Summer 2014 August 22 Friday (Anticipation)

82 degrees this morning.  Summer finally arrives in late August!  Walk 54:57 minutes this morning, biked about 30 minutes yesterday.  No earthquakes  today (at least none showing up on my app.)  My bike ride has been shorter since there appears to be a problem with the tire or chain, or maybe a problem with my legs not in shape yet!

Bike ride has changed a little with the arrival of the school buses (school is just starting here) and the crowds of children either standing on the corner or slowing making their way to the bus stop.  

Tomorrow will mark two months since our move.  Even though we have gone back on a fairly frequent basis and greatly enjoy our visits with friends (during these visits it is almost like we haven’t moved, it is kind of a shock when we end our visit and realize it is not a regular event anymore, which I guess makes it even more treasured), it is almost like we have never lived there.  

In a sense, we have never lived in Lakeland as it exists today, and I’m not sure we would want to, since it is basically changing to a “non-city”, where the general concept seems to be to provide as few public services as possible and make it a city that is primarily “business friendly” at the expense of the residents.  

I felt the same separation last November when I was no longer working for the City.  After a week or so, it was like I have never worked there, on a psychological basis.  

I remember the story about President Reagan, when we was in the last stages of his illness.  He saw a replica of the White House and looked at it and said “I used to have something to do with that”.  I always thought that was sad, and I was surprised at how fast I felt the same psychological separation.  

It kind of goes back to my favorite saying “The World Without End is Ending”.  The world of employment, a residence continues until it is over, and then it is over.  

Kind of like the cartoon in the paper I saw recently.  The family is moving and the little boy looks around the house and says “this used to be our house but now it is just a house”.  

After receiving my newspapers at the “normal time” all week,(around 3:30 a.m., or at least they are here when I complete my walk), the newspapers are “late” today (probably will be here at 6 a.m.).  I really wish they would not deliver them early, if they aren’t going to do it all the time, it just ruins my routine.  

Of course, as a friend recently a advised me, all I need to do is just read the paper when it is a day old, that way I would always have it when I wanted it and I would have my routine!  It actually makes sense, but somehow I have to read the paper as soon as it arrives or it is like “what’s the use!”.  

Kind of like mail, I have always loved to receive the mail.  Evan as a child, I can remember walking down to the mailbox and waiting for the mail, even when I didn’t expect anything and my disappointment (that I still feel today) when I don’t get anything!  I am a regular checker of e-mail, it is like getting mail on a 24 hour basis.

Kali (my granddaughter) is going to a concert with a friend this weekend.  They are staying overnight in another City.  It is one fo the first stages of her establishing her own life and probably one of her first adventures from her parents.  She saved her own money for the trip and has been anticipating this since early in the year.  I hope it is everything she anticipates.  It is wonderful when it is, a learning experience when you realize that anticipation is frequently 90% of the fun.

i think that is why I enjoyed China so much.  I anticipated the trip for about 5 months and it was everything I anticipated and more, in fact, much more.  It was not a matter of anticipating something and suddenly it is over and you wonder what you really anticipated.  

That’s it for today, Friday, August 22, 2014.

Summer 2014 July 26 Saturday (Friends)

68 degrees this morning.

Looking forward to visiting with friends this weekend.  We have been looking forward to it since we knew we would be in the area.  We can (somewhatI) replace houses, cities, cars etc., but friends are unique, and we really value and hope we can maintain meeting with our Lakeland friends on a regular basis over the future. 

We lived on a farm when I was growing up, so the number of people were limited, especially children our age.   Our closes friends were about 3/4 mile away (they were mostly friends of my older brothers and sisters due to age differences) and we would walk over and give the Tarzan yell to see if they could play.

My best friend lived about 2 miles away and we would walk (I don’t recall ever being driven) over to see each other.  

We went to a one-room school (I still remember the teachers name, Ms. Porterfield,) and I went there for 4 grades before Kansas consolidated all the one-room schools.  

Decision points on our lives are coming up.  Either I will start working another job or I am starting my consulting business and “jumping in with all four feet” as I like to say.  Maybe some of each if things work out, which is what I actually prefer.  

Wherever the Wheel of Fortune may land. And I need to be ready to recognize it when the Wheel of Fortune points to me.

I think my reason for wanting to continue working is my basic desire to make changes for the better, even if it is small changes.  One of the most rewarding things about City Manager is the ability (well, power or authority)  to resolve problems, especially those little, irritating problems that impact on your life (or the big ones for that matter).  If nothing else, I can listen and explain why a problem can’t be resolved.

I really enjoy that aspect of City Manager, especially since I love feeling that I am an important part of the team  that makes life better for city residents.

That is a major reason it makes me so angry when I see an arrogant spoiled brat who thinks he knows everything destroy a city.  (As an example in Lakeland, the spoiled brat politician was going to “fix” the trash system.  He ended up with a much worse program that charges the same rates, doesn’t recycle yard waste any more, doesn’t pick up near as much (before they picked up everything in bags, now just two containers.) However, enough of that, Lakeland residents are going to have to resolve that problem. That isn’t my problem anymore, but it is a good reason for me to keep working and hope I can prevent such stupid arrogant actions in other communities.  

Back to my time on the farm, I can remember playing “City Manager” when I was child.  I had an entire “city”set up (with sticks, stones and leaves and other items representing vehicles, airplanes, buildings etc), I didn’t have actual vehicles etc. They didn’t make Hot Wheels back then and we just didn’t have toys like that.  Perhaps that is the reason (at least I feel) I am especially creative, so it may have been a gift that I had to use my imagination.

Moving has been somewhat of a trip down memory lane as I am forced to look at books, etc. that I purchased because I had read them as a child.  I can’t bring myself to throw away the literature books (my brothers and sisters) I read as a child (I purchased them at a library book sale years ago), or many of the early books I liked.  Also, I don’t even think about giving away my Hot Wheels collection, although I would like to donate them to children who will enjoy them when I no longer appreciate them for whatever reason.  

The next week week may have a lot of decisions points.  We will see.  We are looking forward to visiting with our friends this weekend.  If I”m having “too much fun” the journal entires may be somewhat erratic for the next several days, although I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to jot a few thoughts.  

That’s it for today, Saturday, July 26, 2014.  

Summer 2013 September 10

76/79 degrees.  Seems cool.  Just walked and lifted weights this morning, no cycle yet.  6th day since dental surgery.  Still bothers me, actually hurts worse this morning than before.  Apparently effects of swelling etc.  Just not ready to cycle yet.  

Extremely busy day yesterday, just really feel time limited to say the least.  Still limited in what I eat (obviously I chew on the right side of my mouth, but carrots and apples are still a hard sell to eat right now!).  

Birds out out again this morning, but a different type of bird, not the "cawing' bird.  Heard the cicadas last night, the sound always brings back my childhood when they were abundant.  The sound doesn't bother me in fact I kind of like it (like tree frogs).  

A number of meetings this week.  While I realize they are necessary, they take up a lot of time.  

Kali and Katherine are into school again.  I remember when I was their age, I always silently wish them well.  It is difficult and each person has to live it herself.

Summer is ending soon.  Life cycles fast.  I know that everyone has to change, it is a necessary process, but... 

The Apple announcement is today.  I always look forward to what they are going to present, hopefully a "surprise" this year!  I jumped from an iPhone 3 to an iPhone 5 (I really like the iPhone 5), so I am unlikely to upgrade to just an enhanced iPhone 5s very soon.  I have learned to check the "product cycle" since it seems I tend to purchase something just as it becomes obsolete by the next cycle.  (Purchased my first iMac, just before the change to the intel chip etc.) Anyway, that has made me very cautious  about buying Apple products that have been around for awhile.  

My poem today, from "The World Without End is Ending" is "Celebration".  Again, I was in a Poetry class where each poem was aimed at a certain objective.  I don't know what the objective was on this one, but I enjoyed writing it.  some of my favorite things are in there, coffee, the mail (now e-mail!), lifting weights (I used to do it at noon, which was a wonderful break in the day, not I do it early morning), cherry pie and twilight.  

CELEBRATION

I celebrate

The first jolting cup of hot black coffee

Lake a blade cutting through the fading dreams

I celebrate the ritual of 

Lifting weights of iron

In the middle of daily chaos

 I celebrate the surprise phone calls

The morning mail,

A letter or card arriving

Like a sudden unexpected gift

I celebrate the cherry pie

Delightfully red and sweet

A marvel of perfection

Amid the routine of ordinary

I celebrate the twilight

And all stars defending the settling

Of darkness

Summer 2013: August 6

Happy Birthday to me!

76 degrees, cloudy, no rain right now, may arrive later.  

Another year older today!  I still sometimes feel that this is a dream, as time simply can't pass this fast!  I don't really have any thoughts about getting older, or I guess I do, but I don't have time to write them down right now, maybe later!

Relatively busy week scheduled, I have a lot of "read" & "write" projects that take time and concentration.

School started here yesterday, the start of school always signals that the Summer is starting to wane.

It has been a relatively cool summer here (in my opinion),  major heat waves and actually has been relatively comfortable most of the time.

May add some thoughts later about my birthday, or maybe not!  

Summer 2013 August 1

79 degrees this morning.  Still slightly coolish from the rains last night.

I am amazed that Staples Office Supplies and Dell Computer stay in business based on their horrible customer "service".  

As discussed before, an item I bought at Staples Office Supplies quit working.  I following instructions and, in spite of having purchased an "extended warranty" that guaranteed in house repair, I was advised to "call the 800 number".  I did and was advised a "box to return the item will be sent to you".  That was over three weeks ago.

I even received an e-mail from the Staples "Office of the President" and they apologized and said I would be send a "store card" to purchase another item to "fulfill the contract".  Guess what?  That was two weeks ago, still no action!!!  Pathetic.

Dell Computer isn't much better.  I have written on this before, so I won't bore you with it.

I always like August.  Of course, my birthday is in August and the weather is usually the type I like.  I actually enjoyed going to school so I alway anticipated returning to school.

One think I don't personally like about election campaigns is all of the yard signs.  I realize they are necessary and all that, but I am so glad when the election period and (most of) the signs are picked up, at least no new ones are put out.  

August ought to be an interesting month.  I hate to see baseball season end, but it also means (college for me) football will begin. 

My six (or seven?) year old MacBook battery is finally going out.  I get a message to "replace soon".   I hope that is referring only to the battery.

The morning "hyper time" continues.  I don't really know where the time goes in the morning. It is like someone forwards the clock.

Summer 2013 July 29

Relatively cool weather this morning (70 degrees), it is turning out to be a cool summer.  I really noticed a lot of difference in the heat between here and Topeka, Kansas (it seemed a lot more muggy in Topeka, not sure why, maybe the altitude).

Speaking of time, one reason I don't watch many videos on the computer or watch hardly any live tv is that they seem to have no concept that my time is valuable!  I can't pick and choose, like I can a newspaper, written story on the computer etc.  I also rarely to to movies for the same reason.  I guess I don't like ceding control of myself to someone else.  I especially hate wasting my time on hearing/seeing sports news, "celebrities" I know nothing about (or could care less about) etc., or crimes that I don't need to know about.  I have always been that way, not a matter of "getting older" or whatever". 

School will be starting next month, meaning summer is almost over.  I will miss going to the Redbird baseball games, we really have enjoyed it, even when they lose it is fun to sit outside. the Redbirds are a class organization.  For some reason, baseball is the only sport I really enjoy seeing "personally and live".  Maybe because it is outside and has a relatively even pace (the length of the games is one thing I don't like).  Anyway, I will miss them.  The Redbirds are a class organization and I enjoy dealing them them and seeing the games, even if it does take up an entire evening.

Speaking of time, I try to not schedule early morning (8:00 a.m. or before) appointments, if possible, so I won't intrude on my precious morning "hyper time".  I scheduled one this morning for some reason.  

The Lakeland Election campaign will be in full swing soon.  Campaign signs will be allowed starting today and I'm sure the informational mailings will start.  I will be glad when it is over.