spend more on travel.  I won't agonize over booking business on an Asia trip.

 More to come.

 

Seeing the Future

 

I was recently in a deep discussion with a friend in Thailand.  The conversation went all over the place, but key topics were mortality, making the most of the time we have left, and insight into the future.

He told me about a Buddhist monk who lives on the border of Thailand and Laos.  He will look deeply into your face and tell your future.  Of course I was skeptical, but this monk is supposedly quite accurate.  I'm intrigued.  I would like insight into my future.  I know that our life can change in a instant.  I want to make the most of the time I have left.   "The time I have left"....wow, I can't believe I'm saying this.  I'm not an 80 year old man literally counting his remaining days.

I have no plans to go to Thailand.  But what if I went to see this monk?   I would need to take my Thai friend with me.  I'm sure this monk doesn't speak English.   Thinking about it.

Today was a Good Day

 

I'm not sure why....

The day started like most others.  I happened to have some emails from Europe to answer while the coffee was brewing, and I was able to do that quickly.   Breakfast, watching the morning news and then off to the office.

I felt calm.....like gliding through the water all day.  Productive, not stressed.  I didn't have anything to bring for lunch, so I went out for a Greek salad.  It was better than I expected.

I left at 5:10.   A little early for me, but it's Friday.   I need to do this more often.

I'm trying to figure out what was different today.    How did I end up feeling so calm?  My mind calmer as well.  

The type of day I want to replicate.

Priorities

Happy New Year to All!    Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2025!

I notice that some friends and fellow bloggers have written down their priorities for the new year.   I should do the same.....and keep it simple.

1.  Exercise.   Why can't I exercise regularly??
2.  Learning.   Or maybe the term these days is micro-learning.  I enjoy taking these on-line classes   and I can actually use what I learn in my work.
3.  Some kind of hobby.   I'm thinking about buying a small drone.  Looks like something that would be fun.   Find one other hobby.   Scrolling through TikTok is NOT a hobby.
   
4. Take my vacations.    

That's it.   Fairly simple.

Another one that I wouldn't put on my priorities list, but is important:   stay present.  Don't think about the past, don't worry about the future.  Be happy in the present.

I just spent a week with my bf.  Mostly stayed in his room.  We watched movies.  Ventured out for some shopping and some restaurants we wanted to try (some found in TikTok reviews).  I feel like my mental health improved.  I stayed present.  Didn't think about lots of random stuff.  It was a good week.

I am very cognizant of my co-worker who passed away last year.   He called me for an urgent meeting on March 9th.   He was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.   What should he do?   We walked around talking for three hours.   He passed away around June 3rd.   Less than three months after our meeting.  He was 58 years old....only 58 years old with lots of plans and dreams.  None of us are immortal.   

Motivation

 

I have two neighbors who get up at 5 or 6 am to go to the gym.  I am so impressed with this level of motivation.   I am not a morning person.....at least not for that.   

Why not?

I ask myself.  Why am I not motivated to exercise more?  My excuse is that I leave for work at 7:30 and come home from work between 6 and 7.   I'm hungry and not so motivated when I get home from work.   Last year I had a few months off from work and did exercise a lot more.   

Soon I will be working mostly from home for four months.  I am so looking forward to this.   When I do go to the office my commute (in distance, but not time) will be cut in half.   Also really happy about that!  This is an opportunity for me.  I'll have more than an hour a day freed up to do something productive....like exercise.

My bf says:  next time I see you, 10 lbs lighter!