Christmas Season

Visiting family in Oklahoma City. I am always surprised at how COLD it is in Oklahoma City compared to Lakeland/Memphis. I think it must be the wind or the moisture in the air. Even the same temperature is colder in OKC.

While I enjoy my visits to Oklahoma City and enjoy visiting, I am also always glad to get home to Lakeland.

We’re having a good, if busy, Christmas season and a very enjoyable visit to Oklahoma City. I always enjoy the “pause” in the year.

I have been trying to make any weight gain as small as possible. Thus far, I have even continue a slight continuation of losing weight, which is great! Starting with Thanksgiving, I decided I would be happy if I started January 2, 2007 at the same weight and I think I will make that goal. I even lost a little, but I’m afraid I may gain it back over Christmas!

We flew from Memphis to OKC, which is really nice. Aliene used “points” for a free ticket and I used a free ticket I had gotten for being “bumped” earlier this year, so it was especially nice!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a rewarding 2007!

A Soldier Returns

I was flying into Memphis returning from a Conference. As the plane landed, the announcement was made that a Soldier who had been killed was returning home on the plane. All of the passengers were asked to wait while Soldiers accompanying the casket got off the plane. An honor guard waited outside the plane, and as we taxied in, a fire engine sprayed water over the plane.

While I obviously can’t put my feelings into words, I felt a true sense of community with the other passengers and the soldiers family as the passengers all waited patiently and quietly, rather than the usual hurry and hubbub after a landing. The atmosphere remained even after we went into the terminal and got our bags, almost as if everyone was grieving with the family.

I was overwhelmed to think that this same event has been played out almost 3,000 times in the last three years. I see the names, hometowns and ages of the military personnel killed each week and I note the ages, most under 22 years of age. I feel a real sense of sorrow-and anger-at the thought of all these lives cut short.

Thanksgiving 2006 thoughts

November 17, 2006 would have been my Dad’s 100th Birthday. I like to think about how he would have reacted to some of the recent technological advances! Thinking of 1906, I expect he lived through almost as much of a change in perceptions and living as many of us have. The common ownership of automobiles, air travel, computers, international terrorism, major cultural changes, television etc. all developed during his relatively speaking first stage of life. (I’m not sure about international terrorism.)

I have developed the habits of riding my bike at least 4 times a week (depending on meetings and weather) and walking almost every morning. Combined with an emphasis on eating properly, I have now lost about 25 lbs from my “high” that I recorded. (At one point I didn’t record my weight due to a desire to avoid reality, or at least not record reality!. However, writing down my weight has been a real factor in helping me lose weight.) Of course, my eating was helped by that fact that I realized I had “GERD” (sometimes called reflux) and needed to watch what I eat.

I stopped taking Prevacid when I discovered it lowered my immune system. I found GERD affects me by causing my voice to get hoarse and coughing. I always attributed this to allergies, but now found it is related to what I drink and eat!

I reduced coffee to about 2 cups per day (probably down from 20) and have almost stopped all carbonated beverages. I also eat a lot lighter and really avoid fat. Peanut butter and strawberry ice cream/shakes are still a weakness.

I realized now my Dad probably had GERD and probably reacted the same way I do, with a hoarse throat and coughing.

Cold temperature is settling in, to my dismay. However, I am just glad I live in Lakeland, where the weather is mild. It also means I can continue to walk and ride my bike almost all winter, with a few exceptions. I have accepted the fact that I have to ride my bike in the dark and have adopted a number of methods of trying to make sure motorists see me. I probably look like a Christmas tree going down the street, but better safe than sorry!

Work continues to be very busy. Better busy than not, but I am trying to get some long term projects done and it is difficult!

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! One of my first memories is of Thanksgiving. If I remember correctly, relatives came over, and I went out with my cousin, Chuck, and we kicked a tire tube for sport. It started snowing and became a blizzard.

Veterans Day November 11, 2006

I just realized today, 20 years ago (Veterans Day) I purchased my first “real” (IBM Compatible computer). It didn’t have a hard drive (the store told me I wouldn’t need one for awhile!), and I thought I was up to date on technology! (I had had several Commodores, a VIC 16 and a Commodore 64). I actually used it for at least 6 years when I jumped two generations of computers.

Time has really changed computers!

I’m glad the Memphis/Lakeland winters are relatively mild. I get to continue my walking and bicycling which is good for losing weight as well as my overall well being. Since we are on the eastern side of the Central Time Zone, it gets dark as early as 4:30 p.m., so I have learned to ride my bike in the dark! (I walk at 4:00 a.m. or so, so I always walk in the dark.)

We traded our Acura TL for an Acura MDX. So far we realty like the new car (an SUV), especially the fact it doesn’t have those “hot wheel” type tires. I really liked the TL, but I hated the tires. The TL was almost out of warranty (which is 50,000 miles for Acura). Ordinarily we wouldn’t worry about that. Since the TL had been in an accident, we decided to trade it. We purchased it on Halloween and I hope we got a treat and not a trick!

I’ll always remember driving the Acura TL back to Lakeland when someone was tailgating me and there was a truck right beside me. I floored the accelerator and suddenly realized I was doing 120 mph in what seemed like no time. (Fortunately, Aliene didn’t notice although I did tell her later. I will really miss the good points of that car!)

They have started phase II of our addition and it looks like it will fill up fast. We really enjoy living here.

October thoughts

Cool weather is starting to move in. It still is nice enough to ride the bike and walk without a lot of extra clothing, although I add more every day! I have gotten used to walking at 4:00 a.m., and Friday I even bundled up and walked in the rain since I didn’t want to miss my walk. I also bike every day I can (after work on weekdays and on weekends) and enjoy that.

My weight is going down well, slow but sure. Limiting my food has helped!

November 1, 2006, marks five years with Lakeland (and also means I vest in the pension plan!). It seems time has passed fast and looking back I see that a lot has happened!

Aliene and I went to the Fall Tennessee City Managers Conference in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Oak Ridge was a “secret city” during the development of the atom bomb. It now is a major research facility. We saw the 6th “fastest computer in the world” and I think there were 2 others in the top 20.

Currently the Oak Ridge lab is a major research facility and also contains some secret areas that we weren’t allowed to look at. (There were some jokes about rabbits the size of deer etc. due to the early nuclear work.) Oak Ridge is near Knoxville, Tennessee, which is higher elevation and more north than Lakeland, so the foliage was really beautiful.

We really enjoy our house and neighborhood. The other night we had a “block party” which was fun. The addition currently has about 50 houses completed and work in “phase II” has started. Phase III (which is near us and will ruin part of our view!-although we knew it was coming of course) will mean about 121 houses.

The “neighborhood” is so nice to ride in I am getting spoiled. I hope the new houses etc. don’t ruin the biking fun I have here. Unfortunately, the only exit is onto a busy highway. Although it has bike lanes, there isn’t really other close roads that are safe. I do have a good bike rack to carry the bikes so I can go to other areas.

I find I can see so much more on a bike than I can in a car (and it is much faster than walking) so I like to go and look at different areas of the city on a bike.

The Oklahoma Wind

I don’t mind hills while riding my bike, but I really don’t care for riding when the wind is high, although when I lived in Oklahoma, I figured I may as well learn to deal with it. Of course it is not near as bad here (in OKC) as it is in western Oklahoma and Kansas. I can understand why the continuous wind drives people insane!

Aliene and I are in Oklahoma City visiting. One of the first things I noticed when we got here Friday was the hard cold wind! The wind always makes it seem so much colder or hotter, maybe that is why I like the climate better in Lakeland! The altitude also apparently has something to do with it, since when it snows in Oklahoma, by the time it gets to Memphis it is frequently rain.

Aliene’s birthday is Monday. We are taking an extra day going back and celebrating it in Arkansas by seeing some of the sights we always plan to see on the trip to OKC, but never seem to have the time to do.

We ran into a friend at the hotel we are staying at Saturday night who, as a weekend job, drives a “classic Limousine”, so he gave us a ride in a 1963 Bentley, with the original steering wheel on the right! He offered to let us drive, but we decided it was a real thrill just to ride in it! (I don’t know what it was worth, but I’m sure my insurance coverage would be strained to cover the bill!)

Things are busy at City Hall. It seems there is always something going on to keep us busy!

We always enjoy our visits to Oklahoma City, but it is always nice to get back home. We really enjoy our new house, and especially the fact we know all of our neighbors! It is really a nice atmosphere.

Fall 2006

Cool weather was the general rule here for the last several weeks, so I was pleased to get up the other day and find it was 81 degrees at 4:00 a.m.! It felt like Summer again! This was after a series of 59 degrees, 55 degrees etc. in the morning.

I count winter is here when I switch to my heavier workout clothes. So far I have stuck with my shorts and t-shirts, so I feel Summer is still here!

Saturday, September 23, it started out warm, although cloudy and windy. I was riding my bike early afternoon, when the wind, which had been heavy (for Lakeland) from the south, suddenly switched to from the north and the temperature literally dropped 10 degrees just in a flash! We got some rain, but most of the storm was south.

After months of riding my bike without being affected by rain, I had to cut my bike riding short due to rain the last two days. Today, Sunday, it is nice again, although still windy.

I don't mind hills when I bike, but I really don't like wind! That is one reason I like to bike in Tennessee is that here usually isn't much of a wind.

I found I probably have "acid reflux" a lot worse than I realized. The Doctor took me off Prevacid (kind of an antiacid), but then put my right back on when I started coughing all the time. What I thought were allergies actually was probably acid reflux.

I realized that after I ate some bacon and coffee and was coughing a lot. The Doctor put me right back on Prevacid.

Now I realize what is causing my hoarseness and coughing bouts, at least partly!

I have drastically changed my life style to avoid the consequences of acid reflux. I walk at least a 1 1/2 mile every morning, bike on the stationary bike at the gym, and then usually ride my bike for at least 45 minutes and hohpefully an hour. I had already been walking in the morning, but now I am serious about doing it fast every morning.

I have also changed my eating habits, reduced coffee, don't eat fatty foods, avoid large meals etc.

Thus far I have lost about 20 lbs (from the Counter Reunion time), but I still have a ways to go.

The Sedway incident bruised Aliene's arm. She will probably be in some pain for a month or so from the arm. She still says she would do it again! She can do everything except she doesn't want to take a chance on riding the bike (she does walk as before), so I miss my riding partner!

In August, I went over 25 years as City Manager, since I first accepted a City Manager job in 1981, and 32 years working for cities as a career. Time goes fast!

November 1, 2006, I will have been in Lakeland for 5 years. Time goes so fast!

Water for Elephants

I don’t often write about a book, but if you have a chance to read “Water for Elephants”, do so! It is a wonderful and interesting and funny book!

Cool weather has come to Lakeland! Several weeks ago it was 85 degrees in the early morning, now it is 66 degrees!

I have been riding my “Trek” a lot more (still no name for it). Aliene has been riding the first half hour or so with me, so it has been fun. I am also walking (about 2 miles) each morning plus another 18-28 minutes on the stationary bike, and about an hour on the Trek, so I am getting more exercise! (That is not every day when I have a meeting etc.)

I don’t know if I already mentioned this, but I had my physical several weeks ago and the Doctor found I had a “low” thyroid, so she gave me some medicine to speed up my thyroid. This, in addition to my increased exercise, is helping me lose weight a little faster.

We had a nice visit with Aliene’s mother in Lakeland and then took her back to Oklahoma City last weekend.

25 years!

August 20, 2006, I suddenly realized that on August 20, 1981, I walked into City Hall on my first day as City Manager. Today is my 25th Anniversary as City Manager!

Would I do it again. You bet! I remember how I considered all the factors before accepting my first City Manager job, thinking of all the challenges and risks. Somehow, I knew from the start it was for me.

One of the first things I realized was that my jokes suddenly became funnier! (Of course, I knew the real reason!)

Although I can always see places where I would have done different in retrospect, I do feel I learned from my mistakes. Although I occasionally repeat my mistakes, I find myself repeating fewer and fewer of them, and, of course, occasionally making new ones.

Several years ago, at a Toastmasters meeting, I was asked what would I do if I won a large prize, such as 50 million dollars. I thought about it, and finally decided I wouldn’t really change anything, except perhaps buy a better car etc., but I certainly wouldn’t quit as City Manager!

Some brief history, when I was a small child, although I grew up on a farm, I played “City Manager”, although I didn’t call it that. I had rocks and sticks for cars and buildings and I built several enterprising “cities” and played for hours managing the cities.

I started working for a city when I was in high school. I mowed streets, parks, the cemetery and helped locate water lines etc. One of my most memorable moments was when the Water Superintendent and I tore up a yard and I first heard the phrase “ I’m going to sue”. (We actually got it worked out. I found I had the “gift” of finding water lines with a wire coat hanger and that is how we located them after that.)

I actually got my first career job with a City because I got “stood up” for a date. I was attending Wichita State University for my Masters Degree and had just finished my degree requirements. While I was dejectedly driving back after I realized my “date” was not there, at a job light, one of my Professors pulled up along side of me and yelled about a job opening at a City in western Kansas.

I called him the next day, sent in my application and got the job as “Assistant to the City Manager”. The City Manager showed me my office and advised me my job was to “get a grant” to revitalize a section of the City. (This was in October of 1974).

One special situation I remember is during my first few months on the job is standing in line for a movie and I looked at the people and a chill went down my back when I thought, “I help improve their daily lives by my work”. The chill has never left. I enjoy my job and I enjoy working for cities and especially with the residents, elected officials, volunteer boards and other City personnel. Everyone may have different beliefs on what to do, but almost all have the goal of improving the community.

The 25 years (and the 32 years of working for cities) has gone fast. I find it fulfilling that I still look forward to going to work after 32 years and I can’t think of anything I would rather do!

The Summer of 2006

The Summer of 2006 is slowly winding down. Fortunately, I like hot weather and Summer, so it is my favorite time of the year, and I always kind of dread the coming of Fall. While I enjoy Fall also, it means that Winter (especially the months of January, February and March) are close behind and those months seem to drag.

I have been riding my new “Trek” bike a lot more, in spite of the heat. As noted above, I enjoy hot weather, so it doesn’t really bother me. I try to walk first thing in the morning, than “bicycle” on a stationary bike a the health club and then bicycle “for real” at night and on weekends.

I find I can see so much more by bicycle and each ride develops its own pattern. I’m still not sure if I like the Trek (which is a “hybrid”) better than a mountain bike, but I am getting used to it and enjoying the ride.

I just had my annual physical. I guess you could say I “passed”. The Doctor did say my thyroid activity was not as high was it should be, which may explain why I had a sudden gain in weight several months ago and have had a horrible time losing it. (No, it’s NOT just an excuse, I hope!) I am taking some medicine for it and we will see.

We love our house in Lakeland. I spend a lot of time sitting on the back patio looking at the trees, or more specifically, reading or working on the computer and enjoying the presence of the trees. I have seen the summer go from tree frogs and bull frogs to cicadas. The cicadas, for some odd reason, always bring back memories of my childhood on the farm and it really seems like summer when the cicadas are active. I enjoy hearing them.

The bullfrogs are VERY impressive! I can imagine how big they are (although I was advised they are 6 inches or so). From the sound, I wouldn’t want to meet them in a dark alley!

Reflections on becoming 59

Happy Birthday to me! I never thought I would REALLY be 59 years old! Actually, thank goodness it’s not bad. I actually enjoy growing older (gradually, please), and don’t really wish I could be younger.

I guess each stage of life has its good and bad points.

One think I don’t like about growing older is this feeling of a lack of time. It really focuses you on what is important-or at least what SHOULD be important. However, I still manage to lose myself in dithering and doing minor tasks.

I don’t mean sitting on my back patio and hearing the wind blow through the trees and hear the cicadas buzz (if that is the right word) in the background. That is one of the essentials! I will enjoy Summer while it is here! I especially enjoy sitting on my back patio in the morning and reading the paper and drinking coffee!

I’m not sure where I thought I would be at 59 years old when I was a child. I can remember thinking of it as such a vague idea, somehow a concept that would never develop.

Thank goodness “60 is the new 40” (or maybe even the new 30). I still ride my bike, walk every morning, enjoy dancing and otherwise enjoy life. I think where I was even 20 years ago and a lot happened in that time!

I think 39 ½ probably bothered me more than anything, probably more to do with some major changes I was going through as much as being 39 ½. 40 didn’t bother me, although I still have the button “40 isn’t old if you’re a tree”. 50 was a breeze (I had just gotten married!) and the fifties flew, although actually I still have one year left!

I’m not really looking forward to retirement. I enjoy my work too much. I figure I will retire in 2016, which will mean I can “walk on the stage” in 2015 to receive my 40 year certificate (40 years in City Management, although not all of it was as City Manager) and then retire after the Holidays. (The worst part of the year for me is February and March, and, to some degree April, since it seems to take forever for it to get warm.)

Such are the reflections on becoming 59 years old.

Courter Reunion 2006 memories

We had a wonderful Courter Reunion in Topeka, Kansas. We really enjoyed the opportunity to visit and catch up on what has happened. As usual, I also hear new stories about past events I didn’t recall or that throw a new slant on the past!

One thing I am really thankful for-since I can’t pick my relatives, I am so glad I really enjoy the ones I have! I always look forward to the Courter Reunion. We used to go up just on the day of the Reunion (Sunday), but with time and distance, it now has grown to many of us coming up on Friday (or even Thursday) and staying until Monday, or any days in between!

Next year it will be in Lakeland/Memphis, so I hope everyone plans on a long stay. There is so much to do and I enjoy the opportunity to visit.

Courter Reunion 2006 will be remembered by Aliene and I (and Angela, Kali and Katherine) as rather an epic journey. It started on Monday, when we picked up Angela, Kali and Katherine in Little Rock. (Unless you get an air ticket at least 21 days in advance, Southwest Air is the only way to go. We pick up a lot of people (and take a lot of flights to and from) Little Rock, and, to some degree Nashville. Unfortunately, Southwest Air does not fly to Memphis. Northwest Air is great because of the direct non/stop flights (Memphis is a hub) and Delta is good because we have a Delta credit credit and get some free flights and 2/1 flights, but Southwest to Little Rock or Nashville is always there in the event we need it!

We drove back to Lakeland. Since I had a Board of Commissioners Monday night, they played in the park etc.

On Tuesday, we rode the trolley in downtown Memphis, went to the Childrens Museum, “Corky’s” (probably one of the best of the many outstanding BBQ places in Memphis, and just drove around. Wednesday, we went to “Mud Island” (riding the mono-rail), ate at the Hard Rock Café, went to the Brooks Museum of Art, drove through Harbor Town etc. and again just showed them Lakeland and the area.

Thursday, it was time to head for Topeka. We left in the early afternoon and stopped in St. Louis and headed up to Topeka early Friday morning. The two girls (6 & 3) were great.

The Reunion started as soon as we arrived (Eleanor, Kim and Rebecca, followed closely by others) and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We went through Oklahoma City and dropped Angela, Kali and Katherine off and then headed on to Lakeland, stopping Monday night at our “favorite” hotel, the Hampton Inn at exit 55 in Clarksville Arkansas. If you ever get a chance to stay there, do so! It is really a wonderful hotel. I wish it was in or near Lakeland so we could have our family reunion there!

The last few years we have always looked forward to the Courter Reunion as a high point of our year. We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Lakeland next year.

It is strange to realize my generation is now part of the “older” generation, although we are fortunate that some of what I called the “older generation” when I was a child are still attending! I think that is the value of Reunions, to see the flow of the generations, and get a chance to visit and reflect on your life as well as just have fun.

As I reflect on the Courter Reunion, again, I think of how thankful I am that I like my relatives!

While we were in Kansas, I realized I had forgotten the HOT Kansas wind. It has been hot and dry in Kansas and I saw signs of the disastrous lack of rain.

Moon Day

I will always remember "Moon Day", July 20, 1969, mainly because I slept through it! I was in Air Force basic training and still in complete shock (it started July 16, so I hadn't been in long). They gave us the chance to watch it but I slept all through it!

The hot weather continues and I am enjoying it! Both of my bikes have flat tires, so I won't be riding my bike until this weekend. They did show me how to replace a tube and I THINK I learned how. It will help if I can fix a tire while I am out on the road.

Angela and Kali and Katherine will be here Monday. We are picking them up at the Little Rock airport.

Looking forward to the Family Reunion!

Bicycle woes

I am disappointed in my new Trek bike. I went on a ride yesterday and the high gear wasn't working again. Today the back tire was flat. It was been a very disappointing bike. I think the gearing is a manufacturing defect.

Other problems may work themselves out over time, or it could be defective gears. My 6 year old bike seemed to have better gears for hills as well as down hill. The Trek does do better on flat land, but how much flat land do you ride on.

What really hurts is that I am missing some prime bike riding weather (I like to ride in the hot weather) and I can't go very far from home since I am concerned about the gears and tires! I really don't intend to take the time to change the tire all the time.

July 13, 2006

I have a special affection for July 13. On July 13, 1973 (hard to believe it's been so long), I was officially out of the Air Force! I remember I ate some fried chicken livers and pizza and headed for Wakeeney Kansas (where my parents lived then). It took me a while since I took my time and it turned into kind of an epic journey.

After I spent some time in Wakeeney, I went to Wichita and enrolled in the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

The only problem is, the days are getting shorter and I can feel the winter coming!

The small pond in our addition has some bullfrogs I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley! When I walk in the morning, they have a “frog call” that makes you think they are huge!

With the help of David (our Son-in-Law), we built a small enclosure for our trash cart etc. by the house which gave us a lot more room in our garage. Actually “help” is not the correct word. He built it and we tried not to get in his way, although I did do some hammering etc.

One good thing-I saw some pictures of myself and immediately went on a diet and doubled my exercise program, I was so shocked at my weight. I also vowed to weigh myself every day so I would keep up with how much I weigh. My weight usually changes drastically every day, but it had quit the “down” cycle of the up and down cycle!

I am enjoying my new bike. The area here isn’t as good for bike riding as it was in the area around our previous house, but I am finding places to ride.

It looks like Angela and Granddaughters Kali and Katherine will be able to fly out for a visit in Lakeland and then ride with us to the Courter Reunion. We will then take them to OKC and return to Lakeland.

Blueberries are in plentiful supply! These are the days of hot weather and fresh blueberries-I love it!

June 21-The longest Day, Baby Tornado, CMA Fest

In a way, June 21, the “longest day of the year” is the happiest day, but also the saddest day. It is the “longest day”, which I love, but it also means that the days will only get shorter and winter will follow!

I always decide I just need to “enjoy the day”, but there is always that nagging feeling that the days are getting shorter and winter is coming!

I am enjoying my new bicycle, after some problems with the gears were fixed. I thought at first it was just my unfamiliarity with the new shifting system, but there actually was a defect in it. The weather has been cooperative.

Saturday, June 17, I was sitting outside (our house has kind of a “protected” area of the patio and then an open area) watching the rain, when a high wind came through. Only the next day did I learn that I had sat outside and watched an F1 (a baby) tornado come through! The electricity went off for awhile, but I thought it was only high winds. There wasn’t any damage in my neighborhood, but 28 houses received minor damage in a nearby neighborhood.

Aliene is in OKC and has been since last week. (She missed the baby tornado!) Her daughter-in-law had an operation and Friday and her daughter had one Monday, so she had quite a week! (Both are doing fine.)

Aliene and I went to the CMA Music Festival (Country Music) in Nashville June 6-11 and really enjoyed ourselves. (We celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary in Springfield, Tennessee, where we stayed. It is a small town about 20 miles from Nashville.) I was going to write a full report on it, but, as happens, I wanted to block out enough time to write a report and haven’t done anything! I will write a full report, but briefly, we really enjoyed ourselves.

We saw a lot of the Country Music stars and especially enjoyed the autograph and exhibit sessions. I’ll write a full report (sometime!).

Anniversary!

Ten years ago tonight (June 6, 1996), I was sitting at a table with some other dancers after dance class.

One of the women at the table I was talking to gave me "a look" that I remembered for 10 years! One year and one day later (June 7, 1997) Aliene and I were married! Of course, she doesn't even remember it!

Oddly enough, we didn't see each other again for exactly six months, until December 6, 1996. On January 19, 1997, I went over to buy some weights I saw on sale, went to the "dance practice", met Aliene there and the rest is history! We started dating and were married on June 7, 1997.

We actually knew each other fairly well as friends and dancing partners, but just didn't get together until January of 1997. Once we started dating, things moved fast!

I can honestly say it has been a wonderful ten years and I am a very lucky man! Tomorrow, we celebrate our ninth Anniversary, but I will always mark June 6 as a special Anniversary also!

Summer 2006 (part 1)

I am enjoying my new bike, even though I don't have a "high gear". I thought I wasn't working the new shifter correctly, but I finally took it back to the dealer and they advised there was something wrong, they just need time to check it out.

They told me to go ahead and keep it over the weekend (the weather was wonderful until rain hit this afternoon), and they will work on it next week.

We have a bike rack which is easy to use, so I have the chance to ride throughout the city. It took a while to find a bike rack that a non-mechanical person like me could use.

Hopefully I'll get the kinks worked out on the bike so I can get to seriously riding it! I've been trying out some of the trails in Lakeland etc. that were just constructed, which is fun.

I joined "TagWorld.com", so may start blogging on that site. (My screen name is "blipntime".) I will give plenty of notice if I move. Also, my .Mac account has a nice blog, when (this sounds familiar!) I get time to figure it out.

We are really enjoying our new house. I have been reading outside a lot (we look out at trees) and enjoying the antics of the squirrels at times. I am surprised that any squirrels survive, as dangerous as they live! They jump on a limb, which goes way down, and then get thrown up to a higher limb. (I really feel old, talking about watching squirrels!)

Work has really been busy. The budget is basically approved, so that is a big relief!

Memorial Day 2006

Memorial Day, the start of Summer! This is my favorite time of year, as most of you know.

I am currently sitting in my back yard, enjoying the early morning. It is bliss!

Recent events:

-Went to OKC to see Michael and Sara graduation ceremony. It was an enjoyable time. You can see time pass fast in children! Both of them plan on attending college next year.

-Eleanor and Rebecca visited over the weekend. We "shopped till we dropped" (or at least Aliene, Eleanor and Rebecca did!), took a cruise on the Mississippi and visited!

The City budget is almost done (will hopefully be approved this week), so I am glad that is out of the way for another year!

The Mighty Mississippi!

Recently I had the opportunity to visit with a Mississippi River boat worker. It was an interesting conversation (he works 30 days on and 30 days off).

In an eerie way, he reminded me of many of the old (old to to me at the time) farmers I knew when I was a child. They loved and lived their job, were independent, opinionated had a lot of common sense and generally seemed to enjoy their career choice in spite of what are seen as negative aspects of the job. The only real difference seems to be one makes his living on the land, one on the river.

I enjoyed our conversation and wish I knew his name so I could have a cup of coffee or a lunch with him in the future and keep on with our discussion.

One of the things I love about Tennessee and this area is when I realize how similar, yet different it is from where I grew up and how I really notice the difference when I visit family in Oklahoma or Kansas. (Oklahomans and Kansans are great-kind, generous and just fine people. I have found Southerners to be the same, at least in this area, with the addition that they truly know how to be hosts and are truly courteous people.)

Also, I have found drivers to be much more courteous in Memphis. In spite of our tendency to run streeeeetch yellow lights and make frightening close left turns, there is little tailgating and I have yet to have another car not let me in, even when I was in the wrong! (If you drive the Canada Road and I-40 interchange area, this is demonstrated on a daily basis.)

I was always fascinated by the Mississippi River when I was a child, and I can remember how excited I was at my first view of the River!

One of my secret obsessions for some odd reason is the Mississippi River Level in the paper each day! I really don’t even know what it means, (except generally) but it fascinates me. I still get that “tingle” when I first see it and every time we have relatives or friends visit, I am always glad because it usually gives me a chance to take a Mississippi River Cruise or at least walk the Mississippi! Now I know that when I cross the “Mighty Mississippi” I am almost home!

I enjoy the drive to Oklahoma City to visit family. It starts in beautiful Lakeland (it is more than just "hometown pride", Lakeland truly is uniquely beautiful!), through Memphis, across the "Mightly Mississippi" (where, depending on the time, I call someone and tell them I am just crossing the "Mightly Mississippi"), across the flat plains of east Arkansas, through Little Rock and then through the beautiul mountains of western Arkansas, on through eastern Oklahoma to OKC! It has a certain rhythm and rhyme to it that can almost be set to music.

New Bike!

Today I will pick up my new bike a "Trek 7500". I am looking forward to trying out my new bike (if it ever stops raining). Sometime I will need to learn to ride in the rain, but ...

Everything has been really busy, finishing up the proposed City budget etc. We went to OKC to see Sara's "Gold" award (Girl Scout equal of Boy Scout's Eagle award) and it was fun. It was good to see some of the activities they did to earn the award.

We went to our annual Dance Conference last weekend and really enjoyed getting into dancing. One thing we really miss is a good place to dance without any smoke! We enjoyed the dancing. I'm not sure what you call it. It isn't a "contest", just a lot of dancing and dance lessons!

Goodby Old Friend!

Well a 7 year relationship has ended and I will soon be starting a new relationship. I am talking about my bike!

I have spent a lot of time with my bike, a gold painted “Diamondback Wildwood”. Not the best bike in the world, but a good bike for me. I got it in December of 1999, and have ridden it faithfully ever since, with some long absences and some major repairs! I put over 6,000 miles on it, so at 10 miles an hour, that is 600 hours with it! Considering my actual speed, it is probably more than 600 hours.

It gave me good service, but yesterday (Saturday, April 22), I took it out to ride and realized it was hopeless. There was just too much wrong with it to make it financially feasible to fix. I will donate it to a local group that fixes bikes to give free to children who need a bike and hope it provides a good bike for a child to learn the wonders and enjoyment of riding.

I have my eyes on a Trek Multitrac 7300, and am looking at others. I need to get another bike pretty soon-I’m missing out on super bike-riding weather! The Trek 7300 is cheap enough I can upgrade to a better bike if needed, but it will be good for my type of riding.

I have enjoyed my old bike, but I realized I was trying to keep it too long, especially when I almost ended up pushing the bike back 3 miles yesterday! Something went wrong with the gearing, and I did ride it back, but my maximum speed was about 6 milers per hour and it wasn’t any fun. This happened several years ago, and it cost me about 50% of the cost of a new bike to fix the old bike, so it's just not worth it. Hopefully a volunteer can fix it up so a child can enjoy it.

Of course, I’m looking forward to my new bike, while saying goodby to my old bike.
I’ll keep you advised!

Grand Canyon and "Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona"

We went to Arizona last week and I finally got to the Grand Canyon, and I found it truly is a GRAND Canyon! We saw a big part of the canyon and enjoyed our drive to the Canyon.

We flew out Wednesday (April 12) and met Aliene’s mother at the Phoenix Airport and drove her to see her sister in Tucson.

Aliene and I then drove to Flagstaff where we stayed in Flagstaff and went to the Grand Canyon Thursday and the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert (as well as “standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona!) on Friday and had a lot of fun. We went out to the Meteor Crater, but didn’t stop when we found it cost $15 apiece to get in! (It wouldn’t have been so bad, except it closed at 5:00 p.m. and it was 4;15 p.m. when we stopped by.) If any of the pictures come out (especially the “standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona”) come out, I’ll try to post them to the web page.

We went down to Tucson Saturday and picked up Aliene’s mother and went back to Phoenix.

It was an enjoyable trip. We discovered there are millions (yes millions and that is putting it lightly) of bugs at the Grand Canyon. Fortunately they didn’t bite! We heard that they will all be gone the next week when the sparrows come! Our white rental car actually looked black with all the bugs on it!

Overall, we enjoyed the Grand Canyon-I always wanted to see it, but we probably won’t go back except with Grandchildren etc.

I had always wanted to see the Petrified Forest since I was a kid-I remember my parents had a small piece of petrified wood, although I don’t know where it came from.

Overall the weather was great, except for Friday, when it was exceptionally windy and rained Friday night (after we were safely at the hotel!).

We barely got back Monday, when I had to go the Nashville for the Tennessee City Managers Conference Wednesday. We were reminded we were in Nashville when we went to a “writers session” at the hotel and suddenly realized it is a Song Writers session, not a “writing” session!

Enjoying the conference. They have some excellent sessions. I’ll be glad to get back to Lakeland though!

I am so glad Spring is here! Our back yard is greening up and it is beautiful to look out.

The new Tennessee vehicle tags are UGLY!

I hate the new Tennessee vehicle tags! I don’t know who in the world approved such a junky looking car tag, but when it comes time for us to buy a new tag, we are going to get a specialized tag so we don’t have to have such a ugly tag on our vehicle!

The tag appears to be a mountain, I assume the Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. Another reason not to like the tag. Shouldn’t a STATE tag represent the entire state, and not just a small portion?

Enough of this rant, but if you see the new Tennessee car tag, let me know what you think!

Don't buy "low profile" tires or an Acura TL!

We’re currently watching a storm come into the Lakeland area. The tornado sirens went off, but the “warning” was just over. Signs of Spring!

We went to Conway, Arkansas to see Michael play in a soccer tournament. While there, I hit a small pothole (after a stop, so I was going very slow) and ruined a tire. On the Acura, they are $300 tires and we only got this tire two months ago.

We checked and found they couldn’t get another tire until WEDNESDAY (this was on a Saturday), but we lucked out and found a used tire that fit. The tire got us back to Memphis.

We have decided that these tires have a design defect (this is the third tire that has been ruined in less than 38,000 miles on the car). Since we can’t change the tires on the car, we are going to trade the car.

We feel the tires have a design defect and are dangerous. I can’t believe they allow them to sell such a fragile, dangerous tire.

So, we are looking for another vehicle. We love the car (an Acura TL), but can’t take the chance on such a dangerous tire, and worse yet, when we can’t get one if we need it! (The first one that blew out, even the ACURA DEALER couldn’t get one for three days!

Take that as a warning! Don’t buy any car with “low profile” tires, especially Bridgestone tires. They have a design defect and are dangerous. (Of course, they always have an excuse about the reason for the ruined tire-I “hit something” etc.)

Where is Spring?

I wait, and wait for the "true" Spring to arrive! Actually, the weather isn't bad, I am just waiting for Spring weather, flowers, greenry etc. to arrive! Sometimes I think March and early April are the worst months, since we normally have some very nice weather, but good (read "warm" or even "hot") weather is not really here yet! At least I know it's coming!

There is great joy in Memphis, as the University of Memphis advanced in the NCAA tournament! I had a conflict when Wichita State University and Tennessee played in the NCAA tournament. (I got my M.A. and Wichita State and I like to see Tennessee win.) I resolved it by being glad for the winner (Wichita State) and sad for Tennessee when it lost.

I am working "on-line" computer courses and discovering stuff I never knew the programs could do! Thus far, I have completed a "Microsoft Outlook" course and am currently working on "Word" and "Excel". Excel has been especially enlightening for what I didn't know!

March musings

It has been a while since I posted on this, and I will try to be more diligent in the future! It is so nice to see Spring in the air! I noticed my first crocus (I think I spelled that right) the other day and the trees are starting to bud. I love Spring!

I am almost ashamed that Memphis, on the Oscar show, is symbolized by a group of people who for some reason embellish the low-life of any City. I don’t watch the Oscar’s, or even really care who gets one, but it is embarrassing to be from near Memphis and have that type of scummy music/words actually “win” an Oscar and somehow indicate that is what Memphis is about! ( Obviously other people have their own opinion of it.

Actually, Memphis and the area (frankly, especially Lakeland) is a wonderful area and has a lot of good sides and especially a lot of super people! I have always been intrigued by the Mississippi River and like to see it at different times. I like to look at it and imagine what it was like to actually ride a raft down the Mississippi River!

This is a busy time of year, so we are keeping busy. I still have a cough, so I haven’t gotten outside and ridden my “real” bike for several months, although I am keeping in shape by riding a stationary bike and walking the treadmill. It isn’t the same as riding outside. I am doing much better and expect to be able to ride outside again soon (just in time for Spring!

Ice!

Saturday, February 18,2006: A combination os ice rain, rain, sleet and snow (I guess it is called a "winterly mix" has hit Lakeland. I think this is worse than just staight snow!

We are enjoying having blinds on our windows and are really enjoying our new house, although it is frustrating to have to continue to work with the unfinished/uncompleted or incorrectly completed construction items.

We are generally "moved in" although we still have some details to work out, as far as pictures etc.

We are definitely looking forward to summer!

Snow and privacy!

Friday, February 10, it snowed in Lakeland. Probably snowed about 3-5", which in this area, is a major snowstorm! City Hall closed early and traffic was a mess getting home. Of course, no one knows how to drive in snow, and snow removal is not quite as efficient as it is in areas with a lot of snow. The snow came a little earlier than expected, which created some of the problems since no one was expecting it that early.

We also got our "blinds" on our windows in our house, which was REALLY nice. Although I doubt that anyone (other than a deer or two and squirrels), it is nice to feel some privacy.

It this snow is like past snows, it will be gone in a day or two as the temperature rises. The snow was a very wet snow and it was even snowing when it was 37 degrees! Or, at least it was "slushing" at 37 degrees.

February 2, 2006

Amazing that it is already February of 2006! I know I seem to always say this, but time just seems to glide by. As I mentioned recently, I see time pass in how fast children grow up and in the large stack of very thin coffee filters and how fast a large stack can disappear!

We went to OKC last weekend for Michael's "Best Young Soccer Referee" award. We enjoyed the trip, with generally good weather,and excellent weather for the drive.

I am alway surprised at how much colder Oklahoma City is, even with the same temperature and the wind! It can be 50 degrees in Lakeland and I feel fairly comfortable, whereas 50 degrees in OKC is not. I guess the wind and the higher elevation make up the difference.

Overall, we are getting settled in and starting to feel better. I feel much better although I still cough occassionally. I am starting to exercise again, which feels good!

The winter has been very mild. While I'm sure some hard winter days are ahead, it is still nice to enjoy the mild days and know that we are coming one day closer to Spring and Summer! I think we will especially enjoy our house this summer.

January 15, 2006

We are getting moved in and I am starting to recover from bronchitis. I still cough some, but it is bearable. My Doctor said I should get better soon. I have been coughing since approximately December 11, 2005, so I am ready for it to be over!

We are really starting to feel “moved in” to our new house. It has been a long process, with us being sick, Christmas etc. Aliene did a lot of work on it. She is good at this!

We are planning on going to Oklahoma City in the near future to see Michael get an award and we plan on having “Christmas” for Angela, James, Kali and Katherine since they were sick on Christmas Eve and while we were there over Christmas. That is, assuming the weather is nice. The weather has been so good it is easy to forget the ice storm on the Christmas of 2004!

Aliene feels well enough to make her “Christmas Candy”. Her mother always makes it and she makes some for city personnel and other friends.

Moving 2006

We made a lot of progress in moving this weekend. I'm feeling better, thank goodness, although I still have some cough.

We got some furniture moved in, some pictures put up etc. and feel much more like we are "home", although we still have a lot to do.

The paint job in the house is horrible. An extremely poor paint job, with paint overruns etc. I need to remember the painting contactors name to make sure we never use him for anything.

It feels good to get everything set up.

2006

2006 is here! We are settling into our new house. We have basically gotten the cars in the garage and the essentials up and running! We are still moving and will be for some time, but at least the emergency stuff is done. We were delayed by both of us getting sick and then Christmas.

I am lucky Aliene is such a good packer and organizer. We have an "attic" with a regular stairs, which is nice, although we may be tending to save more than we meant to! We stored a lot of our stuff for six months (while we were in the apartments) and we thought, "if we got along without it for six months..."!

New Year Day we saw 4 small deer out our window early in the morning.

We had a nice time New Year Eve at a local party, and basically spent the holidays moving in. I am still coughing, although I hope it is getting less and less.

I am looking forward to 2006, and especially getting over this cough! I haven't been able to walk for exercise or bicycle since I developed my cough and I really miss it!

Back to work tomorrow (January 3).