On The Fly
On The Fly
Patrick Ball
A smidgen of history, a dash of culture - a minute dedicated to making you smile.
Parabolic Arcs & Pulled Putts
Welcome to the first official morning of the rest of my life. With no alarms and no meetings, chasing a little white ball around The Lakehouse—a par-58 canvas—felt like the perfect way to christen retirement. Golf!
Jul 11
4 min
The BIG 2-5-0!
250! That’s a lot of birthdays. To celebrate this historic milestone, I need your help. For one day only, all kids—and adults—at our neighborhood parade can become an Official On-the-Fly Parade reporter. Listen to learn how you can participate.
Jun 27
3 min
The Yellow Legal Pad
I've been thinking about the "R-word" lately, not because I'm worried about boredom. I'm curious why retirement makes us nervous while a job—no matter how stressful—feels comforting.
Jun 20
7 min
Epictetus, Ego, and Acronyms
This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all" and how they unwillingly throw out ridiculous acronyms.
Jun 13
8 min
Breaking the Script
When I meet someone, instead of the usual greetings, I'll ask: "What's the good word?" How would you respond?
Jun 6
6 min
Truth for Sale
On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride since the accident, seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. Here's what I found.
May 30
7 min
The Eighth Wonder of the Suburban World
Future civilizations will remember May 22, 2026, as the day humanity reached its peak in suburban engineering. Today, my neighbor Steve and I finished the most overbuilt property divider in North County. The Fence!
May 27
7 min
That Fateful Four-Letter Word
You never say the E-word out loud. That word is a cosmic tripwire. It is the verbal equivalent of tempting fate while standing barefoot on a rake. Do you know the word?
May 23
8 min
When Nature Comes to You
Sometimes the best way to experience the world isn’t to search for it, but to sit still and let it come to you.
May 16
3 min
An Attitude Worth Catching
Honestly, I’ve been struggling with noise lately. Much is my own fault—overwhelmed by nonstop headlines. But some hits closer to home. How do you find it affects your outlook?
May 9
7 min
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