Spring 2015 March 27 Friday

Spring 2015 March 27 Friday

44 degrees this morning 45:11 minutes walking

Friday!  Another week gone by and almost another month!  

Warmer weather is forecast for next week.  I am looking forward to the warm weather!

Our Neighborhood now has “nextdoor.com” (if we get enough members).  

I was thinking of the way people communicate and the changes are amazing it you think about it.

All ages and cultures communicate extensively by “texting”.  (It was big in China also, although through “WeChat”.)  I was a little amused the other day I read about how someone was talking about how texting was a young thing.  It may be, but persons of all ages are texting.  

Facebook is a national Town Hall as well as providing a means of communication.  

Search engines allow us to look up anything, anytime and find it within seconds vs. a trip to the library, finding the right books etc. in past years.  

Twitter has become a new source of news (although the ads have gotten so irritating and intrusive  I am rethinking how and if  I use i.)

It will be interesting to see what happens with Virtual Reality.  It seems it could be used in a lot of ways, including as a simulation for learning.  

As someone who really doesn’t care for videos (other than music videos) or computer games, I hope something more comes out of it than just that.

Several years ago, I read an article in the WSJ that an “invisible cloak” (as in Harry Potter) was technically possible (something to do with “curving light waves” or something like that.  Of course, maybe it has been perfected and I just don’t see it!

I had really thought when I was a kid we would be able to “transport” ourselves by now, and not even have to worry about roads etc, just step in a box and transport yourself to where you want to go, at least in some manner.

Also, as I’ve mentioned before, I never though we would basically be driving the same type of cars as we did than.  A LOT of improvements, but the same basic concept.

I had even thought cars might travel on a cushion of air, and certainly be driverless.

Over 15 years ago, I attended a conference where they said it was technically possible now to walk to a plane, get in, and fly to your destination  without  any action on your part.  I wonder why we haven’t done it?

One of the things I really admire about President Lincoln (even before he became President) was he was a big supporter of what we call “infrastructure” now.  Instead of “crony capitalism” , providing excellent and advanced infrastructure (educational and otherwise) is the best way of creating business opportunities  (i.e. Silicon Valley)  More about that in the future.

I guess, on the other side, I never imagined terrorism  as it is now, that somehow a bunch of sub life things (they aren’t human, and to compare them to sub-animals is an insult to the animals) would actually take delight in destroying things and killing for the sake of  destroying things.   And in the name of religion to top it off.

I do remember reading “The Thousand and One Nights/Arabian Nights” when I was a kid and some of the talk sounds vaguely like some of the stories I read.  

It has been literally decades since I have read it, so I may be remembering incorrectly.  I do remember the “Open Sesame” sometimes when I open garage door or walk into a store with an “automatic door”.  

Minor dream last night (very little lI can remember) I was driving a car somewhat like my current car and the car in front of merit another car.  I almost stopped in time, but  barely nicked the car.  It had several dents already and I couldn’t tell if I had nicked it or not.

While the other two drivers were arguing, I changed clothes (for some reason) and quietly drove off.  The location was that long sweeping curve eastbound into Harrah, the actual accident was right past the turn off to the bridge over the river.

That’s it for now, Friday, March 27, 2015.

Spring 2015 March 26 Thursday

44 degrees this morning 37:49 minutes walk  (light showers, short walk).

First “spring weather” yesterday., wind, rain, hail.  Not bad here, but a tornado hit one area.

High wind, lightning, rain etc., typical for this time of year.

Thinking of setting yearly goals for myself, with quarterly measurements and making necessary adjustment.  Thinking about areas where I can approve  Of course, weight control is one, at least stay where I am and not gain anymore.  It has been close to four years at my current weight.

Other goals including learning some of the software programs that I know I am not using to even close to it’s potential.  That includes Evernote, word (publishing), Excel etc., iPhoto, scanning etc.

Oddly enough, for the first   time I have no goals pertaining to finance, except perhaps minimizing our taxes and generally watching spending.

Another goal may be to work towards a “minimalist   life style and continue to shed items I don’t use or need, including clothes, books, furniture, knick knacks and just items I don’t need.  If I set quarterly schedules on where I want to be, at least I would be working towards it. At the same time, do want to get the necessary things that can make life easier and more enjoyable.  

Exercise is another area.  I am ok with what I exercise now, except I want to add time for swimming and bicycling on  a much more regular basis.  

Another area is to keep stretching myself in my reading, perhaps doing more as far as spending a little time every day reading something I normally wouldn’t read.

Of course, with all of that Time Management will be a major goal!  

I figure if I get  to the “talking”  (or writing) stage, at least I am looking at it.  Nothing says I have to try everything at once either.  

Anther dream (again, the nap after my walk):

Driving to work (not sure where) Appeared to be like Denver years ago when I worked there two summers while I was going to college.

Saw two car accidents on the way.

After the second accident I was walking past for some reason rather than driving.  

A  person (I’m not sure if someone from the accident or not) asked me fro  help. He was crying. 

I walked past him and into a store with a large parking law that was fenced in with very tall chain link security fence.  I said, wait and let me see what is going on before I help.

Aliene came down for some reason and sat with me.  She got upset with me about something, I don’t recall what, something to do with helping (or not helping) the person who had asked for help   

We were sitting in a small booth. We weren’t eating a meal, more like coffee and a snack.

I got up to go and walked outside, onto the paved parking lot with the high security fence.

There was someone on the street near the fence as I walked out to to my car which was parked on the street.

I woke up.

(Thoughts and considerations):  This dream was in a heavy intense urban environment, although it seems like the drive past  the two accidents was on a street, kind of like an Poplar Avenue and Union Avenue in Memphis. )

That’s it for now, Thursday, March 26, 2015

Spring 2015 March 25 Wednesday

63 degrees this morning, 44:36  minutes walking

Recently read that Michael Cotton passed on at 62 years of age.  

While both of us actually lived in Harrah when we met, we actually met at a Toastmasters meeting. 

Michael was  a “Cowboy Poet” and I have three signed books of his work.  

I saw him perform his “Cowboy Poetry” at the Cowboy Hall of Fame and it was an experience I will always remember as a unique enjoyable experience.  

He is a talented person who I as fortunate enough to personally know and appreciate.

We wish him well.  

Soon another month will have ended and 2015 will actually be 25% complete.  I can see some advantage to setting quarterly goals/reviews on long term plans as a marker of progress.  While I always saw the value of that for business reasons, I haven’t applied it on a personal basis.

Quarterly reviews could really identify progress etc.  I will look at seeing goals in weight, exercise and learning.  For example, Evernote, photos etc.  I think I respond to setting goals and looking at progress.  

Dream yesterday morning.  It was very strong and i actually woke up and wrote it down and then resumed my nap.  Almost as if my subconscious was telling me to look at it.

Dream 3 24 15

Dream I was mowing the area at the Hampton Inn at NW Expressway and Penn Square was across the way (which it actually isn’t, but remember this was a dream).

I was by myself and had an old push power mower. 

When I switched locations to mow, I would walk the mower across the road and wave at the motorists who stopped on the road to let me by.  (Which would NEVER happen if you know this area.)

The structure across the street from the Hampton was more like another hotel (the Crown Plaza) than Penn Square, but it changed throughout the dream.

While mowing,  I hit some heavy grass and somehow ended up with green on my legs and clothes.  It actually looked like green paint.

The mower started running badly and I thought it was out of gas and I hadn’t asked anyone about how to get gas.

The mower quit.

Suddenly I was holding my bicycle and it was broken.  The handbars had come off.  I was thinking I was glad I hadn’t been riding it when the handlebars came off

I tried to gather all the parts so I could get it fixed.

I suddenly woke up (no alarm) and got up to note the dream.  My temptation was to keep in the dream but I felt this strong urge to write it down.

I notice all of the dreams (I remember) seem to have some regular threads, including hotels, bicycles (bicycles that lose  their handlebars, oddly enough), sometimes some type of yard, other times inside.

That’s it for now, Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Spring 2015 March 24 Tuesday (Happy Birthday Barbara)

63 degrees this morning, wind 23 mph, Walk 45:50 minutes

Almost didn’t walk this morning when I heard the howling of the wind, but I decided if I let a measly 23 mph wind stop me I would miss a lot of walks!

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my youngest sister, Barbara!  Hope you are having a wonderful birthday.  No matter how old you are, you are always much younger than the rest of us!  

March 24 also marks the date I officially entered the Air Force.  (I didn’t go on active duty until July 15).

Every once in a while, I have to bring up the quote from “And the Mountains Echoed” again:

“Now I was free to do as I wished, but I found the freedom illusory, for what I wished for had been taken from me. They say, Find a purpose in life and live it.  But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind”.

I don’t know why, but that has been on my mind all day.  No special reason, I think it just is one of those things.  That was a wonderful book.  I had forgotten I had almost stopped reading it but then I got into it.  

I like to bring that quote up occasionally and examine it.  

I think I always feel a little melancholy this time of year.  I think I feel like I should be enjoying the wonderful weather, but I feel like either I don’t really have the time to enjoy it, or it just is my expectations are too high.  

I looked up the definition of melancholy, but it doesn’t really describe my feelings.  I don’t feel sad or depressed, actually I feel pretty cheerful, I think it is just I  feel I should be doing so much more that I feel this way.

The word “melancholy” doesn’t really described it, but it is good enough for me.  Perhaps the “feeling of lost opportunities” describes it.  

It was kind of like when I was working all the time, I looked forward to a holiday etc. and then I has so many expectations of what I should or could be doing, I was never satisfied with what I was doing!  Or something like that.

I actually really enjoy my job and life now, I have a job that is both satisfying and challenging , my major concern is just becoming informed on all of the procedures involved, but even if you did , there would always be one more situation come up that didn’t quite fit.

Of course that is what is so wonderful about the job, it is a new challenge every day, or even ten times a day.  There is no such thing as routine.  

In a lot of ways it is like my main career, except it is more narrow and is from an entirely different perspective.  

Years ago, before I became City Manager, one of my projects for awhile was similar to my current job, and I always remembered it as something I enjoyed.  

The main difference in my current job and City Manager is that in my present job, the overall goal is always agreed up on.  The discussion is on how to reach the goal or if a person is going to participate in that goal!

I understand “Spring weather” (read high winds, cold, hail and rain and maybe tornados ) is coming in.  One good thing about renting (especially when you rent from an excellent property management firm like we do), while we worry about storms and house damage like anyone, we know it will be taken care of quickly if there is any damage and we don’t have to worry about dealing with contractors etc. 

That’s it for now, Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Spring 2015 March 23 Monday

55 Degrees this morning 45:18 minutes walking.

Wichita State Shockers won, I root for them them, since that is whether I got my Masters degree many years ago, I 

I went to some of their BB games and even went to some of their football games, before they stopped football.  

I don’t know how many more they will win, but they looked good.  I am also for Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Tennessee and OU and OSU, but Wichita State is  my top pick because  I graduated from WSU.  

Who I am actually for could differ in a specific game and the circumstances.  

Even though I enjoy my job, I am glad to see Friday come and am sorry to see Monday come.  However, once I get back into it on Monday, I enjoy it again and the Force is with me, so to speak, for the rest of the week.

I am finding I need a “post walk/pre-Breakfast nap (around 30 minutes) and then I take a short nap (usually 11 minutes) right before I start work.  

Dream from Sunday morning post walk nap:

3 22 15 dream

DreamI was staying in a big house (not a hotel) Aliene was there and several other people.

I kept looking for something and asking one of the people in the dream if that is what they wanted. (I don’t recall what I was looking for). 

I remember looking in a small  refrigerator.  

We talked  about stopping at a convenient store.where we stopped a lot and didn't buy anything since we would have a reason to stop there and buy something.  I can’t think of any store that applies too.  

Somehow in the dream I infer that I had just gotten some money somehow, more money at least than I  had before.

  

Some random dream bits I remember:

A :Police Office  told me to go look for what I wanted.  I remember making a point  of looking around to emphasize I was looking for something.                

i remember standing around trying to remember what I wanted    

I  walked around in the house/hotel, in a  new shirt, which was way too big for me.       

At times I was in a store trying to buy something rather than the hotel, which was completely different from my dream.

Don't have any idea what this dream means.  I think I didn’t remember to remember enough of it to make any sense.  A lot of what I remember is bits and pieces.

There does seem to be a sense of continuity  in my dreams though, at least the ones I remember.

That’s it for now, Monday, March 23, 2015.

Spring 2015 March 22 Sunday

53 degrees this morning 45:08  minutes walking

Picked up our tickets to the local AAA baseball team the other day.  Another sign of Spring and Summer!  

We will surely miss our Memphis Redbirds and the experience at Autozone Park.  I’m not sure if we can transfer our loyalties or not, we will see.  It is definitely going to be different. 

I think I really enjoy the weather and being outside at baseball games and the relaxed  pace.  

The ticket exchange here isn’t nearly as updated as Memphis was, so we will miss that.  Here the ticket price does include food and drinks (water and cokes in our caseI), which will be different.  

The most difficult part will be getting to be loyal to a completely new team and, to some degree, the “Parent Club” as players are called up.

What we really enjoyed about the Memphis Redbirds was seeing a player start in Memphis, develop and then go to St. Louis and turn into a star!  It was like seeing someone from your hometown making good.  Since St. Louis was close, we could watch almost all the games.  Here, I don’t know if we will see the parent club that often since it is so far away. 

Also, it was just the experience was so nice at the Memphis Redbirds and I’m not sure if the local club has it together yet or not.

Watching a lot of the NCAA games on tape.  If it’s not teams we normally follow, we will fast forward to the 2nd half and watch if it is interesting.

It is too bad the NCAA allows a fake/pro team like Kentucky to exist.  They are a joke, as is the coach.  If they win, and with all the pros they have, they may well win, I will feel a true “college team” did not win, but some kind of artificial, grotesque, grouping of pros were faked into the tournament.  I am surprised the NBA can stop a player over 18 from making a living playing basketball if they are good enough.  

 While walking the other morning, I heard a “hoot owl’ or at least what I thought was a hoot owl.  The sound makes a chill run down my back.  

It makes me think of the settlers when they were out at night and the hoot owl sound was used as a means of following someone and planning an attack. Not that I think that is happening.

Probably my imagination is a little overactive at times!

It may depend a little on what book I am listening to, although I doubt that a biography of U.S. Grant (a very well-written and interesting one by the way0 would do that!

I don’t listen to any Stephen King audiobooks while I walk.  I think my imagination is a little bit overactive for me to listen to one of his classic books while I am walking. 

I would probably end up running rather than walking home and I doubt if that would be a good idea!

It is amazing that it is already almost the end of March 2015.  2015 has gone by much faster than in I realized it would. Soon we will have lived here 9 months, and I will have been working at my job 7 months. 

As I always say, I know I have been at a place for awhile when I start measuring years rattan than months!  Probably even worse is measuring in decades, although I don’t think there is any question of that for the future!

That’s it for now, Sunday, March 22, 2015.

  

Spring 2015 March 21 Saturday

                                                                                                 

44 Degrees this morning, 45:19 minutes walking

One thing i have noticed about technology is that much of it fails, and like General Motors used to be, the testing is done by the persons who purchase the product, not really in the lab.

So much of technology has products that many of the “gee whiz” factors just don’t work, and it is  customers who pay for it and many of the news media just doesn’t point out that technology really doesn’t do what it says.

Apple products are one example.  There was one version of the iPod Shuffle that was just horrible (it had the controls in the lanyard and just never really worked).  However, the so called “product  testers” of the time never really said it was a failure until Apple junked it after a year.

Another is the “finger print” recognition on the iPhone.  Aliene has it and it has never worked.  My iPhone is supposed to have it.  I have had one  iPhone replaced and Apple representatives try all kinds of excuses on why it doesn’t work, other than the technological just doesn't work yet or they use cheap parts.

I think the real answer is, fingerprint security  just doesn’t work, at least not on a reliable basis, other than if you use parts that are so expensive they aren’t feasible for common use.

Same with some of the features cable tv is supposed to have.  The service people come out and just frankly say the technology just doesn’t support the cable tv advertising and some technology either doesn’t work at all or aren’t reliable.

Every upgrade they make creates problems for other areas so nothing ever really works the way it is advertised.

I could keep on going, but I think the point is obvious.  Technology does do some wonderful things, but I don’t understand they they can’t admit their failures and the news media, web pages etc. just play along not pointing out the obvious failures.  

Unfortunately, Apple is the best of the bunch.  i have never had a Samsung product that lasted  My first Samsung project, a monitor went out just after the guarantee period.  Two phones that never worked right.  A Google branded iPad (made by Samsung) that gave out after five months and no one could really explain what went wrong. A “Google Computer” made by Samsung that  was junk, but then I should have known better than to expect other than that for $250.

At least I can get assistance for Apple products.   

That is what makes the “self driving car” so scary.  Are their things that simply don’t work that they are glossing over?

Not that it can’t be done.  I never really thought we would get to 2015, basically using the same concept for cars that has existed since the 1890’s when the “horseless carriage” was  developed.  Obviously a lot of progress, but no real change in the concept.  

One concern is the “technology gap”.  I don’t know the exact number, but there are still many people who don’t use computers or have the internet.  I’m not sure what that means, if it is voluntary, I guess that is fine, but if it is lack of money or opportunity, it is different.

One thing I really admire about public libraries is the way Libraries have stepped up to the plate and provided computers with internet access.  At least in some cases I have seen, it seems like the Library computers are always busy, so there is a demand for internet access and maybe computers that is not offered or available elsewhere.  

Not sure what all of this means.  When I hear of all the technological wonders coming up, that is great, but hopefully they will make the technology we have now work in a more reliable manner before they get too enthralled about new technology.

I have to admit, I am only too ready to try new technology and toss the old or forget about the things that don’t work, but I don’t think that is  really a good way  to approach it! 

That’s it for now, Saturday, March 21, 2015

Spring 2015 March 20 Friday (Spring, Basketball and Planning)

Spring 2015 March 20 Friday  (Spring, Basketball and Planning)

46 degrees this morning, 45:06 minutes walking

Spring and Friday!  What could be better!  Throw in the NCAA Basketball tournament and what could be better!  Rain most of day yesterday.  We started watching our tapes of the tournament games at 4:00 p.m. and avoided most references to scores etc.  Last I heard there was five 1-point games, which is amazing!

I didn’t pay much attention to college basketball (other than when I was in college) until I was sick one time during the NCAA Tournament.  It was when they replayed the games 24 hours per day.  I probably had the flu, and I slept a lot, and I’d wake up and watch the ending of one game and then sleep and then watch the ending of another game.  

I was “in the field” most of the day, working in a different area than the area I normally work.  

Any time I try to walk i in/after the rain, I get disgusted at the failure of this city to control the developers and builders and let them run wild without using any drainage controls or keeping mud off the street (or at least cleaning it off decent after they get muddy).  

This is a “strong developer” and “strong builder” city.  They pretty well get to to do what they want.  Commerical is the same way, I can’t believe some of the poor (and dangerous) designs they let get built. 

For example a huge 12 bay gas station was built since we got here, with no turn lanes, and entrances less than 20 feet from the intersection.  I don’t understand how such poor planning gets approved. 

Kind of worries me about buying a house here, since they really don’t care about residential values etc. and give such priority to builders, developers and commercial development.    (The house we are looking at buying is in the same city, although it is right next-within 250’ of the adjacent city with decent bike paths etc.)

Aliene is going in for neck surgery in the near future, so we are mentally and otherwise preparing for that.  It is a relatively routine procedure, and hopefully it will stop the persistent headaches she has been having (form compression in her neck, I don’t pretend to understand it well enough to explain although it makes sense when the Doctor explains it.)

We are in the process of waiting to see if the loan and everything else goes through.  If so, we will be moving starting in mid-May and we have until June 30 when the lease expires on the present house.  

Our new house is almost exactly the same size as our current house although the arrangement of the rooms is significantly different.  It will be nice to feel a sense of permanence, or at least “temporary permanence” so to speak and have a house we feel we don’t have to worry about hanging pictures etc.  or planting some flowers.  Of course, you always worry about getting bad neighbors, a major defect in the house after the guarantee period etc. (or at least I do).

I am going to try to go the minimalists route and donate items before we move, although we are also going to make a major “getting rid of” effort after we move also.

Another, very short, dream I had during my “after walk” nap yesterday:

Dream in a car.  For some reason the person I was with could get a small cup of coffee (kind of like a shot glass of coffee), but I couldn’t get any in a larger glass.

We were driving in a car in a downtown type city area.

I didn’t recognize the car or the person I was with or anything else.

This is all I remember from the dream.  I thought I was awake and didn’t realize I was asleep until I remembered the dream.

Anyway, that’s it for now, Friday, March 20, 2015, the First Day of Spring 2015!!!!

Winter 2015 March 19 Thursday

53 degrees this morning  44:40 minute walk

Still have a problem with dressing for my walk.  This morning I seemed to dress a little too warm, even though it was misty and there seemed to be a chill in the air.  

Still a lot better than 18 degrees!

Saw a really soulful dog yesterday.  I think it was a Beagle (I never can get dogs nationality right). Anyway, it was a trained “therapy dog”.  

It works with disabled veterans, many of whom had been badly injured.  Apparently the dog starts jumping up and down with excitement, as do the veterans when they see him coming!

Anyway, he had the most soulful, understanding eyes, I have ever seen, in either a dog or human.  I swear he looked right into my heart and saw and understood everything.  

When I was leaving, I, for some reason, learned over and petted him and said “Thank you for your service”.  I thought he  about started crying and maybe he did.  

I have never met a dog quite like that before.  Almost enough to make me a vegetarian (almost).  Although I guess dogs aren’t vegetarians.  

The only thing close I have ever seen is a Border Collie, who was almost human in her intelligence.  Maybe more so.

Looks like the Spring Rains have arrived or at least some semblance to the Spring Rains.

I think today is the last day I will write “Winter 2015” as Spring will arrive Friday. Spring actually will arrive at 5:45 p.m., Friday, so technically it won’t be Spring when I post Friday, so I may have to write it one more time.

Unless I wait until 5:46 p.m. Friday to post, which is a little extreme.

The start of “March Madness”  This is one sporting event that does seem to live up to it’s hype, at least to more of a degree than most others.  It is fun to watch and amazing to see what happens sometimes.  We are even watching the “play in” games with relish.

We tape all events, including sporting events.  The NCAA tournament is vey challenging to watch in this manner (since they update the scores almost immediately and it is impossible to not see the scores).

I am looking at getting a “dash cam” for my car (the one I use for work).  I thought it would be good to have the backup just in case, especially in case of an accident or a question on where I had been.  Also, it will be fun. (I can tape and post all of the “Did you see that”  episodes I see!

Dream yesterday morning after my “after walk/pre breakfast” nap:

Dream : 3 18 15 (after morning nap)

Staying in some kind of boarding house or hotel, perhaps a down-home hotel. Early in the dream riding  my bike thorough a bunch of trees, houses and hilly ground.

Came up on a bunch of kids playing in a year, the yard was full of toys.  A house was to one side, with a really steep hill.

I  got off my bicycle to walk through the yard due to all of the toys and the steepness. (Don’t know why I tried to ride through the yard and not the street.

Some how my bicycle came apart and all I could find was the main frame with the seat on it (no tires etc. or handlebars etc.)

I wnt back to look, but didn’t want to look while all the kids were out playing.

They went inside, and I looked for my bike, but couldn’t find it.

I remember thinking of telling Aliene now I needed to buy a new bike.

Next I went to the hotel or boarding house.  All of the staff was developmentally challenged.  

At the last, I  got angry at the tv and vcr that it wouldn’t work.  A staff member came over, apparently the supervisor told me the tv needed batteries and gave me some batteries.  She also gave me a flashlight and told me she had just put new batteries in it.  She told me to calm down, I was upsetting the staff.

I remember thinking I knew  it wasn’t the batteries, but I wasn’t going to say anything

Somehow the flashlght seemed important.

The hotel/boarding house was kind of like a place where people ate when they wanted to.  

It was not a modern facility, I can remember people watching tv, talking and eating.

The furniture etc. in the hotel seemed old.  I keep worrying about my bike and why I couldn’t find it.

Not an unpleasant dream, although not  really a pleasant one either

That’s it for today, Thursday, March 19, 2015.