2016 Fall November 26 Saturday

30 degrees this morning, walk 35:12 minutes

In spite of the temperature, a nice morning for a walk.  

Christmas is truly here, Aliene bought out the Christmas theme in the house!  I enjoy he changing of he seasons (basically Christmas/New Year, Valentines, Spring, Summer and Fall, with some Halloween thrown in.  

Technically the Thanksgiving Holiday is over, but of course, it is now the weekend so it is really just an extension of it!  

We haven’t been out shopping at all (other than routine items).  I have decided if I want to buy something (other than disposable items), I am going to buy what I want, not just because it is on sales. 

The cost of possession is just too high to buy something just because it is on sale!

Watching “Formula 1” auto racing (obviously taped)  as I write this.  I actually like it best of any type of auto racing.  NASCAR races are just too long, they need to change the format, except maybe for a very few of the classic races.  Of course I always liked the format of the “Qualifying Heats, Semi-Main and Main”. 

Formula 1 is one race, but it is relatively short and even has a time limit.  

Listening this morning to T.S. Eliot again.  As the lectures mentioned, many people find him unreadable (I have a feeling I am one of those).  In “the Wasteland”, he actually added 4 pages of “notes” because the publisher told him he had to have four more pages, so rather than add four pages, he just added “notes”.

Anyway, this because a “new form” of literature (for a short time)!  Strange how such things come about.  

In spite of the fact that I probably have never and will never read any of his work, I love some of his quotes!  

The series is just starting on F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby” is the first one the lecturer is going to review.  Another great author for quotes!

We actually were in Asheville, NC one time and learned a lot about him.  O’Henry is also buried there.  

I always enjoyed O’Henry’s stories, although sometimes his surprise endings were a little hard to take, especially “The Gifs of the Magi”.  

One thing I like about the series is I don’t know what the lectures are going to cover until I hear them, so it is kind of like opening a gift (some I like, some I don’t!) when he starts a lecture on a new author.  But no matter what, I learn something.

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, a little cool, but not bad for this time of year.  Around the house, I am still wearing shorts, a tee shirt and scandals, so that is good!  I go out to check the mail etc. dressed like that, but dress warmer when we go out someplace!

Finished reading Jefferson Bass, “Without Mercy”.  It was a good escapist book.  

Looking forward to the rest of the weekend!

That’s it for now, Saturday, November 26, 2016.

2016 Fall November 25 Friday

40 degrees this morning. Walked 35:15 minutes. 

Excellent Thanksgiving Day.  It was a wonderful day weather wise and also the food and visiting was great!

Also a good day for a walk this morning even though it was supposed to ‘feel like 34 degrees”.  I probably still dress too warm for my walk.

Trying to develop a schedule to go to the gym on a regular basis.  After learning the YMCA here was primarily interested in making money by leasing the pool during swimming “prime time” rather than serving their members, we had no desire to support the YMCA in any way.  They obviously are more concerned about the money they make than any service. 

I accidentally saw the the letter the YMCA sent me where they basically said “we wan to lease the pool so we can make some money, TS, to to another YMCA 20 miles away.  The City obviously didn’t care either, but elections are coming.  

The gym we joined is a lot cheaper and has much better hours (actually they are 24 hours during the week and for some weird reason are closed from during the night for Friday and Saturday).   Of course, there is no swimming pool, which is disappointing. 

We are debating using a “trainer” for awhile, but haven’t decided yet. 

A four day Holiday is really nice, provides a chance to really have a real break,  Too bad there aren’t more of them, but I am glad for the ones we have!

The “American Literature” course I am listening to now has finished Robert Frost and now started on T.S. Eliot.  Another author I probably have read some of his work, but I am more familiar with what I have heard about it than having actually read it.  

I started to look up something on Google about T.S. Eliot and had so some much invasive advertising on the web page I was sent to, I just canceled out of it in disgust.  

Nothing makes me more unlikely to buy something than some bullying tactic such as not letting me cancel out of an ad etc.  

I think advertisers (or maybe the web pages, Facebook, Twitter etc.) need to read the story about the goose that laid the golden egg.  They are getting to the point they are killing the goose and I don’t read a lot of stuff on the internet because I am tried to dealing the the invasive ads.

Somehow they seem to think like some salespersons, if they harass you enough you will buy from them. Not the way it works.

I learned  from experience that a “good” salesperson doesn’t try to bully you etc. they just learn your needs and then how (and if) they can assist in resolving those needs.  

Hopefully can work some more on the “security” system using some old cell phones.  

Another project I learned I can use old cell phones for is as a “dashcam” for our car.  I haven’t really started on that one yet.  I try to find a “dashcam” that would be reliable and relatively easy to use and also one that wouldn’t attract attention or that could beastly moved..  

Some of the driving around here would make entertaining videos!  

Looking forward to the second day of my four day weekend!  No, we aren’t participating in the “Black Friday” sales!

That’s it for now, Friday November 25 2016. 

2018 Fall November 24 Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)

2016 Fall November 24 Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)

45 degrees this morning, Walk 35:36 minutes 

Strange, this morning my iWatch said it was 40 degrees and my iPhone said it was 45 degrees Not a small difference!  I figure it must be based on where the temperature is measured.  

In any event, it is tough to dress for my walk in these temperatures since I tend to dress too warm, which is better  than not wearing enough I guess.

Thinking about starting to extend my walk a little, undecided.  I’d eventually like to get to about 1/3 more, which would be another 12 minutes or so.

Of course 12 minutes sounds like nothing, and it is, but it is the number of “12 minute” obligations that make the day get too busy!  12 minutes more walking then the time spent on the boxing bag, than  the weights etc.  

The iWatch actually has a very strong battery.  Even after using the GPS for my walk, fiddling with it all day etc., it still has over 60% of the battery left when I put it on the charger.  Actually could wear it for two days, but there is no use pushing it since there is a natural break when I can recharge it.  

I actually miss it when it is recharging, that is how much of a part of your life it becomes.  

Considering what a “series 1” iWatch can be purchased for (same watch except for the GPS, and waterproof as the Series 2, depending on which case etc. you purchase), frankly I think it is one of the biggest bargains out there.  

Considering what the iWatch can do, the cost is trivial.  My opinion obviously, and you still need to have an iPhone to sync it too.  The system works well though.  

It seems like every day I learn something more about it that just amazes me. 

I started reading a novel that I “got into” which makes me feel better.  I was beginning to think I was losing interest in reading.  I realize change happens, but I would have really missed the pleasure I get out of reading a good novel.  

Listening to the “Great American Literature” Lectures, they are on Robert Frost.  I have to admit I never saw any sexual references in Robert Frost poetry, although I can see what the lecturer is getting too

Apparently Robert Frost is criticized for not being dense enough and to easy to read.  (My words, but I think the concept is the same).  I actually feel like that is what makes him a good poet. 

Obviously I remember him most for “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, but they haven’t even discussed these poems yet.  

One short story he discussed before that was “The Yellow Wallpaper”, (by Charlotte Perkins Gilman) one I have never heard of before, but one that sounded interesting.

Thanksgiving Day today.  I actually have a lot of memories of Thanksgiving Day, maybe more so than even Christmas.  Maybe because the weather is usually better than Christmas, although one of the events I remember when I was a kid was a a bad snowstorm over Thanksgiving.

Actually it was 20 years ago today when I took an impulsive trip.  (It is cheap to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself!)  Not a lot happened, but I think I developed some insights into life and into myself.  

That’s it for now, Thursday, November 24, 2016.

2016 Fall November 23 Wednesday

50 degrees this morning, walk 35:34 minutes 

All week, I have been two days ahead, it is finally Wednesday, which of course seems like Friday!  

My iPhone 3 (my original iPhone, which I figure is about 7 years old, and it would be about  the Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandchild of the iPhone 7).  After two or three “Greats”, it probably doesn’t matter too much since it is probably obsolete!

Anyway, I am having a hard time finding any “apps” which will run on it.  Even Audible won’t run on it anymore.  Of course, it is still good for photos and music more music than anything .  

I recently discovered a “security app”, which turns an old iPhone (or any Android phone) into a security camera.  It actually works very well.  It will make the iPhone 3S a very nice security camera I can monitor over any other phone (even with sound etc.).  

However, it won’t work on my iPhone 3, but I will reset it and see.

Of course, the major problem is the usual ones of placing it where you can run an electric cord and how to place it.  

Still haven’t solved those problems yet, but I think I can use some velcro to help out.  One camera is free, more than one camera (old iPhone) and cloud storage is a small monthly fee.

A lot cheaper (and really just as good) as a security camera, although I don’t know how long an old iPhone will last.  I’ll find out.

I’m going to reset my iPhone 3 and see if I can get it to work with the app.  

i have to think that “1984” is actually her.  I can be followed any place, anywhere without any problem and even without my knowledge.  Fortunately I don’t know why anyone would want to, but… it is just the idea.

Of course, with the clowns we have coming into power, I am more worried about it.  

Computer just froze up on me and I had to reset it.  Fortunately I didn’t lose what I had written.  (Maybe someone IS following me and they didn’t like what I wrote!)

Anyway I can easily see all of the “1984” aspects being used to follow, harass and try to intimidate persons.  Actually, “wikileaks” is probably something like that.

However, with all of the security cameras etc. and iPhones etc. it would be very easy to monitor someone 24 hours a day without their knowledge and probably even control their car, cell phone etc.

In a way, I am surprised there hasn’t been more “blocking” apps and software made available, so that individuals can take action to prevent themselves being followed, observed by security cameras etc.  

It figures it would be perfect for some business, like the “radar” and “radar detectors” (made by the same company of course), “escalating” so that every year of so law enforcement has to buy a new radar detector that can’t be followed by the radar detector and they they sell a radar detector that detects the new radar etc., so it goes!

By the way, the security app I mentioned is “Manything”.  

That’s it for now, Wednesday, November 23, 2016. 

2018 Fall November 22 Tuesday

68 degrees this morning, no walk (rain)

Light rain this morning, I thought maybe it had ended, but decided not to take the chance and it was lucky I didn’t walk.    

This morning I really wanted to take my walk, it is a little different when the rain gives me a break!  However, I didn’t want to take a chance.

First Thanksgiving dinner last night (or maybe I should say the first Holiday dinner, since it will continue until past January!).  

At least it provided me with an early warning to watch what I eat.  I thought I was taking small portions, but small portions of everything and very good and rich food makes for a lot of food!

I keep thinking of today as “Thursday”, even wrote “Thursday” on my calendar.  I guess I am prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday.

It was our Toastmaster Club “Thanksgiving Dinner” and it was very nice.  A chance to sit around and talk instead of standing up and talking!

Actually it was this time of year when I first jointed Toastmasters.  I was lucky and found a good club which, at the time, met on the best night for me.  

It actually was a very important part of my life for years, as I went from being a member to being one of the main officers of the club. 

One of the things I learned was to always are aware of developing a “new class” of leaders who would be ready to take over in the future.  I learned it by not doing it.

I can still remember the day I said “yes” to a leadership position in the club.  I hadn’t been at all interested and then I suddenly was involved.

I was disappointed when I went to Memphis and never really found a compatible club and kind of went “inactive” for 13 years. 

I remained a member of my original club and resumed going several years ago.  It had changed a lot of course (including the name and meeting day), and it is still an excellent club. 

It may be a good year for “brick” retail.  I am already noticing larger crowds in the malls.  

I believe it has been 54 years since the JFK assassination today. 

Another dream (I have no idea where this one came from!)

11-21-16:  Dream

Dream I pulled into garage after reading a story about  a teenager killing his father.

I saw the teenager taking the gun and walking around from my open garage door. (In the dream he didn’t notice me).  I even took my walking stick and aimed it at him wondering if I could get him to drop the gun.

Later (this is a dream), he was in the garage and I came up behind him and could have grabbed the gun, (it was stuffed down his back) but I didn’t for some r reason.  (Another person was there.)

Later I was on an outdoor patio telling my Sisters about it.  There was a wreck in front of the patio.

I woke up, glad it was a dream.

That’s it for today, Tuesday, November 22, 2016

2016 Fall November 21 Monday

45 degrees this morning, walk 35:32 minutes 

Got a “sleep app” and a “pulse app” for the iWatch.  The “pulse app” actually is pretty good, although I can see some areas for improvement.  

I also learned how to “silence” the watch.  Since you feel the “tap” of the watch on your wrist, you really don’t need the sounds, which can be annoying in the wrong place.

I simply turned the volume down to minimum  It isn’t likely I’ll use the watch as a phone all that often so It’s not a big deal.  

Of course, now I have to wonder what I will do with all of that data!  I really don’t have time to analyze everything that could be analyzed, but it is still interesting to have the information.  I think having it just to note any extremes is good.  I also like the averages.

One problem I noted with the “pulse” app is that it provides the “average” for the actual day you are up (i think) , so right now the average includes my walk.

In a way, I like the “sleep part’” of the pulse app better and the “pulse part” of the sleep app better!  However that is based on about 12 hours experience with them, so I expect i will learn more as I go along.

I am syncing both of them to the Apple health app to see what happens.  

Other than that, i learned how to move the apps etc. around, so I am gradually learning!

So far, I am using the watch for exercise, messages, as a stop watch, reminders, alarms, a calendar, the pulse app, the sleep app, and it also tells time.  Also, I can glance at it and get the temperature and weather (brief) so that is also nice.

The battery is good.  Yesterday I walked , fiddled with it all day, had it on the “pulse app” and sleep app all night, walked again, and it still had 32% of the battery left!

Really had a strong dream last night, I even woke up thinking it was real and was very relieved when I realized it was  just a dream.  Of course, I couldn’t remember it this morning to write it down!

Dream yesterday.  

11-20-16:

Dreamed was climbing a bunch of high towers.It seemed we routinely climbed some hight towers which we apparently had to climb as a matter of course.

One time I was climbing a tower when I seemed to start getting dizzy and having difficulty climbing down (I was at the top)

The next thing I knew a nurse was giving me some blue balls of something that ‘would make me feel better until 9-1-1 got here”

I woke up and realized it was only a dream.

The next dream was even stranger (my nap wasn’t done yet) and was completely different, but I forgot it while writing the first dream.

Dreams are fleeting indeed!

I nap for short periods (as short as 2 minutes) although usually in the 14 to 28 minute range n the morning and the 11 to 18 minute range during the day.

That’s it for now, Monday, November 21, 2016.

2017 Fall November 20 Sunday

38 degrees this morning, walk 35:13 minutes

We finished listening to a novel “The Trespasser” yesterday.  We listen to something while we are driving someplace, so it can be we listen to it for very short spurts or very long periods.  It makes the drive go much faster.

We started that when we used to drive long distances when we lived near Memphis.  It made the drive a lot shorter!

Tried to start reading a novel “Razor” by Car Hiaasen.  I have given up, it is nothing but a vengeful, low class piece of junk.  

The author used to be reasonably good, but apparently does not have the skill or desire to write satire well, rather just uses overblown stereotypes with vengeful behavior that just gets boring and tiresome.  

I guess it may be the pressure or the publishers (or the desire to make more money) and he, and many authors, just don’t have the talent to write an interesting book all that often.

Anyway, that is why I waited for the book from the library, and I already know better than to get the Audiobook version.

There are a lot of other authors I quit readying because a lot of it was just a rewrite of the same plot (which is ok, if you can pull it off), frequently highlighting the main write and then ‘with” someone.  Sure. 

Not quite sure why I am reading so much less fiction.  I think it is “time”, but then I think of the years when I had no time, and i was able to read fiction (and non-fiction) a lot more.  

It could well be that the internet and other interests are just taking up a lot of my time, but when I find a book I like I find the time to read it.

Or it could be my tastes are changing, or the quality of fiction is changing and I, for whatever reason, (I am nof being judgmental) am not going along with the change.  

Of course authors like Carl Hiaasen, who write some slop just to sell a book, don’t help matters any.  There are a few others who (especially the “with” writers) who have a book mill and just churn out books.

I’m not saying they shouldn’t do it, I can’t blame them for wanting to make more money, it may be more the fault of book buyers who buy anything.

I don’t know what kind of a role Libraries have, who feel they have to buy multiple copies of a “popular” writer and thus provide an automatic base for any “popular” writer.

Of course, for all I know maybe very few people feel like me and they enjoy the books, more power to the.

On the other hand, I can rememberer reading “Nancy Drew” and the “Hardy Boys” years ago and then suddenly I quit reading them because I lost interest  in that type of book and was interested in another type of book reading.

I expect time will tell.  I am experimenting with reading fiction I normally don’t read (and finding out why I don’t read it in many cases!), but will see.

Looking back,  I have had periods where I changed my  reading habits, even quit reading novels etc. before, so I will see.

Continue to learn more about the iWatch.  Read several articles on handling “apps” etc.  

Took my first call on it the other day, it was a wrong number!

That’s i for now, Sunday, November 20 2016

2016 Fall November 19 Saturday

33 degrees tis morning, walk 35:08 minutes

Cold weather is here, although it really wasn’t that bad for the walk.  I overdressed as normal. I met two cars, which make it seem a little like rush hour compared to the number of cars I normally meet (none).

The iWatch gives me an entirely new perspective on the walk.  It records the time, the average heartbeat, the elevation (changes I assume), the distance, the average pace of the walk, calories (active calories and total calories) as well as a map of where I walked!  It also gives the exact time I started and returned.

Oh, and it also gives the temperature (30 degrees at the time of my walk).  Amazing.

Although the temperature was 33 when I got up, 30 when I took my walk, it is supposed to get as low as 28 degrees before it starts to heat up again.

Always feel a lot better after my walk and shower.  

I could save a lot of time in the morning if I could get up faster, it seems like I dawdle and waste a lot of time.  

While I never use an alarm to wake up in the morning, I use one when I take my naps.  I don’t like to nap more that 28 minutes since if I nap longer I get groggy.  I can take a 28 minute nap and immediately a 15 minute nap and feel fine, but if I take a 43 minute nap I am groggy!   I don’t try to figure it out, I just know what works!

Anyway, I am going to try to structure my time better right after I get up and see if  can be more organized  right after i get up.  I think I could saved a lot of time.

Reading several articles, one about “Nationalist” and how many of the countries are becoming more “nationalistic” than “global”, one about how the emphasis on “diversity”  my be counterproductive to the groups and society overall.  However, I’ll need to discuss that in future posts.

Another dream yesterday I wanted to record.

11-18-16:  Dream

Dreamed I was at some kind of event.  It seemed like everyone had computers with them, but were sitting in the open.

The first evert seemed to be more structured, I can’t remember, but it involved computers also.

The second event was more unstructured, people sitting down in small groups etc.

Although it was in the open by a creek with several large trees around, there were desks and tables.

I kept looking for a place to sit, but couldn’t find a place to sit.  

I apparently had something I was sitting on, and I couldn’t find it, although I still had my computer.

I started to sit down on the grass and an older man exercising and with a pair of hand grips (to build power in your hands) was there and got up and left, like I was taking his place. 

People appeared to be waiting for the event to start, but it didn’t.

Somewhere in the dream, the main instructor for the Citizens Police Academy was there and Aliene and I were taking a nap.

I woke up.

That’s it for now, Saturday, November 19, 2016