Summer 2014 June 30 Monday (And How the Winds Do Blow)

Summer 2014 June 30 Monday (The Winds of Change)

82 degrees this morning.

Felt the “normal” wind yesterday.  (perhaps that is enough said right there).

Aliene has been having severe headaches for the past week, so we decided at breakfast at the “First Watch”  cafe to go to Urgent Care facility literally around the corner. An excellent PA examined Aliene and recommended she go to a nearby Emergency Room for further examinations, including a “cat scan” of her head.  The PA was concerned the headaches COULD be caused by bleeding on the brain.  

Went to Mercy ER, again, excellent service, an excellent Doctor.  Cat Scan ok, Doctor thought was a severely irritated nerve.  He gave her some medicine and hopefully it will clear up the headaches within a week.  

I think the realization that “home was here” hit a little bit yesterday and our lives have permanently changed.  Probably the planning for the furniture to arrive, changes of address, looking for a new bank, the scheduled installation of a “home phone” and internet etc. for today (Monday) all made us realize that the changes are happening.  

Yes, and we do have AC now!!!  The problem (after the problem was fixed Saturday) was low coolant in the unit which was fixed yesterday.  Probably leaking coolant out of the coils.  It feels so good to have AC, although it never was that bad, we used ceiling fans only had to open the windows Friday night.  

I hope to start exercising today (walking since my bike is being moved).  I can just about do my usual walk by walking up to get the morning paper, if the morning paper is there.  (There goes one of my decisions not to buy the local paper!)

I hope the internet can be installed today, I really miss having the internet.  It is wonderful First Watch, Starbucks, McDonalds and the malls all have Wi Fi, but it is difficult to remember to do everything while you are there.  It is just an internal part of my life.  Thank goodness for my “smart phone” and the little bit of data program I have on my iPads.  Helps me stay sane, if that is possible 

We are planning the house, as far as where furniture goes etc. and realizing we have way too much stuff.  The house is slightly smaller then our Lakeland house (actually about 400 sq ft), but has a 3 car garage, meaning we have one garage for storage since we will never have 3 cars!  WE also have a dedicated study and exercise room and I can install my “punching bag” in the  garage.  

We are steeling ourselves to “give away, donate and toss” anything we can.  I plan on tossing anything I haven’t used for a year (with some common sense) that is relatively inexpensive to replace.  We (at least I) have let our possessions own us.  I just realized that I am letting items that, in most cases cost less than $100, many less than $20 own me!  Never again! 

Internet, cable tv and home phone to be installed today.  A bunch of other actions also (turn in final “move in” inspection of house, call and make address changes, start a new health insurance plan, a new bank, new exercise routine, AHHH!  the list goes on as do the everlasting  and continuous winds of change. Sometimes the wind blows hard, sometimes there is calm.

Like it or not, we are here, blown and blowing by the winds of change.  

That’s it for now, Monday, June 30, 2014.

Summer 2014 June 29 Sunday (Waiting)

Summer 2014 June 29 Sunday 

77 degrees this morning.  

Our air conditioning is still out. The air condoning person thought he had it fixed, but the air conditioning continues not to work, at least effectively .  It was reasonable thanks to  to a storm yesterday and some good ceiling fans.  We are ready for the AC to be fixed.

Did the “move in” inspection, will finish it up today and turn it in tomorrow.  Basically, nothing major, although a few items (in addition to the AC) need fixing.

We are in the position of waiting for our household possessions, the cable installers etc., so we are basically taking it easy while we can.  We know once the moving truck arrives, will be unpacking and organizing etc. literally for months as we put  stuff in the right place or throw or donate.

Currently our furniture consists of an air mattress and some pillows, clothes, a fold-up table and two holdup chars.  And a coffee maker.

We are finding it rather strange to have nothing urgent or pressing we can take care of, so we are failing about relaxing and  reading.  

I really miss the internet, although i am doing fairly well.  I bring my computer with me and catch up anytime I have internet access.  Also, have some internet access through my iPhone, and iPad. The iPhone internet access is good, just hard to use (as far as writing longer letters or documents).

I should have internet service in the house tomorrow, or at least the equipment will be here. 

In a way, staying here without our furniture gives us the opportunity to think about where we want the furniture to be and how we want to live in the house.

Tomorrow will be one week since we moved.   Time has gone gone fast.  I don’t know at what point we will begin to feel like residents. Not until we get our furniture and get somewhat settled, I expect.  Right now, I feel like I’m on some kind of long term project.  

I am definitely ready to get back to exercising.  My favorite time of day, the early morning, will like substantially change.  I have plenty of areas to walk and some good biking areas, but my newspaper reading will change, if not alter completely.  One of my favorite papers isn’t delivered in this area yet and I think the other one (The Wall Street Journal) doesn’t realize where I live yet, even though they have officially changed my address.  Not that I can’t find plenty to read, but the newspapers made a good start to the day.

The air conditioning person is supposed to come this afternoon to fix the air conditioning.  Hopefully it won’t get too hot before that

That’s it for now, Sunday, June 29, 2014.  Direct from “First Watch”, where the internet is free and the food is excellent.

Summer 2014 June 28 Saturday (A Place of Our Own)

Summer 2014 June 28 Saturday 

75 degrees this morning. Spent first night in new house.

Unfortunately the Air Conditioning does not work and we couldn’t get the property management people to respond.  The house is nice and we like it, but it has a large number of areas that scream “rental”.  Of course, the failure to check the AC!, the whirlpool tub motor doesn’t work, there are damaged door knobs and that any self-respecting homeowner would fix etc.  

Even the insurance agent we contacted seemed to treat us with some disdain.  I mentioned it to Aliene and she thought it was the “they’re just a renter” attitude.  Maybe so, but we are paying and we expect to be treated like customers, not something to be treated with disdain.  

It started bad anyway.  We had understood there was to be a “walkthrough” of the house.  We came to the  house and wasted and didn’t see anyone, sol we finally called the office.  They said we would supposed to pick up the keys at the office!  If they had told us that we could have saved a lot of itme.

Went to a family gathering and of douse everyone came to look at the new house.  We were shocked to find the AC didn’t work and a myriad of small problems, basically just displaying an atttude “it’s just a rental”.  Of course, they have a all kind of vicious statements about the  renters  responsibility, but the owner and property manager don’t appear to be setting up their part of the bargain.  

However, we will like the house.  We certainly wouldn’t buy it, but I think with proper TLC and when our furniture arrives we will like it.  

As I like to say, it is part of the journey and we will have an experience.  It will be positive and negative and we will enjoy the experience and learn from it. 

Another disappointment (so far), is the Apple Store here isn’t anywhere near as good as the Germantown Apple Store.  It is hard to explain, but at the Germantown Apple Store, I felt like I was part of a Tribe (for lack of a better  term).  At the Apple Store here, I definitely felt like a “customer”, to be taken care of and gotten rid of as soon as possible.  It was also a lot smaller.  I’ll deal with it, but I don’t like it!   

It is difficult to think of ourselves as “residents of another City”.  (Another ZIP Code problem, we are residents of one city, with the ZIP Code of another city!)  More on that later.

I think our disappointment at the house and AC not working (and the other minor problems) is we simply expected better.

The same with the auto and renters insurance.  We just felt like the Allstate agent just brushed us off and is treating us as second class citizens because we are “renters”.  Of course we can handle that if it continues by simply getting an agent who does care.

No internet at the house.  It will be at least Monday before we get internet, and even then I don’t have our router and other items we need so it may be at least a week.  I actually do have some internet through the iPhone and my iPads have some very limited (but excellent) internet data capacity.  I have 200 MG of data on each iPad, which is almost nothing.  I don’t take WiFi for granted!  Fortunately there are several MCDonalds and Starbucks close, plus the nearby Mall (somewhat larger than WolfChase) has free Wi Fi.  Also, it is cool!

Actually, we spent the night on an air mattress (our household good are not arriving until Thursday) with open windows and ceiling fans bringing the temperature down some.  They normally have  cooler evenings here due to the altitude, at least in this time of year.

Feels very strange not to have internet (or any furniture for that matter!).  Hopefully they will get the AC fixed as soon as possible. 

At “First Watch” for breakfast (one of our favorite restaurants).  Maybe more later, going to post this while I have internet available!  

That’s it for now, Saturday, June 28 2014

Summer 2014 June 27 Friday (Occupy Day!)

77 degrees this morning.  

Temporarily not walking early in the morning (until we move into the house).  I can feel the lack of routine exercise.  I still get some later, but it's to the same as getting up and walking, listening to my book, riding my bike and then reading the daily newspapers while I ride the stationary bike.  

Actually, I just found out the New York Times is not delivered to my new house, so I will sorely miss it.  I can still get it on the internet, although it is hardly the same.  At least the New York Times has the best web paper alternatives (other than their digital replica, which is unreadable).  They have some "web enabled" formats which actually work fairly well.  The Wall Street Journal does well on the iPad format, but I really don't like the computer format.

I may get some exercise equipment and just work out at home.  We will have the space, and it will save some hassle, although I like "commuting" on my bike.  Oddly enough, there is a 24 hour fitness center almost exactly the same distance from my new house as the ATC Fitness Center was in Lakeland, so I could easily ride my bike to the gym every morning (assuming there roads are ok.  I can ride neighborhood roads most of the way, but there is a short distance on a main road). 

My sleep has become very erratic, probably due to the lack of routine exercise and living in temporary living conditions.  I have started waking up at 1:44 a.m. every morning.  This (Friday) morning, I finally went ahead and got up at 2:00 a.m..  Fortunately, I have plenty to do and I can nap later if needed.  For example, this mooring i read e-mail, Facebook, research insurance alternatives for our new place (we have to change our insurance when we move from Tennessee), researched our new area for various businesses, read the on-line New York Times and Wall Street Journal etc.  (I miss the Commerical Appeal, which has an excellent-acutally the best-digital replica newspaper, but I feel I simply can't spend the time on it.)

Friday nights will be difficult due to the change of a routine that I believe we had for at least seven years, with some  good friends.  We would go out to eat and then play table or card games and talk about everything, but most of all enjoy our discussions.  We didn't do it every Friday, just when we could get together but we always reserved Friday when possible.  Tonight we are going to somewhat of a family gathering.

We plan to stay in our new house starting tonight, even though we have no furniture (there than an excellent air mattress), no tv, no phone, no internet (the worst of the "no's")  no cooking utensils etc.  (Family members haver offered to lend temporary furniture and small appliances).  I am rethinking that, it may be worth the money to stay in a hotel. 

 Thinking of going without internet is kind of like thinking about hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.  What am I going to do when I wake up at 2:00 a.m.? I figure we can stand anything for 6 nights.

I am "smart phone dependent".  I was thinking, it is my only source of communication, my flashlight, my e-mail reader, my navigation system, my dictionary, my "yellow pages" and about everything else you can think of.  In my case, I carry my id and major credit card in the smart phone case, so I am usually always aware of where my smart phone is.  

Someone mentioned I hadn't mentioned anything about  our new house.  Right, I haven't. The people who need to know, know, and the people I want to know will know. Sometimes it is nice to be  part of the anonymous crowd.

That's it for now, Friday, June 27, 2014.

Summer 2014 June 26 Thursday (A New House, A New Journey)

72 degrees this morning.  

Big news is we signed a lease on a house and  will "move in" this Friday (our household goods are coming  next week, so it will be sparse living for a few days, no internet, no tv etc.).

Signing the lease marks a commitment to our journey here.  In a break from the past I have decided not to subscribe to the local paper, at least not for awhile.  I will continue the WSJ and NYT, but will get local news from the internet and a local weekly paper.  While I loved the Commercial Appeal, I was spending too much of my time avoiding the stories on local crime, social news etc.  I usually avoided reading it but the lack of coverage for the Lakeland helped me realize that, while it is interesting, I really don't need to read a local daily paper anymore.  I may well change my mind as I get involved in the community.  

Actually, I used to get "involved" in the local community even when I was visiting a city for just several days.  I'd start following the local paper, local politics etc. and then when I left I was always surprised when I realized it wasn't news anywhere else.  I expect I will resume following local politics and getting involved, it just depends on which city and level of government I will become involved in. 

Today marks the 7th month "anniversary" of my leaving Lakeland.  It has been a strange journey, to say the least.  I still like the following quote:

"Now I was free to do as I wished, but I found the freedom illusory, for what I wished for had been taken from me. They say, Find a purpose in life and live it.  But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind". (From "And the Mountains Echoed".)

Those words really struck home to me.  For over 25 years I had been always "busy", knowing that I could work 24 hours a day and still not catch up.  Suddenly, overnight, I had "time" to do anything i wanted, but it was an illusion.  My list of books to read, projects etc. continue to be long, I continue to be busy (thank goodness), although my priorities have certainly changed.  I expect some basic beliefs on local government have changed. 

On the other hand, I have had time to go to a conference in China, which I would not have had time to do if I was working.  The journey to China was a true journey of both the physical, the psychological and social.  I think the view I was able to have of the Chinese people changed some basic perspectives, thoughts and beliefs and I am still sorting through how the experience has changed me.  I think I don't feel like life is "normal" without a job and when I return to work I will realize the full impact of the Chinese journey.   I really do want to return at some time in the future and visit China again.  

It could be that i should use this time to alter my journey, I do plan on starting to work "full time" as a consultant and be open to new ideas and projects if I don't have a full time job soon.  It is easy to say "as soon as the move is done I'll get started etc", which can be a real trap, because then it will be "as soon as....."  (whatever it may be).  i need to jump into the water and not put it off, although I am waiting for a decision on a nearby position that I feel is a good possibility.  I have been preparing, but, like many of Lincoln's Generals, I need to "stop planning and start fighting!"

Back to our new house, it has space for a dedicated office, so that will be good.  I probably need to start working in an area away form my easy chair and just concentrate on working and making contacts.  There will be some weeks of "unpacking", sorting, putting furniture up in the new house and, hopefully, tossing out much of what we own, but do not need.

Relatively busy day today. Now that we have an "address", I can start changing addresses, getting utilities in our name, etc.  My list is long!

That's it for now, Thursday, June 26, 2014

Summer 2014 June 25 Wednesday (Housing Fever)

68 degrees this morning.

Yesterday was the first day in 12 1/2 years I didn't read the Commercial Appeal, by either the physical paper or the internet.  I knew I won't have the time to keep up with Memphis news etc. and so I decided to go "cold turkey" on Memphis news.  It is more difficult than I expected, I am already feeling withdrawal pains! 

 I am also "defollowing" (on Facebook) most of the Memphis and area Facebook entries, blogs, and twitter accounts.  I just feel I need to make a clean withdrawal, if I ever return, I can catch up fast.  

Overall, still too busy to think about the move and leaving Lakeland.  Yesterday was a whirlwind of looking at houses etc. after traveling in on the morning.  We found at least one house we really like and two others that would do.  

Since we are currently "homeless", we are focusing on finding a house.  I call it "new house fever", where that is your main focus and it just fills your time and is your priority.  Similar to "new car fever", "new computer fever" etc. The search just fills your time, since it is an important part of your life.  

We continuously read about available houses, the cost (of rental in our case), what they include, don't include. 

 Nothing is worse than missing a detail that later makes you crazy that it is missing, or there is some type of damage. (Like our car, the failure of the manufacturer to include a decent place for a cell phone etc. is very irritating  to say the least.  A house can be worse, if there is something you "think" you can stand (or worse yet, didn't notice). 

One of the worst parts about moving is he "vampire bills" (the services that never die, and keep charging you, even though you cancel numerous times).  Hopefully, there won't be any this time.  I have had to go as far as cancel a credit card to stop the charges and I simply don't allow access to our checking account.  I never use the "easy pay" accounts since so many of the phone companies etc. are good about adding "fees" and unknown "charges".  When I call they say "oh, hat is a mistake" and take it off.  Of course, it is never in my favor!

In any event, hopefully we will have a house today, or at least an address, so we can start getting ready for the move in, which will be next week.  We plan on actively "weeding" our possessions and avoid purchasing any more items that will just sit around!  As we unpack, we will ask ourselves if we "really need" or want an item before allowing it to take it's place in our new house.  

Again, I have to wonder what I would be doing now if the election had gone different in September and I was still working for Lakeland.   Obviously, our lives would be much different!

Took my morning nap.  Had a dream that somehow I got myself  caught in a huge milk bottle type of device (actually in the dream is was a like a trash dump in an apartment where trash is dumped at the top to a trash unit on another floor).  Anyway, I just  "imagined" myself out of it and told myself the  container was all a dream.  Not sure what that meant.

In the dream, I also dreamed I entered through a fireplace, so I must have been dreaming my entry to someplace was difficult and I needed to use more imagination.  Or something like that.

That's it for Wednesday, June 26, 2014.

Summer 2014 June 24 Tuesday (In Transit)

72 degrees.  Went through several rain showers on way yesterday.

Overall, moving day went well.  Considering what can go wrong, it went better than expected.  

Probably still not feeling reality of fact that we are not Lakeland residents anymore.  Of course, a part of us will always be Lakeland residents, we can't live somewhere for 12 years and not have the city become part of us. 

Today will be a blur of travel, looking at houses etc. as we start our next journey.  We are trying to take our time looking for houses and not make too hasty of a decision, although, on the contrary, sometimes you have to act fast when you see the right one and know it is the right one.

We thought we had found a house until we saw the proposed lease.  It was extremely one sided and appeared to make us responsible for almost any repair, plus a 10% increase in rent after one year!  I am going to ask to see the  proposed lease before we get too involved in any house.  Right  now, we just really fell like we are too much in transition to even think about buying a house.  

(Later):  Trip was uneventful (thank goodness), then looked at houses for rent all afternoon.  Saw one that seemed to be perfect,  will decide tomorrow afternoon.  

Looking at houses is about like looking for cars when you get "new car fever"  (or "new computer fever", or whatever).  You focus in on it and notice things you have never noticed before.  You really wonder what you did with your time before started in on the project and you wonder what you will do with your time after your purchase/rent.  Of course, your focus changes to something else or just to every day life.

We are surprised at the number of very nice houses for rent.  And of course pleased, since right now we don't want to buy a house.  

That's it for now, Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Summer 2014, June 23 Monday (Moving Day)

73 degrees this morning.  Looks like it may be a wonder day, weather wise.

Said our final goodbyes to some close friends last night, and the reality is now that we are moving and our life is changing.

Today is "moving day".  Woke up this morning and found that ATT had already cut off my phone and DSL (fortunately I have cable also).  Not sure if it is an error or the new owner ordered a new line.  Can't blame her if ATT error.  Obviously I need my phone forwarded.  When I called it, I found it didn't even leave a message, you just got that weird message that the "call couldn't be completed". 

Movers coming today, so that includes the agony of packing/throwing away every last dustball.  I really don't like moving!  In this case, I like it even less.  

Today will be busy, movers coming, taking care of last minute details.

ATC Fitness probably thought I was a vampire, this will be the first time I have ever gone in the building in daylight!  I want to go in personally to make sure they cancel both Aliene and my accounts.  That is why I hate "easy pay" accounts, somehow some of them never seem to be able to get shut down, they live forever.  I have even had to "lose" credit cards to stop "automatic" payments that were "automatic" after I stopped them.  

Actually, I don't expect any problem with ATC Fitness on this, it is a well run company.  I will really miss it, they always kept it clean and the machines operational.  Also, best of all, they were open 24 hours a day and at $15 pre month (although with an irritating yearly fee), they are a bargain.  

I need to sign off now.  I plan on updating it tonight when we get to the hotel on our way to our destination.  

That's it for now, Monday,  June 23, 2014.  Later on June 23rd:  Moving actually went well, probably better than expected.  Very strange to see the house empty and see someone else start to move in.

We have officially left Lakeland and are on our way to our new destination.  We are now  officially "homeless"! 

Tired, but glad this part is over.  Move in will be tougher in a way, but at least there are only self imposed deadlines.

Summer 2014 June 22 Sunday (A Lull in the Life in the Midst of Chaos) A Tradition Ends

72 degrees this morning.  Sitting on my patio for at least the next to the last time in the morning, enjoying it without any regrets, just glad I had the chance to experience it.  A tradition, but  not the one I am speaking of.

For probably the last 8 years we have had supper and then went to each other homes to play games (It changed through the years, lately mostly "Spicy Farkle" and talk about life.  It was an event we looked forward to, and many times it was changed or canceled due to other plans.  However, if we could we tried to get together once per week.  It was part of the tapestry of our life in Lakeland, a memory we will value and miss, but most of all, glad we had the opportunity to have the experience.  

Still a slight lull in the chaos to come.  How do you forward mail when you have no forwarding address?  It sounds rather suspicious!  Actually, we are still looking for a house, but fortunately our furniture etc. can't be delivered until next week, so we have time to find a house.  

Movers are coming tomorrow and we are leaving our wonderful house, with the forest we have looked at and admired for the past eight years.  I think Aliene will really feel the loss since she spent a lot more days here in the house while I was at work etc.  She also spent many evenings here by herself while I was at work.  Of course, I thought if it as a place of refuge, where I could truly relax and enjoy the house and view of the forrest.  The fact that we have had seven months (really 10 months) with the knowledge that the parting was coming allowed us to prepare but also made the process (I hesitate to say grieving process, for it may seem too strong, but that is what it is, in a sense.  Worse yet, is seeing Lakeland deteriorate into a less than average city.  

But, change is a fact of life.  Looking on the good side, we had 12 great years here, 8 great years in a wonderful house and met friends we would never have known.   

I feel the stirrings of the anticipation of change, the possible positive consequences of the major changes in our life.  I don't think either one of us will allow our regret at leaving to influence our opportunities.

We still have some major decisions, such as the actual house we live in, what we are going to do etc.  Then the long process of unpacking, going through our items and throwing/giving away as much as possible!  If I truly followed the rule of "throwing away anything I haven't used for a year (or two years, depending on which rule you follow), I would travel a lot lighter!  We hope we have the time to go through each box with a fine tooth comb and give away or donate etc. a lot of items.  I am also going to be much more careful when I buy something, maybe trying to see how I would react after a year of owning it!

Going to do some light moving (such as figuring out how much we want to put in the car, since we will be living without a lot of our normal items for at least a week), some furniture moving to help the new owner get  fast start on some remodeling she wants to do, nd trying to remember to change/cancel everything, which is almost the hardest part!  

Saying Goodbye has always been hard for me.  In the past, at times I have handled it by disappearing and avoiding final goodbye's, but I realize years ago, it was best to experience it, so I try to say goodbye to important people and places in my life.  In the case of Lakeland, we will be back for various reasons, so that will help some.

When a major event happens (such as a disaster, a major news event etc.), I always wonder, "What would the headline be if it wasn't for the event".  Like that, I have to wonder what I would be writing if the current circumstances didn't exist and I was staying?  

When I first read the  Robert Frost poem about two roads and the "one not taken" , it hit a special chord in me.  I believe I was in the sixth grade.  As with any decision, the "road not taken" will never exist, at least the journey down that road will never exist.

We are starting on a new journey.  

We will value and learn from our past journey as we take another road, the journey yet to come.

  

That's it for Sunday, June 22, 2014.  

SUMMER 2014 June 21 Saturday (A Lull in the Life in the Midst of Chaos) The Deed is Done

75 degrees this morning, still a little coolness in the air.

Life in the midst of moving boxes. We are currently living in "travel mode" since most of our belongings were packed up yesterday.

The deed is done.  We have officially sold our beloved house, with the wonderful patio, and must move by Monday. We "closed" Friday afternoon, with possession until Monday night. The next three days will be a period of goodbyes and final steps.  My wi fi continues, unaware it will permanently end on Monday, as with the phone service.  Thank goodness we have them over the weekend!

Walk this morning, two Sheriff patrol vehicles drove through.  Not sure if I should feel safe or scared!  Shelby County does an excellent job of patrolling the city, another aspect of life in Lakeland I will miss.  

The Lease for the house we planned to lease arrived, and we realized it contained provisions unacceptable to us so we will be "homeless" as of Monday night with until July 3 to find a home for our belongings.  The proposed lease we received contained a provision that the rent increased 10% after one year! and provisions on how we were responsible for all kinds of items most landlords take care of routinely.  It was one of those national businesses that bought up a homogenous number of houses in foreclosure and is now renting them out.  Nothing wrong with that, but they apparently need to work on their business practices.  I can't imagine anyone signing a lease like that.

This morning I realized I had coffee and a coffee maker, but no filters.  A quick trip and that matter was settled!  I didn't have any coffee yesterday at all, and I was in the mood for some coffee.  As I say, coffee is my only vice, and I am going to enjoy it!

Sitting outside on my patio, as I enjoy it for the last few times.  I can't imagine being able to get anything like it at another house (I haven't seen anything anyway), so I will enjoy it while I can.  I will miss the singing (and some simply noise) of the birds and the occasional deer and the silly antics of the squirrels.  Right now, I can even hear a deer, but can't see it.

The much anticipated first day of Summer has arrived, with little fanfare.  Of course, there is always that felling in the back of my mind that the days will now start getting shorter with the descent into Winter, although there is a lot of time left in Summer.  

I am trying to figure out how to forward mail etc. when I don't know my forwarding address.  It sounds kind of suspicious to say "no forwarding address"!  Actually, I fully expect to have something within a few days, but it means our priority has become finding a reasonably good house.  We really liked the one we had picked out, but many others are comparable or close and we may find something even better.

Today we are saying goodbye to a number of people, tomorrow we take care of some final moving details , getting ready for the Monday move as well as saying some more hard to say goodbyes, Monday  we move to who knows where.  Interesting times.

But in the final analysis, we are glad the decision has finally been made.  Living in the never-never land of now knowing where we were going, and not being able to make any decisions, (in spite of being pleasant with our friends, the house, and the things we love about the Memphis area, which are many) was beginning to get old.  We knew we couldn't stay in the house or Lakeland, since we can't stand to see the deterioration of Lakeland into the "no where city" it is rapidly becoming. Sometimes, it is better to remember what was, than what is.  

That's it for now, Saturday, June 21, 2014, the first day of Summer.  

Spring 2014 June 20 Friday (Life in the Midst of Chaos)

73 degrees this morning.  We were up dearly and packing what the could.  The movers packers are here now and are finishing up the packing.  Thank goods we can keep the computers and tv's on over the weekend!  

It is a strange feeling to have 95% of what you are used to living with being moved out of the house and, in our case, we won't see it for another two weeks.  

Due to the late notice on the closing, the mover can't move us until around July 3, so we will be "homeless" until then.  (Actually, we found a house we like, so we hopefully will be able to camp out in it until our furniture arrives.  There is only a certain amount we can carry in our car.

Actually, we are "closing" today and have until Monday to move.  It will be an interesting time.  

Our  Air Conditioning was fixed yesterday morning, so it may it a lot easier to pack!  We actually got a lot packed (well Aliene did, I just kind of did what she needed down.  She is an unbelievably good packer, both for trips and moving! 

We are saying goodbye to our wonderful house, the patio I enjoyed so much, and the wonderful friends we have here.  It was an experience we glad we didn't miss.  

When moving, I always get the desperate feeling that we won't have time to finish packing everything, that we will have too much trash (we do) etc. and what we are going to do.  I don't like moving!

We at least tentatively decided on a house in Edmond Oklahoma (a suburb directly north of Oklahoma City).  It is close to our family and also is in an area which has a lot of walking/biking trails etc. and bicycle friendly streets (i.e., very little traffic).  It also is about 2 miles from a YMCA, so I may be able start swimming again on a regular basis.

We are amazed at how much "stuff" we have accumulated.  We hope we can get ride of a lot of it and reduce future acquisition of "stuff"!  

Right now, the professional "packers" are here, it is a strange feeling to be sitting here doing nothing when everyone else in the house i working!  (Aliene is at the dentist).

Of course, all endings have new beginnings.  I am concentrating my job search in the OKC area and also it will give me a good base if I decide to start a consulting business.  

Probably my biggest problem is the coffee pot is being packed.  A moment of panic!  Of course, there are probably five Starbucks within driving distance, several McDonalds (actually pretty good coffee), a Dunkin Dunuts etc, so I won'd want for coffee.  I think I'll really miss making fresh coffee and sitting on the patio early in the morning.

That's all for now, Friday, June 20, 2014.

Spring 2014 June 19 Thursday

75 degrees this morning  A real (nice) coolness in the air.  That is good, since our AC is still out.  (Although we did get the upstairs AC unit to work if we need it).

In spite of my concerns, we were able to work out the details on our house, so we will be moving next Monday, June 23, 2014.  We still don't know where, so we may be "homeless" for awhile!  Actually we have looked at houses and have generally settled for one, if it is still available.  There still is a question if our moving company can actually move us next week (they can load us, so at least we will be out of the house.)

I don't think it would be fair to go into the details of why we are able to close, but it shows what can happen when people are flexible and open to alternatives.  

It is so sudden, it seems almost dreamlike.  "Yes, we will be moving Monday, June 23, after almost 13 years in Lakeland and almost 9 years in our current house".  "And we didn't know until today!"  I know it is going to happen, it just doesn't seem like it is reality yet.  

The hardest part is leaving our lovely house and patio and some of the best people in the world, our friends in Lakeland.  That is really the hardest part.  Both our house and friends are truly unique and we will miss them.  We know neither can be replaced.

Of course the next few days will be a fury of activity (not counting the AC being out, some tests I have to take, some dental work, etc. in addition to moving!).  

Sitting on the patio, one of my last times.  A deer came by this morning, maybe to say goodbye.  Even though I never talked to any of them, I will miss the people I worked out with every morning at the ATC Fitness Center.  It is really strange, I rarely even looked at them (i read etc.), never talked with them, yet feel they are a part of my life.  I doubt if I would recognize any of them outside of the gym and maybe not even in the gym, but I feel like they are part of my "group" of exercisers.  I doubt if I will find anything like it in the future.  I hate to think they will probably all think I quit exercising!

Actually, the gym and my walk in the morning are an internal part of my life.  I almost never miss my walk and I rarely miss cycling to the gym (if it is raining, I do drive).  

I am glad that years ago, I adopted the attitude of "experience each moment", not in the sense of thrills or pleasure, but just be aware. I even acknowledged the very negative things that happened (even the deal with Lakeland) and tried not to negate how I was feeling.  I think it helped me truly experience the house, the patio, the gym and our friends and the residents of Lakeland.

Aliene has done A LOT of packing, which will really help this next few days.  Even though the mover will do some packing, most of the packing is completed.  

We don't regret our time in Lakeland.  It was a wonderful twelve years and we met some people and had experiences we wouldn't have had otherwise.  Our only real regret is seeing Lakeland deteriorate into an "average" or even "below average" or a "City of Nowhere".  But, that is what democracy is all about.   Perhaps the voters will choose better and more wisely in the future, that is no longer my concern.  We can't replace the Lakeland Experience either, but that is also gone.

I am finally buckling down and learning the finer details of Excel.  As I always say, when I have to use something, it is so much easier to learn.  When I am just learning to be learning, it is difficult to grasp and remember.  

On the other hand, maybe that is what learning is all about.  I can remember my Mom saying that her students were always complaining they "wouldn't use"  some classes (Algebra etc.).  Maybe the mark of a good teacher is helping students understand the relevance of the information in their real world and how they can use it to accomplish what they want.  Looking back, I was that way, if I could see the relevance, I did good, if I couldn't, sometimes  I didn't do so good!  

Packing.  I think the stressful part about packing is the realization that you have to move EVERYTHING, every little item. 

That's it for now, Thursday, June 19, 2014. 

Spring 2014 June 18 Wednesday

79 degrees this morning, wonderful day on the patio.  Sounds a little strange, but there is a coolness in the air.

Life on the edge.  

--Our Air conditioning is out.  Maybe lucky, maybe not, when we listed the house, we purchased a "home warranty" (which includes the AC) and in a "what the heck" moment, made it effective immediately rather than just for the new buyer.  A shock that our AC is out, but I'm glad the have the warranty.  Our normally HVAC person guarantees priority service, so we will try the home warranty person first.  Fortunately the ceiling fans etc. kept us cool during the night.  As the day goes on it could get worse.  Currently it is 81 degrees in the house, not bad right now, but obviously will get hotter as the day goes on.

-We may be closing Monday, June 23 and have to be out of the house Monday or...maybe not.  It basically depends on an inspection today by the insurance company on whether the roof is covered by insurance.  If not, the closing will probably be off.  

We have looked at houses in another area and have arranged to have our household items stored for awhile until we find another house, but ....  Of course then there is all the "goodbye's which have to be said, if we are moving Monday, if not we don't want to say goodbye until we have to.  I didn't realize "goodbye" was "spelled "goodbye" until spell check insisted on it this morning.  I normally say "goodby", which spell check insists is wrong!  Kind of like "separate" , for years I spelled it "seperate" until spell check taught me different.

-Both of us are juggling dental and medical appointments, not sure if we will be here next week or not.  My "opening up" appointment on my teeth implants was delayed until August since the surgeon decided it was too early.

-We have to continue packing as if we are moving, but, at the same time, make sure we can live here for an indefinite period if the closing doesn't go through.

-On top of that, I have an hour and one/half computer test tomorrow (I get an e-mail and have 1 1/2 hours to complete it from the time the e-mail arrives to complete it and send it back).  I am studying to refresh my memory on Excel and Word etc. on top of everything else.

Anyway, somehow life seems normal!  I think is it the fact that both of us, since late November, have realized life will never be the same as it has for the past 12 years, so we need to be flexible and adapt fast!  The hardest part will be leaving some wonderful friends in Lakeland and, to a somewhat lesser degree, leaving our wonderful house and patio.  Nothing we say even comes close to the house we have now, or especially the patio.  

I think the moving, and to some degree, the changes, are making me much more aware of buying "things".  I am going to have to really want something to buy a "thing" in the future. I think the problem is that I can't get rid of "things".  I have stuff that would almost cost nothing (will, not much) to replace and it is literally cheaper to buy it in the future IF I need it.  This includes clothes, tv's (that are obsolete anyway), radios, electrical wires that I have no idea what they are used for, flashlights that don't work, luggage that I never use and of course, clothes, clothes, clothes.  

Hot Wheels? No way, they are worth it!  In fact, if I can find the space.... Actually, I got started photographing and cataloging my collection of Hot Wheels (and Matchbox and other brands) but had to stop since they are considered "clutter" (by some people, especially potential house buyers), so we had to pack them away.  I expect to continue to enlarge my collection of Hot Wheels etc., but I probably won't get anything larger.  Much as I hate too, I know I need to weed my books, since they deserve to be read.  

We plan on having a "family giveaway" after we move, we will put stuff out, if they want it, they can have it, otherwise we are donating it to Charity.  This includes luggage, bags, clothes, and who knows what else.  Aliene and I had one garage sale once, and we decided never again.

I just happened to think, if the house closing does go through Monday, we will be "homeless" at least for several days or longer.  Of course, I don't want to move again for a long time, so the selection of a house is important.  Since we are intending to rent, we will have the option, but also are at the mercy of someone drastically increasing the rent, although it normally doesn't happen.

Just checked and the Summer Solstice is June 21 this year.  A really neat web site "Apples4theteacher.com".  

Three days until the official start of Summer.

That's it for now, Wednesday, June 18, 2004.  

Spring 2014 June 17 Tuesday

72 degrees this morning, and a lovely morning it is.  Sitting on the patio listening to the birds and sipping coffee.  Life couldn't be better!  I even decided to eat breakfast later so I could spend more time on the patio during the best times.  Also, I may eat less throughout the day if I eat later!  Four more days until Summer starts.

A story this morning about a "robocopter" experiment in England reminded me of the appalling lack of progress in transportation, at least in my opinion.  I remember as a child looking at an advertisement and seeing a car going down the road with 4 people playing cards and no driver.  This was over 55 years ago and we are still driving basically the same way!  Obviously the cars are much improved (although some would disagree with that, I don't, I feel they are much improved), we still basically drive them the same way.  All of the progress in other areas, but we are still basically driving like we did over a century ago!  

I believe at least 14 years ago, I learned that the technology existed to the effect that you could walk out to your backyard, get in a small airplane/helicopter, and just sit there as computers and GPS handling taking off, flying it, landing it at your destination, all without any effort on your part!  Yet we still drive the same way and flying has even gotten worse than it was 14 years ago.  

Not only are are driving and flying the same, only recently have "alternative" methods of transportation (such as walking trails and bike paths separate from other vehicles been a priority.  (Well, with the exemption of Lakeland, where the new spoiled brat politician mayor and his toadies turned down a grant for a million dollars that would have made Lakeland truly bikeable and walkable, but that is another story.)

Actually, when I was a child, I truly thought we would probably be transporting ourselves (that isn't the right word, but the effect of just changing your form so that, for example in a matter of seconds, I could go from Lakeland to Kansas City).  While researching what this actually is on Google, I saw some interesting articles on transportation, as far as bicycles, even rickshaws I'll have to read when I have time.

I realize there are major barriers, including safety, etc. to all of this progress, but it is amazing that things really haven't changed for a century, at least, we are even still using mostly gasoline.  

Speaking of safety, I read this morning that robots killed over 30 people last year.  I realize the "robots" didn't really do it, lack of safety engineering in the robot operations did it, but it still is a sobering thought that you can be killed an an errant robot.  As they search for more ways to utilize robots, the safety factor is a major barrier (perhaps as in driverless cars and planes).  I also thought robots would be used a lot more although, perhaps, with the numerous small computers in use, it may be that we are using robots in a different context and form than expected.  I  read where they are trying to make robots more "appealing"  (I'm not sure if that means human  or like a cute puppy, or maybe even a cute machine).  Creatively couldn't hurt.  

Some other technology that I thought would take off faster than it has is nanotechnology.  I read "Prey" and though this would really tai off, but I haven't seen a lot about it.  Of course, if I put nanotechnology into a search engine, I may be proven wrong.  I also thought solar would be used much more than than it has been.   

Getting my tooth implant area "opened" today, the last process before the new teeth (actually crowns over the posts) are installed (I guess that is the right word) in about two months.  That will make the whole process a year long process.  A lot has happened since I first had the two teeth pulled on September 6, 2013 to prepare for the implants.

Also going to the Apple Store,  For some odd reason, my iPhone won't ring, which creates a log of voice messages and embarrassment when I don't answer my phone.  Also going to work on my iPhoto some more.

That's it for today, Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Spring 2014 June 16 Tuesday

73 degrees this morning.

Good to get back into my exercise routine.  I've missed it. Also the first day I've worn shorts and a short sleeve shirt on my walk.  Still listening to the "Bully Pulpit".  An oddity, I saw a black and white cat sitting in the middle of the street.  It didn't seem fazed at all my me walking past, although I expect a car or truck may create some problems for it!

I think my exercise routine seems to create a pattern.  Of course, I was surprised when the USA Today website on its's News section headlined two stories about NBA basketball (which I consider on a par with pro wrestling, especially when the league disqualified the best Grizzles player for the final game), at least one story about some HBO show and some other forgettable stories.  Maybe they are providing what the readers want, maybe they have lost contact with their readers like some politicians apparently have lost contact with their constituents.  It seems that sports stories should be in the sports section and tv stories wherever they belong.  I realize a lot of people disagree with me on this, and that is fine.  That is what is fun about this, I can state my opinion.  

Also noticed the oddity again of the Wall Street Journal headlining a story about the "coming back" of PC desktops and laptops and the USA Today had a story about how tablets were taking over for PC despots and and laptops!  (Similar to recent conflicting stories in the USA Today about how everyone was moving back to the central city while the Wall Street Journal had a story bout the resurgence of the suburbs on the same day, using the same data!  Also read this morning about how much of the news media has developed "beltway syndrome" (with beltway being Washington D.C. or a state capital etc.) and losing touch with their readers.  

Another story made me laugh, it was a story on a person who said "all the important stuff has already been invented".  Reminds me of my high school teacher who said only "big corporations" would invent items and make any money.  (Long before Steve Jobs, Bill Gates etc.).  

Interesting papers this morning!  In spite of the time it takes (I actually read most of them on the stationary bike), I really enjoy reading my Commercial Appeal, Wall Street Journal and New York Times each day (and the on-line USA Today at breakfast).  When I am out of town, no matter what my intentions, I normally don't read the WSJ or NYT to any great degree, even though they are available on line.  I do read the Commercial Appeal on line, although I am thinking of canceling the Commerical Appeal since it has absolutely no stories on the "suburbs" such as Lakeland anymore, which I think is bad for Lakeland residents, not having some sort of watchdog.  

Packing continues, preparing for  move which may or not come (maybe some hints of "Waiting for Godot" type feeling).  

Sitting on our wonderful patio this morning in the summer weather, I wonder if this will be the last time and I decide I'm not going to worry about it.  I'm enjoy it until we don't have it anymore and then I'll find something else.  Maybe not as good, but at least I will enjoy this while I have it without worrying about the future.  (Kind of like the song "Live Like You are Dying".)  I even enjoy the noisy birds again.  

This is also the true height of summer.  The longest days of daylight, before "summer" actually starts and the days start to shorten into fall and winter  before the start of winter changes the process and spring comes again.  

That's it for now, Monday, June 16, 2014.

Spring 2014 June 15 Sunday

73 degrees this morning.  Beautiful day today.  

iPhoto and my collection has become a task of climbing a mountain one step at a time.  When things settle down (famous last words) I need to tackle that and finish it or at least update it to the present.  One step at a time, a few minutes a day!

Just spent 10 of the last 11 nights at Hampton Inn.  Five at the CMA Fest at the Hampton Inn Downtown Nashville, four in Edmond, Oklahoma, at an interview and looking for houses and one in Clarksville, Arkansas on our way back to Lakeland.  Hampton Inn has to be the best value in reasonable quality hotels, and the staff of all of them were so helpful and courteous.  The Hampton Inn Downtown Nashville really made extra efforts to make our CMA Fest experience a great one, and the Hampton Inn Edmond staff really make extra efforts to help me print something (even to the point of letting me use her personal computer!) and the Hampton Inn in Clarksville is always great, especially the breakfast lady, although we didm't stay for breakfast this time.  We have been staying at the Clarksville Hampton Inn since we moved here, as it is almost exactly part way to Oklahoma City.  They are always so nice and actually recognize me when I walk in the door and frequently leave peanut butter cookies in my room for me!  

That is one aspect of moving we really regret, is having to say good-by to some of the best people in the world in Lakeland.  It will be difficult.  I hope they remain real and don't meld into memories that seem like they never really existed.  i am proud of many of the Lakeland residents who never changed after my job status changed here.  We will cherish their memory always and the good times we have had here.  

I say that as what has appeared remote, that we will actually move, is becoming more real.  Right now, we may be moving in 7 days or we may be here for some time yet. At this point, some things are out of our hands, although we always have the final decision, we don't know what final decision we may need to make.  I will miss my wonderful house and patio.

I had a friend who said "Life was a series of Hello's and Goodby"s".  I always hated that term when i heard it but I realized it was true.  Kind of like "The World Without End is Ending'.   Sometimes you need the goodbyes' to make room for the hellos.  Or something like that.  Unfortunately, like my first summer in Denver, you can only have an experience once, but then I am thankful I had the experience, so I can't really complain.  

Aliene and I have commented many times, that we will never regret out move to Lakeland, mainly due to the wonderful people we met and experiences we have had.  Of course, we didn't expect to experience the decline of Lakeland into a "non-City" due to the election of a  Spoiled Brat Politician and some Toadies who are intent on making it a non-City that may as well be part of the County. 

On the bright side, we don't have to experience it. 

Looking at houses was a positive experience, although we didn't see any houses like our current wonderful house.  On the other hand, we'll be in a City where there are not only great schools, but also walking and bicycling trails, great parks, community centers etc., with some truly Statespersons, like Lakeland used to have as leaders.

On the other hand, my experience has indicated that, in every community, there are cycles of great leaders and then the average maintainers (and rarely,  "leaders" who destroy a city due to their ignorance).

That's it for now, Sunday, June 15, 2014

Spring 2014 June 14 Saturday

73 degrees this morning.  Beautiful day yesterday, should be one today.

Saturday, one week before the first day of Summer, and, in the usual way of cycles, the longest day of the year and the start of the end of Summer!  I always enjoy this time of year, especially the long days and (if I am  in the right place) the long sunsets that seem to last forever.  I don't see much of the sunsets in Lakeland because of the terrain and the trees. That is probably the one thing I miss the most (other than the long days, since sunset in Lakeland is an hour ahead of Oklahoma City). The wind, I don't miss one bit. I can understand why the continuous wind (especially in western Kansas and Oklahoma) used to (and may still)  create  problems for people with it's continuous blowing.   Hot seems hotter and cold seems colder with the wind.

Speaking of "continuous improvement" yesterday, when I was in grade school even, I can remember my parents having the "five foot Harvard books" (or something like that) and multivolume edition of history of the world.  (The Harvard books were black, the history books were a light blue).  I assume they are in a museum, on old bookshop or in a landfill by now.

Occasionally, I would start reading them about 15 minutes a day, thinking that if I read them 15 minutes a day, I would eventually read all of them and know everything there was to know in the world.  Probably a good plan, but I quickly realized it may not work since I didn't recall everything I read and it the 15 minutes of study was easy to postpone.  I actually did read some of the books and found them interesting, but I the knowledge of the world changed so much, and the world has changed so much.

Actually, some years ago (I lost track) I did start this, as far as reading "books I should have read", and with some success I have finished them, although it has taken me over a year in some cases.

Occasionally I am asked about my favorite book or the book that  I feel is the greatest book or a  life-changing book.  It is really hard to answer, since I really like many books and feel many books did change my life or can change your life.  The literature books (actually from my older brothers and sisters) I read when I was a child will always have a special place in my heart.  I didn't always understand the story (I didn't realize that ''Alas Babylon" was about a nuclear disaster aftermath util I re-read it years later), but I have a warm feeling about many of the stories and short novels and their authors. I tracked down all of them (although some are later editions) and they are a prize possession.  They (the stories and articles) are like old friends.

Full moon last night was amazing.

Today will be another busy day.  "Winds of change" are blowing around us, so to speak.  On the other hand, maybe not yet.  The next week will tell.

That's it for now, Saturday, June 14, 2014

Spring 2014 June 13 Friday

63 degrees this morning. Should be relatively clear day.

Working on iPhoto some more, trying to organize my photos. It is a time consuming task. Also, I am at the point where when I discard a picture, it is gone for good! I think that this is the last and only picture of that specific moment in time of that specific place or person and I am deleting it! ''

Maybe what makes pictures special is that there is only so many pictures you can comprehend and review and appreciate. Too many and they start to blur and maybe even lose their meaning and the person looking at them loses their ability to appreciate each individual picture. Anyway, no matter what, it is very difficult to weed pictures, just as it is difficult to week books etc.

I usually have to make several runs, first I delete the obviously bad photos (blurred etc.), then I sort anything that seems to be a duplicate or duplication. Than I get into the value judgement of what I delete and what I keep. I have no rules, other that I try to keep the most representative of an experience or person or place.

Speaking of weeding, deleting and throwing out, we are going to hit "packing" in a big way this next week, although we still aren't sure when we are moving. We decided it was best to "be prepared" and pack/sort/weed what we don't need in our daily life. Of course, that makes it difficult when I want to find something, or most of the times, actually impossible!

I have noticed from past experience, weeding/throwing out/giving away items becomes a lot easier as a deadline approaches. It becomes much easier to part with items when you think about packing and transporting them. The clothes you may wear "sometime", or the book you may read suddenly become much less valuable.

Speaking of clothes, for years I carted some clothes (jeans etc. dress shirts) based on the fact I would wear them when I lost weight. Several years ago, I was able to wear many of them and I get a little feeling of satisfaction every time I put them on and remember when I couldn't even come close to wearing them!

Long, although generally satisfying day yesterday, as noted by my short entry. Some days are "short entry" days, even though a lot happened and some days are "long entry" even if not much happened. I think every day can be a long entry day, but some days there is just too much going on to allow time for a long entry. Of course, there are days where a long entry is absolutely required to accurately document the day.

Interview yesterday seemed to go well, although you never know. I try to learn from each one. It will be a very interesting job if I am offered it. It would be much different than I have been doing and would be a different life style, but that could be good.

I am not a person who believes change is necessary for its' own sake, but change is going to happen and I would rather control change than be controlled by it. More to the point, change is necessary to adapt to new procedures and technology and is absolutely necessary in my belief in "continuous improvement", making small improvements every day.

I first heard the phrase years ago (actually it was in a "telecommuting" course I was taking at Rose State College in Management. I may have heard it before, but this is where it first reached my conscious mind and grabbed me. I realized this is what I was doing anyway, but it gave a name to it.

Of course, then (at least in my mind) the question of "what is improvement" comes up. I guess in the end, if you feel it is an improvement, it is an improvement. Of course, I have learned a lot from "improvements" I eventually rejected as not being feasible or workable, and at least I have learned that approach is not workable!

That's it for now, Friday, June 13, 2014

Spring 2014 June 11 Wednesday

63 degrees this morning, but is expected to warm up fast to 91 degrees!  

Ate at "On the Border" last night, and feeling effects of overeating today! We allow ourselves about one trip to On the Border per month, for obvious reasons.  I love the tamales.  

I actually started liking tamales years ago.  When i was in college, after my freshman year, I went to Denver to work at Samsonite Corporation (making suitcases). On the wonderful Denver cool nights, there were street vendors selling steamed tamales.  They were wonderful.  I returned the following summer, but the street vendors were no longer there.  I never found out why.

My experience in Denver changed my vision of life, to say the least.  The biggest city I had lived in prior to that was probably a 1,000 people (other than Hays, Kansas, where I went to college for my freshman year), so Denver was a new experience.  I stayed in the bus station one night and was asked by some others if this was my "usual place".  

I found an apartment, and oddly enough, it was right across the street from where my high school principal was staying (I believe he was working on another degree).  

Since I didn't have a car, I learned to ride the bus, and forever have learned about the disadvantage of public transportation in large cities (and the advantages).  (One night I missed the last bus and had to sleep in the park in Denver, the one across from the state  capital).  I recommend the bus station.  

I also learned about work.  I was on the assembly line making Samsonite "make=up" cases.  I don't recall exactly what they called them, but I still remember the exact motions I took in assembling them.  (i attached the frame to the bottom, the frame to the top and sent it on down the line.)  I enjoyed meeting and knowing many of the permanent workers and how they felt about their jobs. The workers there were very diligent and good workers, at least the ones I knew.  They all warned me not to fall in the trap of working there (or similar) and to be sure to return to college. My grades substantially increased the following year at college.  Actually, the factory itself was clean and they emphasized safety, but it was still a factory, I expect the assembly line duties I did are being performed by robots now. 

I did get out and see a lot in Denver.  Probably I was extremely naive and had someone watching over me.  I traveled all over Denver, met all kinds of people and, didn't save a dime for college.  The two weeks vacation (unpaid) the first   two weeks in July didn't help financially, but it gave me some time to look around.  

I returned to work at Samsonite the following summer, but it wasn't the same.  I had another job, molding handles, and it was very boring.  Sometimes, you really can't "go home again" and I wasn't able to repeat my first experience of the summer in Denver, the wonder had disappeared and the drudgery was all that was left. However I do always buy Samsonite luggage!  When I worked at Samsonite it was somewhere south of the State Capital, it moved to the airport several years after I worked there.  

Overall, I expect the experience changed my perspective on life and was a "life altering" event, although, realistically, any event is a "life alternating" event to some degree.  (I won't get into that today).

Interview tomorrow, going to be researching and psychologically preparing myself today.  Speaking of "life altering events, I guess a job interview can be one of the top ones, if your performance at the interview is actually part of the reason you get, or don't get, a new job.

That's it for now, Wednesday, June 11, 2014 

Spring 2014 June 10 Tuesday

68 degrees this morning.  Still wet outside, but not raining, able to exercise.

Listening to (and also readingI) the "Bully Pulpit", I was thinking of the amount of time "off" people used to take, it seems it would be impossible now.  For example, S.S. McClure spent months in "bed rest", Roosevelt went west for years, sometimes would on on a year long hunting trip and Taft spent years in the Philippines,  and numerous people would spent time in Europe, in a time when transpiration itself was probably measured in weeks or months rather than hours.  

Then I think that I spent 12 years in Tennessee (and counting), although I don't really consider it "away" from anything or anywhere, it is just life.  I guess they thought the same thing, but I really wonder how they remained prominent  in Washington D.C. (or other areas) when they were gone so much.  It isn't like they had e-mail, video mail/chat etc. or even telephones.  Probably the only communication was by letter and even that was slow.

I feel like there is a "common culture" created by our communications (news media, interment, rapid travel etc.) and I think today it would be hard to just disappear from that common culture for years.  Considering that back then the average lift span was probably 20 years shorter than now, it raises a real question in my mind on how they did it.  I will think on this some more and do some research.

Sometimes I wish I had majored in history, or at least had taken more courses in history, and more specifically, historical research.  Of course, I have time to do that now, so I may just do that!  Maybe especially on how history impacts current actions.  

Birds ware noisily this morning, maybe because of the rain (I"m not sitting outside since the patio furniture is still wet and it is slightly chilly.  

Back to history, I read "On China" by Henry Kissinger (well, I listened to it) and I was struck by how history is recognized as significant. Even the cultural revolution was (this is a very simplified statement) was designed to remove the Chinese culture from the influence of much of it's history.

The other day a question on Jeopardy was on a "spoken language".  Both Aliene and I instantly recognized the language was Chinese!  We remember more than we think we do!

Keeping it short today, may write more later today.

That's it for now, Tuesday, June 20, 2014.