2020 Spring May 31 Sunday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of-20

64 degrees this morning  67% humidity

Wonderful day yesterday, sunny, low humidity (for this area).  Looks like the next week is going to be great weather. 

Walk this morning, 23:41 minutes, 20 seconds slower than my goal.  Strange I didn’t really notice much difference  (while I am walking) between the 1 minute 19 seconds slower than my goal yesterday and the 20 seconds slower than my goal today!  Such is life.

Another “quarantine” day.  Breakfast at “curbside” and then took it hone to eat.  Went through the Starbucks take out window and  we “starbucks” on our back patio in the wonderful weather!

Picked up our Library books “curbside” with all parties wearing masks!  

Listening to the “Great Course” on “Confucius, Buddha, Jesus and Mohammad” during my walk.  Based on my very limited knowledge, I was thinking Confucius philosophy was living life to the fullest on earth, while Buddha’s philosophy was ignoring life on earth.  An oversimplification I am sure, just my take-away on what I listened too.  

When the last day of the month is on the weekend, it is always easy to psychologically think of yourself as being in the next month.  This entire weekend, I am thinking it is already June, since June 1 is Monday.

Our experience Friday night have stopped any thoughts of going to a restaurant to eat inside for the near future anyway.  

We ordered some cloth masks, they are n’there yet.  Fortunately back in December when I had bronchitis, we bought some masks, so we had some available.  We have gotten to the point we wear a mask even when we pick up food on the curb or at Starbucks.  No use risking it now. 

One of the strange results of this period, I read that they couldn’t sell new cars, so they are giving substantial “deals” to people with good credit , etc. Then I read where new cars are scarce since they aren’t manufacturing any new cars right now!  I haven’t reconciled the two stories yet. I assume it is that certain cars aren’t available even if overall they are plentiful.  

Still debating the “regular” alarm system vs. the “Nest” alarm system.  No doubt really that the Nest alarm system is probably the best assuming we can get someone to keep working on it.  Just hard to pull the trigger on the decision. 

I hate the open ended “contracts” of most security companies that is usually a one-sided contract.  Some of them have “renewal” clauses as early as a year before the contract expires, that if you don’t cancel it automatically renews for 1 year or 3 years.  That ought to be required to be in huge bright read letters! 

It seems fairer to sell you the products and charge only for the “alarm service," as the Nest does, and not basically charge you again and again for the equipment they sold you at the very first, if you keep the service for more than 3 years.

In Memphis, we had outstanding monitoring for around $119 a year, so most security companies are grossly overcharging, in my opinion.  Of course they are welcome to charge what they want, it is up to me to “buyer beware”. 

Really, it is just what equipment I need for the Nest security system which I need to decide, unless the “regular” alarm company will reduce their rates after 3 years.  

That’s it for now, Sunday, May 31, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 30 Saturday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

64 degrees this morning, 72% humidity

Wonderful day yesterday, nice finally seeing the sun!  Reached high of about 84 degrees.  It’s supposed to be a wonderful week as far as weather is concerned.. 

Walked 25;09 minutes, pace was 1:19 minutes slower than my goal. (or 79 seconds)  I never know why I am slow one day and fast the next.  A difference between 3 seconds 79 seconds over the relatively short distance I walk is quite a bit.

Usually I just walk a smooth pace.  If I consciously push, I find it only improves my pace time by about 25 seconds, which is’t worth the trouble.  I think my pace just naturally improves as I walk more, with the occasional setback.

Went to the first retail store (Walgreens) we have been in since March 15.  Most people wore masks, and I didn’t walk past a hand sanitizer without using it!  

We were very pleased to see hand sanitizer  for sale for the “pre-virus” price and didn’t even have limits on them!  I was glad to get some up to date sanitizer.  The store was out of sanitizing wipes, but also had paper towels and toilet paper if you needed it.

I never really expected to see sanitizer at the normal price without limits.  

Overall, it was a pleasant experience and made me feel better about retail shopping in the store again.

Unfortunately it emboldened us to go out for ice cream at our favorite ice cream store /fresh market  (Braum’s). 

We were surprised that non of the employees wore masks , etc.  We didn’t really expect gloves, but we saw only one person with a mask.  They were running around and obviously not  paying any attention to “social distancing”.  

Every place I looked I saw a way for the virus to be passed and it was scary. When we got back home, I looked up the store and they had all kinds of grand preventative practices (washing hands every 30 minted, sanitizing each cart after use , etc.) and I certainly didn’t see it.  

We kind of felt like we were in a virus mixer. As soon as we got out, we  both said were weren’t going there again until the chance of the virus is at least a lot lower.    

This was a regional chain, but is large enough to do better.  It really bothered us that so many kids working there were at risk as well as putting their customers at risk.  Disappointing to say the least.

Obviously we have a long ways to go in this state.  I doubt if we will consider going to any place retail that doesn’t has masks on their employees.  Probably will be a long time before we go sit inside a restaurant.

Of course, things can change fast, hopefully they will change for the better and not back to the virus starting up again.  

Feels good t realize it is Saturday morning and another weekend is ahead of me!  

That’s it for now, Saturday, May 30, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 29 Friday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

61 degrees this morning  88% humidity

Weights (yesterday morning) sit-ups, barbells, benchpress

Yesterday started with rain and seemed about to rain most of the day, but it didn’t rain after early morning.  Finally the sun came out and it was actually fairly nice.

It seems stranger and stranger as Summer starts and all of the activities we normally do we don’t even think of.  While the AAA team here hasn’t canceled the season yet I’m sure they will.  Probably the MLB will essentially cancel their season also.

We didn’t have to cancel the CMT Fest because we had decided last year we weren’t going because they were just orienting it to make money and to cater to persons who were young and wanted to party. (The event was canceled this year.)  Nothing wrong with that if that what’s you want, but it was getting to the point we felt unwanted!  We won’t miss It anyway, although we do miss the old CMT before it become obsessed with making maximum $ and catering to specific groups.  

A conference I had looked forward too is being turned into a “virtual conference," but it was far enough off, I never really got involved in planing it.  I was just starting to plan for it.  (checking air fares, things to do , etc.), but I really hadn’t invested a lot of time in it.

We had talked about going on several vacations this year, but I have a feeling we aren’t going anywhere.  Right now, that doesn’t bother me, it just is.  As the usual events continue to disappear, it may start to bother me, but so far I have generally just adapted.  

It appears there will be “second waves”.  I hope not, but, what I want doesn’t really matter, as I said, It is what it is. 

I guess I’m not too bothered because I can look at what would happen if we did catch the virus.  Even if you live, it wouldn’t be good.  

Maybe if it continues through the Fall and Winter comes it will become real that we missed an entire Spring and Summer so to speak.  Thus far, we have adapted but I don’t think we want it to be a “forever” thing.  

One thing about work, they are not requiring we wear PPE, but they have advised you can’t go out in the field until you have it.  That appears to be a reasonable compromise. 

I’m not going out until at least July 1, and you can bet I will be wearing or using all the PPE I can.  It won’t be a political thing, it will be a practical matter.  

The “virus beard," or maybe “quarantine beard”is doing fine.  So far I like it, although hardly anyone has seen it since I usually wear a mask outside!  I am trying to decide how and where to trim it , etc.  I actually have a picture of it on Instagram, I haven’t put it on Facebook and I may not.  Probably ought to put one on my web page.

Thus far I have been keeping up with “My Fitness Pal," although I think it has been all of 3 days since I started.  I am still researching the goals for calories per day, carbs , etc.   I’m probably not that accurate, but it is the process that is important.

That’s it for now, Friday, May 29, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 28 Thursday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_NIghts 

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

65 degrees this morning,  93% humidity, heavy steady rain this morning 

Overall another cool and gray day yesterday.  Didn’t rain, but it seemed like it as about to all day.  Supposedly got to 79 degrees, but I don’t know when!

Walk, 22:57 minutes, 22 seconds slower than my goal.   A little slower than I expected or hoped for.  

Third day of “My Fitness Pal”.  I have found if I try to be too correct, I end up not using it enough to help, so I am relatively flexible if I am close.   

They actually have improved (even the free version that I use) it quite  bit and makes it a lot easier and more likely I’ll keep using it.  So far I have been diligent in keep track and generally getting all I eat posted.

It interacts with my exercise , etc., and automatically takes the exercise calories and adds them to the available calories.  Thus far I have been staying under, at least in theory.  I am assuming I average out my food to where I am basically correct.

It also has a “photo” part that I can take a picture of myself to actually see any improvement  That will probably be a slow process.  I started out a picture a day, but I think I’ll more it to a week.

I am also keeping track of all the water I drink, I always have drunk a lot of water since I can’t drink carbonated beverages, so I can measure it.

Of course in the end, I know I have to keep my carbs low to lose any weight and to get my sugar level down.  

A few years ago, I went on a lower carb diet and it worked well.  I investigated the Keto eating pattern, but finally decided I couldn’t stay on it, at least I know I can live on the lower carb diet.

Since the Doctor told me to watch my sugar, I have read about high sugar levels and the dangers of high blood sugar , or whatever they call it  One problem with high blood sugar is it lowers your immune system.

For a lot of reasons, I like to do anything possible to keep my immune system good.

Obviously there are a lot of reasons, but if I can  strengthen my immune systems and lose weight,  high blood sugar  and being overweight are two items that make the virus worse, plus any it will make me more likely to be affected by any virus.

Still waiting for the second shoe to drop, so to speak, in the “second wave” of the virus and the consequences.  I feel in this state the “opening” is more of a political thing with the governor even saying he wants the state to be the first to be completely “open”.  While he doesn’t specifically say it, he is ignoring science and reality for political gain.  

Of course, that means he plans on a lot of shortcuts that could end up killing people and causing a lot of illness and pain, just to make a few political points. I think that is true in a lot of states.

I hope not, but it seems like political  expediency is becoming the norm rather than actual statesmanship or any real attempt to serve the best interests of the people.

I’m disappointed, and even a little surprised.  My years working with politicians made me think most of them really were better than that.  Somewhere in the early nineties it started to change with the “single issue politics”  and resulted in a  lying coward lunatic with obvious  dementia  somehow becoming president and making low and evil standards the norm.

That’s it for now, Thursday, May 28, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 27 Wednesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

59 degrees this morning  93% humidity 

Cool day yesterday, finally got up to 74 but it was late afternoon and the sun finally came out.  Really thought it was going to rain, but it never did. 

Walk, 22:48 minutes, pace was 3 seconds slower than my goal, which tied my time a few days again.  Today, I really didn’t realize I was walking that fast.  

What I really hope I can do is eventually lower my goal by a minute, but first things first, I need to meet my immediate goal first on a regular basis!

Watching the “opening up” crowds over the weekend, I feel a chill of foreboding (or something like that).  Hopefully there won’t be any big outbreaks, and there may well not be.  I hope not.  

While it really hasn’t been all that bad, it would be nice to get back to some kind of normal.  I’m not sure what the impact would be of another big outbreak.  I just know we are going to limit ourselves for the near future until we see what develops.

As I have mentioned, I watched the (now) Netflix series “Longmire”.  I recently finished the series and decided I’d read the book series also.

8  As frequently is the case, the book and movie/series is completely different.  In this case I was surprised by the difference, especially in the characters,  and I decided after reading part of the first series of the book, I probably won’t finish the book and certainly don’t plan to finish the series

I had put a “hold” on a number of the Longmire books (It is a 16 book series) at our Library and I canceled the holds after realized  book was so much different from the series.  

The Library system is “opening up” with curbside pickup only, which is fine with me.  I haven’t tried it yet, but it will be interesting.

One thing, in my job, I have realized the importance of the computers the library has for people who don’t have computers.  They provide internet access, printers , etc., for people who otherwise wouldn’t have access.

Anyway, the Library is going to allow people to make appointments for limited time on the computers.  One of the big limitations has been the lack of access to computers.  

Usually I am the other way, I remember reading “Cool Hand Luke”  (many years ago) and I loved the book but hated the movie. Later I think I watched the movie after many years and liked it, but the first time I saw it I hated it  

I usually found if I read the book first I didn’t like the movie, and if I saw the movie first (and liked the characters and plot), I’d normally like the book.

Of course, frequently the book and movie have nothing in common. 

That’s it for now, Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 26 Tuesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

60 degrees this morning, 91% humidity 

Weights yesterday  morning (sit-ups, barbells & bench press)

Yesterday was gloomy with clouds and rain starting mid-afternoon. At least it was a slow rain, with very little wind and thunder.

Walk yesterday, 22:42 minutes, pace was 54 seconds slower than goal.  Disappointed in my pace, but I realize the pace will vary widely.

Start of a 4-day work week, trying to remember that today is Tuesday and not Monday!  Usually it takes a while.

Spent a relatively quiet 3 day weekend, “Sheltering in place”.  Enjoyed it, and didn’t worry about activities we can’t do because it just isn’t possible right now.  

I decided I’ll just enjoy doing what I can do, and not worry about what I can’t do. As I mentioned yesterday, we just are going to do everything possible to avoid the virus.  Hopefully the chances of catching the virus will be over soon.  

The  lying coward lunatic criminal scum needs to be corralled and his excesses stopped.  It is insane that the senator cowering cowards allow this criminal behavior to continue.  The lunatic has lost all sense of what little decency or honesty he had in the first place. 

He is allow to chronically lie, threaten states with lost of federal aid for purely political reasons,  accuse people of crimes that the lying coward lunatic knows are false and are done maliciously.  A really shameful scumbag clown. 

What shocks me is how the cowering coward Senators , etc., allow this disastrous behavior to continue.  It is illegal and unconstitutional behavior that the cowering cowards could and must stop.  

What puzzles me is the lunatic calls people all kinds of derogatory names and one person mentions how fat he is and they are criticized more than the lunatic is!  I agree no one should be characterized by their weight, looks or age , etc., but the lunatic makes it a daily derogatory practice, and anyone who mentions his weight, his ugly pig face or his obscene orange color , etc., should hardly be criticized more than the lunatic is when he does worse. 

Been reading books on an old Kindle I bought.  I bought it several years ago just bought it because it was cheap ($49) and I wanted to see what it was like.  I decided it was better to pay a lot more for an iPad.  I am using it (and my iPads and even my iPhone)  to see if I would really use a reading “paper white” Kindle that was waterproof.  Actually it is going relatively good.  I don’t know how to set the font , etc., but it is set so I can almost read a “page a glance” (well not quite).  

However I have found this (and even my phone) easy to read books on.  I have never read on a “paper white” reader, but I”m sure I expect it would be easier on my eyes than my iPad or the kindle.  

Anyway, it is not a “need," it is a “want," so I’ll wait until one of the special sales and buy one.  

It is rather strange, but I have probably read more since I started reading on the kindle, iPad , etc., then I have read books for a while.    Of course part of it was that the Library was closed.  I do have plenty of books (which I am trying to weed), but somehow the fact that that I own them makes it less likely I will read them.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, 5-26-20.  

#Resist

2020 Spring May 25 Momday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Jourmey_20

#Spring_of_20

66  degrees this morning 85% humidity Wind 11 mph

Weights, sit-ups, bar bells, bench press yesterday morning 

Weight watch, lost 5 pounds  from top (this morning).  Although I realize it is easy to shed weight the first few days, it still feels good.

I am trying to use the “My Fittness Pal” to keep track of what I eat, exercise , etc.  There is even a provision to take a picture of myself to track my visual progress!  

Started off with rain yesterday morning, turned into a nice, but windy day, high of around 85 degrees 

Strange there was 70’% chance of  raining Saturday and it didn’t rain, Sunday was a 20% chance and it rained Sunday morning.  

Walk:  23:35 minutes, 3 seconds slower than goal!  I’ll get there soon, hopefully.  

Cooldown walk:  15:16 minutes 

Really pleased with my “walk pace” today, only 3 seconds off my goal.  The best I’ve done since last Fall.  I think the longer stride and breathing through my nose all help.  Of course, it is hard to beat walking in warm weather in shorts and short-sleeve shirt.  

Memorial Day Holiday, I will enjoy the holiday today! 

Yesterday I didn’t get my “physical” Wall Street Journal.  As a result, I read it the on-line edition and found it wasn’t so bad, in fact I enjoyed it.  Each newspaper has their own on-line format.  

Not only will I save money on “on-line” only, but I also avoid having to recycle all the newspapers.

Also, it is a security problem, since the newspapers are delivered so late that sometimes they sit on the lawn until we get back.  It doesn’t make any sense to continue the physical delivery of the newspapers.  

Of course, the recycling is also getting to have problems, since the market for recycling is so low.  We still have twice as much recycling as we do trash.

Watching all of the actions on  the “opening up” of businesses.  In a way I can understand how people feel who are so eager to “get back to normal” they are willing to take a chance on getting a deadly contagious virus.  

While we would like to get back to “normal," somehow psychologically we have realized we can’t participate in our “normal” activities, we aren’t eager to take a chance on getting the virus just so we can resume “normal” activities.  At least at this point we aren’t willing to take any chances on getting the virus, regardless of what activities we miss.  

At least right now, we have somehow reached a level that our current life is ok, at least for right now.  I know we don’t have any desire to take any chance on getting the virus after we have basically put our lives on hold fo almost 75 days!  What’s another 15, 30 or even 75 days compared with getting a virus that would likely make us very sick and even be fatal?  

I may not be explaining well how I feel, but I know what I feels.

That’s it for now, Monday, May 25, 2020.

#Resist 

2020 Spring May 24 Sunday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

 65 degrees this morning  87% humidity

Always nice to wake up on Sunday morning and realize it is just like a normal Saturday morning and I have another day off!  

Another wonderful day overall yesterday.  Seemed a little like rain all day but ended up bang sunny and nice.  Surprising, a second day of 70% change of rain where it didn’t rain.  Highest percentage change today is 20%, so it all pro ball rain!

It did rain during the night, some thunderstorms.  

Walk  24:20 minutes, 34 seconds slower than goal.

Cool-down walk:  14:37 minutes   

Friday  morning at my Doctor appointment, I was shocked at how many “virus pounds” I had accumulated, plus an indication I was eating too much sugar , etc.  Of course, that wasn’t really a surprise.

So, Saturday morning, I fired up “My Fitness Pal” and will try to keep track of my eating, exercise, pounds and even a picture of myself of the appropriate places I need to lose weight.  

I plan on making it a priority to keep track on “My Fittness Pal.  I decided I will keep all the food I have but I will slow down my eating so any “bad” food I have will be spread out over time and I’ll simply not repurchase some of the high sugar, high carb items.

I won’t go into detail, but I know very well what I am eating that I shouldn’t be eating! Eventually I want to get to a low-carb routine.  I have found a low-carb eating pattern works best for me, although I don’t go to extremes on the “low carb," I just try to make sure I use moderation.  

At least I have a follow-up appointment, which provides some incentive!

Read today about “proper breathing” technique and how breathing through your nose can made a huge difference in your health.  What I read said to take least five-seconds bring in your nose and then at exhale through your nose for at least six-seconds or as long as you can exhale.

I had known when I walk I should inhale through my nose but didn’t exhale through my nose.  I’m not even sure if that is possible when I’m walking fast, running or riding my bike.

Paying some bills this morning through my bank account, was rather shocked to realized hat June 2020 is just a week away!  Somehow, it just doesn’t seem like it should be June yet.  

One of the cars that normally is serviced 5,000 miles now is facing having the 6 months services without the 5,000, the first time that has happened since we purchased the car.  It is the one I use for work, and since I have been restricted to the office, I don’t put on the  weekly average  of 150-200 miles.  Also, we don’t go out to eat, go shopping, go to baseball games, visit people and all the other activities we usually do. As I have noted, frequently we don’t even drive the cars during the week and very little on weekends.   

I feel a little uneasy about taking the car in for servicing, but I assume by now they are following good cleaning procedures etc. and I’ll do the same 

That’s it for now, Sunday, May 24, 2020.

#Resist

2020 Spring May 23 Saturday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Spring_of_20

72  degrees this morning,90% humidity

Early rain yesterday, heavy wind during the night.  73 degrees when I got up, 57 degrees early morning.  However, it actually turned out to be a wonderful day in spite of the start!

Walk: 22:51 minutes.  Pace 21 seconds slower than goal. 

Start of a 3 day weekend.  While Memorial Day isn’t my favorite 3 day weekend, I like it since it is the start of Summer and other reasons.

An interesting fact, this is as early as any Memorial Day can ever be, as least based on the current structure for Memorial Day.

I remember Memorial Day because when I was a kid (and we lived close) we would go to the Soldier Cemetery in Soldier Kansas where a lot of our relatives are.  The community maintains the Cemetery, a wonderful community center where they serve meals on Memorial Day (and funerals , etc.) and a really nice playground.

I have never seen a small community do so much.  Anyway, that was a major trip for us when I was a kid and I always think of that on Memorial Day.  

For some reason, I remember on one trip my Dad saying it cost .10 per mile to drive a car, and I thought I would never be able to afford .10 per mile!  I can even remember where we were driving when he said it.  It must have made a major impression on me!

The last time I was there they still maintained everything so well in spite of it being such a small community.  

Also, for years, I listened to the “Indianapolis 500” on Memorial Day.  A big event n my life was when I went to Denver for a summer job and went to a live showing of the Indianapolis 500.  That was before they had it on tv of course. 

Of course Memorial Day used to be the last day of school, so it meant the Summer was starting. I actually missed School during the Summer.  

I had a lot of experiences in Denver, most good, and amazing for a kid who grew up in small towns and was now in a large city on his own for the first time.  

Actually, I don’t even normally watch Indianapolis 500 anymore, although I tape it and sometimes kind of watch it.  

Over the years, I became a fan of Formula 1 and not so much other types of auto racing  I don’t dislike them, I just don’t have time to watch them.  

Another thing I like about Memorial Day is that I just like Holidays.  

I’m not sure how I well feel about holidays when I retire, when every day is more or less a holiday!  Of course I plan on keeping on working when I retire, but not a regular job. I am still thinking what I may do when I retire. 

I hope the “opening up” is successful, but it seems like it is going to start another virus outbreak. I can’t do anything about it except continue to protect ourselves like the virus is still out there and waiting for us which it is.  We will act like it until we’re comfortable with going out without feeling like we might catch the virus.  

That’s it for now, Saturday, May 23, 2020.  

#Resist