Spring 2015 June 15 Monday

69  Degrees this morning 

CMA Fest 15 is over, on the way to Memphis to visit friends on the way back home.

First experience with an Uber car was good.  

It is all done by an app. I had two cars to choose from, one a Lexus and it showed their exact location, tag number etc. and estimated arrival time.  (You also get an fee range.)

By the time I finished the app (literally), I got a phone call the driver was at the front door.  The trip from downtown to the Airport was $13.00, usually at least a $25 taxi drive or at least a $15 shuttle ride (for 1) plus lots of hassle waiting, although I don’t know exactly what the fare would be.   I can see why people use Uber. 

In the right situation, I”d simply sell my car and use the Uber car, although I use my car for work, plus the outer fringes of a city may not be as quick as a downtown area.  

CMA Fest 15 seemed to go fast.  It was Thursday and now it is Monday.  I am debating the hotel question, i am concerned I may lose a downtown hotel for next year, but I want to get the same hotel. 

Since the hotel tax for Tennessee is an unbelievable 20% (well, 19.5%), I always try to use points.  You literally pay $20 tax on every $100 of room rate.  Rental cars are the same way, although the fees can be much more, in come cases I have seen fees were more than 100% of the the rental charge.

I don’t care what the reason is, that just isn’t right.  I really don’t  see the relationship between a rental car and a huge subsidy to a football or basketball team etc.  It is called “fleecing the visitors”.

Looking forward to visiting friends in Memphis.  Wish we could have scheduled more than one day, but that is better than nothing.  

Yesterday (Sunday) we saw some great performances and overall wrapped up the CMA Fest.

It was a nice vacation, it was good to get away from moving for awhile, since when we are moving, we feel like we always should be working on moving when we have any spare time.  

We rented a “one way” rental car to go from Nashville to Memphis and then we’ll fly from Memphis.  We actually spent Sunday night in Dickson, Tennessee, which is out from Nashville so we wouldn’t have to deal with early morning rush hour traffic and everyone leaving from the CMA Fest etc.  

I had a slight problem when I turned to go to the hotel in Dickson and turned into the interstate, resulting in a 20 mile trip before I could get back!   Thank goodness I wasn’t in a real hurry, although I was definitely ready to  get to bed and some sleep to prepare for today.

I am going to try to rely on web based news and see how I do.  I thought I would do that this weekend, but the hotel has free copies of USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, so of course I wasn’t able to resist and read the physical newspapers.  

Since my newspaper is delivered too late for me to read in the morning, I will see how I like reading the electronic copies of the newspapers I normally read in the morning.  

A lot of it will depend on my morning routine.  Each time we move, my  routine changes, depending on what is available.  In Lakeland that included about 45 minutes on the stationary bike reading the newspapers, but I never could get that started here, since the newspapers came so late and the exercise place, while open 24 hours and about 1 1/2 miles away (at max) was just too inconveniently located for me to bike to it. 

We’ll see what develops as a good morning exercise routine.  

That’s it for now, Monday, June 15, 2015.  

Spring 2015 June 14 Sunday (Nashville CMA Fest)

70 Degrees this morning.  

The posting of this journal may be delayed the next two days (Monday and Tuesday) due to travel plans etc.

Last day of CMA Fest.  Always a little sad how fast it goes.  Something we have looked forward to for literally a year, suddenly it is here and then gone.   We have enjoyed it, somehow the positive experiences always far outweigh the negative.

Over the years we have attended this (we think it is eleven), we have learned not to do too much, not to have extremely high expectations, but just to enjoy it for what it is and enjoy what we do each day and don’t worry about what we missed or the negative experiences, but to value the positive and unexpected experiences.  I have learned the first day is a good day to complain and after that to just deal with it and enjoy.  If you try to do too much you end up enjoying nothing.  

Same attitude we try to have about life!  

As with life, over 11 years we have seen many performers come and many go.  We have watched new performers become literally legends in music (Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift Dirks Bentley, among many), many flame out, popular one or two years never to be seen again (I don’t think it is necessary to name names) and many who have been popular gradually fade from the scene and others who maintain popularity and high performance to the end.

The saddest is the ones who should have stopped but don’t.  Again, no names, but we saw one yesterday, and it is really sad.   And it’s not a matter of age even.  All performers age, and adjust to the changes of age, and maintain high standards, in this case, I am sure it is a medical condition that someone should point out, but like the emperor who has no clothes no one wants to point it out, including me.  

I am looking forward to today, I get to see two of my favorite performers, (Wade Hayes and John Berry)  in a setting where I can be close and get to talk with them (if I want).  They are both performing in a smaller venue and have a “meet and greet’ afterwards (or before) where you have a good chance of meeting them. 

We don’t collect autographs, but sometimes we do like to personally tell someone we really enjoy their music and getting an autograph is kind of expected. One I have never seen personally perform before (John Berry), but I really enjoy his performances.  

I actually saw John Berry on a video performing “O Holy Night’ and I listened to some of his other music and really enjoyed it.  It will be a treat to see him and meet him.  Wade Hayes had a song I really enjoyed years ago,and he became a favorite. We actually saw him perform and talked with him last year. 

I am playing a game of “chicken” with the hotel.  We really like the hotel we are staying at, but they aren’t taking reservations yet (for next year’s CMA Fest).  There is one room available in a downtown hotel (for points) about a block further, but I am waiting for reservations for this to open up.  There is always a chance we won’t be able to get a room but I really think we will be able to get one here.  

We have tried the “stay far away and drive” concept, and it doesn’t work for us.  We need to be close, where we can get away for short periods.  

I have taken a bunch of photos, but haven’t posted anything yet, since I used (mostly) my camera and I didn’t bring my photo  hard drive.  I have a one terabyte hard drive I use for my photos and I just attach it go the computer I am on (my desktop or my laptop) and it automatically saves to that. I may not need to do that, now with Flickr and Google having such good photo storage.

Our (possibly) first Uber car ride this morning.  We are renting a “one way” car (again on points) to drive to Memphis and see some friends before we return home.  I plan on taking an “Uber car” to the airport to pick up the car.

Last day of CMA Fest 15.  We are planning to enjoy it. 

That’s it for now, Sunday, June 14, 2015.

Spring 2015 June 13 Saturday (Nashville CMA Fest)

71 Degrees this morning.  

CMA Fest is more than half over.

It has reached that point where reality tends to blend with unreality as the day becomes to actually take on a slight routine.  

Overall excellent day yesterday, performances were good, and, if were in to rating the experiences, which we aren’t, we would be picking from the best of excellent or even outstanding.  

I think seeing performances which aren’t quite up to par are part of the experience, especially here, where experience literally ranges from the beginners to the very experienced, and all stages in between.  

I think that is what keeps us coming back.

Slight rain yesterday, we just avoided getting drenched, but the  rain was over quickly (in the late morning) and it almost got cool for awhile, but the sun prevailed.  

This is a real vacation for both of us, since Aliene has been in the habit of moving literally every time she has any spare time, so it is a real vacation for her to suddenly not having moving hanging over her head every minute.  

I enjoyed swimming again yesterday.  It did reinforce my desire to have someplace I can swim on a regular basis.  One problem with the YMCA is that some of the more competitive  lap swimmers tend to run over you if you are just a dog paddler like I am.  (I swim laps, but obviously am not very fast and don’t really care how fast I am, I just want to enjoy myself and get some exercise.)  

I think the YMCA near us has several pools, or at least my time is more flexible than it used to be so hopefully I can work it out.  Of course, I now qualify for the “Senior” times, if they have times set aside for “Seniors”. 

The transition from Spring coolness to Summer was certainly sudden.  While I enjoy heat, the transition has been a rapid change.  It is hard to imagine the coolness of just several weeks ago.

Trying to remember my dreams has been an interesting experience.  While I don’t always remember everything (make that I never remember everything, I just remember small bits), the general themes seem to be bicycles (especially broken bicycles), hotels or other places of transition, high places (especially artificial ones like ferris wheels, buildings etc.) and family.  

Additional themes to some degrees appear to be cars/vehicles, and buildings and some from of travel.

Not a bad combination of themes!  I have no idea what dreams mean and haven’t really checked on it.  I really think dreams have some function, but I don’t know what.  

I know when I don’t sleep for long periods of time (as in college etc.), I would start hallucinating and when I take short naps (which is several times a day), i have very intense and vivid dreams, so I believe that dreams are essential to sleep or vice versa.

Looking forward to another day of CMA Fest.  As they say, even the worse day of CMA Fest is better than a day not at CMA Fest.  Well not really, but anyway.  I remember hearing “A bad day in the field is better than an outstanding day in the office” many times and it seemed like it may relate!

Now the hard part, trying to get a hotel room (on points) for next year.  It has gotten a lot more difficult over the years and has become somewhat of a game that I enjoy.

Wishing everyone an enjoyable weekend. 

Oh yes, one little dream I had yesterday, I just remember the ending:

Dream 6-12-15:

Dream in some kind of carnival or arts festival.  In an old town.  

Last part i remember is riding an old bicycle with Aliene on the back (double style) and I was riding out of old building down the driveway  somewhere.  

Prior to that there seemed to be a lot of interaction, but I forgot the dream before that before I could write it down.

That’s it for today, Saturday, June 13, 2015

Spring 2015 June 12 Friday (Nashville CMA Fest)

72 Degrees this morning.  

Second day of CMA Fest already  

It has been fun, although I hope there are better days in terms of both performances and other aspects.  

Ok, this is a rant today.  I try to avoid rants, but if a rant is needed, a rant it will be.

First, one of our biggest concerns was that some of the arrogant “fans” who think it is their “right” to stand up in front of you the entire time blocking your view was in front of us.  I’ll be diplomatic and say that they both were big enough to block the view of anyone behind them and they were old enough to know better.  (There are areas where it is expected that the fans will stand up the entire time, but this isn’t it.).  Hopefully they won’t be there again.

I also don’t mean standing up occasionally, even for several entire songs, this is standing their knowing they are blocking your view.

It is bad enough when some of the young (or drunk) fans stand up in front of you, this was persons who were old enough to know better.  

Anyway, not much you can do about it except hope it doesn’t happen again. 

Another factor, one that has us questioning if we are coming back is the emphasis on money over “fan” convenience or enjoyment.  

The CMA Fest is set up to benefit some local charity on music education.  We have been attending for (I think) eleven and we continue to see changes that reflect gouging the persons attending instead of making it a good experience.  

Just several recent examples (there is always one or two more items each year):’

-No “physical” program this year.  If the “App” was good, it may have been ok, but the App isn’t that good.  Nothing fancy, just a single sheet of paper would have been fine.  

-Shuttle buses, Apparently to save money and complete lack of concerns for the fans, shuttle buses (at midnight!) only stop at two stops near downtown Nashville, both almost as far from the hotels as they can.  :While the number of people mean it is relatively safe, it doesn’t make a lot of sense except they are trying to make more money at the fan expense.

-There is a nightly concert at which over 70,000 fans attend.  Security, ok, I understand that.  but last night they closed at least one mens rest room, meaning the remaining one close to use was always packed.  Apparently another  attempt to save money at the expense of the fans.

There are numerous other small things they add each year, but this is illustrative.  

The CMA Fest is supposed to be about the fans, not the money the volunteer organization makes (or what they personally, or the merchants make etc., although most of the workers arr volunteers).  All of the performers actually perform for no fee or expenses of any kind.  

I think they are killing the golden goose.  

We have to buy our tickets a year in advance.  We may try to sell them back or sell them on “stub hub”, who knows.  

Fortunately, there are still moments when it is all worth it, in spite of the rude fans (a minority in any event), but we are seriously considering if it will be worth it in the future.  Probably will not buy tickets in advance next year and see what they do next year.

Hopefully they will come to their senses and realize it is time to go back to making the convenience of the fans a priority.  

I promise to be more positive in the future!

That’s it for now, Friday, June 12, 2015.2015 June 12 Friday (Nashville, CMA Fest)

72 Degrees this morning.  

Second day of CMA Fest already  

It has been fun, although I hope there are better days in terms of both performances and other aspects.  

Ok, this is a rant today.  I try to avoid rants, but if a rant is needed, a rant it will be.

First, one of our biggest concerns was that some of the arrogant “fans” who think it is their “right” to stand up in front of you the entire time blocking your view was in front of us.  I’ll be diplomatic and say that they both were big enough to block the view of anyone behind them and they were old enough to know better.  (There are areas where it is expected that the fans will stand up the entire time, but this isn’t it.).  Hopefully they won’t be there again.

I also don’t mean standing up occasionally, even for several entire songs, this is standing their knowing they are blocking your view.

It is bad enough when some of the young women (usually always female) stand up in front of you, this was persons who were old enough to know better.  

Anyway, not much you can do about it except hope it doesn’t happen again. 

Another factor, one that has us questioning if we are coming back is the emphasis on money over “fan” convenience or enjoyment.  

The CMA Fest is set up to benefit some local charity on music education.  We have been attending for (I think) eleven and we continue to see changes that reflect gouging the persons attending instead of making it a good experience.  

Just several recent examples (there is always one or two more items each year):’

-No “physical” program this year.  If the “App” was good, it may have been ok, but the App isn’t that good.  Nothing fancy, just a single sheet of paper would have been fine.  

-Shuttle buses, Apparently to save money and complete lack of concerns for the fans, shuttle buses (at midnight!) only stop at two stops near downtown Nashville, both almost as far from the hotels as they can.  :While the number of people mean it is relatively safe, it doesn’t make a lot of sense except they are trying to make more money at the fan expense.

-There is a nightly concert at which over 70,000 fans attend.  Security, ok, I understand that.  but last night they closed at least one mens rest room, meaning the remaining one close to use was always packed.  Apparently another  attempt to save money at the expense of the fans.

There are numerous other small things they add each year, but this is illustrative.  

The CMA Fest is supposed to be about the fans, not the money the volunteer organization makes (or what they personally, or the merchants make etc., although most of the workers arr volunteers).  All of the performers actually perform for no fee or expenses of any kind.  

I think they are killing the golden goose.  

We have to buy our tickets a year in advance.  We may try to sell them back or sell them on “stub hub”, who knows.  

Fortunately, there are still moments when it is all worth it, in spite of the rude fans (a minority in any event), but we are seriously considering if it will be worth it in the future.  Probably will not buy tickets in advance next year and see what they do next year.

Hopefully they will come to their senses and realize it is time to go back to making the convenience of the fans a priority.  

I promise to be more positive in the future!

That’s it for now, Friday, June 12, 2015.

Spring 2015 June 11 Thursday (Nashville, CMA Fest)

72  degrees this morning.  

Nashville.  I normally don’t “exercise” walk in the morning since I will get plenty of walking in during the day.  Sitting in the hotel lobby drinking coffee and water.  

CMA Fest officially starts today.  I have been lining up who I wish to see.  They had some activities yesterday and in fact have had  activities all week, but it really all starts today.

Had a chance for a long swim in the hotel pool, probably the longest I have had  in a year.  I really enjoyed it.

That decided me, i have to have access to a swimming pool!  I like the feel of moving through through the water and the clean feel of it.

As I probably mentioned before, one thing I really like about the CMA Fest is the wide variety of old and new, different varieties of music etc.  

We realize how things change when we come back to a place once a year.  The restaurant we used to eat our “first lunch” at the CMA Fest, has changed from what I would  say is  a sports atmosphere to a relatively upscale Italian restaurant.  We preferred the old and from the number of people we saw, everyone else does also!

Actually Nashville has a wide variety of wonderful restaurants.  The hotel we are staying at serves breakfast and also an evening snack that can substitute for supper.  

The number of new hotels and buildings in Nashville is astounding.  A year ago, the ‘Omni” hotet had just been built about 800 rooms and just since a Hilton Garden Inn, a Hyatt hotel etc.  has been build and a number of other hotels.  Somehow they all are doing well.

One thing I really like about this hotel room is the wonderful whirlpool tub (much bigger than a tub) that feels so good after a long day of walking, standing etc. Makes me want to get a hot tub!

For the first time this year, the CMA Fest did not print a program or have any kind of “goodie bag”.  Everything is on the app, which I assume saves them a lot of money, but it is a little more difficult to keep track of the schedule.

Old habits die hard.  I can’t bring myself not to respond to work e-mails or phone calls.  I just wouldn’t feel right  not responding until after my vacation is over!

CMA Fest can be a problem for dieting.  The hotel provides a wonderful breakfast, and then there is temptation throughout the day, as well as the feeling if you don’t eat “now”,  you will be hungry later.  

One thing I noticed was a major change, is I took the whirlpool bath.  For the first time, I had no paper book, magazine or newspaper to read while I took my bath.  Times change.  (Actually I did have a throwaway paper with the CMA Fest news, but nothing no physical book or magazine etc. 

It is nice to have a break from the continuous moving, although we do try to balance things out and not spend all our time on moving.  Now  that we are in the house with all of our stuff, we are start the long process of settling in.  I got my basic office set up.  Aliene, who is a lot better at this than I am, has gotten the basic structure of the house set up, now it will be time to go through boxes and try to get both cars in the garage! 

Looking forward to the first day of the CMA Fest.  I know it will be Sunday before I know it.  I always say events like these are like life, when you finally learn your way around, it is over.

That’s it for now, Thursday, June 11, 2015.

Spring 2015 June 10 Wednesday

Spring 2015 June 10 Wednesday

This is being written on an early flight to Nashville (actually to Chicago first and then on to Nashville).  We are attending the “CMA Fest”, probably for the 10th year or so.

It is  strange how even the years tend to meld together.  

This is always fun, with some usual frustrations, but we always remember the fun part and forget the frustrating parts (well, usually).  

I’ll provide some pictures as the Fest goes on.  

The really fun thing about this Festival is that we can see such a wide range of music and musicians.  You see the ones starting out, many of the stars, and many of the “legends” or he ones who have crossed past the “star” category.  

We like Nashville.  For the most part, there are no waitresses, waiters, cab drivers etc., there are only songwriters, singers, musicians etc . who are temporarily filling in as waitresses, waiters, cab drivers etc. as they wait for the wheel of fortune to stop for them.

For most, it doesn’t, and Nashville has an unbelievable number of panhandlers etc. who probably decided to give fame a try and it didn’t work out, or they are still trying.  

We got up early this morning to leave, so this journal will/was be posted later than usual.  

Today (Wednesday) isn’t officially the start of the festival, although they have a parade, a lot of other activities and an awards show tonight.  If you look out the window or stand outside you can see the limousines pull up with the stars in them.  The crowd gathers early to watch.

Yesterday, we enjoyed “gluten free” crepes at a little shop in the downtown area, an area you used to be a little concerned to be walking in.  They were very good.  I had an “Elvis Crepe” without the bananas (an Elive Crepe is like an Elvis sandwich, peanut butter, banana and chocolate, some of which is either toasted or fried, I can’t remember which).  They had a number of other crepes, all gluten free.  However, they definitely were not calorie free.

Last night we packed for the first time in a long time (since December) for an overnight trip, although we had plenty of practice packing while moving.

We plan on driving to Memphis to see some friends and then flying from Memphis to home.

Frequently a “one-way rental” can be prohibitive, but in this case it was reasonable.  We save up all our credit card points etc. for this so our motel rooms are free.  This is the first year we had to fly, but our flights are “free” also. Provides a good excuse for attending!

One thing I really like about the Festival is the  variety of entertainment etc. as I mentioned earlier.  Each performer usually performs their best music.  I think every festival, we have hear at least one new singer or performer that was new to us that we started to follow.  

The move into the new house continues.  Almost evreything is moved and we are getting the “old” house ready for the final inspection and trying to find things in the “new house”.  Changing addresses, remembering the new zip code etc. is always a part of moving.  Our new zip code is only one digit away from our previous zip code.

Well, we think we remembered almost everything for the trip.  We’ll find out for sure when we unpack!

Had a chance during the flight to just set and drink a cup of coffee and relax.  It was nice.

That’s it for now, Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Spring 2015 June 9 Tuesday

73 degrees this morning. Walk 38:02 minutes (different route)

Sitting outside on the patio after my morning walk. It is nice  out here, although it is completely dark yet.  Perhaps a small light would be nice, but on the other hand it would just attract insects.  

Our third night in our new house and actually the first “regular” day, a Monday when I work etc.  I am enjoying the home office, it is about the same size as the one in the other house, but it has a ceiling fan, which is nice.  Also, since it is our  house, I feel I can decorate it any way I want.  It may actually be a little larger. 

My desk is right in front of the window, which I like, but  it also means there is a space where things can drop behind the desk, so I will need to be careful or perhaps set up some type of security.  

A dog barks in the distance, perhaps feeling my presence, but I think I am too far away.

I like dogs, but, that this dog barking, at a distance.

I once read a book about the scent of dogs, how they can remember thousands of scents.  Dogs are really amazing animals and it is a real shame when they are not treated right.

At the other house, I only saw a stray dog on one walk, and he was too well maintained to be a stray.  I never heard a dog bark.  Hopefully this neighborhood will be the same.  

Every time i hear a dog bark in the distance I think of the video/song by Paul McCartney, that starts “There’ll be another Day, until Tomorrow”  (or something like that).  I am amazed that I can put lyrics in Google and get the song.

Actually the lyrics are “I can wait another day until I call you” from the song “No More Lonely Nights” as per my Google search.  (Sorry Bing, I tried you first and you failed.)

I used to sing the lyrics for my granddaughters when they were younger and they always got a kick out of it and “secretly” videotape or tape it and play it back.

The early morning is always so peaceful and quiet, especially outside. I think that is one reason i love my morning walk so much and sitting on the patio.

Actually, I saw on the patio yesterday morning and read e-mail, etc.  It was very pleasant.

Unfortunately, the paper didn’t come until 6:45 am., which is simply unacceptable, so I expect my lifelong habit of reading at least one, and normally two or three daily newspapers will end.  It arrives so late I simply don’t read it and it may well be that the time has come to use my time more wisely.

I don’t regret my newspaper habit, I really enjoyed it, but the service here is so late it just doesn’t fit my day.  

Actually I don’t for computer news that much either.  It seems that each site, rather than present a balance or even an unbiased view, slants it to meet their preconceived notions or views, or whichever advertiser pays it the most.  obviously the major national news channels are just as bad or worst.  Also, I just don’t care fore video since it takes so much time, and they all try to trap you into watching video so they charge their advertiser for the “view” and many of the “news stores” are simply advertising stories.  

When I see all of the “concepts”, the apps, all the “advertiser supported” sites etc., I really wonder, where are all of these advertisers going to come from?

Day “in the field” yesterday.  A lot of new experiences, which is what I love about my job.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, June 9, 2015.  

Spring 2015 June 8 Monday

72 degrees this morning.  40:38 minute walk.

First walk in the new neighborhood.  A lot different, has a lot more hills, not a traditional pattern of streets.  Of course, very narrow streets in keeping with this City’s policy of maximum profits and minimum cost for residential and commercial developers and builders.  

Overall, the streets were reasonably clean, thanks to the efforts of the storm water department of the the City.

Our Anniversary yesterday was nice, although we spent most of the day working finishing up moving, unpacking, etc.  We had a nice dinner (and breakfast).  

I find I actually enjoy tearing down boxes, that is, cutting them up so they will fit in the garbage carts.  

While I don’t necessarily feel that cardboard needs to be recycled to save trees, I do feel they should be recycled to save space in landfills  I really can’t believe a City this large and supposedly up to date (but only when it benefits commercial or residential developers or builders) has such an obsolete recycling policy and actually doesn’t recycle cardboard and still uses the little bins.  Someone has their head somewhere it doesn’t belong.

I’m not sure why I actually enjoy curling up cardboard boxes and try to challenge myself to get as many boxes as possible in the garbage carts.  I realized that last year when I was cutting up extra boxes that I enjoyed the challenge and the actual techniques used to cut up boxes.

I should that the only way to cut up boxes is a “box knife”.  

I first cut up boxes when I was in college and working for a store that cut up their boxes to minimize the cost of disposal.  The disposal company charged a lot more if they had to pick up uncut boxes, so one of my jobs was to cut the boxes up so they would fit in the dumpster.  

I have actually given this some thought (why I enjoy cutting up boxes) but really can’t think of a  reason.

So far we enjoy the house.  It appears to be well built (with the exception of the concrete company) with some design factors that make you wonder what they were thinking.  

We have the normal “where is that” as we look for items we have packed and can’t find.  I’m sure that will continue for some months.  

It is so nice to have a phone, internet and cable tv again.  Especially the internet, you realize just how dependent we are on the internet and electricity.  

We considered dropping our home phone, but decided to keep it for at least another year.

the security system uses something which does not require a home phone (or cell) and will activate even if the phone system is out  Since our front door is windowless, we also decided to spring for a security camera that we can see who is at the door.

Several dreams:

Dream # 1:The last part involved riding in a fire truck with Angela, as a little girl  We kept waiting for the fire truck to stop and let her off, but it wasn’t stopping.  It kept driving around in circles , on a area kind of like a farm.

The fires truce driver was not a good driver and kept driving around in circles.  At some point a City Manager I know appeared and seemed puzzled

Don’t recall the first part of the dream that well.

Dream # 2:First part of dream I was at a symphony concert  (Swan Lake was playing) and suddenly people started jumping in the swimming pool (I assume fully clothed) and splashing water over the audience

I started laughing out loud, I thought it was funny.

Don’t remember much else on that, next part 

I was on a Ferris Wheel and keep throwing the parts of the seat off the Ferris Wheel.  Then I would get scared to death as the Ferris Wheel came down.

In another scene, I was trying to get out of a building and and woman were carrying a lot of stuff and blocked my path.  They kept standing there at the stairs and every time I moved the person in front of me moved (not deliberately, almost like by accident) so I couldn’t pass.

At the end of the dream I wasn’t sure if the person in front of me was a woman with long hair or a horse with a long tail.

Weird, but it was a dream.

That's it for now, Monday, June 8, 2015

Spring 201 June 7 Sunday (Anniversary! New House)

 Spring 2015 June 7 Sunday (Anniversary!, New House!)

18 years ago Aliene and I married, on June 7, 1997!  It is a decision I have certainly never regretted.  A lot of experiences that we never could have expected, and that is what we expected when we got married.

When we actually met is unknown, but we know it was in dance class during one of dance lessons at the dance club we first attended.  There are different times that we remember prior to actually dating, and there were sparks, but  the sparks turned into a fire in January of 1997, and I think about three weeks later we decided to get married.

We actually both went to a dance practice.  I wasn't planning on attending, but decided to get some weights on sale (bar bells) and went to the dance practice afterwards and our lives completely changed!

We just spent our first night in our new house, so we will always remember when we moved into the house!

Moving went as well as could be expected, both of us were worn out last night.  We are glad we got the movers to move our furniture and heavy stuff.  By the time we rented a truck etc., it was easy to justify the cost.

Even though the movers moved our furniture and set everything up, we still had a lot of moving and physical work involved in unpacking, moving furniture around etc.

Now, we will be looking for everything for months.  Actually, during our move, I found something (a light for my bike) that I had "lost" during our move from Lakeland!  I looked and looked for it and finally thought I had  accidentally donated it.  It is an expensive item (but important for bike safety), so I am glad to have found it.

We met our neighbors who seemed very nice.  We are located near an elementary school, with a middle school and high school all nearby, so there are a lot of young children.

Thinking about it, it is almost a complete reversal of Lakeland where we lived in an "over 55" addition for the last 8 years or so in Lakeland.

I don't think either is necessarily "better", both have their good points.  However, it is nice to have children around and younger people and just the overall variety in ages also.

Also, I think the fact that the school system we are in is considered one of the best school systems in the state is nice, it is touted on the sales literature.

This state has completely independent school districts, with their own taxing ability etc.  They have no legal relationship with the cities, which I think it a lot better than the "city" or "county" system in many states including Tennessee.

I did't walk this morning, I thought about it but decided I had gotten plenty of exercise yesterday and probably will today!  I actually do know where my exercise clothes, shoes are etc., so that isn't an excuse!
We are looking forward to the new journey in our new house.  We actually got a lot done yesterday as far as moving, and expect to make more progress today, although we will take some breaks since it is out anniversary!

This was written on my iPad!  I have very limited access to the internet on this iPad.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to have much since I almost always use it on Wi Fi, but have a very limited amount for times like these.

That's it for now, Sunday, June 7, 2015.