Summer 2013 September 11

76/79 degrees this morning.  Walked and weights, but didn't cycle again.  I have a meeting in Jackson, so I have to leave early, so I decided not to push it.  Hopefully will get started back tomorrow.

Obviously,  remember September 11, 2001, as well as April 19, 1995.  Almost like you can't believe it's happening, but you know it is.  I have a hard time believing has been 12 years since the Twin Towers and almost 19 years since Oklahoma City.  I was in Oklahoma City when on April 19 and the weeks and months after so I saw the continued impact of the destruction and all it entails.

I think that is something I always try to remember is the "long tail" of any action, the effects of an act you can't predict and how it affects you in a myriad of ways that you did't expect and frequently didn't want.  

The saying "First, do no harm" is perhaps a good start to actions.

It has been in incredibility  busy  two days (Monday and Tuesday).  Hopefully get some relief to day and get some time to get some things done that I have to get done.  

I am taking a class this morning to get some of the required hours for the "Certified Municipal Finance Officer" (CMFO) training.  A super program, it includes 11 full days of instruction with a test over the material for each day (that is 11 days over the period of a year, not straight through).  It requires 24 hours of "continuing education" training  each year, which is good.  

Unfortunately,  the opportunity to get hours isn't as good in West Tennessee (which I found is frequently the neglected part of Tennessee) as in other areas of Tennessee so I have to take every opportunity to obtain the certification hours.  

A short thunderstorm yesterday afternoon shut down the City e-mail and phone service.  You forget how important it is until you don't have it

Poem today from "The World Without End is Ending" is " Winter Sundays", probably written as a special assignment, I'm not sure what.  The first part refers to my Father, who grew up in an orphanage that would probably be considered child abuse in today's world.  He saw his sister about once a year and got an orange once a year at Christmas.  Reading on the orphanage in later years, I expect he was telling the truth and probably not telling us some other events that would have stunned us.  He worked his way through collage, which I think the "shoveling coal" probably refers to.  

I doubt that this ever actually happened, except he did listen to WIBW , Topeka pubic radio and "Music of the Masters" on Sunday while (I assume) he took a nap, maybe he was only meditating.  Actually I enjoy classical music and did even as a child.

I have always been entranced by fiddle and violin music.  My Mom told me once, even as a child, when I heard a violin or fiddle, I would stop everything and listen to the violin or fiddle music.  

WINTER SUNDAYS

 Sundays, my Father

Walked briskly in the early morning cold

Heels crunching on the frozen grass

And describing his early life of

Shoveling coal for little pay

Oranges only at Christmas

Life without electricity, running water

And money, while I

 Walked with him

And dreamed of a future

Of thundering red Corvettes

Travel to beaches and mountains

And plenty of money

 Sunday afternoons

He listened to classical music

During his after dinner nap

Dreaming of the good old days while

I listened to the Orange Blossom Special

And the Black Mountain Rag

Captured crooks

With the Hardy Boys

And dreamed of fiddling

With Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys

Dilemmas

In the magical kingdom

Of life

Summer 2013 September 10

76/79 degrees.  Seems cool.  Just walked and lifted weights this morning, no cycle yet.  6th day since dental surgery.  Still bothers me, actually hurts worse this morning than before.  Apparently effects of swelling etc.  Just not ready to cycle yet.  

Extremely busy day yesterday, just really feel time limited to say the least.  Still limited in what I eat (obviously I chew on the right side of my mouth, but carrots and apples are still a hard sell to eat right now!).  

Birds out out again this morning, but a different type of bird, not the "cawing' bird.  Heard the cicadas last night, the sound always brings back my childhood when they were abundant.  The sound doesn't bother me in fact I kind of like it (like tree frogs).  

A number of meetings this week.  While I realize they are necessary, they take up a lot of time.  

Kali and Katherine are into school again.  I remember when I was their age, I always silently wish them well.  It is difficult and each person has to live it herself.

Summer is ending soon.  Life cycles fast.  I know that everyone has to change, it is a necessary process, but... 

The Apple announcement is today.  I always look forward to what they are going to present, hopefully a "surprise" this year!  I jumped from an iPhone 3 to an iPhone 5 (I really like the iPhone 5), so I am unlikely to upgrade to just an enhanced iPhone 5s very soon.  I have learned to check the "product cycle" since it seems I tend to purchase something just as it becomes obsolete by the next cycle.  (Purchased my first iMac, just before the change to the intel chip etc.) Anyway, that has made me very cautious  about buying Apple products that have been around for awhile.  

My poem today, from "The World Without End is Ending" is "Celebration".  Again, I was in a Poetry class where each poem was aimed at a certain objective.  I don't know what the objective was on this one, but I enjoyed writing it.  some of my favorite things are in there, coffee, the mail (now e-mail!), lifting weights (I used to do it at noon, which was a wonderful break in the day, not I do it early morning), cherry pie and twilight.  

CELEBRATION

I celebrate

The first jolting cup of hot black coffee

Lake a blade cutting through the fading dreams

I celebrate the ritual of 

Lifting weights of iron

In the middle of daily chaos

 I celebrate the surprise phone calls

The morning mail,

A letter or card arriving

Like a sudden unexpected gift

I celebrate the cherry pie

Delightfully red and sweet

A marvel of perfection

Amid the routine of ordinary

I celebrate the twilight

And all stars defending the settling

Of darkness

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 8

74/76 degrees this morning, coolish morning.  Still comfortable on the patio, but on the edge

4th day after dental surgery.  I have to say I am not feeling as well as I expected to by now.  Now sure what it is, it isn't the teeth extraction as much as it is the jaw area they took the bone graft from.  Feeling like I can't open my mouth much and like part of my jaw is still numb.  Overall, a feeling of tiredness and listlessness that I almost never feel.  Hard to get started even though I have a  wealth of items to do and catch up on.  Hard to eat, although that isn't really a problem.  At first I though maybe it was caffeine  withdrawal, since I haven't drink near as much coffee as I normally do.  Could just be the side effects of surgery.  Mouth and jaw area where the bone was grafted is very sore.

Other than that, yesterday and this morning were good days.  I take my nap with an icepack on my face and I have to be careful of yawning or my mouth hurts.  I am  concerned about opening the scab so the cut area starts bleeding again.

Just walked this morning, didn't cycle since I didn't want to hurt my mouth any.  Listening to "The Willpower Instinct" during walk.  Really good thoughts about how we assume our "future selves" will have more time and energy in the future etc.  Also, mentioned what I all the "broken window" theory, in that small crimes encourage bigger crimes.  The theory in "The Willpower Instinct" is that small breaches of willpower, rules etc is catching.  For example, she notes that if someone chains their bicycle to a "no bicycle sign", people are not only more likely to chain their bicycles in violation of the sign, they also are more likely to litter, trespass etc.  She also mentioned that motorist speeding could "give us permission" to eat badly, not quit smoking etc!  It is really a great book.

My poem today from the "World Without End is Ending" is actually a  poem written to a specific form, the "Haiku", so that is it's title.  It is about my favorite subject, the seasons and how fast they pass.

HAIKU

 Spring dissolves into

dusty dry red pictures

of ordinary death

 winter arrives as

a glittering and guilty

victim of summer

 patterns of green lurk

in trees, visual systems

of an early spring

 birds, brightly colored

trill songs, desperate homage

to slumbering sun

Summer 2013 September 7, 2013

71/73 degrees this morning.  Relatively cool.  Third day after dental surgery (for implant). Jaw still feels somewhat numb, oddly enough.  Most uncomfortable where the bone was grafted from for the tooth to be implanted (or teeth, since there are two of them).  I am surprised at how many people I know that have had or going through the implant procedure.  I have quit taking any pain medicine, but am still taking antibiotics.  Still have difficulty eating, especially anything but "soft" food, but that is ok for right now.

E-mails really piled up while I was out of the office, in spite of the fact I tried to keep up at home.  I don't think I ever fully realize just how much time it takes to read and respond to an e-mail.  

Birds are noisily this morning for some reason.  Maybe they are seeing the snake I saw the other morning, or maybe it is a cat playing with them.  The birds are making a "cawing" noise, a lot of them. 

The poem today, from "The World Without End is Ending" is "My Day of Gray".  This is probably one of my more favorite of the poems.  While it illustrates a day at the office, when I read it, I am reminded of when I was in the first to fourth grade in a Country, old fashioned one-room school that actually had one teacher (Miss Porterfield) who taught all eight grades.  I remember looking out the windows of the school onto a beautiful scene day after day of trees and grass.  It was wonderful.  I'm not sure where the idea for the "blue buffalo" came.

MY DAY OF GRAY

Blue Buffalo scatter in the green grass

Outside my window

 Brightening an otherwise cloudy gray day

 While I,

 Hearing the sound of duty

 Eventually

 Return to

 Reading the dry reports

 Yellowing on my desk

Summer 2013 September 6

70/73 degrees.  Didn't exercise, although I took a short walk.  Feeling ok from dental surgery yesterday morning, just didn't want to push it.  Face is swollen (probably didn't use ice pack enough), still a little sore, but overall feel like it is ok.  Still bleeding a little.  Trying to take it easy.  It will feel good to be able to brush my teeth again!

While I rarely eat/drink/slurp strawberry shakes, it is my favorite food (well, maybe next to peanut butter!).  (For obvious reasons I don't eat much of them.)  Yesterday, since I was on a liquid diet, I had three!)

Overall surgery went well.  Got there early, given laughing gas, than a sedative, so I don't really recall any of it, thank goodness.  Worst part was the anticipation, although once I went in, I didn't really need to do anything.  

We saw a small snake on the patio yesterday.  I didn't see the little frog that hangs out on the patio, so I assumed the worst, but I saw the little frog this morning, so I guess all is well, assuming it is the same frog.  The snake was so small, I'm not sure it eat even a small frog, so maybe it is an insect eating snake.

I remember on the farm where I was growing up, we would see snakes that had eaten a big bird or an egg or other small creature, and the big bulge would gradually go down the snake.  I'm not sure how it works that a snake can do that .  

My poem today from "The World Without End is Ending" is "What the Quilt Knows".  Looking at it today, I assume I was thinking of all of those beautiful quilts I have seen through my life and what a quilt has seen and heard over the years while maintaining a quiet dignity and sense of respect, regardless of what was going on.

WHAT THE QUILT KNOWS

 With its

Red, white and blue squares

Solid and respectable

 Pink spirals

Crawling

Toward black borders

Intent on irrelevance

White spheres

Besmirched by

The years

Visual vanities

Crafted

Out of colors of the psyche

 Knowingly wrapping itself

In the starched propriety of

Respectability

Summer 2013 September 5

68/73 degrees today.  Coolish.  No walk or cycle etc, on "fasting" diet (no food or water) due to dental surgery this morning.  Obviously not looking forward to it, but will be glad to get it over.  

The surgery is for two "tooth implants" I am having to replace a defective/worn out bridge.  I ail have one tooth extracted this morning, bone grafted, and then have two teeth implanted over the next six months (allows time for healing etc.).  Not look forward to the extraction but...

The first extraction was pure hell.  I had just gotten out of the Air Force and had one year of "free" dental care.  The "free" dental care cost me thousands of dollars over the past 40 years.  The dentist was too lazy to do a root canal, so he pulled the tooth.  I should have refused it, but didn't have the sense to do it.  Over the years, the bridge has been replaced, etc. and the poor quality of work he did caused other tooth problems.  

Several years ago, a Dentist wanted to replace the bridge again (at a cost of about $4,500).  This was after I had it replaced several years ago at a similar cost.  I decided to wait (and hope it didn't suddenly start hurting).  I switched Dentist and the new Dentist recommended a tooth implant, which made sense.  The first quote was for $6500 +-, which is somewhat paid by dental insurance (but not much).  I delayed and finally decided to get another quote which was for about $3800 max, plus since I had delayed, I could use two years of dental insurance.  (The $3800 is for the implant oral surgeon only, not the two crowns and other items the regular Dentist has to do!)  Between insurance and my "cafeteria plan",  I can do it without a lot of cash outlay but still....  I'll be glad when it is over to say the least. Will be out of the office at least today, who knows how the pain medicine will affect me.  I will be glad to get it over.

Sometimes the no water/no food part is the worst of it.  Thank goodness I have an early appointment.

My poem today from The World Without End is Ending is "Urban Renewal".  Not quite sure why I wrote this, but at the time, I would walk with a friend through some of the more decayed parts of Oklahoma City.  

Occasionally we would see a house, freshly painted, with flowers, well maintained etc. as an oasis  among the dilapidated and abandoned houses.  I think that is the basis of this poem, especially the last part, where the house (and inhabitants) obviously remember a better time and are hoping for renewal and a return to the better days when the neighborhood was a place where you could actually live.

URBAN RENEWAL

 A dog of another color

Ambles over the red brick road

 Followed by

 A freckled boy

in tattered blue jeans

And shirt

Feet bare

 A rusted Ford

Resolving to run again

Waits on metal rims

 A faded blue pickup

Bares all

Amid broken glass and

Torn metal

 A broken down sofa

And matching chair

Highlight the

Tangle of weed-infested yards

 Amid the wasteland

Scaling paint, sunken roofs

And boarded windows

 A black and white

Silently observes

The vapor

Of the dream

 A bright white house

Red roses shining like torches

Wait

For the return

To glory

September 2013 September 4

71/72 degrees this morning, almost cold!

Recently started a "full time" New York Times subscription, so I am time pressed to read all my newspapers.  However, each brings such a different perspective, it is hard to eliminate any of them!

Thought I would have some extra time this morning, but somehow it got consumed!

Fall is already in the air a little, although usually it is good weather (i.e. non winter) until about Thanksgiving or even Christmas.  

Still listening to the "Willpower Instinct".  This morning was about reaching goals etc., with the story about Cortez (I think) burning the ships so the troops couldn't retreat.  

My poem today is "She".  I actually wrote it in response to a certain time of poem requested by the instructor because I liked the flow of the words after I got started.  I didn't write it with anyone in mind, but I actually viewed it as that moment of release when you realize a decision was made that actually you wanted, but you didn't realize it until it was made. In my mind it was a positive rejection, if that makes any sense.  I didn't realize I interpreted it in that manner until several years after I wrote it.  

SHE

She kindly broke his wings with an honest

       answer

 And with rejection broke his winds of hope

 Her sudden laughter broke the wings of his dreams

As memories broke the wings of the moment

 Than the clouds broke the mood of the day

Summer 2013 September 3

75/76 degrees this morning.  Coolness in air.

Back to work after a 3 day holiday.  I enjoy the holiday, but I like going back to work also. Overall, a nice and relaxing weekend, with some unusual shopping involved as Aliene was shopping for clothes for the upcoming wedding of her Grandson.  Wasn't bad though, she is an efficient shopper.

Still listening to "The Willpower Instinct" (second time through).  I have a summary of it and also broke down and ordered the book.  I looked up one of the studies citied (Heath from Tulane University) and was surprised at some of the studies.  I realize it was the 50's but....  

One of the more thoughtful courses I ever took was at Oklahoma State University, a graduate level Sociology course.  The course emphasized the "ethics" of studies, that is if the impact of the study/testing etc. was negative for the participants and if it was "ethical" to even do the study or when to stop doing the study.  Oddly enough, while I"m sure it was apparent, I don't recall ever seeing the ethics of studies as one of the major factors in studies.  In a way, it also applies to animals also.  It is a difficult area to determine what is right and wrong.  It seems there are a lot of shades of gray, but maybe not.

I always enjoyed taking college courses, my last one was in "Technical Writing".  I enjoyed it and learned a lot, but that was my last formal course.  I study and read a lot and take seminars when possible, but that was my last formal college course.  I spent a lot of time on it.  Actually, I"m wrong, I did take an Accounting course (actually Accounting I and II over the period of an academic year) since then after I moved to Lakeland.  I enjoyed it since in Accounting, when you're done you're done!  

I don't know how much time I spend on deleting spam, but I'm really tired of it.  Of course, there is always the odd e-mail that I should get that goes into the spam folder.

Another poem from my collection "The World Without End is Ending".  Not saying it is good poetry, but I enjoyed it.

By way, the poem yesterday was based partially on my one visit to Idaho.  I was impressed by all the big lakes apparently made by glaciers.  I went swimming in them and also remember the hilly country.  I'm not sure what part of Idaho I was in.

I do remember watching a concert as the full moon arose in back of the singer, Emmy Lou Harris, then and now, a favorite singer.  

The poem below is a result (I'm not quite sure how) of my occupation.

CORNER OF MAIN AND BROADWAY

 I watch myself

A bright red fireplug

Upright and permanent

Corner of Main and Broadway

 Cars growl past

Exhausts spewing

Reminders of passing

Shoes pace

The concrete desert

To token destinatons

 Voices

Echoing an endless litany

Of 

Hello good-by, excuse me

Buy me, sell me

World without end

 Waiting for my moment of 

Glory

As I stand at attention

Corner of Main and Broadway

Summer 2013 September 2

78/81 degrees.  Clear when I got up, but rain is moving in. Some rain yesterday, also not forecast.  

Aliene bought another dress for Grandson's wedding yesterday, one she is happier with than the one she bought Saturday.

I thought I had my back helmet light fixed (which with my mechanical incompetence is a miracle in itself), but, lo and behold, this morning it wasn't working again.  (sigh!)  I have a back light on my bike, but it really isn't enough and the back light on my helmet is kind of a strobe light that can be seen, which is important when I am on a 27 lb bike with 3,000 lb vehicles whizzing past.

The last day of the three day weekend.  As normal, I'm not getting as much done as I hoped or expected, but after listening to "The Willpower Instinct", I now understand the reason I don't!  Understanding usually comes before action!

I heard a song this morning, I believe by Joan Baez, it is something about "the moment you know your life will never be the same".  In my words, "The World Without End is Ending", that moment when you know everything is changed and the life (whether you enjoyed it or not) that you had you can't return to.  It could be a new job, it could be a death or separation, or even a favorite show or magazine stopping.  I remember the time I really emotionally reacted to this concept was a novel about an occupied city in World War II and an older lady who was a spy was suddenly arrested.  Somehow, the words describing her sense of loss of her current world really had an impact on me.

I actually wrote a "chapbook" of poetry once entitled "The World Without End is Ending". It was written for a poetry class, with a wonderful instructor who said there was "never such a thing as a bad poem", it could always be fixed.

My digression into poetry always amazed me.  I never really read or appreciated poetry, although I loved to read almost everything else, since we didn't have a television when I was young and I read everything I could get my hands on.  

I was working near Oklahoma City and took some type of short term poetry class at OSU/at OKC for some reason.  It wasn't a regular course, but I loved the change from the daily routine and enjoyed the class.  I took the poetry writing class at the University of Central Oklahoma at Edmond and it was a regular 3 hour class.  I enjoyed it, but never got involved in writing poetry again.  

This will be a short week, today is a holiday and then I will be out for dental surgery (the first part of two teeth implants, with an "extraction" scheduled Thursday.  I have been delaying it for three years, probably lucky I haven't had any pain. 

I will include one of my poems from "The World Without End is Ending"

SEAS OF CHANGE

Where mountains

Rise from the smooth skin of earth

 Where glass eyed lakes

            form glittering images

 Where valleys wrinkle 

            the face of the earth

 There intrudes the symbols of childhood

A steel-eyed Indian, in harmony with nature

Lewis and Clark

          mapping the destruction to follow

 There, in the wilds of Idaho

 Calling me 

I dream of endless trees

A life without care

 Part of me lives

For the full moon rising

Over the mountains

Reflecting on the water

 Alone with my thoughts

Part of me wanders in

        a world without people

 And has reached the bottom

 Where I live in

            a sea of change without change

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 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. 

Summer 2013 August 30

77/79 degrees this morning.  A slight touch of muggy in the air, although still relatively coolish (to get hot later)!

Time keeps getting away from me, as it seems my attempts at organization to get more done are successful, which only brings more things to be done since I am getting more done!  

Friday, the last work day in August. One thing I am lucky about, I almost never have "writers block".  That may not be good if what I write isn't that good, but at least I get something out!

Labor Day always reminds me of the time I feel on my bike (I believe 4 years ago).  I scraped my arms and knees and realized I wasn't immune from falling.  It was a very low speed fall, which I think almost made it worse.

I love 3 day weekends.  The time seems to spread out, and then of course, I get busy and the 3 days speed by.  Anyway, I enjoy the anticipation and the 3 days.

Summer 2013 August 29

74/77 degrees this morning.  Relatively coolish, almost too cool to sit out on my patio (but not quite).

The book "The Willpower Instinct" reviewed this morning the technique of "surfing the urge" as a way of willpower, either the "will" or the "won't".  Interesting concept, I have actually used it myself and it is effective.  I finished listening to the book and started listening again, although I will probably get the book to read and listen to something else.

I like my quiet time in the morning when I sit down to write this Blog.  I feel a sense of being unhurried.  It doesn't really matter how much or what I write, but it is the opportunity to do so, the fact I make the time to be able to write something if I want.

I think that is also why my walk is so important (I can think what I want and think through problems etc.) and my cycling.  My stationary bike riding gives me the chance to catch up on my reading (especially the daily newspapers) and my nap provides the opportunity to meditate and escape for 27 minutes (or whatever!).  

What is great about writing this is that I can write about anything I please, and as much or as little as I want!

3-day weekend coming up.  I am looking forward to just hanging out. 

Summer 2013 August 28

72/74 degrees.  Coolish tinge to the weather.  I was surprised when I was at the Courter Reunion in Kansas in July how much more hot and muggy it is at night and in the morning.  It is almost always relatively pleasant here at night and early morning no mater how hot it gets during the day.

Listening to "The Willpower Instinct" still.  Today involved the power of  the "white bear" (trying not to think about a White Bear, and of course that is all you can think about) and how it relates to willpower as far as behavioral changes regarding smoking, dieting, spending etc.  It is a great book and I am going to buy a physical copy so I can study it.  

August is almost over.  I really noticed this morning how it gets light in the morning so much later than it used to.  The passage of time, something you can't control.

I am about to "upgrade" my New York Times subscription to 7 days per week, (now I have only Friday, Saturday, Sunday), a decision I may regret, due to the lack of time.  I am just amazed I can get the latest edition delivered to my door step at 3:30 a.m. each morning!  That is just amazing.

Actually have no evening meetings until next Tuesday and that is the only one next week.  And Monday is a holiday!  

Summer 2013 August 27

73/74 degrees.  Definite coolness in air and I really notice the shorter days of sunlight now.

Still listening to the "Willpower Instinct".  This morning's segment included the power of suggestion in how decisions are made. I definitely need to get a copy of this book!  Maybe I will even offer to instruct a class in it for discussion purposes, or at least I will look to see if anyone if offering a discussion group on this.  One part this morning also reviewed the power of committing to an action, in this case an e-mail to someone you didn't know in the group, asking if that person had kept their commitment.  

I live by the minute in the "hyper time" of the early morning.  I know, almost to the minute what time I will be doing something based on when I get up and if I dither or not before I walk (answering e-mails etc.).  

The Lakeland political campaign has been interesting to observe (fortunately I can't participate).  It has certainly been a stage of a variety of behaviors. 

The power of WD-40 is amazing.  I have always thought it is something of a wonder product and it came through again.  Ever since we moved into our house we have been assaulted with the noise of squeaking doors.  I even planned to take off the doors and soak the hinges (well, the little bolt thing) in oil.  I tried some WD-40 on the doors over the weekend and, wonder of wonders, it worked and we now have silent doors.  (If I could just use it on some people or stereo systems!)

My newspaper carrier is wonderful.  He comes by almost every morning at about the same time and rarely misses a newspaper or fails to get it in a good place on my driveway.  Best of all, he is early enough I can get the papers after my walk.  

Summer 2013 August 26

77/79 degrees, ovearall clear, still seems coolish.

Busy week ahead, busy day today.  Overall, a very nice weekend, I had time to catch up on both work and personal items and do some light reading.

Caught up in the "hyper time" of the morning again, running behind schedule. I like Monday, especially when my week is fairly clear, since it is like a big chalkboard just waiting to be filled.  Of course, as I even start to think of the week, I see more and more items that will fill up the time.

The book "The Willpower Instinct" that I am listening to has some answers for that in that our "future self" always has more time, energy, ambition and willpower etc. that our "present self" does!  (I think I have that right.

An interesting concept, and I can see the truth of it.  I think that is why people tend to over schedule and frequently end up not meeting all of our commitments etc.

I'm not sure how you resolve the problem, perhaps being aware of it.

Oh yes, I forgot to include that our present selves do not think about impact to of our future selves of  the e-mails, text messages, phone calls, new requests etc. 

I understand originally the book was a 10 week course.  Maybe someone offers it locally, it would be very interesting to take.  Maybe I can really abuse my future self and even commit to teaching such a course!

It is always interesting (and frustrating) to watch your ambitious plans for the week evaporate under the burden of the present.

Summer 2013 August 25

77/79 degrees this morning.  Actually feels slightly cooler than that now.

Relaxing day yesterday, ate breakfast at Starbucks and then caught up on both work and personal items.  I looked at some magazines I had accumulated and attempted to get them to the  "give away" bin.  A very few (such as the Harvard Business Review's that had some what seemed to be special articles in) I haven't up on and figure "some day" I'll get a "round tuit"!  

Usually I don't keep anything past when the next one arrives, so the daily newspaper goes when the new one arrives and, in most cases, the magazine goes when the next one arrives.  It keeps the clutter down.  I even subscribed to a "e-magazine" appt so I can eliminate some physical magazines, plus I may save some money in the process, but probably not.

Speaking of clutter, I am faced with realizing I really need to declutter my e-mails and get ride of LITERALLY thousands of e-mails, most of which I will never need again, many which I never looked at in the first place.  I'm sure there is a magic formula for this (such as the delete button), but I find myself hesitating.  I may just delete everything and assume it is on a backup someplace, if not I'll never miss it.

I remember my first "PC" computer, I had years of records on it, it crashed and I never once had to access the backup.  It was just stuff I never needed.  Of course, I keep a lot more of my life on my computers etc.  now than I did back then.  

Sunday morning, 1/2 of the weekend gone.  Next weekend is a 3-day holiday, which is nice.  If I take a day of vacation, I may get calls, e-mails etc., but if it is a holiday (especially a major one like Labor Day), if I get a call I know it is probably an important one.

Summer 2013 August 24

76/79 degrees, sunny.

Looks like a great weekend!  

I have really noticed in the past few months especially how little mail (U.S. Postal type mail, not e-mail) I get.  The result of e-mail, text messaging and Facebooking I assume.  All my life I have loved getting the mail, or at least the anticipation of getting the mail.  When I was a child, our mail box was about a half-mile away and I walked each day when possible to wait for the mail carrier.  He had one of the first Volkswagon bugs, probably because all the roads were mud-not gravel, dirt that turned to mud when it rained.  (I went back to visit several years ago, and it had just rained-all the roads were STILL mud!).  

I thought about this while listening to "Willpower", which mentioned again about the anticipation of pleasure being more important than pleasure itself.  

Maybe the weekend is the same way.  I love weekends for the flexibility, even if I do decide to work, but I also enjoy going back to work on Monday.

Summer 2013 August 23

74/76 degrees this morning, relatively clear.  

Listening to book on "Willpower".  After a slow start it has become a very intriguing book and I am going to buy or borrow a copy.  At the point I stopped today, the authors were making the point that "Technology" was a worse addition than any drug due to the power of anticipating (not receiving, note) continuous pleasure.

Kind of like me and my "planning" travel.  I love to plan trips, frequently more than I actually enjoy the trip.  There is nothing I like better than to plan a trip.  In another life and time, I may have been a travel agent.  In any event, I understand my pleasure at planning.  I used to "plan" which tv shows I would watch each week until I realized I really didn't like tv that much.  Ditto with movies and planning to watch sports events on tv.  I realized I enjoyed the planning, but not the actual event. (I do enjoy travel however!)

Friday is "news day" when I get the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Commercial Appeal (I read a brief edition of the New York Times on M-Thursday).  

It makes me realize that my concerns and cares are relatively minor when compared to many other persons, both in the U.S. and especially many other countries.