Hello

[JoeJ415665]

 Glad to join all you nice people on the front porch. Save me a rocking chair.

 It's my first day so just a little nervous.

Possible topics include sports, books, authoring books, 60's and 70's rock, cancer, and anything you wish to add. I'm open to all topics. If I don't know much about a topic, I'll ask questions and listen intently.

I'm a pretty well-rounded person with a unique sense of humor. (Get ready for puns and one-liners).

Joe

[RolandH72755]

@JoeJ415665 Since you mentioned books and happen to live here in Illinois, I'll toss out one I wrote you can read for free right now. It even has a central character that is in his 60s. Twenty of Two The Infamous They - Five Nuclear Wars You Can Win a read. It's available through Barnes & Noble. From 4/29/2026 (today) through 5/2/2026 you can use the promo code BNPONEFREE and download the EPUB version for free. If you click the little red arrow in the lower corner of the EPUB book cover you can read an excerpt that is most of the first chapter before you take the time to download a free copy.

[SereneSeagull]

Hi @JoeJ415665 ,

pop into the Rock N Roll discussion boards, lots of fun stuff over there too.  You can navigate the forums with a drop down list .  screenshot below.  Have fun!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ screenshot ~~~~~~~~~~~~

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Hi Joe @JoeJ415665 , I see YOUR post mentions 60s & 70s rock.

Again, just a "suggestion" 😉, here is the "direct" LINK to the AARP Rock 'n Roll forum below. I would "suggest" looking at what they have posted before CREATING a "new" topic. This way you are NOT "duplicating" what is already there. You will like them I promise!!!

https://community.aarp.org/t5/Rock-N-Roll/bd-p/bg17

Your "new" friend,

Nicole  💛🤗

[JoeJ415665]

 New friends are the best!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Joe @JoeJ415665 I AGREE & hope you stick around!!! 💃🙃

Are you still working or retired?

Where do you obtain your books from?

You mention cancer - you have it or just a general interest?

I am NOT into sports but hoping Papaw @papawofboo will stop by. He has been MIA for awhile. Hoping he is okay. Another possibility is our darling Ms. Stretch @MsStretch . Again, NOT here alot but does "pop" in when she can.

Since AARP now accepts age 18+ as members, don't get DISCOURAGED over responses to YOUR discussion.

They are "working" and I am sure will stop by when they can.

I am retired and just recovering from a broken ankle from black ice 12/6/25. Lol, finally had my LAST x-ray LAST week = now back to seeking out NEW ADVENTURES = 6 weeks of a cast, 10 weeks walking boot.

Had my OLD "wings" clipped.

Now to REPLACE the "other" old lady (2006 Hyundai Elantra). She needs a Head Gasket. It has been "very emotional" having to replace her as she is family. But I just CANNOT afford that $3,000 or more. With her being HIGH MILEAGE (185,400), it would be best to find a LOW MILEAGE ENGINE, but my mechanic has been looking since 10/27/25 when my "famous" Check Engine Light came. NO luck with finding a "decent" one.

Lol, hate that light, but GRATEFUL it came on & my mechanic had time to see what the "issue" was. Still drives, but driving would INCREASE the "damage", so she has been parked since October 2025.

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➡️[*** JOE @JoeJ415665 wrote:

 New friends are the best!

---

[JoeJ415665]

 Hi, Nicole!

I am retired, since 2003, 35 years with the telephone company, interrupted by 2 1/2 years in the U S Army. Then 3 years with a clinical Laboratory.

 I get my books online from Barnes and Nobel. Membership gets me discounts   on the price and free shipping.

 Then I had a successful EBAY site where I made and sold rustic decorative     wood signs of various sizes and subjects. I sold over 2,000 signs over about 6   

years. It was fun and kept me REALLY busy. I then tired of it and shut it down. sometimes I miss it. I've always been fascinated with woodworking.

 About 10 years ago during my annual physical, my PSAs showed up high. Further testing showed a "whisp" of prostate cancer. One radiation treatment     proved positive. I then had every 6-month check-ups with my Urologist. My PSAs rose little by littles over a few years until one time they took a bigger jump that the doctor didn't like. I had two options and chose a hormone injection. This killed all mt testosterone. My PSAs dropped to zero. And I didn't get irritable every 28 days. (I warned you! :)) My next checkup is in June.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Joe @JoeJ415665 , I AM SO SORRY about your cancer!!! 😞

I have been retired since 2020, early retirement thanks to COVID. Had wanted to keep working until I died. The way my Grandfather did. Died in his sleep after walking home from work. Luved what he did.

Me, was the Front Desk for the hospital here. I still run into past patients and we get caught up. I tried the part-time at Kroger, but it seems so many companies DONOT "respect" the words part-time & retired. So I quit. Lol, totally bored but determined to get moving on my Retirement Bucket List once I replace my car.

GRATEFUL my LOA (local office of aging) has been taking me for groceries & medical appts. But I need to get back on the road.

[JoeJ415665]

 If you're comfortable with it, I'm not against phone calls. Gives more time and not as many typos. 😊 I'll leave it up to you. 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Please DONOT take this "personally" but I keep my AARP Friends on this AARP Community Board. Yes, my "online" friends. 😉

But will totally "understand" IF you are seeking more. IF yes, sorry - I will NOT be able to offer this.

Anyway, NO "pressure" to keep posting. 👍

[JoeJ415665]

 Can I ask where you're located?

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Virginia, Joe @JoeJ415665 & you?

[JoeJ415665]

 I'm in Rockford, Illinois.

I was stationed at Ft. Belvoir in 1967.

[RolandH72755]

Herscher, IL here.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

I am guessing you were in the military Joe @JoeJ415665 ?

In my teens years I lived in St. Louis, Missouri then flew for Ozark Airlines between them and Chicago, Illinois. Of course that airline had "merged" with TWA and that is when I got married & moved to Sunny Florida. TWA went out of biz.

[JoeJ415665]

 I was in the service from Sept 1966 till May 1969, much to my mother's dismay.

I served at Ft. Jackson, SC, Ft Belvoir, VA, Ft. Hood TX, and the last 14 months of active duty I served in South Korea. (Which is a story in itself).

 I grew up a lot during my service time. 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Thursday 4/9/26]

Thank you for your service Joe @JoeJ415665 🇺🇲

[JoeJ415665]

 I am proud and honored to have served.

And, Nicole, thank you for your support!!

[JoeJ415665]

 No problem. I'm not going anywhere.