John Guy LaPlante - Journalist ... Author .... Traveler ... Blogger ... Speaker ... Talk Show Host .

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Web Name: John Guy LaPlante - Journalist ... Author .... Traveler ... Blogger ... Speaker ... Talk Show Host .

WebSite: http://www.johnguylaplante.com

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November 22, 2021

John Guy LaPlante

Journalist ... Author .... Traveler ... Blogger ... Speaker ... Talk Show Host .... Peace Corps Volunteer

HomeAbout Me About Me Why I self-publish Why I blogMy Books My Books Important background! My Peace Corps Book Things you should know Here are all the chapters A sample excerpt What others say about it My Around the World Book Why Dammit? Look at all the chapters About my Backpack My Companion Photo Album (DVD or CD) About my Aphorisms A sample chapter What others say about it. My Around Asia Book A sample chapter What others say about it. Look at the list of chapters. Many photos for you! Tips aplenty for you To Purchase My Books Choose the best format!To Contact MeNeed a speaker? Need a speaker? What I can talk about, Do take a look at it Subscribe Welcome to my website

You’ll find a lot here.Personal info about me. Why I do what I do. What makes me tick. Full info about my books and ebooks. All my blog posts. All free, by the way.Notice the horizontal menu up top. It has five keywords. Tap one and that will open the door to lots of good stuff.I’m an active blogger. I write on this or that –never sure what I’ll tackle next. Like to be surprised?

To REACH ME: 860 304-0663 / johnguylaplante@yahoo.com / johnguylaplante@gmail.com

Here is a list of my posts Look the list over and click on any one of them of interest and you will see the full post. My invention: MedGown

November 17, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteThis happened some 75 years ago.I had gotten sick and my doctor got me admitted to our local hospital in Middletown, Connecticut.In my hospital room, a nurse had come in. She told me to take off my clothes and then, gathering up my clothes, she had handed me a johnny [Read More...]

What the heck is this Powerball raffle all about?

October 18, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteI thought the State of California operates an annual raffle called the Powerball. Wrong!Powerball is operated in some 40 states. But their state governments have nothing to do with it. It's all free enterprise. For the backers, whoever they are, to maximize their [Read More...]

My long and lovely life on two wheels, and most recently, on three

September 10, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteI am now 92 going on 93. So this long story of mine goes way, way back, believe me.I learned to ride a bike when I was 10. Which means I've been pedaling ever since I was in short pants.My parents were immigrants from Québec, so French-speaking, of course. The trip [Read More...]

There is far worse than becoming deaf. Far, far worse, believe me.

August 17, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteBeing born deaf, for instance.In my last post, I told you about becoming partly deaf as I was becoming older.I entitled it, "Oh, the woes of becomingdeaf!"And I talked about how awful it must be to beborn deaf. That happens to some people.And that made me [Read More...]

Oh, the woes of being deaf!

July 24, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteI am totally deaf in my right ear and partially deaf in my left ear. I wear a hearing aid in that ear.I have a lot of company. The latest statistic is that 37 million Americans suffer hearing loss.It is the most common sensory disorder in our country. It affects more [Read More...]

Around The World Narrated with Photos

July 11, 2021

Have you read my book "Around the World at 75 Alone, Dammit!" Yes, I visited 20 countries and covered nearly 37,000 miles. I did it by plane, train, and bus for only $83 a day. And that covered even my medical shots and insurance!Back in 2005, my good friend Matt Kidd helped me create [Read More...]

We get to see rare elephant seals close up!

July 2, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteOff I go with visiting family to behold an animal spectacle nearby it's unlikely you will ever get to see.That is, unless you happen to come upon an old issue of National Geographic or The Smithsonian.I am talking of elephant seals.Of course, if your [Read More...]

A strange new medical problem have I!

June 12, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteYes I do. Now in my 93rd year on this planet, I have now developed a brand new medical problem.It is called lymphedema.It is not a disease. Not a sickness. It is best described as a condition.Well, to me that "condition" has become a very definite problem.I [Read More...]

I never dreamed I’d live and work in so many places. Part 4

May 16, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteIn Part 3 I told you how at the Worcester Telegram I did extra things for extra money.For instance, starting a weekly column on camps and camping and writing it for 10 years.I did another thing. Our Sunday Telegram had a section called House and Home.Nothing new [Read More...]

I never dreamed I’d live and work in so many places. Part 3

April 23, 2021

I never dreamed I'd live and work in so many places. Part 3By John Guy LaPlanteTwo weeks later I started working as the editor of the little Thomaston Express, circulation 1,650 or so.From the May 27, 1954 paper.A one-year subscription cost $4.50 in advance. Six months, $2.25 in [Read More...]

I never dreamed Id live and work in so many places. Part 2

April 22, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteThis piece of mine has become far more detailed and lengthy than I planned.So for your pleasure and ease, and to give me an important breather, it will be posted in two parts, perhaps even three or four.A month or so before graduating from Assumption College, a priest [Read More...]

I never dreamed Id live in so many places. Part 1

April 12, 2021

By John Guy LaPlantePart 1.This piece of mine has become far more detailed and lengthy than I planned. So for your pleasure and ease, and to give me an important breather, it will be posted in two parts, perhaps even three.A few days ago I wrote a piece about how many places in the [Read More...]

Greyhound Bus is still in business, Folks!

March 29, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteI thought Greyhound was as dead as Tyrannosaurus Rex. I haven't seen a Greyhound in years.It used to stop in San Luis Obispo. That's the nice small city 15 miles away from where I now live in California. But Greyhound gave up stopping in SLO here eight or nine years [Read More...]

We speak on the phone by appointment now.

March 10, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteI talk with two long-time friends who live far away from me, in a suburb of Washington, D.C. called Kensington, which is actually in Delaware.Their names are Nigel and Olwen.Our latest chat finally happened. It was wonderful. I look forward to the next one.Oh, [Read More...]

My Transportation Evolution

February 21, 2021

By John Guy LaPlantePart A. I am driving on three wheels now! I am as excited as an 18-year-old who just got his driver's license and can't wait to get into the driver's seat.I told you that because I will turn 92 in just a few weeks, I am giving up driving. I'm so afraid that in [Read More...]

Getting these blogs out to you is trickier than you may think.

January 30, 2021

Dear Readers,It is not always easy to be sure my friends and family are notified about a new blog post. It is trickier than you may think. It involves using an app called MailChimp. Very popular. But sometimes this Chimp plays tricks.Some of you may get my blog. Some of you may not.What [Read More...]

I have decided to quit driving! Painful decision. Very!

January 14, 2021

By John Guy LaPlanteIt's one of the most difficult I have ever made in my many years.How would you feel if you had to give up driving your car after years and years? And you? And you? And you?I'll bet you'd find it as difficult as I have.Some might even call it a traumatic [Read More...]

My Christmas 5,000 miles away. Alone. And in far-off and very cold Ukraine.

December 20, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteNot easy. In fact, I suffered through not one, but two Christmases like that as a Peace Corps Volunteer there.Notice that I capitalized Volunteer? Peace Corps always capitalizes "Volunteer." And it's never the Peace Corps. It's always just Peace Corps.Some of you are [Read More...]

I have voted for nine presidents

November 30, 2020

There was just too, too much at stake this time!By John Guy LaPlanteI have voted in many presidential elections over the years. Every afternoon I hop on my trike and pedal around. No motor! To the supermarket, McDonald's, the post office, the drugstore, and so on. It's the only [Read More...]

Covid-19 in China, per The Week

October 27, 2020

I am doing something right now that I have never done before. I repeat, never.I am posting for you an article from a major national magazine, The Week, about the fabulous success that China has had in coping with and essentially eliminating the killing disease among its people.As we know, [Read More...]

Post Covid-19 China Per My Chinese Friend

October 6, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteIn huge Shanghai, Wu Bin and his wife and son getting out of the house for a while and staying away from people and enjoying a bit of healthful fresh air in the hard days of Covid-19. How wonderful it is!His name is Wu Bin. He lives in Shanghai, truly one of the most [Read More...]

Two Horrific, Monstrous Plagues

September 19, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteThe Spanish Flu of 1918 The Covid-19 Pandemic of TodayHow alike? / How different?Dear Readers,This is a first for me. I am posting you an article of special meaning to all of us. It highlights facts about the world's very first pandemic, which was the [Read More...]

Al Southwick is still writing his column at age 100

September 9, 2020

I'm a big fan. I enjoy his columns so much that I save them. Al Southwick is still writing his column at age 100By John Guy LaPlanteI was re-reading one of Albert B. Southwick's older newspaper columns.It was entitled "40 pounds for an Indian scalp."It was about a harsh and [Read More...]

I knew so, so little about icebreakers

August 17, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteLike you probably.I learned about them in bits and pieces from my dear friend Mark in Connecticut.If he sounds familiar to you, it's because I wrote about him quite recently.Yes, he is the Mark who, in his late seventies, reached his goal of pedaling his [Read More...]

A story worth telling a second time

August 6, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteHere I am with the great article I had totally forgotten about!I wrote about this couple in 2013.I'm writing about them again. It's worth it!First, my friends, let me explain.Like you I'm sure, day after day, I keep hearing and reading about Covid-19. The [Read More...]

Behold! A brand-new medical school!

July 20, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteThis is big news and I will tell you why.It is the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J.Tyson School of Medicine.It's in a brand-new 4-story building in Pasadena, CA.Its first students will be starting classes in just a few weeks.For sure everybody involved is hoping [Read More...]

We are all striving to survive Covid-19. It’s a terrifying time. For sure!

July 10, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteCorrection. Make that we are all striving, struggling, fighting, praying to get through it!The reality of it is horrible. We are all at risk.It is turning our world topsy-turvy.I just read that Dr. Anthony Fauci, nationally famous now as our top infectious disease [Read More...]

About Rita and Fred and their dog Rex

June 26, 2020

A few days ago I got a sad email from Rita, a long-time friend. And it got me a-thinking.Dear John,Our dog Rex had surgery on his paw a few weeks ago to remove a growth the size of a quarter, and we had to return to the veterinarian for another post-surgery check-up.What we thought was [Read More...]

Mark Lander, 78, bicyclist extraordinaire

June 13, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteMy dear friend Mark Lander back in Connecticut loves to pedal and pedal.Sure, it's not unusual for teenage boys to bicycle right into their 20's and their 30's and maybe even their 40's. And then they run out of gas, so to speak.Not Mark. He started biking in March, [Read More...]

My Friend Wu and Me

June 7, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteI have lots of friends, lucky me. But my friendship with Wu is one of a kind. Yes, unique. In fact, extraordinary.He is Chinese, from Shanghai. His name is Wu Bin.If I were Chinese, my name would be LaPlante John. I did not know that. He feels Wu is an easier name for [Read More...]

Are you really a writer, John?

May 20, 2020

"Did you write to earn your bread and butter, Mr. LaPlante?"I've fielded these questions more than once. My answer to both is "Yes".And I have proof for you right now. All thanks to my loving daughter, Monique.Take a look at the photo. It shows a 3-ring binder. I'll explain in just a [Read More...]

T0day, April 26, I turn 91. Wow!

April 26, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteSo of course today will be the first day of my 92nd year on this planet. Amazing.Know what? I never, never thought I would live this long.Like lots of people over 65 or 70, now and then I've wondered how long I'll be around.So recently I researched it. I checked [Read More...]

My seven hard months of being out of sight and mind

April 15, 2020

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- I'm so, so happy, my friends, to tell youI'm back home finally. Living on my own again, by myself, in my mobile home.This after some five months of being in a hospital, two nursing homes, and an assisted living facility.Strangely it seems I was away [Read More...]

To the Friends of John Guy LaPlante

October 31, 2019

This is his daughter, Monique Nelson. I am sure some of you are concerned. It’s been a while since you’ve heard from him – John is ill. After 12 days at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo, he’s now at a rehab center. Here’s what happened.John is 90 years old and lives alone in his [Read More...]

You may know about August, 1619. You may not.

September 30, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteI did not.We all know about October 12, 1492, don't we....  About July 4, 1776. On and on. More recently, December 7, 1941. And who can ever forget 9 / 11 in New York City?But 1619? Well, in August the ship White Lion arrived from far-off Africa and made landfall in [Read More...]

Never have I seen such a magazine

September 12, 2019

By John Guy LaplanteI know magazines. I gobble them up -- a great variety of them.I just saw my first issue of this one. Yet it's been around for more than 40 years!I just spent two wonderful hours enjoying it. And I'll get another good two hours out of it.It's very different. So [Read More...]

I love our public cornucopium

September 4, 2019

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I learned to play chess 77 years ago.Yes, sir.

August 13, 2019

By John Guy LaPlante+Sorry, that's not true. I began playing 77 years ago. I'm still learning.Way back then I learned a painful feature about the game.Most board games played by two people involve luck.   Sometimes it's good luck. Sometimes bad luck.When you lose, you have a nice [Read More...]

I thought my circus days were over. Not so!

July 27, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteI loved the circus. The whole great and marvelous extravaganza of it. Went every time the three-ring big top came totown.  I'd even go to see them set it up. That was nearly as exciting as the circus itself.Loved every stunt, every act. The flying trapeze and [Read More...]

Dr. Upchurch is retired now, but not quite

July 11, 2019

By  John Guy LaPlanteSome 35 years ago, when I was living back in Worcester, Mass., I became quite ill.My family doctor, at a loss, referred me to Dr. Katherine Upchurch, a rheumatologist at then Memorial Hospital.All my doctors had been men. She became my first woman doctor.Very [Read More...]

How much would this house sell for where you live?

July 2, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- A few days ago I received a super-sized postcard. You know, junk mail. For sure many households here got that postcard.That's a picture of it up above.Realtor Jack A. Franklin was using this postcard as a way of marketing it. A quite [Read More...]

Every day I see McD and BK duking it out!

June 24, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA --This battling between McDonald's and Burger King goes on every day in our fair little city here.As we know, it goes on all over the United States and all over the world.Worldwide there are 38,000 McDonald's and nearly 18,000 Burger Kings.In our 50 states [Read More...]

Wow! What a fantastic, superduper car!

June 13, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- I was taking my daily trike ride up and down the big parking lot at AlbertsonsSupermarket. And I spotted it!Gorgeous. A cream-colored two-door coupe convertible with a beautiful crimson top. Elegantcovered headlights. Not a ding on [Read More...]

Comments and tips I got on turning 90. Boy oh boy!

June 5, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteTurning 90 can be a quite rare and intimidating experience, believe me. Really worth celebrating.You may live to find that out for yourself. I hope you make it to 90, too. In decent shape, of course. Like me. Lucky me.I got nice presents. One of the nicest was [Read More...]

My oh my! I am now in my 91st year. Wow!

May 13, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 2 photosYes, I just celebrated my 90th birthday. Very nice but not sure "celebrated" is the right word. Maybe "bemoaned" would be closer to the reality. I believe that it is my last decennial birthday. You know, divisible by 10.Anyway, there's been so much [Read More...]

This is all about peanuts, peanuts, peanuts.

April 16, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 3 photosWhy all about peanuts? Good question.Well, I eat peanuts every day, as peanut butter on my breakfast raisin-cinnamon bagel, then crowning it with banana slices. With a cup of black tea.I also drop a few peanuts into my oatmeal along with [Read More...]

Meet my guest writer, Sulekh Jain

March 29, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteI have written hundreds of these essays and articles. This is a first for me.Yes, a first because it will be written by a guest author.  Unprecedented.  He is Sulekh C. Jain, Ph.D. His article is entitled “Highway to Heaven.”Isn’t that intriguing? I’d love to get onto [Read More...]

Off we go on a house swqp to France / Second half

March 19, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteNOTE: Annabelle and I did this house swap nearly 15 years ago. I published this account back then. I recently decided to publish it again because I learned house swapping is more popular than ever. Not only to France. To many countries. I thought it might get some of you [Read More...]

Off we go on a home exchange!

February 25, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteOops, make that off we went on a home exchange.  To France!By we, I mean Milady Annabelle and me back in 2005. We were of retirement age, of course.We were innocents in all that. Now there are companies and clubs that facilitate pulling that off. They charge for their [Read More...]

Eyeglasses needed. One pair.

February 14, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- Our Senior Center in the lobby has a Lions Club eyeglass box.  About the size of a double-size shoebox.It's  for members to drop in their old eyeglasses when they've bought a new pair. Eventually a Lions Club member stops by, carries off the box, and [Read More...]

Larry Truesdale, Scientist! And artist!

February 7, 2019

By John Guy LaPlantewith 5 photosMorro Bay, CA -- He truly deserves those two exclamation points.In his early 70s, Larry is retired as a scientist. But not quite. He does it part-time. And as an artist, he's also part-time.Let me explain in a simple way. Imagine it's a work day, [Read More...]

The Remarkable Shanks String Quartet…and ditto family

January 24, 2019

OBy John Guy LaPlanteWith 2 photosMorro Bay, CA --  Yes, they’re four young, gifted, enthusiastic brothers performing as a quartet based in nearby San Luis Obispo.I saw them in a concert at our Public Library a year ago.  Thought they were terrific.Well, they performed again [Read More...]

Whats being homeless really, really like?

January 11, 2019

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA – Well, I’ve met an expert. A real expert. He’s been homeless twenty years. Zeke. That’s what I’m calling him here. I’ll tell you in just a minute about Zeke and how he sees what's a huge and sad problem.I see quite a few homeless folks here a in this nice, [Read More...]

Yep, I make New Years resolutions!

December 29, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteRight now I am sitting here scribbling. Carrying on a ritual of many years-- decades! A ritual that many folks go through but stop doing. No need, they say. They snicker when the topic comes up.I disagree. I do it and for a simple reason. It works. The word  “resolutions” [Read More...]

My Christmas 5,000 long, hard miles away.

December 23, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA – In a Third World country, mind you, with a dramatically different culture and background. For more than two years. An adventure and a half, as they say.In fact, I lived through two Christmases like that. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine. Not all of [Read More...]

Don’t you want to live to be a hundred?

November 30, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA –Well, don’t we all? But know what? We might be better off if we don’t.As we know, we’re living longer, at least in the more advanced countries. Better food, better sanitation, better drinkingwater, better working conditions, better medications and [Read More...]

Auto-Camping across the USA and back 58 years ago. Me!

November 23, 2018

This was the report I wrote of our grand adventure.  I followed it with more articles along with a series on the national parks and monuments we got to visit.By John Guy LaPlanteYes, yours truly. With my wife Paulie and our two little kids.All the way from Massachusetts across to California [Read More...]

I go visit Carl. Inmate 4389616. I’m shocked.

November 14, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- He’s a friend. Well, sort of.Never have I been to a prison. Nor a jail.  This is a first. And what a first. So awful I end up doing something unthinkable.Had to. I said he’s a friend, sort of. We meet now and then.I’ve called him Carl but [Read More...]

$8,097 for just six hours in the hospital. Wow!

October 30, 2018

The Urgent Care Center that David rushed me to.  Monique pulled in a few minutes later. That became the first step of that long and $$$$ night.By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA – Yes. Unbelievable!I had been waiting for the statement from French Hospital for some time. I had been a patient a [Read More...]

2019 Calendars, Calendars, Calendars …. Whew!

October 27, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA – This is an update on the humongous, incredible envelope of junk mail I got from Boys Town.All the goodies in that envelope, you may remember, had a Christmas / New Year’s theme.Those goodies included several calendars, all big, all [Read More...]

That junkmail I just got. Oh boy oh boy!

October 16, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteI've received tons of junk mail over the years. Haven't we all? But nothing like this, ever.I get my mail in a shoebox-size mailbox in a bank of 50 of them.With its locked door open, it's 7 high and 5 inches wide. Totally adequate even for magazines.This time [Read More...]

Is it okay to ban books? Or is it not?

October 4, 2018

 By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- What a hot potato!Some good and really well-motivated people believe that it is okay to ban books. Not just nuts do.Others feel it's evil and fight it fiercely.I stand with those who think it's awful.Why am I bringing this up today?  [Read More...]

Bill Fairbanks’ long, long walk across the USA

September 27, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- Five years ago I was still living here six months a year over what I call our winter months and in Connecticut six months over the summer months there.It was time to go home again. I still had my one-person camper van. If I drove 300 miles on the big [Read More...]

Friends, four things to tell you today.

September 16, 2018

Yes, just four!And I'll make this short and sweet. Impossible, some of you are thinking. It's 180 degrees contrary to my nature. Well, I'll prove to you right now that I can write short and sweet. 1.Thank you to those of you who let me know that you got my “I'm blogging again” post. Very [Read More...]

I’m finally blogging again. Whoopee!

September 9, 2018

Yes sir, this makes me a most happy fellow!What happened is that a freak WordPress snafu put me out of business. Just temporarily, I hoped at first. But then for keeps, I feared.It was a whopping blow. WordPress is the app I've used for many a year to compose and then email my posts to you. [Read More...]

WordPress Test

September 4, 2018

This is just a test suggested by Tom Milliken to check the effectiveness of Wordpress teamed up with MailChimp. which is all new to me. [Read More...]

This is an SOS, sort of

August 20, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteYes, my frantic cry for help—Help! Help! Help!Oh, don’t panic. I’m not lost at sea or running out of gas in an airplane. But truly I am befuddled, frantic, perplexed, greatly frustrated.Here’s why.I’ve been a writer for more than 65 years. Newspaper reports. [Read More...]

The new Medicare card. Interested? I am.

July 16, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteVery much interested.To start off, I am blogging about it today for a special reason. I’ll get to that in a minute. Patience, please. First it’s important to review some basic facts about Medicare.Medicare, as you know, has become a birthright for any American turning [Read More...]

Curious about our new Medicare card? I am. Very much.

July 15, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteTo start off, I am blogging about it today for a special reason. I’ll get to that in a minute. Patience, please. First it’s important to review some basic facts about Medicare.Medicare, as you know, has become a birthright for any American turning 65.Medicare is so important, [Read More...]

Oh, for a Fourth like those of yesteryear!

July 3, 2018

By John Guy LaplanteWith 3 photos.How I remember those terrific Fourths when I was a boy.They were intended to celebrate our independence from tyrannical England. But in practice, for most people it was just an excuse to have a lot of fun. We called it the Fourth. Just the Fourth.I'm [Read More...]

Hey, why dont they ask me my name?!

June 28, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteI'm worried about their not asking.  I'm talking about business dealings. Have reason to be. They’re asking less and less.In such dealings, I'd like to be called Mr. LaPlante.  Even better, Mr. LaPlante, sir. That isn't asking much.  That used to be the common custom. [Read More...]

This great gadget could save my life.

June 18, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteThe one that I wear on my chest. As you see in the photo, it's just a small, silvery steel box hanging on a black cord.No religious significance. No political significance. Nothing like that. So what the heck can it be? I know people wonder.They are too polite to [Read More...]

I read the fine print, strange me

June 11, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteIt seems a lot of people don’t. Do you? Well, I do. Get a lot of it. Enjoy it.What do I mean by the fine print? The small, small words printed on so many things that we buy. Prepared foods.Medications. Publications. Products.  Name it and it probably has fine [Read More...]

I just finished my toughest test ever!

June 2, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 2 photosMorro Bay, CA – It was California’s written driving test.  Pass it and I would continue to drive. Fail it and I would be grounded. Imagine! Well, I did pass it but by just a hair.In fact, this was a retake. I flunked it the first time.  So humiliating! [Read More...]

Have you had narrow escapes, close calls? Me?

May 28, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA – Yes, I have.  Several. Scary close calls.This came up when I spotted a poster on a bulletin board.  Glance at the photo.Interesting, don't you think?That outfit called The Reboot was announcing its upcoming meeting. A strange name, The Reboot,  [Read More...]

A big PS for you about my WP post

May 17, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteI’m delighted with your comments about my recent geographic musings of a few days ago. I see that you found them interesting.  What writer wouldn’t be tickled to hear that?If you recall, I mused that eons ago our continents might have been a single huge land mass. I got [Read More...]

How good is your WQ? Yes, your WQ?

May 13, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- Not your IQ. No, no. You may think I made a typo. I did not. If you read stuff like this, for sure your IQ is above average.By WQ I mean your knowledge about Our World. Our Earth. Is it pretty good?My WQ is far better than I ever thought it would be [Read More...]

I’m 89 today and kicking. Wow!

April 27, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 1 photo.Yes, Wow! And today is the very first day of my 90th year! I have reason to tag on that exclamation mark. Don’t you agree? But you know, I never, never expected to live this long. How lucky I am!But a friend says I’m wrong about my age. Wu Bin in [Read More...]

Tragedy struck, and that led Alma to God

April 17, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 2 photos.Morro Bay, Calif. – At first I thought she was a kook or nut or something.I have a big habit. In late afternoon I pedal my trike to our McDonald’s for a coffee. I bring a magazine or two. Coffee in hand, I plunk myself at one of its small tables, open my [Read More...]

How lucky we are to speak English!

April 9, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith one photo.Yes, indeed. Because English is now the world’s most popular language. The one so many people in so many other countries can read as a second language. And which so many others are trying so hard to learn.At one time French was the big international [Read More...]

So how much is your peanut butter today?

April 5, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 4 photos.I love peanut butter, too. I’m not sure of the price today. It could be up or down. After all, as we know, just about everything at the supermarket goes on sale sooner or later.But I have a neat system. I call it my “per unit game.”  It’s really a game [Read More...]

Did I confuse you?

March 28, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteCould be. If so, I'm sorry.I'm referring to the blog post you just got from me: "Do your duty. Vote! But maybe better, don't vote."I went on about that at length, stressing the importance of voting on issues and candidates we are familiar with. And refraining when we [Read More...]

Do your duty, all of you. Vote

March 27, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteBut maybe better, don’t vote. I’m serious.I’m no longer a Connecticut citizen. I’ve moved to California, as many of you know. I’m registering my car here and applying for a California license and want to vote as a Californian.Hey, I’ve been voting since I turned of [Read More...]

No Airstream for me all these years but!

March 4, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 2 photos.Morro Bay, CA – Well, yesterday at Albertsons supermarket I spotted a super-duper RV. And what marvelous memories it sparked. RVs are common in this scenic tourist mecca. I see them every day. But gosh, this baby was fabulous!Why so? Most RV’s look like, [Read More...]

My friend Bill Alpert, impassioned fiddler!

February 23, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA -- My oh my, how passions can drive us! There are two kinds, as we know, good passions and evil ones. My new friend William Alpert has a passion that drives him. A beautiful one. It’s music. More than that, it’s making music. More than that, it’s making [Read More...]

Fun facts about my new home state of CA

February 13, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, California – Folks I get to meet here often get very curious about where I hail from. For sure I’m not a born and bred native. A minute listening to me tells them that. My “accent” tips them off, would you believe?!I put “accent” in quotes because I’m positive [Read More...]

Once a bibliophile, always

February 2, 2018

By John Guy LaPlante… Yes, always a bibliophile. That’s me. I love books!Hey, if you enjoy reading blogs like this, that may well be you, too.So no wonder I went to last week’s book sale at our Morro Bay Public Library. It’s a great sale, staged by the Friends of the Library. In [Read More...]

Two old men sound off about old, old age

January 20, 2018

By John Guy LaPlanteI’m one of them, and I just sent an op-ed to the New York Times about my thinking on getting very, very old.My doing that was precipitated by an article in the New York Times that was written by Robert W. Goldfarb, aretired management consultant. Its title was [Read More...]

Solo-Meandering the USA in my Dandelion

January 8, 2018

And on a shoestring.By John Guy LaPlanteThis is a big anniversary for me. How to observe it?Exactly a quarter of a century ago I began and completed a this-way and that-way tour of 18,000 miles through our 48 states. My native land. Yes, alone. And writing about it along the way for my [Read More...]

My Weirdest New Year’s Day Ever

December 29, 2017

o   Property Transfers in Old Lyme 2017Property Transfers in Lyme 2013 By John Guy LaPlanteScary, in fact. I lived through that New Year's 13 years ago. And I’ve never experienced anything like it since. It was a unique experience.By the way, this account was published back then. I [Read More...]

Whos building those statuettes again?!

December 14, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 4 photos.Morro Bay, CA -- I’m wondering because some artist is creating fabulous stone-on-stone “statuettes” again, and on the same street corner. Statuette is not the perfect word. But it’s the best I can think of. [Read More...]

What, you do use your middle name?

December 1, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteHey, don't you know that’s un-American?! Taboo! You're supposed to use just a middle initial.Oh, sure, you were given, yes, given a middle name. That’s normal and expected. But I’ll bet you’ve never used it. Timothy or Susan or Andrew or whatever. You made do with just a [Read More...]

Thanksgiving Day? Or really Turkey Day?

November 20, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteIt is both. Thanksgiving Day is what President Lincoln intended when he made it a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Thursday in November.And Turkey Day it also is, though no president ever got that passed. The facts say so. We'll sit down to some 42 million [Read More...]

The Interrobangthats for me!

November 5, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteAnd maybe for you!The interro..... what?The interrobang! Yes, you read right. What's the interrobang? You see it at the left, but greatly enlarged. It's a brand-new punctuation mark. You know, in addition to the period, comma, colon, question mark, exclamation mark, [Read More...]

Radish seeds from your public library?

October 31, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay, CA — Yes, you can get radish seeds from our library. And  for  other plants of other kinds, would you believe?My, how libraries are a-changing!I discovered this when on our  library's bulletin board I spotted "Seed Library!  Plant / Save / [Read More...]

Pet Pooch Zyla snatched. Reward $1,000!

September 28, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteMorro Bay,  Calif.—Zyla is an 18-month-old boxer. She's the love of her family. See the photo of the flyer that was distributed far and wide just hours after her abduction. “Zyla is friendly and playful and we love her!” it says. I believe that.That big reward, mind [Read More...]

A famous, controversial book. Only $2!

September 21, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteWith 1 photo(Warning! This contains dirty words.  Words I've never used in print before. Words I've never, never used in my speaking.  You may blush. Feel  free to opt out.)Morro Bay, Calif. --I'm in our Public Library and I spot it on special display. Wow! I go right [Read More...]

The day the Post Office went automatic.

September 14, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteOct. 20, 1960. Providence, R.I.The U.S. Postal Service turned on the country’s first totally mechanized mail processing plant. Machines started doing the work from A to Z.  Did  it all. No hands!It was a big deal. Historic. Dramatic. Badly needed. [Read More...]

How much is an Ocean View worth?

September 3, 2017

 By John Guy LaPlante Plenty. That’s no surprise to you, I’m sure. Anybody who lives close to the ocean knows this. And it’s understandable to property owners not close to the ocean.  As you know, in talking prices and what affects them, realtors say that Number 1 is location, location, [Read More...]

Uncle Emile, great guy, great chess player

August 24, 2017

By John Guy LaPlanteMon oncle Emile is what I called him.  Like my Papa and Maman, my Uncle Emile was an immigrant from Quebec, the heart and soul of French Canada.My memories of him go back more than 80 years. He was great at many things, especially chess. The game was a passion. This [Read More...]

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