Spring 2014 March 30 Sunday

37 degrees this morning.  The cool weather continues.

Life seems to develop it's own patterns, and I still follow the patterns of doing certain activities on the weekend, especially Saturday.  Even though I could do them on a weekday, and probably with less hassle and crowds,  I wait for the weekend.  When "every day is a Saturday except for Sunday", it seems the patterns would be changed somewhat.  Even though I am keeping my general schedule (I get up at the same time, exercise etc. 

Signs of spring and summer are appearing and I except soon will be here.  Can't be too soon as far as I'm concerned.

My picture of Marilyn Monroe feel and broke the glass yesterday.  Fortunately we were able to save the picture itself.  Actually it is a signed poster of the Marilyn Monroe stamp.  I really didn't realize it had glass like that in there.  I pick up odd pieces of art here and there and I checked our other paintings etc. to make sure it didn't have similar glass.  

Reading "The People of the Book", trying to at least get some of it read before Book Club meets on Wednesday, to at least get the spirit of the book.  I didn't know what I would think of it based on reviews and some comments I had read, but it is interesting enough to keep me reading.  I am reading it on my iPad.  I happened to read a review and summary before I started reading the book, which helped m understand a relatively difficult book to understand what was happening.

Turned out to be a beautiful day, a little cool.

With the elimination of the Tennessee women basketball team, the only teams left are the ones I watch hoping they they will get beat, with an emphasis on Kentucky getting beat, hopefully as bad as possible,  if I watch it at all.      

We actually watch almost everything on tape so we can watch when we want to.  Also, I can skip over the "talking heads" and the "analysis", as well as the commercials.  

I was amazed that an old iPod Shuffle that I had given up for dead suddenly showed signs of life and now is holding a charge and acting like everything is fine!  This is one of the three "gumstick" iPod shuffles Apple made.  I think the 3rd generation.  I got them about seven years ago and they just keep on chugging along, with the original battery.  Actually, I have not replaced a battery in any Apple product i own (including a laptop purchased about 7 years ago that i gave to my granddaughter)  Super quality!  I ended up with three of these shuffles (two of them as gifts) and the battery is still good in each one.  I also have an iPhone 3 and 3g I use as an iPad Touch, I use them for music, books etc., and my original iPod is still working find.  My original iPad is still working fine, if a little old and cranky.  

Later....busy day, getting items boxed up, replaced the weed material and mulch in the area where we keep the trash carts.  I finished up with a bike ride, as it developed into a very pleasant day.  

Trying to develop the habit of keeping track of what I eat (and my exercise) on "MyFitness Pal" .  It does ell to keep track of what I eat, even if I estimate a lot.

That's it for today.

Fall 2013 December 10 Tuesday

28 degrees this morning.  However, it was dry and I was able to do all of my exercise including walking and cycling to the ATC Fitness Center.  I was relieved to get back on my normal exercise schedule, cold though it may be!  Actually it didn't seem as cold this morning at 28 degrees as it did last night at 32 degrees, although I think the wind was the reason.

Ophthalmologist yesterday (Dr. Passons).  Eyes are good, thank goodness.  He advised the cataracts he saw developing when I saw him about 11 years ago are still there, but are still very slow growing.  Everything else looked ok.  I did get a prescription for new glasses, although he advised me it was only if i needed a new set of glasses, or just wanted them.  I will get a new pair.  It has been at least 4 years since my last pair.  He is a super Ophthalmologist (he is packed and has about a 4 month lead to get an appointment), but I still don't like the drops in the eyes or the light examination or the dilation of my eyes!  I like it because both the doctor and the staff are all excellent.  

Looks like a sunny, nice day today, although it will remain cold.

Went to the Apple Store yesterday.  As almost always, a great experience with  the "1 to 1" program.  That is the major reason I buy Apple products, and the heck with Android or any other phone, iPad, iPod or computer, regardless of the price!  They really care.  Also, I have two "gumstick" iPod Shuffles (one cratered on me, I originally had three) that the battery is still good on, after at least 7 years and an iPod (80 GB) that the battery is still good on.  Plus an old iPhone 3 and 3s that make an excellent iPod touch since the battery is still excellent!  On the other hand, I do have an ancient Nokia phone (at least 6 years old) that the battery is still good and it makes a low-cost phone to take on my exercise with me.  Also, on the the other hand, in my opinion, the Apple iPod Shuffles after the "gumstick ones" aren't very good and they languish in my drawer (I only purchased one of each).  

Soon it will be Winter officially.  At least that means the "shortest day" of the year is over and the days start getting longer! I am always surprised at how the forest at the back of my house changes with the seasons.  In the winter I can literally see right through it, in the Spring and Summer, it is a complete mystery.  

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....

Summer 2013 August 16

66 degrees this morning!  I am ready for the return to hot weather, although the daytime has been nice, weather wise.

Finished reading (actually listening to) "Steve Jobs".  It is a great book on the development of the computer age, regardless of what you may think of Steve Jobs or Apple Computer.  I will probably buy the book just to have it around to re-read.  He made some major mistakes on products (I have several of the latest iPod Shuffles to prove it!), but also some wonderful products (iPhone 5, iMac etc.).

I thought the second of my three original iPod shuffles (the gumstick ones) battery had gone out this morning, but I think it is recharging. I really like the gumstick ones and feel the iPod shuffles after that were basically failures.  I do like the latest iPod Nano.

I started listening to a book on "Willpower".  I'll give it several sessions, but was not impressed by the first listening.  I guess I don't have the willpower to suffer through it!  

The political campaign in Lakeland continues.  Obviously I can't say much about it, except it brings out the worst in some people and the best in others.  Worst of all, it trashes up the environment with signs.  Realize they may be necessary, but I'm not sure why.  In as way it is insulting to voters to assume their votes can be obtained by a large number of signs hoping they will vote based on name recognition like selling soft drinks.  At least is will be over in a month or so.

The last weekend of Redbirds baseball (The Memphis Redbirds, the minor league team for the St. Louis Cardinals).  It has been a lot of fun attending the games.  While both Aliene and I are extreme Chicago Cubs baseball fans, we have become (almost) as extreme St. Louis Cardinal fans since many of the players we have seen playing on the Memphis Redbirds are now stars of the Cardinals.  Hard not to be for them.  The Memphis Redbirds also just are a class organization and the Autozone baseball stadium is wonderful.  We are rapidly becoming diehard (whatever that means) Cardinal fans.

Friday.  While I spend much of my weekend on work activities, it is difference since I am not tethered to the office etc.  Gives me a chance to catch up on work as well as personal activities.