CREATURES OF HABIT

Each of us have developed daily routines

We are so consistent - we take all the fun out of choosing a career as a hit man for hire.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not feeling I qualify as a sniper target  - especially for anybody who might be willing to pay to eradicate me.

Any fear I might have once had about this threat seldom keeps me awake at night anymore.

Now, before entering The Land Of Nod I tend to concentrate on more important things; like the location of the recently baked chocolate chip cookies.

This is particularly important should I wake up hungry during the night and need to plot a path that will allow me to avoid kicking the dog during my ruminations and quest for unnecessary sustenance

Planning is the key for maintaining a  blossoming waist line.

In  truth, we really are creatures of habit. That is - humans are. Businesses - not so much so.

For us retirees these habits not only includes our favorite breakfast restaurant destination, but the reading material we take along  should we  decide to "go stag".

My daily reading habit - Monday thru Friday - is the well documented USA Today, from which I quote often.  You'll usually see that day's edition  tucked under my arm as I enter the restaurant.

The sports section is no longer the first to be opened after giving the menu a quick glance before always ordering my usual.

That would be the double-American cheese omlette with homefries - but, not the stringy kind. Not nearly enough grease.

Before any of you health nuts get upset - I hasten to report I also usually order the whole wheat toast to balance everything out - and seldom request additional  butter!

Then  I attack the reading  task at hand : the front section and the editorials and opinions contained on the inside back pages.

Hey, I'm still a guy!. But,  one might well ask, "Why is the sports section no longer a priority for you?".

Some things do change.

Due to budgetary cuts - lack of prior advertisers - the general mess of the economy, etc, my USA Today sports reporting staff no longer publishes current sports event results. They now specialize in  "the best sports results coverage of events that occurred the day before yesterday."

Seldom do they disclose anything in sports that occurred even as recently as the previous evening..  Apparently the local edition of their paper goes to bed down here about 6:30. ( That's PM - not AM)

Some might suggest, "So,even if you like the USA editorial pages,why not also order a copy of the local newspaper which will have the latest published sports results?

My response is simple: "I choose to  remain properly cautious as to my S.S income  money reserve  while awaiting the results of any Republicans success in the upcoming elections". The Democrats assure me, "If  the GOP is successful - say goodbye to Social Security."
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If the economy and the predicted election results go as they seem to be trending I may have to quit all newspaper purchases.

I'll just have to go back to setting the alarm for 4:30 so I can steal the neighbors paper - returning it before he arises - stopping for a chocolate chip cookie on the way- of course..

Some habits die hard.