17 years later, the Blogger in me resufaces. What's Been Happening?

Truly, I've been searching for this history, and now that I found it, simply have to account in some summary manner, what the heck has been going on since 2008 (when this blog history was pretty representative of my daily life at the time).

Back then, I truly knew this to be therapeutic in nature.  In face, gave a speech on "Fingertip Therapy", and the sequential principles of self-analysis, self-direction, and self-improvement ideally.  All done by writing down my thoughts.

So much living has been done; so much to be grateful. Far more than just surviving to this moment, but a constant sense of "good is yet to come", like when intuition says a major change is happening.  Afterwards, and on occasion, in real time, I realize i am thriving in new ways - mostly inner peacefulness.

SO........I welcome me back to the land of blogging.  And I can now re-introduce myself to another inner spirit that surfaces often - Inky Blotz - the manifestation of a concept of capture life in real time, combining multiple unrelated but simultaneous elements to realize there's indeed a reason for all of this.

I now offer a quick summary of the ensuing decades, so that daily blogposts can now reference pertinent content of a historical nature.  Also, this summary should go along with the handwritten and previously typed-out attempts of autobiographical elements.  This includes the two gifts received;

1) from my sister Linda, after first son Alex is born, the journal "In Your Father's Words, which I have been writing into for now 28 years.  Real-world experiences and thoughts of the life lived, in responses to questions or topics.

2) Christmas 2025, from son Justin; a similar book that wants my handwritten thoughts and answers to a variety of questions.

Essential Life Moments:

1994:  Met Cori Simpkinson Jones, co-habitated 1995, married 1996, parents in 1998 and 2000, multiple homes in Fremont, Elk Grove, and Sacramento.

2006:  Cori learns of Mark's one-time affair.  Co-parenting becomes the eternal commitment, and glue that keeps us going into old age.

- through 2011, an off-and-on attempt at co-habitation and salvaging the marriage and family.  Until Cori says she will never be able to fully trust again.  Mark completely understands.

- through 2015, Justin's seizure disorder becomes highest priority.  Successful surgery in 2015. 

- through 2016, Mark's focus includes both sons education & activities (sports, SYB, JFK).

2012: Mark's Dad - Walt - passes away 2/8.

2012-2015:  Mark works for Sutter Health  Mark takes both sons to Washington DC and NYC.

2015-17: Mark & Justin move into Swenson Way; Eve to assisted living. Mark modernizes and sells his parents house.  Mark buys Encinal house

2015-2018: Mark works for Adventist Health, then retires.

2018:  Cori and Alex move into Encinal House.  Mark moves in with Duska, goes diving in Belize.

2019:  Mark moves out from Duska, back to Encinal for rest of the year,

- Eve passes away in October.  Mark goes to Costa Rica for 2 weeks in Nov-Dec.

2019-2020: Mark works contract for Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Covid ends it).  Moves to to a Sac duplex for 9 months, then moves to Las Vegas for a year.  Mark becomes active in multiple charities through Spiritist centers and individuals.  Mark begins his online presence with earnest (presentations, podcasts).

2021:  Cori takes over Encinal mortgage, owns 70%.  Mark moves back to Encinal late in the year.  Starts dating Linnie Andreotti.  Mark continues his online presence and Spiritist studies.

2022: Mark travels; Costa Rica again, Portland, OR; multiple trips to SoCal; Sedona & Tucson, AZ  Multiple CA coast trips and concerts with Linnie.  On one such trip, pancreatic cancer appears.  Mark continues his online presence and Spiritist studies.

2023: Linnie Andreotti dies of pancreatic cancer.  Mark goes to Brazil for two weeks on a non-tourist itinerary.  Mark buys RV, drives cross-country to Florida; moves into 55+ community in Sunrise, FL.  Frequently drives to various beaches and Miami suburbs, active in charities and multiple Spiritist centers in FL.  Mark becomes social again, dates a bit.

2024: Mark sells RV; drives pickup cross-country to Reno, NV.  Chooses to not date again.  Involvements in charities, Spiritism continues.

2025: Mark moves to Spark,s NV.  Maintaining a life without a significant other.  Involvements in charities, Spiritism continues.

2026: Mark meets/develops relationship with Mauree Kai.  Visits PA in May, vacates Sparks, moves belongings to Encinal in June, moves to Quakertown, PA from late July to late October, then back to CA and Encinal.  Mark's spiritual routines evolve to a "less is more", with fewer online studies, no presentations, no direct Spiritist center involvements.  Mauree in step in this regard until Mark leaves PA at end of October, now seemingly both reducing a bit.

- November:  Cori taps her retirement, begins buyout of Mark's remaining 30% of Encinal with a $50K deposit on 11/2.  Mark immediately puts a long-awaited spending plan into place.  Priority is finding a place to live, a car to drive, both of which will allow for a return to a low-stress and happy self.

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Update 11/11/2026:   

- Mark continues to TRY to secure a new (rental) residence in Sacramento in first weeks of November; so far, failing miserably.  Decides to buy a new set of wheels - 2022 CR-V.  Keeping the pickup, too.  Have no clue where I will live, nor who will rent to me, as I seem to not be qualified no matter what I do.  WTF?

- OK, so I decide to take a break, which I'd been thinking about even before I got back to CA.  Tomorrow, 11/12 - 6am, leave for Cache Creek Casino Resort, staying overnight in a package deal.  Playing golf first at 8am at Yoche Deche Golf Club (played there when it first opened probably 10+ years ago), but never stayed.  Standard room, plus a $130 credit to Spa, where in afternoon (after check in), I'll get a 1-hr deep tissue massage, a jacuzzi and a sauna, in some sequence.  Be back Friday probably around noon.  Mental health escape, definitely earned.

- Next week, rain comes, so delaying trip to the coast. Back to trying to find a place to live.  If I don't find one quickly, now thinking I'll pack everything back into suitcases and boxes, and then go away until December.  Literally mentally and financially cheaper to take two back to back 1-week cruises to Mexico than to continue to pay for rental applications, take time for tours, wait to hear one way or the other.

Simplicity

The simplest of phrases carry the greatest impact. Truly cements the premise that I over-think virtually everything, unable to process life with clarity until its broken down to the easiest understood terms and principles. I am incredibly grateful for God putting me right where I need to be at this moment in time (immediately and for the past 6+ months) and for the people he puts into my life; people who so freely share their experiences and perspective, which I now interpret as pure wisdom, meant for me to use and to carry to others.

"Do more to get more or better results." Takes the definition of insanity to a more meaningful level; I can't keep doing the same things if I want different results If I want to be better, if I want to have more, if I want to get well, I cannot keep doing just what I've been doing (though that does achieve a definite purpose); instead, I must be willing to take broader and deeper and different directions & steps, as directed by God and His servants. For if I am left to decide when, where, what and how to decide, I most assuredly will misstep, as my lifetime of missteps will attest. Not that I am incapable of good decisions, but that if left solely to my own devices, I must surely will not be where I want to be, nor where I need to be, nor where I "should" be.

"God is not Santa Claus". Experiencing "Santa", and the act of giving & receiving freely (in whatever form or concept), is all about "things" (gifts), without expectations or (typically) the need to earn the right to give or receive the "thing". For many, the act of giving is more important than the joy of receiving. God absolutely does not work this way; I must learn to ask Him for whatever He chooses to bestow upon me (or take away from me), and I am very much accountable for what He gives or takes away. I must be willing to change to meet His expectations for living a "good" life, and in many respects earn the right to receive His blessings. But not always; I must also become conscious of and gracious when He simply bestows a gift on me without my asking for it or even earning it. His involvement in my life is based purely on my interaction with Him, and not just Him "being there" to pop in and out whenever He so chooses. The more I interact with Him, the more I am able to receive His gifts and experience His grace. I have never prayed to Santa Claus - but I most certainly pray to God, and not just because of my wants or needs.


My ego, so prevalent in my life for decades, and so dictatorial over my personality and mannerisms, has been typically thought of in reference to the quality of my self-centered nature. But it is not just the extent to which I think of myself first and foremost; it is also the frequency. If I am able to realize how often my nature is to put myself first - as in, "what's in it for me?" - then perhaps I can reduce this tendency, and the extent and depth of my self-absorbed lifestyle will change accordingly. I can achieve this through service to others, as frequently as possible; the more I focus on others and doing for others and for the benefit of others - and do so without wanting the spotlight or accolades or recognition - then the less likely I am to be focused on myself, which means I can alter my behavior and personality simply by doing, and acting "as if" I have learned to be that way naturally. Over time, I hopefully will become natural in this mindset, and my ego-driven nature will reduce substantially. This concept of service goes far beyond my immediate family and friends (though certainly I can put a priority on them); the concept of service extends to all of God's creatures - mankind and animals, the earth and society, my community and my fellowships. It simply ain't all about me.

Lastly, heard this last night, which was amazingly profound for me, largely due to its simplicity:

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life...


He said to them, "A fight is going on inside of me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.


One wolf is evil -- he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.


The other is good---he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.


This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."


The children thought about it in silence for a while, and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"


The old Cherokee simply replied: "The one you feed".


Simplicity can be so significant; in an instant, the light comes on and burns brightly, unfiltered by depth and breadth of related but confusing tangents......