Goal Post: A Chilly Break And 2025 Finale

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

It was cold!

I know it’s not a good idea to start with the weather, but that was a heavy influence on how the week went.  Temps were primarily in maybe the 20’s, but dropped into single digits a few times.  The reason is the wind coming down from the arctic, which is making my face and new scar hurting.  We had some flurries to start 2026, but that happened after my son and I got home.  Still, not being able to go outside for very long really limited what we were able to do.  Not that we planned much, but it means physical activity wasn’t happening, especially since I got a full thumbs up on Monday in regards to my recovery.  Shame I couldn’t celebrate with a walk in around the park.

Writing happened, but I came a single chapter section short when it came to Darwin & the Joy Path.  Last weekend saw me come close, but the cold and some stressors tired me out too fast to finish chapter 12.  I thought I would have a chance to do so during the week, but things happened.  Basically, I had my son for the day I thought he would be busy, so we did our usual Pokemon Go, anime with lunch, and video games, which meant no writing.  To be fair, we were both exhausted from being up late, so I used my energy to get cleaning done instead.

Thankfully, the chapter section is an easy one to get back into since it’s the wrap up action after a big event.  My notes were a mess for the big challenge too, which added to me not getting more done last Sunday.  It didn’t help that I focused on a character who wasn’t the one to solve the problem.  I had been focusing on him for the entire chapter, so I wanted to keep that going.  This meant, I had to figure out how have the problem get solved by someone else through his perspective.  Couldn’t have it come out of nowhere, so I had to repeatedly get up to pace and think.  Overall, I believe I got it to work.

‘Phi Beta Files’ are still an outline challenge that I haven’t been able to touch much.  I’m really going to bed soon after my son does.  This gives me about 15 minutes to look over the notes while listening to music.  The plus side is that I have this book mostly set up in terms of stories, but I don’t have them in order.  This might be an issue with writing books where its short stories, which both stand alone and carry the main plot.  No idea why I had no issues with this when I outlined the first book a year ago.  Was it because it was the start, so I had no pre-existing threads?

This weekend is a little cluttered with getting things ready for school and work starting up again on Monday.  Haircuts, lunch food, making sure all homework is done, laundry, and getting back on sleep schedules are important.  Time with my son is really important too because February is going to be rough.  With the way Winter Break is split, there is always a high chance of me only getting 1 of the 4 weekends instead of it being even.  This is one of those years, so I want to cherish the time I get.  Guess I’ll add this to another reason I’m stressed and not enjoying my existence.  Really drives home that I’ll have effectively missed half of my son’s life for a decade once this is over.  Probably more given how this agreement operates in real life, but nothing can be done there.

Next week will be a little warmer with high 30’s on Tuesday and maybe getting into the low 50’s by the weekend.  Doubt I can do a park walk until Wednesday, but you never know since I have my cold weather clothes.  As I said, the scar I have is still sensitive, so the low temps make it itchy and ache a bit.  The location prevents me from wearing one of my cold weather clothes, but I might try it this week.  I really need fresh air and exercise to help with my stress, which has returned to levels where I get 2 am panic attacks.  Though, a lot of crap getting thrown my way isn’t helping.  2026 really isn’t feeling any different than 2025.  Such is my life for a while.

Not as down as I sound.  Just tired and not hiding the fact that I have to deal with a lot of emotional battering.  It comes from certain entities who are more interested in causing pain and winning faux battles than making things easy.  I mean, knowing I was in the hospital didn’t even stop some of them from continuing their stress-inducing antics from afar.  That really taught me how these people will never change and I simply have to endure them until the leopards come for their faces.  Just wish those spotted karma deliverers would work faster, but it’ll have to happen some day.

Goals of the week?

  1. Time with son.  (Trying to watch older movies if time allows.)
  2. Haircuts.
  3. Return to work.
  4. Put together vodka sauce lasagna to cook tomorrow.
  5. Write more Darwin & the Joy Path if possible this week.
  6. Exercise with Pokemon Go when weather good.
  7. Work on ‘Phi Beta Files’.
  8. Puzzle time to relax before bed.
  9. Get extra sleep on Sunday to prepare for the week.
  10. Continue dealing with unrepented narcissists who I can’t be rid of.
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#5 Post of 2025: National Bird Day- The Condor

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Originally posted on January 5, 2025)

Today (January 5th) is National Bird Day, so I thought I’d highlight one of the biggest conservation success stories: The Condor.

Specifically, it was the California Condor that was pulled from the brink of extinction.  We also have the Andean Condor.  Now, California Condors had a slight boom in the late 1700’s because of human settlements having livestock, which gave them an ample food supply.  Eventually, the people started moving to other areas and hunters began taking the game that would naturally feed the condors.  Land was being taken over and eggs were being collected by people, which was decimating the condor population.

Condors were first protected in 1966 when 60 were in the wild, but it didn’t help and they dropped to 22. A recovery program began in 1979, which was controversial because people didn’t like the plan.  It was that wild condors would be captured and used in a controlled breeding program.  This could be difficult even though condors can live to 60 and are sexually mature at 6.  They are monogamous and lay only one egg at a time, which is why the egg collecting was so destructive.  Yet, there was a habit that conservationists could take advantage of.

While condors only lay one egg, they can have a second in the same breeding season if they lose the first one.  So, people would take the first chick to hand feed and have an unpaired adult to raise, which prompted the mating pair to have a second chick.  In 2021, it was also discovered that female California condors could have chicks without mating, which is called parthenogenesis.

It took a long time for the release part of the program to work, but it eventually took hold enough for the wild ones to breed.  As of this year, there are 343 free-flying condors and 217 in captivity.  The breeding program continues and is seen as a great success.

Here are some condor facts:

  • They are actually vultures, which means they are scavengers.
  • Condors are the largest land birds with California ones having a wingspan of 9.5 feet and Andean at 10.5.
  • Condors prefer to fly in windy areas in order to glide since they are so big.
  • Andean males have brown eyes and females have red.

Let’s get some pictures and videos too.

Andean Condor

Andean Condor

California Condor

California Condor

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Happy 2026!

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Pretty sure we’re all trying to wake up and some of us are hungover.  Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

The title says it all.  Thought, I’d have more to say, but I just hope everyone is happy and healthy.  See you in 2026!

Google Image Search

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The Life & Times Of Ichabod Brooks for 99 Cents!

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

 

 

Enter the world of Windemere with 11 action adventure short stories featuring a man who is out to make an honest living. Some heroes seek fame. Some seek fortune. Others simply want to save the world. Ichabod Brooks only wants to put food on the table for his family. Known and respected as the man who can get any job done, Ichabod has seen his share of adventure. Most of which have been highly exaggerated by bards. Still, the man has his famous reputation for a reason. Whether it be climbing a temperamental mountain for eggs or escorting orphans to their new homes, Ichabod takes every job seriously and makes sure he is as prepared as he can be. Not that it helps since things always take a turn for the worse.

Start 2026 with multiple adventures for 99 cents!

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Review of 2025

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Well, here we are at the end of the year.  Can’t say this was a stellar year since a lot of things went wrong.  Some of the stuff I can’t get into on a public forum.  I was hoping those situations would be over, but they’re continuing and getting worse.  Can’t be sure how to bring them to an end either because nobody in a position to help is willing to do so since it’s a risk or something.

A positive was that I finished editing all of the previous Slumberlord Chronicles first drafts, which helped me dive into Darwin & the Joy Path.  I’m making decent progress there, but it’s going to be slow going for a while.  I came up with a few new ideas that never made it beyond the scribbled on random paper stages.  Not because they aren’t good, but I had very little time for writing since staying indoors was kind of depressing.  At least for a full day.  An added issue is that my writing endurance sucks, so I can’t churn out a whole chapter in a day.  I’m lucky to get 2 done in a day because I need to rest as the brain fog comes back.

My son graduated 10th grade with Honor Roll and he started 11th grade.  Things are going as smoothly as they can there.  I’m trying to give him more responsibility and independence unless he asks for the help.  It’s kind of running smoothly, but he forgets things at times.  Nothing has been late, but we’ve had to scramble for a few assignments and studying.  He still isn’t a strong test-taker and has trouble focusing when he’s in certain locations, but we’re sort of pulling through.  I know the difficulty is going to increase, especially in Algebra II.  He has his chorus Disney trip coming up too, so there’s a lot to juggle.

Healthwise, I’m not doing any better than I was in 2024.  Sleep apnea is under control and my stress levels cause constant stomach issues.  Can’t seem to get the weight down unless I get sick to the point where I can’t eat for a few days.  It comes back.  Food is getting pretty expensive though, so forced intermittent fasting might force the issue.  Even the unhealthy frozen stuff I used to buy when I had a decent metabolism are eye-raising high.  So, I might be eating less as time goes forward solely to save money.  Biking might be done more often too, but I walk so much for Pokemon that it’s usually only on rainy, snowy, or freezing days.

Probably the biggest part of this year is realizing that certain situations are skewed against certain groups.  I can’t go into details here.  I just ran into so many people who shrugged and gave excuses for horrible behavior because they didn’t see it.  That or the person was in a certain position where ‘they were trying their best’.  Emotional abuse is still emotional abuse though.  Not that it’s easy to prove unless the victim cuts themselves, breaks down completely, or attempts/succeeds at suicide.  It’s always after things have gone so far that the pain is erupting from their pores that people go ‘this is a problem’.  Well, no fucking shit.  If only someone was screaming and pointing at the situation in order to get help and put an end before it became too late.

I’m seeing that this passing off of mental anguish as drama is really big when the victim is a teenager.  Society really does see teenagers as overly emotional, highly dramatic, and too immature to be taken seriously.  I know older people who talk about how they dealt with the same stuff when they were teens, but they came out fine.  Newsflash!  They aren’t actually fine.  They are any combo of narcissistic, emotionally numb, anxious, depressed, and many other mental illnesses.  The other thing here is that a teenager crying about these things might be exaggerating, but the core emotion is still there.  They are still in pain and looking for help.  Adding autism into the mix and you have a horrifying mix when emotional abuse is unleashed.  They don’t have any blockers to process what is being thrown at them.

Yeah, so my 2025 wasn’t that great.  Feel like I’ve pulled further away from other people as well because I’m struggling with so much.  Guess I’ll give the year a 4 out of 10 solely due to editing completion, my son getting Honor Roll, and the One Piece Lego sets.

Add-on: I write this paragraph from my hospital bed. A bad issue turned into a nightmare around Thanksgiving. Writing was delayed. Pokemon was ignored. Money spent. Work lost. It was a horrible situation. It drops 2025 to a 2 out of 10.

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National Chocolate Candy Day

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Today isn’t about vanilla.  It’s about chocolate.  For those who can enjoy it, I hope you can get a bite.  For those who can’t, I hope you can find a tasty substitute and share in the joy of the day.  (All memes found in Google Image Search.)

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Goal Post: When Did Saturday Get Here?

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

So much happened this week that I kept thinking it was Saturday ever since Thursday morning.  That means, I repeatedly thought I forgot to write a goal post when 8 am went by with nothing.  Keep in mind that my weekday posts go up at 10 am, so I was clearly disoriented.  Going by the calendar on my laptop, phone, and several paper ones in the house, I’m right this time.

Part of the confusion stems from so much being crammed into 7 days.  Last weekend, I had my son and family came over for the traditional Hanukkah latke party.  There was also two Pokemon Go outings that day and we relaxed on Sunday.  Showed him a movie called ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ and let him play his newest video game while I continued to heal from my ordeal.  All of that sounds like a lot, but it was only during a single weekend and I’m sure I forgot a few things.  Probably the usual tense interactions with certain entities . . . Oh, and getting ready to return to work.

That’s right.  After a little more than a month away, I finally got to go back to work on Monday.  I still had my last wound care appointment, but I made it in and got to see the students before the break.  Made it in time for the last birthday party one will spend with us and before a few started their vacation early.  I wasn’t able to run around and pushed myself a bit too hard.  Still had the energy to help my son with homework and take him out for Pokemon Go.  All of that might be why I hit Tuesday night exhausted, but I feel like all of the discomfort and pain was worth it.

Speaking of my healing, I had my first day of no pain or discomfort since before Thanksgiving.  Sort of.  Technically, it was Thursday since the wound area didn’t give me any trouble even after a walk.  Not happy about a scar being there even though I think it’s shaped like a ‘Y’.  Have to go by touch since I can’t see it.  Anyway, I did have a nasty sinus headache on Thursday due to the temps dropping fast.  So, my full day of no pain was yesterday.  I’m trying to avoid taking painkillers since I was on them and antibiotics for so long.  Give my system time to recover, especially the good old defective digestive system, which took a beating.

Probably should mention the writing progress in regards to Darwin & the Joy Path.  I only had three days to write, so I finished chapter 11.  At this rate, I’ll finish 75% of chapter 12 before the break is over.  I was hoping that doing Pokemon Go early in the morning would give me more time.  Didn’t expect the cold to make a mess of my outings and drain me even when indoors.  Normally, I would tackle a second chapter section in the evening, but I was always too tired.  Instead, I started outlining the penultimate volume of ‘Phi Beta Files’.  My brain keeps telling me a fantasy world shouldn’t have Greek letters, but it’s based on my freshman year of college group.  It was called ‘Phi Beta’, so I want to keep it that way.  By the time I write or publish it, there will be hints that people from Earth have traveled to Windemere at times.  This could also be a big hint to such a thing as well.

It snowed last night and into this morning, so it’s messy out there.  Probably won’t try to go anywhere until after lunch to give the roads time to get cleared.  That means writing this morning, which could allow me to get a second section done this afternoon.  Chapter 12 starts with a talking scene to give a break before the action continues.  That should make things easier, but my mental and physical endurance still suck.  I keep doubting myself as well.  Every challenge Darwin is facing takes 2-3 chapters to get through and I can’t tell if that’s a good or bad thing.

I have my son this coming week, but the weather and me not being 100% means we will take it easy.  A few appointments stops us from going far from home too.  Still, the cold weather is perfect for relaxing and getting important indoor things done.  We aren’t sure what’s going on for New Years Eve either.  A lot of possibilities, but much of it depends on what the kid is doing.  Having everything up in the air might not be a bad thing either.  It means I can recover more and get ready for going back to work for a full week, which might be taxing on me at first.  Sounds like I’m milking this mess, but I still have issues due to the scar being sensitive.  Damn thing sits right on a clothing seam too, so it’s impossible to avoid aggravating it if I’m walking around all day.  At least the bleeding is over.

Anyway, time for the list of goals and then I can finish watching ‘The Mighty Nein’.  I’m enjoying it, but I think I like ‘Legend of Vox Machina’ better.  One reason could be the latter started with the heroes already together and the former is showing how they came across each other.

Goals of the week . . . Final list of goals for 2025:

  1. Write more Darwin & the Joy Path.
  2. Rest up when possible.
  3. Time with son when he’s here.
  4. Start working on March blog posts.
  5. Get a daily walk for both Pokemon and exercise.
  6. Work on ‘Phi Beta Files’.
  7. Puzzle time.
  8. Flip off 2025 during its final seconds.
  9. Avoid saying 2026 will be my year or anything similar.  Next year better approach me real slow and play nice.  Already getting a sense that chaos is in my future.
  10. Probably should do a little grocery shopping.
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Planning The Escape

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Phil– “I have a question.”

Eric– “We’re about to start the plan and now you have a question?”

Phil– “It’s a simple one about timing.”

Eric– “Fine.”

Phil– “Why are we doing this the day after Christmas instead of right before or on?”

Eric– “Because the guards were partying last night, so their . . . guard is down.”

Phil– “Got it.  I’ll start sawing through the bars.”

Eric– “Now, that was Plan C.  We aren’t using that one any more.”

Phil– “When did we have multiple plans?”

Eric– “Since Louie kept changing his mind.”

Phil– “Who’s Louie? There are only two of us breaking out.”

Eric– “He’s our outside contact.”

Phil– “You mean the guy who is going to push the laundry cart we’re hiding in?”

Eric– “That was Plan L and that guy’s name was Ralph.  Ralph got put in solitary for a fight.”

Phil– “So, what is the plan?”

Eric– “We’re going to sneak out of our cell at dawn.”

Phil– “Not at night when it’s dark?”

Eric– “No because the guards will have gotten over their hangovers by then.”

Phil– “You’re really depending on everyone who works here being heavy drinkers.  I would think those working today would be more careful.”

Eric– “Amelia says those who come after Christmas are always tired, hungover, or terrible at their jobs.”

Phil– “Who’s . . . Never mind.  So, we sneak out and don’t cut any bars or hide in any laundry.  Is this the sewer plan?  I didn’t like that one.”

Eric– “That was Plan S and we flushed it.”

Phil– “I’m going back to bed.”

Eric– “But you wanted to escape.”

Phil– “I’m rethinking my choice in breakout partners. Unless you give me a good reason to stay with you, I’m out.”

Eric– “I’ve already got us tickets to the Bahamas and a car filled with money from my last heist hidden in the forest across the road.”

Phil– “Fine.  I’m back in for now.  What do we do after we sneak out of our cell?”

Eric– “We keep sneaking, but doing it without looking suspicious.  Don’t whistle or put your hands in your pockets.  Just casual walk towards the exit.  Once we’re close enough, we start a riot.  Now, Luther and Maurice are going to be there to shank us, but not in a lethal way.  As the guards come rushing in, we’ll sneak through the door and make a run for the exit.  If anyone sees us, we can drop and show we’re injured then escape later from the infirmary.  I call it Plan K for Chaos.”

Phil– “What if nobody notices us leaving while we run out?”

Eric– “Then we get in the car and drive away.”

Phil– “What about the whole bleeding issue?”

Eric– “I have band-aids in the glove compartment.”

Phil– “I’m out again.”

Eric– “Aw, man. We never do what I want to do.”

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Hope everyone who celebrates is enjoying the holiday.  For those who don’t, I hope you get good seats at the . . . Wait, movie tickets are too expensive.  I hope you enjoy sleeping in and not having to clean up wrapping paper.

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