Spring 2014 June 18 Wednesday

79 degrees this morning, wonderful day on the patio.  Sounds a little strange, but there is a coolness in the air.

Life on the edge.  

--Our Air conditioning is out.  Maybe lucky, maybe not, when we listed the house, we purchased a "home warranty" (which includes the AC) and in a "what the heck" moment, made it effective immediately rather than just for the new buyer.  A shock that our AC is out, but I'm glad the have the warranty.  Our normally HVAC person guarantees priority service, so we will try the home warranty person first.  Fortunately the ceiling fans etc. kept us cool during the night.  As the day goes on it could get worse.  Currently it is 81 degrees in the house, not bad right now, but obviously will get hotter as the day goes on.

-We may be closing Monday, June 23 and have to be out of the house Monday or...maybe not.  It basically depends on an inspection today by the insurance company on whether the roof is covered by insurance.  If not, the closing will probably be off.  

We have looked at houses in another area and have arranged to have our household items stored for awhile until we find another house, but ....  Of course then there is all the "goodbye's which have to be said, if we are moving Monday, if not we don't want to say goodbye until we have to.  I didn't realize "goodbye" was "spelled "goodbye" until spell check insisted on it this morning.  I normally say "goodby", which spell check insists is wrong!  Kind of like "separate" , for years I spelled it "seperate" until spell check taught me different.

-Both of us are juggling dental and medical appointments, not sure if we will be here next week or not.  My "opening up" appointment on my teeth implants was delayed until August since the surgeon decided it was too early.

-We have to continue packing as if we are moving, but, at the same time, make sure we can live here for an indefinite period if the closing doesn't go through.

-On top of that, I have an hour and one/half computer test tomorrow (I get an e-mail and have 1 1/2 hours to complete it from the time the e-mail arrives to complete it and send it back).  I am studying to refresh my memory on Excel and Word etc. on top of everything else.

Anyway, somehow life seems normal!  I think is it the fact that both of us, since late November, have realized life will never be the same as it has for the past 12 years, so we need to be flexible and adapt fast!  The hardest part will be leaving some wonderful friends in Lakeland and, to a somewhat lesser degree, leaving our wonderful house and patio.  Nothing we say even comes close to the house we have now, or especially the patio.  

I think the moving, and to some degree, the changes, are making me much more aware of buying "things".  I am going to have to really want something to buy a "thing" in the future. I think the problem is that I can't get rid of "things".  I have stuff that would almost cost nothing (will, not much) to replace and it is literally cheaper to buy it in the future IF I need it.  This includes clothes, tv's (that are obsolete anyway), radios, electrical wires that I have no idea what they are used for, flashlights that don't work, luggage that I never use and of course, clothes, clothes, clothes.  

Hot Wheels? No way, they are worth it!  In fact, if I can find the space.... Actually, I got started photographing and cataloging my collection of Hot Wheels (and Matchbox and other brands) but had to stop since they are considered "clutter" (by some people, especially potential house buyers), so we had to pack them away.  I expect to continue to enlarge my collection of Hot Wheels etc., but I probably won't get anything larger.  Much as I hate too, I know I need to weed my books, since they deserve to be read.  

We plan on having a "family giveaway" after we move, we will put stuff out, if they want it, they can have it, otherwise we are donating it to Charity.  This includes luggage, bags, clothes, and who knows what else.  Aliene and I had one garage sale once, and we decided never again.

I just happened to think, if the house closing does go through Monday, we will be "homeless" at least for several days or longer.  Of course, I don't want to move again for a long time, so the selection of a house is important.  Since we are intending to rent, we will have the option, but also are at the mercy of someone drastically increasing the rent, although it normally doesn't happen.

Just checked and the Summer Solstice is June 21 this year.  A really neat web site "Apples4theteacher.com".  

Three days until the official start of Summer.

That's it for now, Wednesday, June 18, 2004.  

Spring 2014 March 27 Thursday

52 degrees this morning, but seemed much colder due to wind and mostiure in the air.  Cloudy, but since rain wasn't really fore cast until later today, I rode the bike.

Deleted 20,000 duplicate pictures yesterday at the Apple Store, but still have about another 30,000 to delete.  For some reason they are deleting so it probably means another trip back to the Apple Store.  Some kind of problem with their "faces" recognition program it causes the "faces" to duplicate.  At first I thought it was an error on my part, but now I don't believe so.  

I just realized the Apple Store is my "third place", like Starbucks is my "second place".  Of course I can't just go there and hang out, but with the open training, I can work on a project and have an expert on call in case I run into a problem. It works wonderfully, I don't know why more tech companies don't have some kind of program like that, instead of making you call and be on hold for hours while they try all kinds of time-consuming "tests" before admitting their product is defective and take it back or refund your money.

Back at my "second place" (Starbucks) waiting for Aliene to finish some items.  We are close to getting the house ready for sell, it has been a long process.  The Realtor may have us do some more, depending on what she thinks would help it sell.  

I had to stop my project of taking pictures of the Hot Wheels, since one of the rules of selling your house is no personal items like that (including stuffed bears, personal pictures etc.)  I didn't count them in the interest of getting them packed etc.  

I went by the library and saw several books I have wanted to  read, but I have too big of a stack of "to be reads" now!

That's it for now, may note more later depending on how the day goes. 

Winter 2014 March 11 Monday

39 degrees this mooring, but warmed up to a nice day.

Large part of the day was spent throwing stuff out/getting it ready to donate.  I am trying to use the concept of if I haven't used it and don't see a specific future need for it, it goes out.  (With the exception of my Hot Wheels, although I think they meet the criteria to keep). As usual, the books are the hardest, although I am making progress.  

Started the day off with a very early morning meeting (7:00 a.m., but had to leave at 6 a.m. to get there).    Good meeting, but the travel time will make it difficult to attend.  

Rode bike this afternoon (missed this morning due to the early morning).  Felt good and had the chance to see a large number of people and does to get into the terminal.  I am hoping I can build up to do the "Ride with the Summer" in 2015 and also I may get to chance to ride in "Free Wheel"  (Oklahoma bike ride of about 500 milesI), Ride across Kansas and the Ride Across Tennessee this year as a way to prepare for it.

I will be so glad to see flowers bloom and the trees turn green.  It has been a long winter.

Saw a story on 60 Minutes about how companies keep data about everyone and then try to get the info to sell to a marketing company, which leads to having over 1,000 spam e-mails!  Not only can they follow my data, they can provide information on where I go etc, which is kind of scary.   I may turn off my GPS on my phone, although I don't know why anyone would want to see what I am doing!  After reading "The Circle" I decided to take some steps to keep more information about myself private, so the 60 Minutes story came at the right time.  They mentioned two companies "harvest" and store the data, but don't sell it, which is almost scarier than the companies htt sell it.

Discovered today that the Tennessee Employment Security Commission is a joke.  Spent about two hours trying to get through with a simple question before I gave up.  I wonder how many others give up?  Just another example of the fat cat politicians bragging about "streamlining" or cutting is just political BS, they are actually drastically eliminating services pandering to the lowest common denominator to buy votes by screaming how they are "saving" money by hurting  to some of the people who need the services the most. 

I expect this will bite them hard eventually.

Winter 2014 February 17 Monday

37 degrees this morning.  I will be so glad when Spring is here.  I am tried of having to "bundle up each morning before I walk and ride my bike.  If it is a typical winter, I should be seeing a Crocus (my name for any Spring flower in the next two weeks or at least the first two weeks of March.

Of course, then it is mid-May before it actually gets warm, although there are a lot of nice days.  I hope the excessive cold weather goes away.

Just thinking again about the "delusion" that I will ever "get a round-tuit" as far as reading many books I have saved for years on the premise that "sometime" I would actually get around to reading(or rereading) them.  I now realize that I probably never will so it may be better to release them to someone who will read them.  Ditto for things that I will use "sometime". (With the notable exception of my "hot wheels" collection which I intend to keep as long as I can remember what they are and then maybe  donate them so they will be used).  This  includes pens, golf clubs, cute little notebooks, conference bags, old computers, palm pilots, and whatever else I may find.  

I still enjoy the "Fitbit Force".  It is amazing.  One thing really puzzles me is that I put it on "sensitive" for monitoring my activity during sleep and my sleeping time went down about half.  I put it back on "regular" and my steady sleep returned.  

The Fitbit Force "app" is much easier to use and if you buy a Fitbit, be sure to get the app for your smart phone.   I don't pay a lot of attention to the other stuff, except for the "steps" when I am away and can't exercise on a regular basis.  

The "Sleep101" app for the iPhone is miserable compared to the Fitbit Force.  One thing I especially like about the Fitbit Force is that it is attractive enough I can wear it as a watch (at least for causal dress).  I have to punch a button to see the time, but with iPhones etc., I can see the time anyway.  

Another "tuit" I planned "when I have time" is to learn more applications for my computers, iPads etc.   However, I have learned that "when the student is ready, the master appears" applies to computer applications.  Until I want to use it for something, I probably won't learn it as effectively as if I had a use for it right now and usually it is better if I try it myself before  I go in for a class on it, because I'll remember it better. 

Winter 2014 January 11 Saturday

54 degrees this morning.  

Sitting in Starbucks on a Saturday morning.  Sun is actually shining, supposed to warm up.

Been working on taking pictures of my Hot Wheels collection.  Current efforts are at  http://robertwherryhotwheelscollection.tumblr.com.  Just getting started posting the pictures so there may/will be some revisions later.  Note that I probably have over a thousand Hot Wheels, so it will be awhile before I get it completed, in fact I will probably never get it completed, as such.  Even if I get all of the cars on there (which is a big maybe), I will be continuing to add and revise.  I still buy them, and occasionally, when I am in Oklahoma City at the right time, I go to a Hot Wheels show, which is really nice.  I was surprised when I took my granddaughters to the show several years ago (they are 14 and 11 now, so they were probably 12 and 9 then), and they both loved it.

Not sure why, at my age, I still buy them and enjoy them, but I figure is it a relatively inexpensive hobby when each one is less than $1, at least in most cases.  I tend to target more now, buying race cars an Ferraris and any car like one I have ever owned or even liked for that matter.  I also like to buy construction and public safety vehicles/equipment Hot Wheels if they are well done.

By the way, it isn't just "Hot Wheels", I also have a lot of Matchbox and some other brands/generic ones that I have picked up over the years.  If I like them, I buy them, but I normally get Hot Wheels.  I also have some larger ones that I will post also.  

This is a project I have been working on for some time.  I think the right equipment (an iPad miniI) and time (Tumblr) has arrived.  I probably will try to upload the pictures to Blogger and Google Plus also.  It is fun right now, as time goes on it could become a hassle (when I learn how to do it!), so I am just doing a few at a time so I don't get tired of it. 

Almost the middle of January.  We will have some decisions to make shortly which will have long term effects.  Still have  a couple of opportunities I will see if anything comes of.

Our weeping willow tree was bent over from the ice storm (the ice broke the stick that kept it straight), so I need to figure out how to get it straightened up before the growing period begins.  

Winter 2013 January 3 Friday

18 degrees this morning.  Felt it also!  I rode my bike to ATC Fitness and while it was parked outside (I am there for about 40 minutes), the moisture from my breath (on the deal I wear over my mouth to mitigate cold/exercise induced asthmaI) was actually frozen, as was the "riding" water bottle I left on the bike.  (I actually carry two bottles of water, one for on the bike, the other for whilel I am in the gym.).  Anyway, it so cold.  My hands really felt it on the way back!

Great OU (Oklahoma University) game last night.  We record the games and watch them delayed by an hour or so.  I don't let a football game get in the way of my sleep time (from 10:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.), so I told Aliene to ''wake me if they're winning, let me sleep if they are losing", so I got to watch the last few minutes of a wonderful ball game!  I'm not quite sure why I am such an OU fan (I have six hours of Graduate Work from OU, but it was a program offered to the Air Force (and probably all the military and companies) to get a degree.  I have only been on the campus several times, although I used to go fairly often to visit a wonderful little museum on the campus.  Anyway, I've been a rabid OU fan (in all sports and other programs) since probably the early 70's at the latest.  Of course, I am also a Wichita State fan and University of Memphis fan.   And I will always be a Memphis Redbirds fan, no matter where I live, I had so much fun attending the games and seeing the players move up to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Looks like it should be a wonderful day, after a very miserable day yesterday (windy, cold and wet).

I am going to the Apple Store to look at my "iTunes", I need to get it better organized.  

Amazon.Com is not charging Tennessee sales tax, so I feel much freer to purchase from other companies and express my dislike for the techniques Amazon uses. 

Speaking of techniques, one gouging action I really hate is the huge markups on "Premium" unleaded gas over regular unleaded.  Kroger (at least the one at Macon and Houston Levy) chafes like a .20 markup over regular for Premium Unleaded.  Recently, we were fooled into paying a .50 difference.  I know, drive a care that uses regular, or just drive off if the price is too much, but it's not quite as simple as that.  I'm not a big fan of Kroger, but at least on gas, they treat you right.

Finished reading "Catcher in the Rye" for my book club.  Kind of reminds me of "Bright Lights, Big City", with BLBC being the career version and CITR betting the teen version.  

Starting my "Hot Wheels" Tumblr blog, gradually develop pictures of all my Hot Wheels (and Matchbox etc.) cars.  At 2 a day, it will take me about three years to have pictures of all of them (I'll take a picture of the new ones when I get them), but if I don't start, in three years I won't have any pictures also!  I can't even count how many there are.  My main problem may be not duplicating cars as I gradually get the photographs.  That is one item I don't plan on weeding.

I am tossing a lot of paper, I figure I may as well do it now.

Summer 2013 August 20

72/75 degrees this morning.  Still relatively cool, was slightly foggy, clearing now.

I now have a date for my first "tooth implant" visit (which will be the worst, operation wise).  I guess I'm glad to get it started, I certainly don't want the are flaring up sometime, although it has been almost three years since I was advised I needed it done.  (The original suggestion was for a new bridge etc.).

I plan on starting to catalog my "hot wheels"  cars sometime, I don't know if I should use Tumblr or a blog.  

Didn't listen to the "willpower" book during my walk this morning.  Actually, I forgot it.  I don't mind walking without any book etc., it is still a good time to think and prepare for the day ahead, maybe more so, except I like the idea I'm getting educated while I walk, somewhat like I enjoy the idea of reading the newspapers while I ride the stationary bike.  Kind of like buying time.

If I had the money, one of the few things I would lavish money on is a driver.  The thought of all the time I waste driving is enough to make me check on what a driver would  cost (too much!), but at least it is fun to dream.  Even here, where I live relatively close to work, I could save an hour a day I could use on reading etc.  Such are dreams!

Summer 2013: August 2

Coolish this morning (70 degrees).  

TGIF.  I am ready for a weekend, although the week seemed to fly by.  Finishing a long process today of final interviews for a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant position.  Three very qualified persons, which means at least it is a positive choice, although a difficult choice.

Listening to "Steve Jobs", who believed in (and practiced) a minimalist life style.  I look around and see how possessions have taken ownership of me, not always a negative.  I tend to hang on to things (especially books and clothes) until they wear out.  

i remember when I first started working I rented everything so I wouldn't have to worry about it.  As the years went by, I accumulated items, and now look aghast at all the stuff.  However, I have a hard time giving away my books, even ones I haven't touched for years, my clothes (I recently lost enough weight to justify keeping some clothes for years on the basis that "I could wear them when I lost weight!, which is a wonderful feeling!  I want to throw away all of my "too large" clothes, but Aliene insists on putting them away "just in case".  

Of course, my Hot Wheels (Matchbox etc.) collection will die with me.  I will always pack them up and take them with me.  I will probably leave them to an orphanage or someplace where they will be used.  Or maybe a museum if there is such a thing as a "Hot Wheels Hall of Fame".  I don't know why I am so attached to toy cars (and similar vehicles), but it is an inexpensive hobby and one that I enjoy.  I actually bought my first "Hot Wheels" car in 1980, when my daughter was less than a year old.  Over the years, I pick them up, with no real purpose in mind, just nice or unique to look at.  I have a lot of race cars.  I don't "play" with them, but I do like to display them and change the displays.  

One reason August was always my favorite month probably was because it was the "birthday month".  John and Mary Anne were born on the same day (August 5) exactly one year apart and I came along 3 years later on August 6. We would aways combine into one big birthday part, usually at the swimming pool.

I can remember the swimming lessons we had when we were kids.  We would actually walk (on mud roads in bare feet" for over three miles to be picked up by a bus and then we would walk back three miles.  (It may be 4 1/2 miles). That is the absolutely truth!