Sunfire's Journal

My new ride!

2026-05-23T20:10:08Z

My new ride! A 2026 Subaru Impreza Sport. It was an interesting buying experience. I had called the dealership yesterday and told them which car I wanted to purchase. When I arrived at the dealership today, when I walked in the door, the car I was purchasing was right behind the desk by the entrance, surrounded by other Subaru models. The salesman said he really did not want to move all those other cars as they were already cleaned and shined up and it was raining outside, plus one had a bicycle on top and another had a kayak on top. He told me they had another Impreza, same color with a few additional features. Even though that one with the extra features was a bit more expensive, he gave me the same price as the one I was originally going to purchase. I decided to opt for the Cilajet application as it protects from things such as sunlight, bird droppings, salt, acid rain, etc. I asked the salesman if it protected from magnesium chloride, he said yes. I've seen first hand on my 4Runner and Tom's Chevy Blazer what magnesium chloride does to vehicles. That stuff should be outlawed! I also purchased a maintenance plan as Tom's health is to the point where he can't work on stuff anymore. Now we have reliable transportation again. This car was a good investment. I realized quickly how it will take some time to get used to all the new technology that vehicles have now. This is the first vehicle I've purchased since December 1999. I'll be selling my 4Runner to We Buy Any Car in the near future.

Sid Krofft passes away.

2026-04-13T22:06:05Z

Sid Krofft has passed away at the age of ninety-six. His brother Marty Krofft passed away back in 2023 at the age of eighty-six. They created lots of TV shows such as Sigmund the Sea Monster, H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost, The Lost Saucer, and many others.

Samsung Messages no more.

2026-04-12T15:10:41Z

I received a notification on my phone that Samsung Messages was being discontinued. That is the default text message program on my phone. All Samsung Messages users are being automatically switched to Google Messages. This is a severe downgrade as Google Message absolutely sucks! I immediately started looking for an alternative. I decided to try out an app called Textra. That is currently my default program for SMS/MMS text on my phone. I've also decided to add WhatsApp to my phone as some friends and family use it. I won't be on that much but my Telegram is usually online all day.

Happy Easter!

2026-04-05T15:26:20Z

Happy Easter!

Easter flowers 2026

2026-04-02T22:47:43Z

An Easter lily and yellow tulips.

For those with a good heart.

2026-04-01T22:35:40Z

If you've ever been the good hearted person in someone's life, I hope you will never forget some simple truths:

Your friendship and love are never foolish.

Your loyalty is not weakness.

Your patience is not stupidity.

You care and love deeply because that's who you are.

If anyone betrays you, they do not deserve unlimited chances.

Betrayal says more about the ones who betray you, not your worth.

Good hearts don't lose, they learn.

Good hearts may cry, they may break, they may question themselves, but they walk away with integrity.

Don't ever harden your heart, just become wiser.

Life is a gift.

2026-03-23T23:37:45Z

No amount of worrying ever changes the future. No amount of regret ever changes the past. Gratitude however always changes the present. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it's called the present. There will always be people doing better than you in life. There will always be people doing worse than you in life. The right perspective makes all the difference. Forgive others, holding onto grudges only serves to hurt you over time. That doesn't mean that you forget the lesson, but by forgiving, you find your peace again. If you are reading this, then you have been given another day. Life is a precious gift, never take it for granted. Life is also a journey, not a destination, so live every day to its fullest and always be thankful.

Stoic words of wisdom to live by.

2026-03-21T23:20:35Z

Walk away with dignity, not desperation.

If someone doesn't value you, don't chase, don't explain. Here's what to do instead:

1) Pull back your energy. Your time and presence are not free.

2) Say nothing. Silence speaks louder than words ever will.

3) Protect your mind. Not every battle deserves your attention.

4) Refocus. Pour love into yourself, not the place that empties you.

5) Set boundaries. Respect is earned, not begged for.

6) Grow in private. Your glow-up doesn't need an audience.

7) Stop justifying your worth. You exist, that's enough.

8) Walk away with peace. Leaving isn't weakness, it's wisdom.

9) Learn the lesson. Don't relive the pain.

10) Know this: You're not "too much." They were never ready.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2026-03-17T13:35:50Z

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

"May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live." ~ A traditional Irish blessing/toast.

Remember this when dark times come.

2026-03-15T23:23:42Z

Sometimes, when something bad or tragic happens to us in life, we look for the reason why it happened. Sometimes though, the reason why is never revealed. Closure is not exclusively dependent on discovering it either. A good question to ask ourselves at such times is this: would knowing the reason why make the situation any different or any better? Life is way too short to waste any of it searching for answers that will likely never come.

Fresh perspective.

2026-03-13T13:24:36Z

I want to say thank you to those who have been checking on me. I'm doing a lot better and find myself in a good frame of mind. I appreciate every friend I have and I never take any friendship for granted. Something truly amazing happens when you work through something that upset and/or angered you. When you reach the point where you understand what happened, even if you don't know or understand why it happened, you become free of it. You adapt, you evolve, and you emerge stronger. The best part? You find yourself wiser, and in life wisdom goes a long, long way. I want to leave anyone reading this journal this universal truth: your worth is something that no one can give you or take from you. Never underestimate or undervalue yourself. You matter, and life is too short to ever lose site of that.

More wisdom.

2026-03-08T15:27:50Z

I found another gem of wisdom on YouTube from the same channel I found the video referenced in my last journal entry. I'm posting it here as well. It may help someone else the way it enlightened me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvO_gAOElQ

Knowledge truly is power.

2026-03-06T15:49:09Z

Sometimes in life, knowledge and wisdom come to you in unforeseen ways. I came across a video on YouTube that has literally changed my perspective on something that I have struggled with for many years. I discovered the Furry Fandom back in 1999, and over the last twenty-seven years I've learned a hard truth; furries may think they have an animal inside of them, but their actions show that they are in fact quite human, and not in a good way. I've met some people who are very lonely in life (aren't we all?!?), and I invested significant time and effort into helping them as best I could. Those very same people eventually find others be it new friends or a significant other, and I find myself disposed of like a used condom. I don't consider myself a furry anymore, I am a human being, and not ashamed of being so. The video I referenced is linked below. Perhaps it can help others as it has helped me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5hqiDUBrCc

I of course don't want to leave anyone reading this journal feeling sad or melancholy, so I will also share another short video which nicely builds upon the knowledge from the video linked above. I didn't post this journal to call out or shame anyone. It's part of the healing I've needed for a long time. I will go forward applying this knowledge in the hopes of living a better, happier life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8AD8hOmGuo

Counting down to spring.

2026-02-26T19:36:20Z

When I finished up house cleaning today, I looked out one of the windows that faces the backyard. I saw at least fifteen robins in the yard. They are a sign that winter is nearing its end and spring is quickly approaching. Granted, there are still twenty-two days until the Spring Equinox (March twentieth at 10:46am), but it's nice to see changes happening. The arrival of spring will be a most welcome and needed change for this weary soul.

Winter blahs.

2026-02-19T15:06:04Z

Have you ever taken a good look at your life and felt like you were lost in it? While my mind is generally never really in the best of places during the winter months, this year I find myself feeling that way, even more so than usual. I was never a huge fan of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, but when I heard about a particular episode, I had to watch it for myself. The episode is titled "The Sound of Her Voice". The story is centered on a character named Captain Lisa Cusack, Captain of the Federation Ambassador Class heavy cruiser "USS Olympia". Her ship had been on an eight year exploration mission in the Beta Quadrant. A brief synopsis is below.

"In 2371, when the ship was returning home, they discovered a planet surrounded by an energy barrier in the Rutharian sector. When the Olympia scanned the planet, the ship was hit by a surge of metreon radiation which disabled its engines and caused the ship to crash. Cusak was the only survivor.

Her distress call was received by the USS Defiant. It was initially a one-way broadcast; Miles O'Brien listened to her for some time, feeling it was the least he could do. She reminded him of his cousin as she talked about her home and family.

Eventually, he was able to make contact with her. As the Defiant made its way to the planet where she crashed, she conversed with Sisko, Julian Bashir, and O'Brien, telling them stories of her life and listening to their problems.

When the Defiant arrived at the planet in 2374, they discovered that she had been dead for three years, two months from carbon dioxide poisoning. The metreon radiation had distorted her signal, transmitting it into the future. The return signal was similarly distorted, sent back through time. Captain Sisko decided that the body was to be taken back to Deep Space 9, where the crew held a wake. Despite having never met her, the crew believed she had made a real difference to their lives just through "the sweet sound of her voice." (DS9: "The Sound of Her Voice")

I think there are people out there who wish that they could help me in some way, but I think it's far too late to make any kind of real difference. Captain Cusack died with the hope that help was on the way, that her struggle to survive would lead to her rescue, but it wasn't meant to be. What I can say in my case is that you don't wake up in your late fifties and magically erase all the questionable life choices you've made in the past. I don't know how many years I have left, but I hope they won't be spent struggling to survive, constantly regretting ever being born. No, I'm not depressed, just looking at things more realistically. One hope always remains, things could get better eventually.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2026-02-14T21:34:58Z

Happy Valentine's Day one and all! Remember, you don't need a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or any other kind of significant other to show love to others!

I have a new achievement! Blog's Birthday

2026-02-09T14:41:40Z

We're together for 24 years now! Thank you!

Groundhog Day

2026-02-02T15:20:23Z

Groundhog Day has finally arrived. That vile vermin Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so he predicts six more weeks of winter. Today, the temperature here will reach thirty, and it will be thirty-two tomorrow. That will be the first time reaching thirty in over a week and a half. Thursday through Friday on the forecast is showing highs only in the twenties, and only teens for highs this weekend, with near zero overnight lows with sub-zero wind chills. The month of March cannot come soon enough for me, longer days and the arrival of spring will be welcomed with extreme gratitude.

Winter Storm Fern

2026-01-26T19:19:08Z

Winter Storm Fern dumped sixteen inches of snow here. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard a noise outside this morning and saw Edgar Lorah Jr. pulling into the driveway with his New Holland tractor to clear off most of the driveway. This was a huge help, but it still took me a few hours to shovel off the walkway, side entrance, clear off the Blazer and the 4Runner, and shovel out the part of the driveway where those vehicles are parked and near the garage door. This week will be frigid cold with temps in the teens and low twenties with lows are zero and sub-zero wind chills. Needless to say, I am counting down the days until spring.

Reflection

2026-01-15T14:41:22Z

Today we are half way through the month of January, one of the two months (February being the other) that most people consider the "winter doldrums". How is 2026 shaping up for you so far? Did you make any New Year's resolutions? If so, have you broken them yet? I never do because the reality is, if you're going to do something or change something in your life, there is no better day than today. Numbers change on a calendar, and the only change that is certain is that we are all getting older. I hope this year is treating you well and that the months ahead hold many good things for everyone.

New Year's Eve balloon drop.

2026-01-14T02:04:05Z

Here are some pictures from the New Year's Eve balloon drop at Bryfogle Park in Walnutport, Pennsylvania. This event was a lot of fun!

Christmas tree ornament 2025.

2026-01-07T03:10:12Z

I had this acrylic Christmas tree ornament made for Tom this year as one of his presents.

https://macorner.co/

New Year's Balloon Drop!

2025-12-31T19:21:44Z

"Duncan The Dog" and "Evil Duncan" were asked to be mascots at the inaugural Lehigh Township New Year's balloon drop at Bryfogle Park to help ring in the new year! It was great to bring so many smiles to many faces, young and old alike! 69News was there to cover the festivities!

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/northampton-county/nazareth-northampton-area/dont-want-to-wait-til-midnight-thousands-of-balloons-drop-in-noon-years-eve-celebration/article_e4c4d9d9-dba6-4c27-8a95-c67a2beedf61.html

Merry Christmas!

2025-12-25T18:36:59Z

Christmas 2025 has arrived! Have a safe and very merry Christmas everyone!

Mom and Santa Claus.

2025-12-22T02:17:31Z

My late brother's widow sent this picture to me today. It had popped up on her Facebook memories. My mom looks so happy and healthy in that picture. I miss her everyday, and that feeling is magnified more by the Christmas season as her birthday is December 23rd.