Robert Redford was 48 when this film was released in 1984. His playing skills are admirable in the movie, perhaps because a fellow high school classmate was future Dodger star Don Drysdale.


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I see where Walmart is now requiring a mask to enter their stores. I have no problem with that, since I now have to wear a mask at all times where I work.

Not only will wearing a mask while I shop be safer for everyone around me, I can be incognito.

No one will recognize my ugly mug.

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It's not just a candy bar. It's how us average Joe's keep the bills paid.

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At age 5, I developed what an optometrist called a 'cross eye'. My right eye wouldn't straighten out. Today it would be called a 'lazy eye' and they put a patch over your good eye to help straighten it out. My vision at that time was 20/42.

In the 1950's, they put you in glasses and gave you exercises to help correct the problem, which my father dutifully performed. They didn't work, those exercises, so I started kindergarten with specs... and got in fights for being called 'four-eyes'.

I wore glasses for the next 12 years. The eye had straightened out, but remained weak.

The summer of '69, before the start of my senior year of high school, I was at the beach, sitting there soaking up some rays without my glasses. I was tired of wearing and constantly cleaning said eyeware. I proceeded to dig a hole of around two foot deep, dropped the glasses in and covered them up. They're probably still there to this day.

I spent my senior year of high school without glasses and two years later when I went for my army physical (the draft was still going at that time), I was told my eyesight was now 20/30. Hmmm.

A few years down the road, I was taking yet another physical (for a job this time) and was told my vision was 20/20. Normal.

Right before my 30th high school reunion, I started having trouble reading. It was like in a comedy, where you hold what you're reading at arm's length to see clearly.

So, once again, I make a trip to the optometrist. She talks me into getting tri-focals, which sets me back $400.00.

One day I'm out somewhere and need to read something. Of course my glasses are sitting at home where they can do what I need them for at the moment.

Thinking on my feet, I walk over to a display of cheep reading glasses, what we all call 'cheaters'.

They worked well enough I bought a pair. Soon my $400.00 pair of glasses were put away in a drawer.
I've used 'cheaters' for the last 25 years. I'm wearing a pair now as I write this blog.

There are two things I've learned about the whole experience over the years:

1. Sometimes it's better to leave things alone and let your body adjust.
2. I don't trust optometrists any more.

Life goes on.

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Made for almost nothing, it's pretty good.

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Every summer, after the network t.v. season is done, I usually watch baseball games (I have the MLB baseball package, where I can watch any game live every day) and what I like to call my 'Summer of 100 Movies', which gives me a chance to catch up on current releases and old favorites.

Well...

Due to Covid-19, Hollywood shut down early and there were gaps in the normal t.v. schedule. With that in mind, for this year only (I hope!), I am having a 'Summer of 200 Movies'.

As far as baseball goes, a reduced schedule of 60 games (I hope!) came with a pleasant surprise. MLB has deferred $78.00 of the $121.00 I paid to next year. I have my fingers crossed for new ballgames starting July 23rd.

Now, if we can get this Covid-19 thing behind us, 2020 might rally into a so-so year.

Have you ever noticed that the more you try to hurry, the more things happen to slow you down?

I came home from the grocery and it started to rain, so I waited a minute until it let up before trying to unload the car.

Okay, it has let up, hurry up and get those groceries inside.

Wrong.

The minute I hastily started loading up, it started raining again... harder.

My shirt and trousers were soaked, but I got everything ready to walk to the front door.

As soon as I locked the car and turned on the alarm, it stopped.

With my 20-20 hindsight vision, I realized I should have just sat there for another couple of minutes.

Lesson learned (aqain).

Life goes on.

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... I'm sick of hearing the term Breaking News with every news story.

This is how I see me and my best friend when we both are retired:

... or not to mask, that is the question.

Some people want the protection a mask can provide, while others think it a violation of their civil rights to wear a mask.

It is not mandatory in my town to wear a mask yet, but several people can be seen in public wearing them. I carry a mask with me any time I go out into the world now and have no qualms against slipping it on if it becomes necessary.

My sister lives in a state where it is required to wear one in public and she likes it now, because she likes to sing and no one can see her mouth moving. lol

As usual, it all comes down to common sense and I can be respectful.

Life goes on...

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