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 August 7 Thursday (Coffee)

80 degrees this morning.  Thunder, lightning, light rain.  Walked 57.43 minutes, weights.  Rode bicycle yesterday morning about 41 minutes, adjusted somewhat to the wind!

Had a nice birthday “day”, Aliene made meat loaf, went to Outback for dessert.  

Coffee is one of my interests and I like to say my only vice.  For years (at home) I only drank Starbucks “French Roast” on a regular basis.  I even keep a backup coffee maker in case something happens to the one I am using!  

A friend (who also prizes excellent coffee, and is a little more likely to experiment with his coffee than I am) gave me a package of Starbucks Cafe Verona and I have decided to switch my regular coffee.  Since I have been drinking Starbucks “French Roast for at least 13 years and possibly as many as 25 years (I really can’t recall drinking any other kind at home, but of course I have), that is a major decision for me!

I”m not sure what the difference it.  It is slightly smoother and has a little more flavor than French Roast.  Anyway, I like it and I”m glad the Sams here has it!  Actually, for some reason, in Memphis, Costco had Starbucks French Roast, while Sams only had  Starbucks Medium.  Strange.  

Same with Peanut Butter (my favorite food).  Sams had Jif Crunchy, while Costco only had Jif Creamy.  (I like either one, but Jif Crunchy is my favorite).  

By the way, none of this name-dropping is “sponsored”. (I wish!)

Back for Coffee, I still have a package of Starbucks French Roast, so I’ll need to decide how to handle finishing it while still having Cafe Verona on a regular basis. 

Eating out, when I want coffee, is always an adventure, since after the morning period, many restaurants don’t know how to serve coffee. I have found Starbucks and McDonalds almost always have acceptable coffee.  In most cases, at McDonalds will make a fresh pot of coffee if you ask  if there is any fresh coffee available and McDonalds has the ONLY cup that I feel comfortable drinking coffee in the car.  I have tried a number of “car cups”, but none of them seem to work, that it is, they spill, or the ones that don’t spill are impossible to drink out of.

Starbucks and McDonalds have excellent coffee.  Steak n Shake has wonderful coffee in the morning or when when they make a fresh pot.  IHOP (based on limited experience) seems to have excellent coffee.  TGIFriday’s coffee tastes like bad instant coffee, so I never drink coffee there and in fact rarely eat there  anymore. On the Border and most Mexican Food restaurants just don’t have good coffee.  J. Alexanders coffee is lukewarm (they keep it in metal coffee servers which don’t’ really keep it hot) and is undrinkable.  Firebirds (Memphis) has great coffee if you get it fresh.  Outback normally has good coffee, although last night it was lukewarm and I couldn’t even get a refill.  Bonefish almost always has excellent coffee or will make it right if is isn’t.  

Coffee is one thing I will send back if it is even slightly cold or old!  I don’t drink carbonated beverages (Coke etc.), or   so coffee is really the only thing I like.  (I do like ice tea if it is strong enough, I hate ice tea when it  is more like water!)  My best bet is probably just to save the money and don’t order anything but water!  

I do always try to rate restaurants on “Yelp” on their coffee, if it is bad, good, fresh, old and how many refills I get.  

Anyway, I love coffee, especially strong and  hot coffee. Now, if I could just find a coffee cop so I can drink coffee while driving!  

That’s it for now, Thursday, August 7, 2014.

Spring 2014 6 1 Sunday

72 degrees this morning.  After getting two new "armadillo" tires for my bike, my pedals locked up this morning.  Really strange, they just locked up for no apparent reason.  Can see anything wrong with the chain etc., probably a bearing or something frozen up.  Hope it wasn't terminal for the bike, I just spent $120 on tires etc!  Strangely, it happened at the exact same location where I had a flat tire last week.  Maybe I should stay away from that area, at least on my bike.  I did hear seem "grunts and groans", but I attributed it to just about anything but the pedals freezing up.  Unfortunately, any major expense is terminal for an 8 year old bike.  My last bike lasted about seven years, and I put $200 into it and then within two months had another major repair and I donated it to a local non-profit that fixes bikes for children, so I doubt if I will put a lot of month into this one.  That one was an entry level bike, I really expected better from this bike.  Could be I don't maintain it well enough.  I am going to buy a second bike when my life settles down a little.  

You develop a relationship with your bike, just like your car (well, I do anyway) and I feel a little betrayed!  Maybe I should become a bike mechanic.  Sitting out on the patio, wonderful day.  I bought some music out (of course, Vivaldi's "Spring", but I'm not sure if I want to listen to music, I think I prefer the music of a Spring morning, the birds singing, the wind through the woods, the deer messing around in the woods (they are very nosily is music I can't listen to all the time   

It is kind of strange, one of the things I missed when I got back from China was the Chinese spoken language, it is so musical.  That is, if I don't understand it.  I'm sure once I understand it I wouldn't hear the music but I would only hear the spoken meaning of the words.  When I joined the Air Force, there were a bunch of men from, I believe, Georgia.  At night, I would lay and hear the soft tones and, since I didn't really hear the words, it was also like music.  I'm not sure where they were from, I don't hear that specific southern accent   often, in fact I don't recall ever hearing it again. 

Today is a "tea morning". I am drinking tea while I write this and handle other early morning routines instead of my beloved coffee.  I will drink coffee when we have breakfast at Steak n Shake.  Steak n Shake (when the coffee is fresh) ranks up there with Starbucks.  Coffee is a key judgement with me.  I figure if a restaurant cares to provide decent coffee, they probably care about the customer.  I have no problems with sending coffee back anymore if it is cold or old.  I always ask (after 10 a.m.) if the coffee is fresh.  The correct answer is "yes", or "I'll make some", not "It was made an hour ago, so it must be fresh!".  Probably just means the server isn't a coffee drinker, but for what they charge for coffee now it should be fresh.  I enjoy tea, but I"m not ready to start a day without coffee!  (On Saturday, we go to Starbucks, so I am a 7 day a week coffee drinker.)

Listening to Vivaldi's "four seasons", I never get tired of it.  I even have all four seasons on my phone as various ring tones, although my main ring tone right now is  the opening of Styx "Fooling Yourself".  I love the opening.  Long ago, I used to go the OKC Blazers minor league hockey games and that was the song they used when the players came out on the ice, for some reason it struck a chord with me, so to speak.  The version of Four Seasons I am listening to now if probably my favorite, a particularly spirited violin version by Vanessa-Mae.  I never get tired of the violin or fiddle.

Sunday papers are sitting facing me.  I normally finish my newspapers while riding the stationary bike, but never on Sunday, I don't even come close.  A lot to do today, I am preparing for an interview next week, which I take seriously, although my chances are very good, since I expect the Interim will get the permanent job.  He is good and I don't have any problems with that, but I'm not sure if I shouldn't be using my time elsewhere.  However, I can't go without really assuming I have a chance, so I will work on it (researching it etc).  

I'm not sure where the time goes.  Technically, I should have plenty of free time to read, catch up etc., but I don't.  And that doesn't even include the time it will take to pack to move etc.  

June 1, 2014.  It is amazing it is already June.  It seems like forever since November of 2014.  Maybe I will publish what I wrote on May 26, the six month anniversary of my "Manager in Transition" status, maybe not. 

Wonderful morning, although there are still some clouds. We are not approaching he nadir of Summer, and then the cycle starts back to Winter.  

That's it for today, Sunday, June 1, 2014.

Spring 2014 April 6 Sunday

46 degrees this morning, but seems to be warming up faster.  Also, trees and grass are greening up and the early trees and flowers are ballooning.

Ate our normal breakfast at "Steak n Shake" this morning.  We have eaten breakfast there (if I remember right) at least once per week on a regular basis for about 10 years.  We usually go on Sunday morning now.  We know the Manager, most of the personnel and even many of the customers who have the same patterns.  It is kind of like a small town restaurant.  The food is good, the service is usually great and it is relatively close.  The cooks even know to start preparing the "Gluten Free" environment when Aliene walks in!  (The grill has to be  cleaned off for her eggs and bacon.)  The Manager is great, and somehow doesn't  go nuts supervising young adults, most of whom are working at their first jobs.    We eat lunch or supper there occasionally, but we almost always eat our Sunday breakfast there.  For awhile, we ate their both Saturday and Sunday, but for some reason settled on Sunday.  Probably due to the Manager as much as anything, it is a great place to eat.  The Manager actually manages three Steak n Shakes in the area.  I like it so much several years ago (around 2008 during the downturn) I even bought some Steak n Shake stock for my IRA.  It did well, a huge percentage increase, although not much in absolute terms since it wasn't a lot of money.  Steak n Shake is now part of a company kind of like Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffet), so I own a few shares of that but it's not as much fun as directly owning Steak n Shake.  Maybe they will spin it off in the future.   The strawberry shakes at Steak n Shake are great, second only to Braums.  However, the nearest Braums to Memphis is about 280 miles (exit 13 off of I-40 in Alma, Arkansas).  Actually, for health/weight reasons, I rarely eat strawberry shakes anymore, but when I do, it is really a special treat.

Braums only goes as far as one of their trucks can deliver (supposedly so everything is fresh) so most Braum's are within 8  hours of Tuttle, Oklahoma, which is slightly southwest of OKC..

Finished "Lincoln's Boys"  (about Lincoln's Private Secretaries).  It was a good book.  Haven't decided what to start now, need to catch up on some magazines etc. The book was good, it shed some light on other reading I had done by them.

I am going to tty to set up a VPN (Virtual Private Network).  It apparently provides more security when you use the internet from a public place (like Starbucks or some hotels) plus, the main thing, is so I can access some websites that are blocked in China.  It appears simple, but.... I found a web site that has a very good description of how to set up a free one, but somehow "simple" to them isn't "simple" to me.  I may try it tonight or at least this week.  I have my first Apple Computer, an iMac G5 that I can't part with and it is still humming away in the front room.  It is probably 9 years old, and I think it is a about 7 generations old.  My "new"one is two generations old!  Of course, they released a "New" generation about three months after I bought it, so it was obsolete in three months.

I quickly learned to check the web sites and find out when NOT to buy Apple (and other products) based on when a new model was coming out.  So far it was worked well for my iPad Nano, iPhone(s) and my MacBook Air which I bought about a month after release.  I actually try to buy my computers on "sales tax free" weekend, which may be a poor reason but it makes me feel good.  Actually I use my Discover Card for 5% off and then get 9.25% tax free, so it's not bad.  I need to buy a computer every three years to maintain my "1 to 1" membership.  I'm due to buy one this year, but I'm not sure what I need.  Maybe a MacBook Pro., or the new edition of the MacBook Air, which I consider the best computer made.  The ten hour battery (actually more, since I turn it on at 3 a.m. and put it on the charger at 10:30 p.m. and it is almost never completely down.  Of course if I use it continuously the battery will run down about 7 p.m.

It is funny how the forest in back of our house looks so sparse in Winter, and so full in Summer.  The leaves on the trees really hide the forest.  Kind of like some people I know.

I think I'll get out my remote control car and try it out (maybe after I do the VPN), that is operated by an iPhone.  I had a little problem explaining that to Aliene, except that I had a $30 off coupon for it.  

Got the recall package for the Fitbit Force.  I love it, but since they are recalling it, it probably means I could never get it repaired.  

That's it for today.

Winter 2014 February 25 Tuesday

37 degrees this morning.

Next phase of tooth implants (perhaps teeth implants, since there are two of themI) is this morning. I am currently in the dreaded time of "no water, no food", which basically makes me want to get the surgery over so I can eat and drink water!  I normally eat breakfast shortly after 6 a.m., so I am hungry!

The phase this morning is screwing the base teeth into my jaw.  The screws were put in my jaw  in September when the two teeth were ext rated and the bone transplant was done.  The bone transplant was the worst.  Of course, I associate the bone transplant with the devastating city elections etc. It seemed to give me a headache for several months.

Somehow I associate difficult times in my life the books by Khaled Hosseini.  When I was have surgery for skin cancer (including transplanting skin etc.I) I was reading "The Kite Runner" and associated with the realization that pain was part of life and perhaps a stage of life that we need to adjust to.  (Actually, the pain of skin cancer surgery isn't that bad, it is just the anticipation perhaps, or maybe like the grain of sand in your shoe.)  Anyway, somehow, reading The Kite Runner" during this process helped.  I never really got into his second book "A Thousand Splendid Suns", and then I read "And the Mountains Echoed" after my separation from employment, when I understood why I still didn't have time, even when it appeared all I should have was time, after at least 30 years of having very little leisure time.  Even three months later, I still haven't found time to read etc., like I expected, and my day is filled with activities that, at least appear, to seem to be important.  I found looking and preparing for employment is almost a full time job.  Many positions require extensive time answering detailed essay questions, multiple phone interviews etc. which take more time than you would think.

In addition to age, I found I am in an interesting situation.  Lakeland is around 13,000 population with 31 employees.  Most cities of 13,000 have around 150 to 200 employees (some many more, some many less) and most cities with 25-49 employees are in the range of 2500 to 5,000 population.   If I apply to a City of 10,000 to 19,000 the question is can I supervise that many personnel, if I apply to a city of 4,000, they ask why I want to go to a smaller city!  This isn' a major obstacle necessarily, but it is one I have to explain and I think it is a major factor in the selection process, depending on whom the other applicants are  When combined with my age,  it provides some interesting hurtles to get around.  I'm not really complaining about it, what is, is.  Like everything else, I need to be aware of the possible problems of these situations and the perception it may create.  

Perhaps I will write more later after the surgery, perhaps I will be sleeping and not get around to it!  However, normally I am ready for some strawberry shakes by "happy hour" (1/2 priced shakes and soft drinks) at Steak n Shake.  Since I have to eat soft foods for several days, it gives me the chance to indulge in my favorite food that I normally avoid!

Winter 2013 December 20 Saturday

68 degrees, cloudy, rain coming in.  First day of Winter, 2013!

Sitting in Starbucks, working on computer and watching the world go by. There is a certain timelessness about sitting and Starbucks.  I especially enjoy it when I have the time to enjoy it, if that makes any sense.  I don't like drive-thrus anyway (nor drive-inns for that matter).   I don't like to eat in the car (or drink coffee for that matter, unless I'm on a long trip and I can't see any purpose in picking up something and eating it at home, unless maybe a pizza or ice cream.  A few years ago, I was taking a night class and it was convenient to stop by Starbucks and pick up some coffee on my way to class. I think I like the sense of the "experience", which includes sitting in Starbucks.  

All I drink is regular coffee (well, the strongest possible) anyway, with an occasional iced coffee when it is too hot to drink hot coffee (which is almost never), although sometimes I drink iced coffee just for the taste and the experience.  Actually I try not to drive after drinking two "Vente" iced coffees, because of the caffeine buzz, about the only time I feel coffee affects me.  I can literally drink several cups of coffee and then go to sleep. 

I frequently say "coffee is my only vice" and I"m not even sure it is a vice, except excess is a vice.  My biggest coffee in drinking coffee is finding a decent cup of coffee.  Starbucks is always good, as is Steak n Shake,  McDonalds is good as long as it is fresh and hot. It is really frustrating in a restaurant where you may pay $3.00 for a cup of coffee and they try to give you cold and old coffee (J Alexanders is the worst), or try to pawn off instant coffee on you (TGI Fridays, I just don't bother to order coffee there anymore) or just don't know how to make it apparently (On the Border).  I should start a "Hall of Fame" and a "Hall of Shame" for hot coffee, although there are many in the middle. 

Life continues in the "every day is a Saturday except for Sunday" mode, except that is not exactly true, as I am keeping relatively busy keeping up with searching for another position etc., as well as catching up on projects that got behind.  I am trying to keep my same routine, and after Christmas (well, may after New Years), I am going to set regular "office hours", so I don't get lazy.  I am already feeling the "leisure time spin" where I occasionally have some inept moments when I try to do choose between all of the projects I could be working on, books to be read etc.  On the job, it is easy to set priorities, but while "on the beach", there really are not priorities for daily use of time, although there is a significant overall priority.  

Maybe Starbucks is the sense of shared experience.  I am surprised at how many job interviews I hear in Starbucks.  Clouds are still going overhead, cars are stacking up in the parking lot at Starbucks.

Fall 2013 October 12

61 degrees.  Wonderful day yesterday, I hope it continues.

Watching DRV on St. Louis Cardinals game yesterday.  Somehow avoided seeing the score of yesterdays game.   We are actually Chicago Cub fans, but became St. Louis fans via way o attending the Memphis Redbirds games.   Many of the players on the St. Louis team are players we saw play (and develop their skills) with the Memphis Redbirds, so we have  become passionate St. Louis fans also.  (When Chicago and St. Louis play, we just kind of route for both teams.)

We haven't watched a pro-football game yet, probably will after the baseball season ends.  We have  watched college football.

Glad the weekend is here.  Even though I need to catch up some work, it really is nice to have the flexible time.  My early morning routine actually doesn't change that much, except I wait to eat until Aliene gets up.      

In Starbucks for breakfast and coffee.  We have adopted the routine of breakfast at Starbucks on Saturday and Steak n Steak on Sunday.  Still trying to avoid seeing the score for the St. Louis game.             

Summer 2013 August 31

79/80 degrees this morning.  A little muggy. 

Last day of August of 2013.  To say the year has flown by would be to minimize it.

The early morning has it's own little world, and I am both a participant and an observer in it.  Almost every morning I wave to the newspaper carrier, the Walgreens truck driver (they apparently change at this Walgreens at the time I ride my bike by) and, of course, the other persons who work out what could be considered early (in the 4 a.m. to 5 .am. range).  

When I think about it, there are a lot of little subcultures we exist in daily, from our drive to work, have coffee at Starbucks on Saturday morning and breakfast at Steak n Shake on Sunday morning.  We get to "know" people and then wonder what happened when they disappear and never return.  Since in most cases we never know their names, or frequently even their occupations, just that they occupy that little subculture and we meet daily or weekly or even monthly or several times a year (in the case of the Hampton Inn we stay at on the way to OKC where they recognize us by name as we walk in the door, and ditto with the Hilton Garden Inn in OKC) where we truly minor actors in their stage of life.

The wonderful start of a 3-day weekend!  I love it!  The empty slate lies before me, although I know I won't get close to getting done what I plan!

Went to a new restaurant last night "Jacksons on the Square", a wonderful place.  Service was excellent and some of the best blackened catfish (with crab on top) that I have ever had!  It was a truly wonderful experience and it wasn't all that expensive.  Certainly not cheap, but affordable for an occasional meal.