SUMMER 2014 June 21 Saturday (A Lull in the Life in the Midst of Chaos) The Deed is Done

75 degrees this morning, still a little coolness in the air.

Life in the midst of moving boxes. We are currently living in "travel mode" since most of our belongings were packed up yesterday.

The deed is done.  We have officially sold our beloved house, with the wonderful patio, and must move by Monday. We "closed" Friday afternoon, with possession until Monday night. The next three days will be a period of goodbyes and final steps.  My wi fi continues, unaware it will permanently end on Monday, as with the phone service.  Thank goodness we have them over the weekend!

Walk this morning, two Sheriff patrol vehicles drove through.  Not sure if I should feel safe or scared!  Shelby County does an excellent job of patrolling the city, another aspect of life in Lakeland I will miss.  

The Lease for the house we planned to lease arrived, and we realized it contained provisions unacceptable to us so we will be "homeless" as of Monday night with until July 3 to find a home for our belongings.  The proposed lease we received contained a provision that the rent increased 10% after one year! and provisions on how we were responsible for all kinds of items most landlords take care of routinely.  It was one of those national businesses that bought up a homogenous number of houses in foreclosure and is now renting them out.  Nothing wrong with that, but they apparently need to work on their business practices.  I can't imagine anyone signing a lease like that.

This morning I realized I had coffee and a coffee maker, but no filters.  A quick trip and that matter was settled!  I didn't have any coffee yesterday at all, and I was in the mood for some coffee.  As I say, coffee is my only vice, and I am going to enjoy it!

Sitting outside on my patio, as I enjoy it for the last few times.  I can't imagine being able to get anything like it at another house (I haven't seen anything anyway), so I will enjoy it while I can.  I will miss the singing (and some simply noise) of the birds and the occasional deer and the silly antics of the squirrels.  Right now, I can even hear a deer, but can't see it.

The much anticipated first day of Summer has arrived, with little fanfare.  Of course, there is always that felling in the back of my mind that the days will now start getting shorter with the descent into Winter, although there is a lot of time left in Summer.  

I am trying to figure out how to forward mail etc. when I don't know my forwarding address.  It sounds kind of suspicious to say "no forwarding address"!  Actually, I fully expect to have something within a few days, but it means our priority has become finding a reasonably good house.  We really liked the one we had picked out, but many others are comparable or close and we may find something even better.

Today we are saying goodbye to a number of people, tomorrow we take care of some final moving details , getting ready for the Monday move as well as saying some more hard to say goodbyes, Monday  we move to who knows where.  Interesting times.

But in the final analysis, we are glad the decision has finally been made.  Living in the never-never land of now knowing where we were going, and not being able to make any decisions, (in spite of being pleasant with our friends, the house, and the things we love about the Memphis area, which are many) was beginning to get old.  We knew we couldn't stay in the house or Lakeland, since we can't stand to see the deterioration of Lakeland into the "no where city" it is rapidly becoming. Sometimes, it is better to remember what was, than what is.  

That's it for now, Saturday, June 21, 2014, the first day of Summer.  

Spring 2014 June 17 Tuesday

72 degrees this morning, and a lovely morning it is.  Sitting on the patio listening to the birds and sipping coffee.  Life couldn't be better!  I even decided to eat breakfast later so I could spend more time on the patio during the best times.  Also, I may eat less throughout the day if I eat later!  Four more days until Summer starts.

A story this morning about a "robocopter" experiment in England reminded me of the appalling lack of progress in transportation, at least in my opinion.  I remember as a child looking at an advertisement and seeing a car going down the road with 4 people playing cards and no driver.  This was over 55 years ago and we are still driving basically the same way!  Obviously the cars are much improved (although some would disagree with that, I don't, I feel they are much improved), we still basically drive them the same way.  All of the progress in other areas, but we are still basically driving like we did over a century ago!  

I believe at least 14 years ago, I learned that the technology existed to the effect that you could walk out to your backyard, get in a small airplane/helicopter, and just sit there as computers and GPS handling taking off, flying it, landing it at your destination, all without any effort on your part!  Yet we still drive the same way and flying has even gotten worse than it was 14 years ago.  

Not only are are driving and flying the same, only recently have "alternative" methods of transportation (such as walking trails and bike paths separate from other vehicles been a priority.  (Well, with the exemption of Lakeland, where the new spoiled brat politician mayor and his toadies turned down a grant for a million dollars that would have made Lakeland truly bikeable and walkable, but that is another story.)

Actually, when I was a child, I truly thought we would probably be transporting ourselves (that isn't the right word, but the effect of just changing your form so that, for example in a matter of seconds, I could go from Lakeland to Kansas City).  While researching what this actually is on Google, I saw some interesting articles on transportation, as far as bicycles, even rickshaws I'll have to read when I have time.

I realize there are major barriers, including safety, etc. to all of this progress, but it is amazing that things really haven't changed for a century, at least, we are even still using mostly gasoline.  

Speaking of safety, I read this morning that robots killed over 30 people last year.  I realize the "robots" didn't really do it, lack of safety engineering in the robot operations did it, but it still is a sobering thought that you can be killed an an errant robot.  As they search for more ways to utilize robots, the safety factor is a major barrier (perhaps as in driverless cars and planes).  I also thought robots would be used a lot more although, perhaps, with the numerous small computers in use, it may be that we are using robots in a different context and form than expected.  I  read where they are trying to make robots more "appealing"  (I'm not sure if that means human  or like a cute puppy, or maybe even a cute machine).  Creatively couldn't hurt.  

Some other technology that I thought would take off faster than it has is nanotechnology.  I read "Prey" and though this would really tai off, but I haven't seen a lot about it.  Of course, if I put nanotechnology into a search engine, I may be proven wrong.  I also thought solar would be used much more than than it has been.   

Getting my tooth implant area "opened" today, the last process before the new teeth (actually crowns over the posts) are installed (I guess that is the right word) in about two months.  That will make the whole process a year long process.  A lot has happened since I first had the two teeth pulled on September 6, 2013 to prepare for the implants.

Also going to the Apple Store,  For some odd reason, my iPhone won't ring, which creates a log of voice messages and embarrassment when I don't answer my phone.  Also going to work on my iPhoto some more.

That's it for today, Tuesday, June 17, 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 5 23 Friday

70 degrees this morning.  Trying to sit on the patio, but there is still a slight coolness in the air (sigh).  Normally Memorial Day is about the time it really starts getting hot in the morning, so hopefully this weekend is it.

The Veterans Job Fair went well.  It was very professionally done and while I really wasn't suited or interested in many of the jobs offered, (there were a few which made it well worthwhile going, if nothing else just for the experience) and the organizations/businesses there were very open to questions and providing information.  They even offered a lot of "freebies", which I skipped except for a "string backpack" that I use when I bike and normally break about one every three months.  However, the one I am currently using has lasted for a long time, maybe even a year.

Trying to get my iPhoto library organized.  The most frustrating part has been getting ride of "duplicates, thumbnails and the "faces" that Apple uses that somehow duplicated to about 14,000 images.  The Apple Store staff has been very helpful in helping me approach this.  I'm not sure where Apple recruits for their store, but they hire a lot of really great people.  (They hire a good variety of ages, etc. also, which makes me feel good about the company.)

I don't quite know how my iPhoto library got so disorganized (probably through years of "tu it" delays!), but I am intent on getting it organized into albums and then stored somewhere.  I am actually learning a lot, it is interesting.  Apple apparently added more "1 to 1" staff, which is great, until everyone else learns about it and then it will be hard to get an appointment again!  They have a lot more appointment times available for the "1 to 1 personal", which is either 30 minutes or an hour of direct "1 to 1" training, which is great, because I always learn a lot.  "Open Training" is for when you have a project that you don't need continuous help, but you may need some assistance to help you over  hump and that  is also great.

 I noticed I am just scanning Facebook more and more as more "sponsored" ads and junk are in the "news feed".  Hope I don't miss anything I world really like to see, but I only have so much time. 

Looks like it will be a great day.  I even have another appointment at the Apple Store this mooring, hopefully can break through the problems on iPhoto.  I don't mind spending the time on it, I just hate to waste time.  The time on the patio this morning has been good, even if a little cool, it is good to be back and see the trees, hear the wind through the tress and the birds.

We no longer have our bird feeders.  It just got too messy.  We miss the birds, but it was a continual hassle fighting the squirrels, raccoons and other varmints as well as we weren't sure what type of pests were in our lawn to eat the discarded seeds.

We will try to go to a Redbirds baseball game (or two) this weekend.  That is always fun when the weather is nice. 

Just looked at my gmail account spam folder, I had over 200 spam in the last three days!

That's it for now, Friday, May 23, 2014

Spring 2014 5 21 Wednesday

70 degrees this morning. Should be a great morning on the patio!

Still some "jet lag" effects on sleeping patterns, but otherwise reentry has been good and the jet lag effects aren't that bad.  

Thinking some more about the Front Line program on solitary confinement, I had never really thought before the effects of total mindless rage, to the point that a person slams themselves against a steel door for hours and bleeds and other.  I was actually stunned by the program.  There are some actions that even writing can't really get across the overwhelming rage that someone feels.  I have seen it in residents who feel they have no say in a situation, and perhaps I vaguely feel it for brief moments about the way the spoiled brat professional politician and the board of fools are destroying Lakeland.  However, I can move, the resident normally gets some response (maybe not in the current Lakeland), but the prisoner has absolutely no say or even any response to his or her focused anger.  I'll look more at this.

One of the aspects of China I noticed I miss is the sound of the language itself.  I expect if I could understand it, I wouldn't notice it,but the musical nature of it is intriguing, with there being major differences in men and women speaking it.  I actually also enjoyed most of the food, much more than I expected.  

Sitting out on my patio again.  I guess I am pushing it, it probably is just a little too cool yet for early morning patio.  (The rest of the day is fine, but enjoy the early morning the best.)  I am going to sit out here for a while, but probably will give up and go in.  

I have a "virtual coffee"  (through FaceTime) later this morning.  I wish I had invested in a headphone/microphone combination for this, I'm sure it won't be the last one I have.  

At the last hotel we stayed at, they had walnuts to put in your oatmeal (this was the "western" breakfast buffet of course).  I liked it so much I am adding walnuts to my oatmeal, along with the cinnamon, blueberries and honey!  Pretty soon, I'll wander where the oatmeal went!  I eat that and an apple with peanut butter every morning.  I may need to delay the apple and peanut butter to later in the day, it is becoming a big breakfast.  

Evernote-I keep hearing about how good it is and I have been a "premium" subscriber for years.  I just recently have really started to use it, organize my notes etc.  I think I can use it to replace some database programs I pay more for.  It is so hard to get assistance on it.  That is a major reason I like Apple products, if nothing else I can go to the Apple Store and get assistance on anything Apple sells.  I'm not aware of any other product that does that.  

I wish Apple would buy Evernote!  That would really be a fascistic combination.  Evernote just has such a long learning curve and they have very little support, although eventually someone responds to me.  However, either I don't explain myself well, or they are that familiar with the program themselves.  I think they have a "in the rut" type of thinking on what the program should do and they don't envision what I am trying to do.  For years, I basically just listed the books I wanted to read (so I could refer to it) and my car mileage and occasionally some other things.  I learned the "notebook/note" system and now hopefully learning the reminder system.  I am also keeping articles in it instead of on my computer.

I really enjoy the "online" USA Today (I think it is the best on-line paper), but it is so hard to retain articles (other than on the iPad itself).

I am attending a "Veterans" Job Fair tomorrow.  I have never been to one, so it will be interesting.  

Spring 2014 5 20 Tuesday

70 degrees this morning.  A little cool, but I decide to sit on our wonderful patio to write this.  The wind is blowing through the trees, the birds a chirping and it is wonderful.  First time this spring.

Re-entry into daily life after China has been ok.  I have gotten back into my exercise routine without any problems.  I am waking up at 2 a.m., probably related to jet lag.  I like the extra productivity time, but I know it isn't sustainable.  My experience in China has made me a lot more aware of Chinese stories and books..  Actually, in China I really enjoyed the "Shanghai Daily", which was a English language paper for Shanghai residents and provided a lot of insight into Shanghai.  

Reading and listening to "The Bully Pulpit" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  I love her books.  I read it on the way from Shanghai on the plane and got about maybe 25% through, so it is not a fast read but it is  a good one.  I also am listening to it on my morning walk.  I discovered I liked doing that since one reinforces the other.  It is a book about Teddy Roosevelt, but also William Taft and S.S. McClure and numerous other characters that are woven into a really enjoyable story.  

I first heard Doris Kearns Goodwin at a landmark City Managers Conference in Cincinnati.  I immediately got all of her books and started reading them (it took me several years).  At the same Conference I heard Beck Weathers (Left for Dead) and his fascinating story about mountain climbing, which was more of a story about addiction (not the right word) and focusing on the wrong thing and not letting yourself lose focus over what is important in life.  I also started reading mountain climbing books, and still do, but I have not desire to climb a mountain, any more than I'd like to learn boxing because of my secret liking for boxing.  

I heard Doris Kearns Goodwin in Pittsburg and actually met her at the TGIFridays restaurant in the Airport.  (She spoke on "Team of Rivals".  I just told her I enjoyed her books and left her alone, but I was kicking myself for not bringing all of her books with me to ask her to sign them!  

She is going to be at a conference later this year and I"m sure, will speak on The Bully  Pulpit. I am looking forward to it and I want to finish the book and the recording before the conference.  The recording is challenging, I think it is 39 hours.  At 1/2 hour per day (my walking time), it will take me about 3 months to listen to the entire book.  

I will be going to my first "job fair' this week.  I am going more for experience as anything, but who knows.  

Rats, wind is coming up a little too cool on the patio.  I don't know how it looks so bare in winter and so lush in Summer.

Our house is on the market again.  The buyer we had the contract with backed out for a variety of reasons.  She wanted some modifications and I think found they cost than she expected.  

One of the difficult aspects of being away for awhile is to catch up on all your mail and reading material (magazines etc.).  It takes me a week to go through everything and I just throw away all the back magazines and newspapers.  I learned a long time ago not to even try.

Watched a Front Line last night about "solitary confinement".  It was fascinating, a study of absolute rage at being in a small room by yourself and how prisoners deal with it.  

On the plane, I noticed how everyone waited the next meal, snack etc.  Kind of like being in prison you think of it, you're in a seat belt, under complete control of authority, and no means to escape!

That's it for today.  Tuesday, May 20, 2014.  

Summer 2013 September 9

79/82 degrees this morning.  Oddly enough, it almost feel cool.  Daylight is getting much shorter, still (at 6:40 a.m.) almost too dark to sit on the patio this morning.  

Day 5 after dental surgery.  Not doing as well as I expected, to be honest.  Still feel a lot of discomfort, which is ok and somewhat expected, but I didn't expect my mouth to still be numb.  A little concerned and will call the dentist.

Haven't exercised much since the surgery (I'm concerned about cracking the scab and bleeding starting again), but I still lost almost 4 lbs, I guess because eating is uncomfortable and I don't really feel like eating.  However, I hadn't noticed that I ate any less.  I'll take it anyway of course!  Hope to get back to my bike riding soon.  

Felt better yesterday than Saturday.  Caught up on some work, did some reading etc. 

Out on the patio now, and it still seems relatively cool.  I'm sure that will change as the day goes on.  

Still listening to "The Willpower Instinct"  (I received my copy of the book), and this morning was a discussion on how reminding yourself NOT to do something may just help you do it.  Rather than trying not to think about not doing something (such as over eating), the author suggests you "surf" the matter and accept the fact you will have thoughts about it and don't (at least subconsciously) that you are a bad person that you can't not think about it.  Obviously the book explains it a lot better than I do!  

I learn by explaining something so I may try to explain one small thought each day!  

My poem today from "The World Without End is Ending" is "Melancholy".  I'm not quite sure why I wrote this, I"m sure it was an assignment.  In a way I like it, but I also am a little disturbed by an attitude of distrust or anger at a certain segment of society, since I don't feel like anyone is defined by their stereotype.  Perhaps I'll think about this a little, which is one reason for poetry in the first place.

MELANCHOLY

 Nothing blossoms

 I stare

Half in malice

At their accurate lives

Proper style, proper language

 Their ignorant elegance

In the formal accents

 A little madness

A southern drawl

 Trendy slang nonsense is rewarded

 The language alters

Sweet notes

Of sufficient length

Proper words, proper grammar

 Visual repetition of an earlier era

But the moment is gone

 No rewards

The sky is still cloudless

 And the uncomfortable sound

of the ordinary note

 and the endless silence

Of a missing song

Continues

Summer 2013 September 1

82/81 degrees this morning.  Actually felt cooler today than lower temperatures earlier this week.  (This was at 3 a.m.)  Right now (about 6:30 a.m.) it is cloudy and a light breeze makes it seem even cooler as I sit on may patio in the waning days of Summer.

The middle of a wonderful 3-day weekend, the start of September.  

While I enjoy using Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter etc., I am increasingly put off and irritated by the irresponsible abuse of their attempts at adversing, forcing objectable blogs on users et., hiding the fact that much of the information is advertising.  I make a deliberate effort to avoid purchasing anything that is advertised in that manner.  

I don't think they fully have a grasp of the technology and go back to the TV and radio ways of attempting to intimidate the users with advertising.  I greatly reduced my use of twitter when they started their abusive advertising and the Facebook started inserting their junk advertising into the "timeline', I just quit looking at it and use the messaging feature.  Tumblr keeps throwing objectable "blogs" (read, heavy handed advertising) at me and it is impossible to delete it. All of them try to trick you into clicking on it so they can charge the advertisers for another click.  I expect their behavior will come back to haunt them.  It is about like the political candidates who trash up the neighborhood with their signs-enough if enough.

Aliene shopped for a dress for her Grandson's wedding yesterday.  She is actually relatively efficient as a shopper.  

Listening to "The Willpower Instinct" for a second time.  This morning I listened to the part about where the expectation of pleasure is more powerful than pleasure itself for some people and the "expectation" that you will do good in the future will lead one to negative behavior today.  (For example, we think there is always more time in the future, so we put off doing things we need to do "until we have time".  

What really surprised me was that "doing good" (for example driving a high gas mileage/low polluting car) could lead to excessive behavior in other ways, and a small selection of "healthy food" just being available could lead to unhealthy eating.  In one case, persons who thought about a previous contribution to charity gave 60% less etc.   

Looking forward to catching up on some work and personal stuff today.  

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.

Summer 2013 August 3

79 degrees this morning, very pleasant day, cloudy 

I especially enjoy Saturday and Sunday morning for the opportunity to sit out on the patio a little longer.  Even then, the time goes too fast!  Soon the time will come when it is too cool to sit out on the patio, although I usually can until early November.  

The woods sit in back of my house, quiet and presenting a smooth surface to what I expect is a seething caldron of birds, insects, animals etc. playing out their daily life.  It is much more open in winter without all the leaves etc.

Soon we will have lived in our house (with this wonderful view!) for almost 8 years (I believe-it is amazing how time gets lost in the mass of time gone by).  We actually bought the house in August and moved in in December.  It is a wonderful house, and we have really enjoyed it, especially the view.

I finally had to take down the bird feeders, and haven't put them back up, since raccoons or some other animal kept getting into them.  (I was also concerned about the pests that came to feed on the seed the birds dropped.) The birds always throughly enjoyed the feeders, although I expect there are many others available. 

Summer 2013 July 14

Sunday morning, someone coolish, a few clouds in the sky.  Nice enough to sit on the patio.

Listening to "Man's Search for Meaning" this morning on my walk, the observation was made that all persons have the choice on how they respond to a situation.  They can respond in a variety of ways.  I am thinking this through and will try to apply it throughout the week, consciously deciding on how I will respond as various situations arise.  I will need to get a printed copy of the book (although I probably have one already someplace in my collection.)

I was just thinking this morning, 40 years ago as I was driving back from Virginia and my 4 years completed with the Air Force, I had a lot of choices and a lot of decisions to make as far as career etc, and must my life overall.  Now, 40 years later, I also have a wide variety of choices, but they are a LOT different.

Yesterday, just by chance, we noticed that oil was leaking out of our car.  Since we had just had it changed, we called the dealer, who immediately advised us to come in, found the problem (a set of washers had gotten stuck together) and fixed it.  This could have caused major problems on our trip to the Reunion, since the oil leak would have gotten worse as the pressure in the engine increased from the long term driving, probably eventually running the engine out of oil.  Sometimes small things can make a big difference.

A local charity is coming by this week that picks up donated items.  I'm going to spend part of today disposing of items I no longer have any use for.  It is liberating, but also provides a sense of loss, perhaps loss with the past.

Another thought in "Man's Search for Meaning" was that belief in a future is essential to human survival