Summer 2014 August 22 Friday (Anticipation)

82 degrees this morning.  Summer finally arrives in late August!  Walk 54:57 minutes this morning, biked about 30 minutes yesterday.  No earthquakes  today (at least none showing up on my app.)  My bike ride has been shorter since there appears to be a problem with the tire or chain, or maybe a problem with my legs not in shape yet!

Bike ride has changed a little with the arrival of the school buses (school is just starting here) and the crowds of children either standing on the corner or slowing making their way to the bus stop.  

Tomorrow will mark two months since our move.  Even though we have gone back on a fairly frequent basis and greatly enjoy our visits with friends (during these visits it is almost like we haven’t moved, it is kind of a shock when we end our visit and realize it is not a regular event anymore, which I guess makes it even more treasured), it is almost like we have never lived there.  

In a sense, we have never lived in Lakeland as it exists today, and I’m not sure we would want to, since it is basically changing to a “non-city”, where the general concept seems to be to provide as few public services as possible and make it a city that is primarily “business friendly” at the expense of the residents.  

I felt the same separation last November when I was no longer working for the City.  After a week or so, it was like I have never worked there, on a psychological basis.  

I remember the story about President Reagan, when we was in the last stages of his illness.  He saw a replica of the White House and looked at it and said “I used to have something to do with that”.  I always thought that was sad, and I was surprised at how fast I felt the same psychological separation.  

It kind of goes back to my favorite saying “The World Without End is Ending”.  The world of employment, a residence continues until it is over, and then it is over.  

Kind of like the cartoon in the paper I saw recently.  The family is moving and the little boy looks around the house and says “this used to be our house but now it is just a house”.  

After receiving my newspapers at the “normal time” all week,(around 3:30 a.m., or at least they are here when I complete my walk), the newspapers are “late” today (probably will be here at 6 a.m.).  I really wish they would not deliver them early, if they aren’t going to do it all the time, it just ruins my routine.  

Of course, as a friend recently a advised me, all I need to do is just read the paper when it is a day old, that way I would always have it when I wanted it and I would have my routine!  It actually makes sense, but somehow I have to read the paper as soon as it arrives or it is like “what’s the use!”.  

Kind of like mail, I have always loved to receive the mail.  Evan as a child, I can remember walking down to the mailbox and waiting for the mail, even when I didn’t expect anything and my disappointment (that I still feel today) when I don’t get anything!  I am a regular checker of e-mail, it is like getting mail on a 24 hour basis.

Kali (my granddaughter) is going to a concert with a friend this weekend.  They are staying overnight in another City.  It is one fo the first stages of her establishing her own life and probably one of her first adventures from her parents.  She saved her own money for the trip and has been anticipating this since early in the year.  I hope it is everything she anticipates.  It is wonderful when it is, a learning experience when you realize that anticipation is frequently 90% of the fun.

i think that is why I enjoyed China so much.  I anticipated the trip for about 5 months and it was everything I anticipated and more, in fact, much more.  It was not a matter of anticipating something and suddenly it is over and you wonder what you really anticipated.  

That’s it for today, Friday, August 22, 2014.

Sunday 2014 August 10 Sunday (Location and Decisions)

75 degrees this morning.  Walked 55;11 minutes.  (Rain started right as I ended my walk)

The three most important values of real estate (location, location, location) and the cliche “Act in Haste, repent at leisure” were reinforced yesterday as we looked for a possible YMCA.   

We actually had selected a house in another part of town, but the Lease (the house was owned by a national company who bought out a bunch of houses to rent out and hopefully sell at a profit in the future) was grossly unacceptable. 

Although we liked the house, the Lease was unacceptable, it proposed a 10 increase in rent after one year, and required that we would be responsible for the fence (which was in extreme disrepair) and other items as well as responsible for any repair under $100.  We may look like fools, but we aren’t an dee told them “no thanks”, even though we loved the house and the location.

The location included an “off the road” walking/bicycle path that we could take for exercise, but also connected to commercial and community activities as a post office, major grocery store and  a lot of service provides such as a pharmacy, Doctors and Dentists offices etc.  

Yesterday, we realized it was also within walking distance (less than one mile, and directly connected with an off road bike/walking trail) of a major, brand new YMCA.  

It also is located in the City I that believes a City is supposed to upgrade the living experience of the residents and the city emphasizes bike and walking trails, landscaping of major streets etc.  Just a lot better environment. 

The trade off for all of this is that traffic is horrible if you want to get any place other than the places you can walk to.

At our current house, we are within a mile of a major mall, and, like in Lakeland, are within two miles of any restaurant you would like to eat at and a Wal Mart and Sams etc.  (Here they don’t have a Firebirds or a Steak n Shake, but they do have a Braum’s!)   There are also no walking paths/bike trails and sidewalks are there, but not always really usable.  

Also, we have convenient access to an interstate and can get anywhere in the area quickly.  At the other location, it probably would take 15 minutes more (much more when traffic is bad) to get anywhere.

Since we had only a few days to find a house, we made the best decision we could, and it may well be this  house was the best decision.  (The other specific house was not a factor, since I would never sign such a lease.)  

Anyway, the decision was made and there are a lot we enjoy about this house (the easy access etc.) and since we are leasing it isn’t like we can’t review our decision and made another decision in a year.

I

We continue to deal with downsizing and deciding what to do with items. We took five more boxes of books to the Library last week and I continue to see books I can “weed” and hopefully find  a home for them.  A lot of other items that we probably will get rid of when I mentally accept the idea that I don’t need them  or can easily replace them if I need them.  

Watching a boxing match I copied last night as I read this, I noted that frequently the “knock out” punch is difficult to see.  Kind of like life.

That’s it for now, Sunday, August 10, 2014

Summer 2014 July 26 Saturday (Friends)

68 degrees this morning.

Looking forward to visiting with friends this weekend.  We have been looking forward to it since we knew we would be in the area.  We can (somewhatI) replace houses, cities, cars etc., but friends are unique, and we really value and hope we can maintain meeting with our Lakeland friends on a regular basis over the future. 

We lived on a farm when I was growing up, so the number of people were limited, especially children our age.   Our closes friends were about 3/4 mile away (they were mostly friends of my older brothers and sisters due to age differences) and we would walk over and give the Tarzan yell to see if they could play.

My best friend lived about 2 miles away and we would walk (I don’t recall ever being driven) over to see each other.  

We went to a one-room school (I still remember the teachers name, Ms. Porterfield,) and I went there for 4 grades before Kansas consolidated all the one-room schools.  

Decision points on our lives are coming up.  Either I will start working another job or I am starting my consulting business and “jumping in with all four feet” as I like to say.  Maybe some of each if things work out, which is what I actually prefer.  

Wherever the Wheel of Fortune may land. And I need to be ready to recognize it when the Wheel of Fortune points to me.

I think my reason for wanting to continue working is my basic desire to make changes for the better, even if it is small changes.  One of the most rewarding things about City Manager is the ability (well, power or authority)  to resolve problems, especially those little, irritating problems that impact on your life (or the big ones for that matter).  If nothing else, I can listen and explain why a problem can’t be resolved.

I really enjoy that aspect of City Manager, especially since I love feeling that I am an important part of the team  that makes life better for city residents.

That is a major reason it makes me so angry when I see an arrogant spoiled brat who thinks he knows everything destroy a city.  (As an example in Lakeland, the spoiled brat politician was going to “fix” the trash system.  He ended up with a much worse program that charges the same rates, doesn’t recycle yard waste any more, doesn’t pick up near as much (before they picked up everything in bags, now just two containers.) However, enough of that, Lakeland residents are going to have to resolve that problem. That isn’t my problem anymore, but it is a good reason for me to keep working and hope I can prevent such stupid arrogant actions in other communities.  

Back to my time on the farm, I can remember playing “City Manager” when I was child.  I had an entire “city”set up (with sticks, stones and leaves and other items representing vehicles, airplanes, buildings etc), I didn’t have actual vehicles etc. They didn’t make Hot Wheels back then and we just didn’t have toys like that.  Perhaps that is the reason (at least I feel) I am especially creative, so it may have been a gift that I had to use my imagination.

Moving has been somewhat of a trip down memory lane as I am forced to look at books, etc. that I purchased because I had read them as a child.  I can’t bring myself to throw away the literature books (my brothers and sisters) I read as a child (I purchased them at a library book sale years ago), or many of the early books I liked.  Also, I don’t even think about giving away my Hot Wheels collection, although I would like to donate them to children who will enjoy them when I no longer appreciate them for whatever reason.  

The next week week may have a lot of decisions points.  We will see.  We are looking forward to visiting with our friends this weekend.  If I”m having “too much fun” the journal entires may be somewhat erratic for the next several days, although I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to jot a few thoughts.  

That’s it for today, Saturday, July 26, 2014.  

Spring 2014 5 19 Monday

59 degrees this morning.

Just returned from an 18 day trip to China, which is why suspended the journal.  I wanted to concentrate on the experience.  I will post my China Journal as a separate entry.  

China was a great experience.  I really enjoyed meeting the Chinese residents and seeing the Shanghai, XI'an, Bejing, Wangzhul and then Shanghai.  I attended a Conference in Wangzhul and a Study Tour in Bejing and the other cities were personal tours.  The Conference was truly International in the sense that there were persons from Russia, Australia, Denmark, Nigeria, Great Britain, Canada, and, of course, China and the United States.  It was unique cultural exchange, focusing on the urbanization problems of China and sustainable practices in cities.  

Re-entry into reality should be easier, since we currently have no reality.  I am trying to find the "right" job, and we are trying to sell our house so our options are limited by other circumstances.  

The experience in China really made me think about my future.  I know I will be more international in my thinking.  While I vaguely knew the urbanization problems of China (and other countries), I was unaware of all of the work that has been done in this area.  The major items about China I will remember (besides the wonderful people we met, and perhaps the wonderful food!) is the emphasis on enhancing residents lives by providing for parks, separate bicycle lanes, landscaped medians (and landscaped separations between the bicycle lanes and regular traffic).  The architecture is spectacular to say he least, especially in Shanghai and Beijing.  

Problems I saw were housing (waves upon waves of high rise apartments, it has to be seen to be believed) and the truly chaotic traffic. Somehow it works, but I don't see how!  Actually the rapid urbanization is a major challenge as well as an opportunity for China.  I understand housing costs may be a major problem for younger Chinese as the costs increase.  

I noticed a major difference in each City we visited.  Yangzhul (the "smallest" city) perhaps overwhelmed me with the number if bicycles and scooters (much more percentage wise than the other Cities, with XI'an in second place) and with fascistic facilities for bicycles and scooters.  The people of XI'an were wonderful, but then so were the people in Beijing and Shanghai.  

Meanwhile, I have planned the China trip since December, so a major event in my life is now over, other than planning how I can get back to visit again!  

I am going to emphasize my knowledge of "sustainable practices", I think that is a major opportunity for cities in the future.

Meanwhile, back to reality, whatever that is.  Right now, the only reality is change and potential change.  Selling the house, moving, job/business changes.  We love Lakeland, but for what it was, not what is it going to be now.  After the city turned down a much needed bicycle trail and decided all parks should be private, eliminated code enforcement, it is time to leave.  Eventually Lakeland will merely be like the county, without any reason to have a city, except perhaps to further the ambitions of the spoiled brat mayor and he spoils system of machine politics.  

Fall 2013 November 1, 2013

57 degrees, no rain.

Friday, the weekend awaits.  I look forward to the weekends, more as an opportunity to catch up than R &R although I certainly get some of that also.

On November 1, 2001, I started working in Lakeland.  Both Aliene and I have enjoyed the 12 years and I continue to really enjoy working here, so it was a  good move for us.  Lakeland is substantially different from the previous city I worked for (nothing against my previous city, that is just a fact), so I learned a lot in dealing with different expectations and different procedures.  

New iPod is out today and I decided to go ahead and get one.  i currently have an "iPod 1" (otherwise known as the "original" iPod, so it is time. I am keeping my old iPod (it is worthless anyway) as a music/audio book device and as an e-book etc.  I got my iPod from T-Mobile since it includes 200mb of data service.  It was quite a shock to have to pay $72 in sales tax, hopefully Lakeland will get it's share and not Memphis or Arlington (due to the ZIP situation).

I am working hard at giving my books access to a new owner.  It is so hard to get rid of books, even if I think they are going to a new owner who will read and appreciate them like I do.  Knowing I have access to e-books helps some, but....

Fall 2013 October 31

70 degrees this morning, raining.  Didn't walk or bike, did stationary bike.  I always feel like I"m missing something when I don't do all of my exercises, especially walking.  When I don't exercise, I feel like I should have extra time, but I actually don't because I still need to read the papers, drive (rather than bike) to the gym etc.

Twelve years ago, October 31 was my last day of work at my last place of employment and tomorrow, November 1, I started here.  I actually traveled out here today and we actually had candy  etc. and ran out.  

Aliene and I both enjoy Lakeland (and Memphis) and it has been a great twelve years, no matter what may happen.  We experienced a different culture (to some degree), true "sweet tea" and the courtesy and hospitality of the Memphis area.  I am still amazed when we visit OKC (where I always though drivers were courteous) and feel like OKC drivers are a bunch of bad mannered drivers after experiencing the true courtesy of the Memhis area drivers.  I know, I know, there are bad drivers here too. 

Visit Dentist again tomorrow, hopefully last time before I have the "posts" put on my teeth implant area.  (I decided on "teeth" rather than "tooth" since I'm haven two implants.

I just discovered a neat "notify me" app in Evernote.  There is a minimum of fuss and muss and it is easy to put in a 'remainder" and set the time.  A quiet little notice pops up and I am reminded!  I have been trying to find some uses for Evernotes (and other apps) that are on my computer and iPhone, so it is nice to discover how useful it is.  I certainly have some apps that are overhyped and junk to say the least.

A "day of gray" today, since it is supposed to rain all day.

Summer 2013 September 16

63/67 degrees this morning.  I wonder if the warm weather is gone for the year?

Monday, need I say any more?  Actually, I normally look forward to returning to the office. The area of the dental surgery is aching this morning and so I feel I am somewhat subpar, although it isn't enough to worry about.

The Lakeland City election is this weekend.  Hopefully things will settle down after that and the residents will have made the correct decision for the future of Lakeland.  I feel the local elected officials of a municipality are the most important elected officials in how they affect the lives of residents.  A city can have a huge impact on the local environment.  At least the signs will be gone.

Going back to making 8 cups of coffee in the morning (I have been making individual cups since surgery since I was concerned about hurting my mouth).   I like drinking coffee, what I say is my only remaining vice, although I don't know if it is that much of a vice anymore.  I especially like drinking coffee while sitting on the patio and reading the paper, but I feel it is more valuable to read the papers while I exercise on the stationary bike.

Lost a little weight since dental surgery.  I would like to lose about 10 more lbs (just enough so I don't have to buy a bunch more clothes).  I lost weight in the past two years (with a modified "low carb" diet of little bread or potatoes, although I do eat fruit) and had to buy all new clothes at the tune of about $1500.  And I had the pleasure of finally being able to wear the clothes I had kept for years for "when I lost weight", which was probably the highpoint of losing weight!  I have been stalled at one weight for about a year (since November of  2012), although I am not dissatisfied with that weight.  

Losing weight, especially the relatively  large amount I did, was pleasing and I do everything possible to not let "weight creep" allow me to get overweight again.The weight charts still say I am overweight, but I know what I can maintain and look and feel great at, which is about 12 lbs less than I weigh now.  

Aliene's brother and his wife are coming by for a visit today.  This is their first visit to us here in Lakeland, so we will enjoy showing them around Lakeland and Memphis.  Probably include a trip on the Mississippi.  One good thing, when I was in grade school, I learned to spell "Mississippi" as a rhyme, so I never have a problem spelling it!

No poem today, I completed "The World Without End is Ending" and I have never written another poem that I would care to publish. 

Summer 2013 August 5

Happy Birthday to John and Mary Anne!  (I won't mention their ages, except to say they are my OLDER brother and sister!)

78 degrees this morning.  Able to walk, but light rain prevented me from bicycling to the gym (I drove).

ATC Fitness in Lakeland plays the most horrible music.  It is hard to describe except I'd prefer the cats yowling in the forest at night to this junk.  I think it is supposed to be relaxing, but it just makes me angry for some reason.  Even headphones don't help when I have to take a shower there.

Can't sit out on patio this morning due to rain. Still, I enjoy the house also.  

Aliene made some meat loaf yesterday (my favorite food and she makes the best meat loaf) so I can enjoy it for several days.  

Monday, the weekend is past.  I had a good relaxing weekend, got some work done, and otherwise caught up.