Summer 2015 August 10 Monday

83 degrees this morning, walked 39:23 minutes

Another wonderful morning on the back patio this morning, even though there is lightning in the north west and it is Monday!

I really like sitting out and feeling the cooling wind and looking up at the stars.  I trust our neighbors dog to bark if any intruders get too close.  (Fortunately it almost never barks.)

The only thing that concerns me is with the extremely poor planning practices of this city, who knows what they may approve for vacant land west of my backyard.  

They don’t really seem to consider the quality of living, rather it is how much money the developers, builders and commercial people can make and how little they can get by with.  That will be the eventual destruction of this city as many of the living areas will deteriorate and become slums.

My new shoes are wonderful and I wonder why I delayed so long in getting new walking shoes when my feet were giving me problems.  

The socks-they are nice, and the amount of money they cost is really insignificant for the extra comfort they give.  I am switching back to my regular socks tomorrow and I’ll see if there is a difference.  (I know I should change my socks after every walk, but….)

The warranty on my “Mac Air” just went out, so I assume something will happen to it.  I keep it backed up just in case.  

I am debating which laptop to buy next, either another Mac Air, which I really like, or a “Macbook Pro” which actually has better performance and isn’t that much heavier than the Mac Air.  I’ll just have to actually see and feel the difference. 

While ordering by the internet is convenient, some things you just have to see first.  It is easy to say, “you can return it”, but…

We ordered our refrigerator without seeing the actual model.  We were also misled by the sales person as to the ice capacity.  We technically could have returned it, but….  We have gotten to the point we like it, but we would never have purchased it if we had seen the actual model.  

It is kind of like buying a car, I can never understand why the car salespersons thing you will buy a car you will live with daily for years and that is probably your major expense next to a house, based on a  10 minute “test drive”.  

It is kind of like my walking shoes, there is no way I could have found the shoe I really liked over the internet.  And of course, I am not about going to use the store to find the shoe (or anything else) I like than then order it over the internet.  

The shoe store actually even advertises they will recommend the best shoe for you, even if you decide to buy it somewhere else, although I doubt that many persons do that.  

Also, it is very difficult to return something over the internet, and some of the time, they (especially Amazon) will try to charge you the “shipping” (even if you got “free” shipping”).  Maybe not anymore, but then I rarely order from Amazon any more unless I am absolutely sure of what it is.  This was after getting a bunch of junk when I ordered what I thought were accessories for Apple products several years ago that didn’t work and were literally junk.  Never again.

I think I am going to try to take at least one picture per day to describe my day and perhaps put it in my blog.  I’ll wait until after I take the “WordPress” course.  I am starting tomorrow night. 

I dread the thought of sitting 3 hours (from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in a classroom, even if it is something I am really interested in and can use, but that  is the price of learning!  I’ll see how it goes.  

Going to be an unusually busy week as far as scheduled items.  The WordPress classes, some training at work and some other events is going to keep it busy.

That’s it for now, Monday, August 10, 2015.  

Summer 2015 August 9 Sunday

82 degrees this morning, walk 39:30 minutes.

Wind is blowing stronger this morning, it is very noticeable.  Sometimes the wind means a change in weather, although around here it is probably just because it is the wind blowing.

Actually met a car yesterday morning on my walk and one this morning (actually this morning it was a resident leaving).  I usually jump on the sidewalk when a car is coming, just out of caution, especially at this time of the morning, but here in many cases there is no sidewalk yet.  

The hot weather continues, although many stories note that it  is actually cooler this summer than average.  

Heard about the “endowment theory” this morning as another reason it is hard to get rid of items you already own.  Apparently the theory is that once you own something it has more value since you already own it and you will spend twice as much energy defending something you own as you  will in attempting to own something you don’t already have.  (or something like that.)

Anyway, it does make sense.  I guess in addition to ask if something brings you “joy” (or something equal to joy), you also need to ask, “would I buy this again”?  If not, I assume you could toss it without any real sense of (or actual) loss.

“Loss aversion” also comes into play in that you don’t like to lose something you already own!

I’m not quite sure where that leaves gifts or  “freebee” stuff like t-shirts, hats, pens etc. that you develop an attachment too.  

I wonder if that is why I hate to “sell” something, but don’t mind donating it.  Maybe putting a price on something I value cheapens its’ overall value to me.  

It is rather weird but I am starting to dream about work before I wake up in the morning (this isn’t my nap after my walk, but my “night” of sleep.  I wake up about an hour before I normally wake up thinking about some imaginary  account I am working on, I can never actually tie it to a specific case or person, just some kind of vague feeling of unease.

I’m not sure of the reason for the dream, since generally I feel confident about how fast I hand’e each case and what I do.  I don’t know if the dream is trying to tell me something, is simply a consolidation of learning and actions or it just that, a dream!

However, for about an hour, I wake up   several times thinking about some vague cases I am  (supposedly) working on

 What seemed like a lot of baseball is almost over as the (minor league) season winds down.  The local minor league team started off well, but is not losing almsot every game and probably won’t make the playoffs after all.  Such are the attributes of the minor leagues!  (The good players get called up.)

Overall, it has been well worth it (our “half” season tickets).  We are gradually dealing with the “all you can eat” food to “all you really need to eat”, although it is still easy to overeat, especially since most of the food is not the most healthy food you can  eat!  Although it really isn’t that bad,  they have salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breasts, cheese, chicken tenders, potato chips, peanuts and cookies.  

What I really like best is the free water!  It was actually   comfortable until the last several nights, when it was uncomfortably hot.  I just wish (I think) they had free ice cream!

That’s it for now, Sunday, August 9, 2015

Summer 2015 August 8 Saturday

81 degrees this morning walk (estimated) 40 minutes 

Perhaps it is operator error, or perhaps the new watch I bought is defective.  I’ll go back over the steps and see, but somehow the stopwatch function didn’t work this morning.  

Unfortunately, this watch feels cheap.  In the past I bought inexpensive (or cheap if you wish) watches at Walmart and they may have been inexpensive, but they didn’t feel or look cheap, this one looks and feels and looks cheap.

On the other hand, with every iPhone, repurposed iPhones etc., having a stop watch, i don’t really need a stopwatch for my walk, but they aren’t really convenient and obviously won’t work when I go swimming.  

Went swimming for a short period yesterday, it feels good to go swimming, hopefully I can keep going at times when it isn’’t too crowded.  

Another weekend, time flies by.  

I was just thinking this morning that it won’t be too long before it will be too cool to sit out on the patio and enjoy the light cooling wind as I write this, read etc.  Then I decided it was foolish to think about how soon it would  end, I need to enjoy it while it is here.  

It seems when it is hot and I can sit outside every morning it is difficult to imagine it being too cold to sit outside, while in the winter it is difficult to remember what it was like to sit  outside in the summer and feel the cooling wind.  

Actually, this house will be slightly different in that part of the patio is partially enclosed and has a fireplace.  Not quite sure how all of that will operationalize when it gets cold. I”ll see. 

“Office Day” yesterday, trying to catch up on some of the paperwork, prepare for future contacts.  Sometimes it is more effective to make contact by phone (or the only possible way), sometimes it is more effective in person.  

I have had some vivid dreams recently but didn’t get them noted down.  For the most part, they continue the  general trend of the dreams I have noted here.  l will try to make a note as soon as I wake up again.  For some reason, I seem to be having more vivid dreams that I wake up thinking is reality, although maybe it is just because I am paying more attention to them.  

Still listening to “The Believing Brain” on my morning walk.  A matter of some interesting and thoughtful information, along with some parts I would like to fast forward through.  Some authors just don’t know when to quit.  

He brings up some good points about the “confirmation bias” (evidence supports your beliefs, not  the other way around) etc., which is good  reaffirmation of something I already know.

Confirmed the  class for “WordPress” starting next week.  I think I was secretly both hoping and fearing the class wouldn’t “make” so it couldn’t be held, but apparently it has som einterest.

In a way, it is like learning to swim (or swim better), I don’t need to know how to train to become an expert, I just need to know enough so I can improve each day and maximize my use  from the WordPress program.  

For swimming, I just need to know enough to feel comfortable in deep water and know enough  swimming  techniques I can get a  good and  safe exercise swim.

That’s it for now Saturday August 8, 2015

Summer 2015 August 7 Friday

83 degrees this morning  Walk 39:21 minutes

A year older now.  As usual, I REALLY don’t feel as old as I am!  I still remember when I was a child and try to imagine what it would feel like to be this old, I really had no idea or concept, and maybe still don’t!

Going to try to go swimming at the YMCA again today.  It is a nice respite if I can arrange the time to do it.  Hopefully I will later include stationary bicycle riding and some weights.   They also have a reasonably nice outside trail for biking and walking/running, although I am not really the trail riding type of bicyclist.  Of course, I haven’t been around areas which have decent trails either.

Yesterday, I was bragging about finding two trees to park under at two different locatons.  

What makes it especially noteworthy is in a (probably) 160 acre tract of shopping center and related parking, all concrete and asphalt, there are (I counted) 3 trees.  Talk about a lack of concern by the city!

What highlights it even more is if you drive to an adjacent city, every shopping area has a buffer of trees, with the smallest area having more trees than the 160 acre tract in this city!

I fully realize it isn’t always feasible to “save” trees, but it seems as if they could at least require they plant some!  If they had planted some when the shopping center was started, they would have some decent trees now!

Which started me thinking about the other “major” malls, which have about the same number of trees on their  parking areas also, if any.

In spite of the 83 degree temperature, the patio is very nice this morning with a cooling early morning wind.  Of course, as soon as the sun comes out, that will all change.  

The “dog days of summer”, which I used to think were called that because the dogs disappeared into the bushes etc. to escape the heat!  

I love this weather and am enjoying it while it is here.  There is sometimes a brief period when it is even hot at night (although 83 degrees isn’t cool), but so far this year it hasn’t happened.  Better extreme hot weather than extreme cold weather!

Third day of wearing the new shoes and I have been very impressed.  I am surprised at myself for not realizing sooner how a good pair of shoes actually feels and is obviously well worth the money.  

I think so much money is spent on “marketing” the better known shoes that I just assumed it was a marketing ploy (and it may well be) rather than any actual difference in the shoes.  I can attest there definitely is a difference in these shoes and more inexpensive shoes.  

Starting my course on WordPress next week.  I am both looking forward to it and dreading sitting for three hours in a classroom, (it is a 3 hour per session, five session course), although I am also looking forward to what I will learn.  I have used “WordPress” for probably about five years, and feel like I really haven’t even scratched the surface of what I could do with it.

Friday is here, the week went fast, as usual, as the months and the year have gone fast.  I have gotten my monthly does of new accounts so I have been having an interesting time learning about my new accounts.

That’s it fo now, Friday, August 7, 2015.

Summer 2015 August 6 Thursday

79 degrees this morning.  No walk (rain last  night, didn’t want to walk in muddy spots!)

My watch which has a battery that has lasted for at least ten years that I can remember is now in a watery grave at the YMCA, I assume still moving along.  

The watch was so old and used so much the velcro strap didn’t hold good, and fell off in at least 7” of water, a little too deep for me to dive for what is essentially an experiment to see how long the battery will last.  I did use if for walking and swimming, as the stop watch still ran fine.  

I didn’t really have the gumption to ask someone to dive for a worthless watch, plus it gave me a chance to buy another sports watch.  (I buy all of my sports watches at Walmart-they sell excellent watches at very inexpensive prices if all you need is a sports watch that my get lost or damaged).

First swim at the YMCA yesterday and it was a “learning experience”, not that I didn’t enjoy it also.  

I jumped into the lane and suddenly realized that 7” was the “shallow” end!  It started a 7” and went ot 14”.  While I can dog paddle enough to last ok, it was a real shock to my system to “take a break” midway through and realize there was no bottom!  

No panic, but it was a feeling I will never forget.  I can float etc. without any problem.  Also I couldn’t  get out without going through other lanes, which was ok at the time since they weren’t that busy.

It still felt great to know there is a place I can swim on a regular basis and that has reasonably good hours and apparently isn’t too crowded when I have time to swim.

However, I did decide I will take some swimming lessons.  I may be using this YMCA for a long time and I may as well feel comfortable in deep water and get the most benefit from swimming.  Of course, it has been awhile since I swim on a regular basis and I will need to get my swimming arms and legs in shape!  

The YMCA has a great setup, they have a “competition pool” with about 15 lanes (as I found out from 7’ to 14’ deep) and a “leisurely pool” which is about 3-5 feel deep. It also has several “lanes” a regular pool and a “Lazy river”.

The rain last night was sudden and brief, although it was a good rain.  The builders have been doing a lot better here but I didn’t want to take the chance on getting my new shoes muddy and I didn’t want to switch to my old ones because the new ones feel so good!  

The shoe store advised it is no problem to wash the shoes, but I didn’t want to get them muddy this soon in their life!

Excellent morning here on the patio, a nice breeze, an excellent morning.  I really need to find a way to take my naps out here!

Yes, I remember, it is my birthday.  I have adjusted to getting older, experience,  Social Security and Medicare will take some of the sting out of it, plus I think somehow you just adjust to it and decide to enjoy life.  

Probably what has surprised me is to find out how prevalent age discrimination is (even among people of the same age) and the stereotypes about age, again by all ages.  It is funny, because, if you’re lucky, it is the one stage that everyone will experience, so it seems they would want to set the stage, but I think no one really feels like they will eventually grow old.  

No matter what, frankly, I wouldn’t want to go back.  I enjoy my current age, and I’m not really looking forward to some of the experiences of aging, at least I still have quite a few (possibly!) good years left and I will plan on enjoying them and making the most of them!  

Like I have said before, I am just glad I had the opportunity! 

That’s it for now, Thursday, August 6, 2015. 

Summer 2015 August 5 Wednesday (Happy Birthday Mary Anne and John)

78 degrees this morning.  Walk 39:06 minutes 

My older brother and sister were born exactly one year apart on this date!  I came along 3 years later, a day late.  May have set a pattern!  

We used to celebrate all of our birthdays together by going swimming and having a picnic etc.  if my memory is correct.

We’d go swimming the huge (in my memory) swimming pool and building built by the CCC.  It is still being used as a swimming pool.  

I have a strong belief in the value of “infrastructure”, which I won’t go into further right now, but think of where we would be without the interstate system, railroad system, airports, etc., including the internet.

By the way, Al Gore DID play an important role in the development of the internet as we know it today. He may not have invented it, but it could have been a lot less valuable if it weren’t for his efforts.

Back to important events, I wore my new shoes and “performance” socks today.  I have to say, I can definitely feel the difference from the shoes (I noticed I even walked faster and definitely have more of a “spring” in my feet and, although this is just the second day, my feet and knees feel much better)!  And this is even after wearing a good quality shoe for the past 8 months! 

The shoes are definitely worth the money, in fact, more than worth the money.  Probably I will save a lot more than what the shoes cost (and future such shoes every 7 or 8 months) than the doctor bills and medical bills!

The socks are more subtle.  When I first put them on, I could feel they were lighter (they have  very understated mesh over the top of the foot and the top of the sock) which is cooler and it wasn’t until I almost finished my walk I realized how nice they were.

I actually have relatively good quality socks already, and I cycle through about 20 pairs of socks, so I don’t really use one pair that much.  

However, these socks definitely fit better and may provide more of a support for my feet.  If they don’t “ball up” , they will be worth it.  

The socks have a “lifetime” guarantee for “the life of the sock”  I was trying to figure out what the “lifetime of a sock” is, which, from my  research, really is “my” lifetime, not the lifetime of a sock.  Of course, they probably figure I will lose the sock long before it wears out.  

I was surprised at the number of socks with a “lifetime” guarantee, which appear to be for the lifetime of the owner and not some stated “lifetime” of the sock.  

The joys of a manufacturer which stands behind their product and takes pride in making a decent product!

Although I made my work slightly shorter, it does appear I am walking faster.  I want to start a map that shows the distance I walk each day, maybe I can start a virtual “walk with the Summer’”.  Actually, the bike would show a lot more progress on a map, and I could do a virtual “ride with the summer” from the south boundary of Texas to the north boundary of North Dakota.  (I was rather shocked to realize I didn’t know how to spell “Dakota”!)

There must be an app for that!  (Mapping a walk or ride, I know there is apps for spelling!)

Weather is excellent this morning, a wonderful morning on the patio.  I think I will grab an air mattress and take my nap out here this morning!

That’s it for now, Wednesday, August 5, 2015.   

Summer 2015 August 4 Tuesday

79 degrees this morning, walk 39:58 minutes

Looked like rain coming in this morning prior to my walk, but it was far enough away that I was able to get my walk in (and it still isn’t raining yet, in fact it is clear).

Wore my new shoes this morning and I am, so far, very pleased with them.  I hadn’t realized how “squashed” my  previous walking shoes had become, although they are still a lot better than the ones I used to wear.  I can literally feel the “bounce” as I walk.  

I think I will make a small note on the number of miles I walk and the “bounce” in the shoes to see if i can detect at what point the “bounce is gone”.  Probably not, at least measuring it on a daily basis.

If there was a way I could measure it every week or every month and remember what it felt like the previous month (which is impossible if I wear them every day), I could probably quickly tell how long the “bounce” lasts.  

The old “boil a frog by gradually increasing the heat of the water” trick!

The shoe person said a pair of shoes should be good to 250 to 300 miles and the ones I bought should be good for an additional 200 miles, so that makes 450 to 500 miles, about 7 months with my current walking patterns, if I’m figuring right.  Roughly next April or May I may need a new pair of shoes, if his figures are right.  

I always think it is unusual how we think (not necessarily me personally, but overall).  We don’t hesitate to pay $25 for a usual meal that we don’t need, but hesitate to pay $10 for something that will make our life a lot better for months!  I am referring to walking socks.  I really hesitated about paying what I did for the shoes (a lot more than I have ever spent on walking/running shoes before) and hesitated even more about paying $10 for a pair of “advanced” socks that may protect my feet for months or even years!  

I don’t know if they “hi-tech” sock is going to feel better or not, but I am going to try it out.  I realize a lot of stuff isn’t worth the extra money, but I decided to check out the socks.  I didn’t wear them this morning, but I well in the near future, probably tomorrow morning.  I wasn’t sure how long a walk I would get in this morning if the storm came in.  

Speaking of, I just heard the first “thunder” so the storm is coming in, at least somewhere close.  It looked like a relatively local storm, although it did look like it was coming to use.

Now that I have a YMCA membership, I am going to have to decide how to fit it into my daily schedule.  The fact I can shower etc. at the YMCA makes it a lot easier to try to use the YMCA each day.  

What I really want to to do is go swimming at least several days per week and also increase my weight lifting and exercise routines.

It will also be nice to have a place to go to walk etc. in the event of bad weather.  

The cooling wind is picking up some as the  storm is coming in.  I can hear the thunder now, but don’t see the lightning.  The first drops of rain are starting to fall.

Field Day today for work, I have several appointments set up.  I should get my new “monthly tasks” this morning, which is always interesting.  

Rain is starting.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Summer 2i015 August 3 Monday

82 degrees this morning, walk 42:43 minutes 

Almost didn’t walk this morning, the “weather app” showed rain coming in this area.  Although i couldn’t tell if it was actually in my area, the the chance of rain was only about 40%, you never know.

I didn’t wear my new shoes since I didn’t want to take the chance of getting them muddy the very first day.  

Of course, it didn’t rain or even come close to rain. that I could tell.  A little cloudy but that was it.

I need to wear my new shoes since I have a 30 day guarantee “for any reason” I can take them back for a full refund.  I doubt that I will do that but it is nice to know they have confidence int their product.

Kind of like Hampton Inn, a “no questions” refund even after you stay the night.  I read that only about 2 % of the people took advantage of it.  I think of all the Hampton Inn’s we stayed at over the times we cane back and forth from Memphis, I think I got a refund twice, and that wasn’t even requested, I just complained and they did it, even though I specifically said I didn’t want it, I just wanted to let them know of a problem.

USA Today (at least the iPad app version) has become somewhat of a joke.  Yesterday, on the  front NEWS page there was FIVE (yes five) stories of some female wrestlers or boxer or something that I had never heard of and didn’t care to hear about.  It seems that belongs on the sports pages (maybe) or the gossip pages.

That was a disgrace to the news profession 

It seems that many internet news sources (and cable tv) have “news” stories that are really personal opinions/agendas disguised as news stories, or unending junk about “celebrities” or  sports that belong on either the opinion page, gossip page or sports page.  

USA Today is especially bad about pushing it’s own agenda on stories disguised as “news” stories, that are really just puff pieces for someone’s personal agenda.

I really think there used to be some integrity in news stories, but there really isn’t any more on at least the internet sites and cable tv.  It may be entertainment, but it isn’t really news.

If it isn’t personal agendas, it is advertising to tied into news that the actual “news” is worthless.  Even Kiplinger Magazine, a magazine I usually respect, is impossible to read on Facebook with their “bait and switch” tactics that I really don’t know the ads from the news.  Shame on them. 

So I do the normal thing, and simply don’t read it.  

While we will probably continue “moving” for some time, we got some pictures up over the weekend.  While a somewhat small accomplishment in the overall scheme of things, it is a maker.  Now we have to get tennis balls up in the garage (to help park the cars) before I scratch the car of worse.  

First of the month, hopefully will have some new “work tasks/accounts” this morning.

Dream yesterday morning:  8 2 15 Dream

Dreamed I was working in a combination office/restaurant.  

I was training someone in work as well as talking to others.

I noticed some persons doing construction work outside  in what appeared to be a crew of   people working on on an old filling station type pavilion 

I was going to talk with one of the workers about something and then the worker called me and told me he had been laid off that mooning.  

I went out to talk with him, but couldn’t because of a heavy rain which suddenly started.

I appeared to be working with a number of city employees I had worked with in the past.

When the person who had been laid off came in, he mentioned how he had talked his way out of it. 

At this point, I woke up.  The the dream was very powerful and I woke well before my normal waking time.  It took me a while to realize it was just a dream and I forgot a a lot of the details by the time I started recording it.

The setting appeared to be a restaurant in Waldo, Kansas, (where I went to the 8th, 9th an 10th grade) although it was very loosely based, since it was a combination restaurant/offices.  

That’s it for now, Monday August 3, 2015

Summer 2015 August 2 Sunday

75 degrees this morning, Walk 42:24 minutes

August 2, marks our 13th month here and 11th month at my job.  Talk about life changing fast at times.

Woke up about an hour early this morning with a recurrent dream that continued until I got up.  Not quite sure what it was about, but something about having to finish two tasks (like at work) before I woke up.  The only explanation I have is that my subconscious is trying to advise me about something I have to do, or it is just one of those weird dreams that consolidate your days  and it really doesn’t mean anything.  

I almost never wake up during my “regular sleep time”  for more than a few minutes and I didn’t necessarily wake up as much as it was a series of short naps, with the thought I had something i needed to get done.  

The subconscious and dream  states can be very hard to explain, and I don’t think there is really any such thing as understanding.  However, I feel being aware of it is important.

Sitting out on the patio, listening to a rustling  noise in the trees beyond the fence.  (I can’t justify calling it a “forest’, although it is a nice grove of trees.  

The rustling noise kind of sends a cold chill down my back, but I figure if I can hear it, it probably isn’t a threat.  It is the unheard and unanticipated noises that are threats or harmful.

Purchase a new pair of walking shoes yesterday and joined the YMCA (unrelated!).  

I used to purchase some inexpensive (well cheap) shoes at Department Stores or discount stores.  After visiting a foot doctor, I now go to a show shop (“Elite Feet”) specializing in personal service and who intensely study your feet and walking style to  determine which shoe is best.  It is worth the money to say the least, my feet thank me every day.  

Yesterday, I tried on about six pairs of shoes.  I thought I would have a very hard time deciding, but when I did, I had not difficulty making a final decision.  Actually, all of he shoes would have done fine, but the pair I got is even better. 

After I purchased them, they advised me the shoes had an “unconditional” 30 day guarantee, no matter what condition, or use etc.  

My only real concern was the style reminded me a little too much of “transformers” (in the toy) and even Aliene mentioned the style may be a “little young”, my  feet are my feet and when no one sees my shoes when I walk anyway!  I guess they may see them at the YMCA on rainy days, but so what!

We think we will be very pleased with the YMCA.  They have a lot of swimming lanes, stationary bikes and weight room (for me) and a variety of classes etc. for Aliene.

Another dream yesterday morning.

8 1 15 Dream

Elaborate dream about getting my pocket watch  fixed (an actual watch I actually own) after getting git it in some water.

The the dream, I had to go back twice to get a quote on fixing my pocket watch.  

I had to leave and come back and bought Aliene. 

After I got the price of fixing it, I decided not to fix it since the cost of fixing it was more than the cost of the watch. 

Then I decided maybe fixing it ls the way to go, and I asked Aliene about it.

It seem as it it was a large store, with most of the merchandise  in a glass case, ilike the old stores did.

It (the building and area) seemed to be an old high school.  The location generally was the “town square” in Holten, Kansas, where I  grew up as a child.

Very strong dream, took a while  after I woke up to realize it was a dream. 

In reality, I actually did buy a new battery for the watch last week.

That’s it for now, Sunday, August 2, 2015.

Summer 2015 August 1 Saturday

72 degrees this morning, Walk 38:28 minutes.

The book “The Believing Brain” (oddly enough written by a well-knowns “skeptic”,  and the book on “Tidying Up” seem to have worked together somehow.  

Synergy is the term which springs to mind, although the term has been misused and abused and used for the wrong purposes so much I almost hate to use it.  Almost, but that is the best word, in it’s true sense and definition, that I can think of to describe it.

The “Believing Brain” notes that “belief comes first, then the reasons to support the belief come next”.  Maybe not always, and somewhere, you have to have some kind of reasons or justification for the belief in the first place.

The old saying “when the student is ready, the master appears” went through my mind this morning when thinking about this, even before I heard the statement in the book that “belief comes first, then the reasons….”

Somehow it is like I inhaled (so to speak) the concept of the book “Tidying Up” without really consciously applying any specific statements, other than the main one which is basically the old concept of “don’t let your possessions possess you”.  

I have actually applied some of the implementing concepts, although I don’t necessarily use the word or thought “joy”.  

I really like her idea of “thanking the object for it’s service”.  It may sound lame, but it  actually makes it much easier to donate or dispose of an object.  I guess it brings some kind of closure to an object which, after all, I have lived with for years and it did bring me some pleasure.

I have found it is much easier to donate an item, at least I think there is a chance that someone else will enjoy it.  

Also, it make it much easier if I take a picture of it first, if it is something somewhat unique or something that brings back memories, especially positive ones.  

Of course, whether this is a permanent change in thinking  and action is the key.  

I learned a long time ago that it takes 21 days to effectively break a habit.  The times I have really put my mind to changing something, I have found the 21 day rule is true.  Your habits and thinking do actually change after 21 days and the change become much easier.  

It is rather strange the power a possession has on you, especially when I rationally know that the cost of replacing an item (frequently an improved item) is much less than the psychic and actual cost of keeping something around for years!

As I have mentioned before about even clothes, much less electronics etc., the improvements in them would justify “throwing out the old and buying new”!  Easy to consciously acknowledge it and another to emotionally acknowledge it!

Field day for work yesterday, trying to mop up the existing tasks before getting new ones Monday or Tuesday.  I am looking forward to the new ones to see what they are.

August of 2015 already.  Looking back, I can’t see where the time has gone, but I guess that is the nature of time. 

That’s it fo now, Saturday, August 1, 2015.