Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
Yearly Goals, Quarterly Update
The good and bad (and ugly) of having a Blog is that I’m an open book. My successes and my failures. Time for a look at the goals I set for myself this year and how I’m doing towards those goals. Not good. That’s what the critics are saying. But … my favorite time to change things is always now. No excuses. Just adjust, refocus, and go. We’re into life’s Q4 and I’ve got about 90-days to hit these goals or I’ll have a great start list for 2025.
HEALTH
Lose 15 Pounds: I’m down about 7 pounds YTD (using biz terms) and weighing in at 167.
Do 100 Burpees (with Push-Up) Daily: This was going really, really well until I gave myself a hernia.
Do 100 Sit-Ups Per Day: Again, hernia. I’m replacing it with Peter Attia’s 40-Day Outlive Workout routine.
Hike with my Rucking Vest 1x/Week: Zero days.
WRITING/CREATIVE
Blog Daily: you’re reading day-2 of my restart
Fix and Organize My Blog: This has been fun. Fixing the categories. Looking at old pages. It’s coming together.
Journal Daily: YES! Best thing I’ve done to keep my calm and focus (added prayer daily and I make a note of some names in the corner …good for that day and starting the next day)
Homework for Life Daily (and get better at it): Zero
Finish writing my “sales” book: Read More
I Feel Bad I Wanted More Calm
Confession …over the years I’ve thought to myself, “Dan Dickerson is WAAAAAY to excited about _____________”. Shame on me. Think about his life for the last 11 years. Day in. Day out. Watching and talking about a baseball team that loses …and loses …and loses. A baseball team with no hope. Aging stars and stars that faded. There were a couple seasons with a hundred or more losses. Sure, the guy has a “dream job” and probably makes a good living (not Bezos sized paychecks but still a pretty good salary), but in a 162-game season, he spends literally MONTHS on the road living out of hotel rooms. MLB road trips can be as long as 14 days.
Anyone who’s traveled for work, like alot, knows “traveling for work” is not glamorous or fun …no matter how positive and optimistic a person is, or how much a person hates their family (yes, I’ve met guys who purposely keep a job with tons of travel because these guys just can’t handle life-at-home …it’s sad). Read More
The Top-10 Songs of All (My) Time, Part 2
Here’s the only song on my Top-10 list that I’m embarrassed about. But …it’s on my Top-10. Emphasis “my”. I can’t help it. This song gets me energized.
It’s “Der Komissar” by After the Fire. Quite different than the majority of the songs on my top ten and knowing this probably wouldn’t make it on any other top-100 (or even too-200) list, I think this song is the definition of “wall of sound.” Incredible bass line. Stops and starts. Horns and shouts. Kinda tells a story. That’s a stretch. But can’t you see this as a James Bond 007 movie song with even a little rewrite? It would beat quite a few James Bond songs, actually. Read More
The Top-10 Songs of All (My) Time, Part 1
Recently, Apple Music and Rolling Stone published their list of greatest-albums-of-all-time lists. I love lists like this. Sometimes these lists remind me of albums I’ve never listened to or other albums I haven’t listened to in a while. These lists are mostly click bait. I get that. I’m not even offended or ready to march out front of Apple’s headquarters because they picked The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill as their #1. Over Thriller? Over Nevermind or Rumours? I get it … beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there might be a huge group of people that love Lauryn Hill and this album, but my gut tells me Apple picked this as #1 just to get attention. To be different for the sake of being different. Rolling Stone did the same when they picked Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On album as their #1. Over Pet Sounds or Songs in the Key of Life?
Again. I get it. Best-of lists and judging greatest-of-all-time in any category can never be perfect. But at least try to get close. Read More
The Donnie Jalapeno Kitchen is Open for the Season
Hola. Want some salsa? Everyone is always texting me all the time asking when I’m gonna start making it again. And when I say “everyone” and “all the time” I mean about 4 or 5 people and once or twice.
Either way …Donnie Jalapeno Salsa is back and open for business. I have the same terrible business model, but I have the same amazing best-salsa-in-the-world. I don’t ship it. I deliver only in a small radius. Most people pick it up at my house. I told you, it’s the worst business model …but it’s all about the freshness. If Donnie Jalapeno gets really, really big, that may change. But for now, I think they call a business like mine a “cottage industry.”
Thanks for your order. You’re welcome for the best salsa.
Podcaster, Author, Professor: I’m a Fan of Scott Galloway
I found a new Podcast I like (actually, love). Which became an author I love. And I’m ready to tell the world. Found out about this guy about a month ago, but he’s got strong opinions and before I started Liking, Following, and Sharing, I had to be sure my fandom wasn’t going to lump me in with some cult-like following and worldview.
It’s Scott Galloway, his Podcast is the Prof G Podcast, and his most recent book is The Algebra of Happiness. Great book if you’re like me and you’re in your 50s. I might’ve even liked this book in my early 40s. He definitely captures the I’m-50-and- what-was-important to-me 20-years-ago isn’t-so-important-now vibe.
Scott speaks with authority. He’s unabashed in his opinions and fully acknowledges he may be wrong and he may also, at some future date, change his mind. Read More
A Movement Movement (Hand Edition)
I’m starting a movement around …movement. Unless someone already started it, and in that case, I’ll join and promote their movement movement. It might already be called “ergonomics.” I’m starting with focusing on my hands (and then my feet and then my back and posture).
Our opposable thumbs and sophisticated hands make us human. At least I think that’s one of the top things on the list. Countless articles and Podcasts talk about mobility and dexterity. Peter Attia says …
“…not enough can be said about the importance of grip strength as you age. It’s one of the strongest physical associations with longer life.”
Read what he says and watch a grip strength exercise here. Strong, capable hands, as you age, can help you in a slip and fall situation. In this book, Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, Attia spends a great deal of time on hand health. Don’t believe me? Here’s an article he wrote, and a Podcast all about grip strength and its impact on our longevity. Read More
Stuff I Want, New and Improved for 2024
They say it’s better to give than to receive. I agree. So I make it easy for people to give me things. Too many people say things like, “I have everything I need,” or, “if I want something I’ll just buy it.” Last I checked, this is America. We’re a capitalist society. Almost 10% of our Gross Domestic Product is based on retail sales. Every company that makes a thing needs people to buy their thing.
This is like a public service, if you think about it.
In 2024, I’m taking my “Stuff I Want” list to another level and hoping to cash-in on that sweet, sweet Influencer money. Read More
How Not to Look Like a Ragamuffin (Do Laundry Correctly)
My Mom, when seeing what my siblings and I were wearing or how we looked, was very focused that we not leave the house, “looking like a ragamuffin.”
rag·a·muf·fin (/ˈraɡəˌməfən/), noun; 1. a person, typically a child, in ragged, dirty clothes.
NOTE: I did some quick research to make sure “ragamuffin” isn’t highly inappropriate or offensive and as best I can tell, it’s cool.
I Appreciate a Teacher
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. I’m married to a Teacher (pictured above teaching during the Pandemic in a tent while the kids on the other end of the remote learning were also in a tent). If you think you appreciate Teachers, my bet is you don’t appreciate them enough. If I wasn’t married to a Teacher, I’d probably think my level of appreciation was more than enough. It wouldn’t be.
ALERT: If you’re the type of person that doesn’t appreciate Teachers, the type that thinks they get paid too much and their Union is too protective, or you’re the type that thinks they get paid too much or that their job is easy …STOP …READING …NOW. Seriously. Go away.
Teachers who care, which is the majority of them (I know this because I interact with my Teacher-Wife’s co-workers and peers and have for 27 years), are angels on Earth. Teachers should be paid more (which still wouldn’t make them wealthy or among the 2-percenters or 1-percenters). Read More
Don Kowalewski 