Spring 2015 May 9 Saturday

66 degrees this morning. 45:16 minute walk  (light rain as started, but it stopped, so was able to complete walk)

Storms again last night.  We didn’t get much other than heavy rain, but other areas had “hail snow”, where hail literally covered the ground, clogged the drains etc.  

Of course, a lot of it was in the same area that was most heavily damaged earlier this week.  

Busy day today, catching up on the paperwork from yesterday and preparing for a field day Monday.  Also handled some office type questions from customers.  

Frankly, I enjoy every minute of it.  The busier I am the happier I am.  Of course, I do have the limitation of 40 hours per week, so I have to control myself. 

Nothing makes me happier than to tear into my accounts and see them disappear as they are resolved.  I love to get them resolved and hate the ones that just sit there and that I can’t do anything about!  (For various reasons, here are some cases that just sit there.)

Aliene is still progressing well on her neck surgery.  I believe she only has one week to continue wearing the neck brace.  What is wonderful is she has feeling in her hands again and her headaches are gone.

Starting on a new book today to listen to on my walk.  I am listening to “The Innovators” by Walter Isaacson.  This morning I already heard some interesting facts about the first computer actually being envisioned in the early  1800’s.   

I like to envision where I will be when I finish listening to a book.  This is about 22 hours, so based on me missing a few walks and listening while I get ready and exercise after my walk, I should finish the book around June 15, right at the cusp of the “longest day”.  

I have found Isaacson to be both very interesting and very boring, or maybe uninteresting to 

me is a better way of putting it.  I really liked his book about Steve Jobs, but I could t hardly finish his  book on he Panama Canal and I was really prepared to like that.  It also could have been my mood at the time.

The politics of the Panama Canal is rather amazing.  Any different decisions could have had a a completely different outcome.

Sometimes I wander which is better, the “soft” incremental decision or the sudden strong radical decision.  My gut feeling says (surprise) that a combination of the two is best!  

Several bits of dreams were so strong (I don’t remember anything about the dream at all) that I am going to mention them here:

Dream 5/8/15

Bits of dreams:

Sitting on back of a car (or pickup?) dragging my feet on the pavement, actually going at a high  rate of speed.

I was wearing some “flip fops” I have worn for a considerable amount of time, wondering if I should let one of them fly off my feet, since I knew I wold never see it again.  I couldn’t bring myself to let it fly off, even though they are basically worn out.

Another bit, very short.

A friend of mine I worked with in Lakeland, was in my kitchen (current) using one of my “loose tea pitchers”.  He was commenting on what a good idea it was.  

Actually I have had them for years, but just started using them for loose tea after I got to like loose tea in China.  They actually work very well for hot “loose” tea.

I don’t really have any idea what this all means!

That’s it for now, Saturday, May 9, 2015.

Spring 2015 May 8 Friday

59 degrees this morning. walk 45.24 minutes

Heavy rains continued last night and it is only supposed to get worse this weekend.

Finished listening to the book “Age of Ambition, Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China”.  It was a very entertaining and interesting book.

After I finished it, it switched to the book about U.S. Grant.  While I don’t intend to listen to it again, I listened to the beginning as I finished my walk.

Grant is reminiscing about his experience as General and President.  He notes that the good thing about war is there is always a clear conclusion.

I wonder how U.S. Grant would handle the current situation with the sub-insect terrorists etc?  Obviously we’ll never know, but it is interesting to think about what he would have done as President and as a General.

The current situation certainly appears to be different from war in his day, although there were a lot of isolated areas of terrorism etc., I think the technology today makes it a lot different.  

Strange that Grant is never remembered for his strong efforts on behalf of the former slaves and the American Indian.  

Concerning terrorism, I always wonder why when they commit a criminal act of bombing, murder etc. the news media says the “take responsibility”.   They should say they  take the blame.

 It is always fun to select a new book to listen to during my walk.  I haven’t decided yet, am looking at available books.  

Originally planned on a “field day” today, now probably will do an “office” day.  Still need to catch up on the paperwork on my “field day” yesterday and my next field day.  Each field day takes considerable preparation before going out and then a lot of paperwork after I finish.

Most of the dreams I have recorded are from my short naps, especially the one right after I walk.  

Like this morning, when I wake up in the morning, I usually forget the dream by the time I get up and around.  

Latest recorded dream:

Dream 5 7 15

Dreamed I as driving a car, apparently very slowly.  I don’t remember why I was  driving but it was near Harrah High School, and I would drive and children would be talking along the sidewalk.  I don’t know what reason, but I was trying not to be seen or a observed.

I turned a corner (it was a 90 degree corner right in front of the hight schooling football filed).

A big moving truck was blocking the corner and I almost went over the curb trying to stay out of its way.

A police car came up on the scene and I was trying not to look likeI was trying to do a u turn to avoid the police car

A pickup  also was going around the big truck at the same time.

I woke up.

Somehow the dream seemed to start in Missouri, with me thinking I didn’t live in this area (or Memphis) anymore.  Missouri was more of a map than a place, it was like I was trying to stay north of an area (or at least away from it, north on the map.)  That could even relate to the storms last night being on the south!

I have been listening to “new age” music while I nap.  My dreams seemed to feedback to music etc. in the room, so that could be part of it

That’s it for now, Friday, May 7, 2015.

Spring 2015 May 7 Thursday (Floods, Tornados and Wild Animals)

67 degrees this morning, 38;01 minutes walking 

Walked a little less this morning due to  lightning and the app saying there  was a “100%” chance of rain.  Since I walked and it wasn’t raining, the app was wrong again!  

Tornados, wind and rain were the rule last night in this area.  Fortunately, we were north of the major problem area but we hated to see the destruction, damage and stress the storms created.  

Areas of the city had  a record 9” of rain in three hours, which was “unprecedented “ according to the TV announcers.  (It didn’t rain that much where we live). The area had the first “flash flood” warning ever (other than localized areas).

The iPhone and computer “apps” are amazing, but the storms come anyway.  The TV weather  forecasters tools are amazing in their ability to follow the storms and point out the affected areas.

The storms have been coming in waves, basically seeming to hit an area,  and then another storm attacks the same area. 

To make matters worse, a tornado hit a animal sanctuary, so there are loose tigers, lions and similar animals roaming around.  

Obviously, they are advising everyone to stay inside in that area!    (The bears and tigers were actually quickly rounded up.)                                                                                                                                                           

We have a stream of events (first birthday of a great grandchild, Mothers Day, Aliene has a baby shower for a forthcoming grand baby) and, we will also be moving!  I expect we will be busy.

I also need to start making of list of books, clothing, CD’s etc. we will be donating to the Library or other charity.  

There are a few boxes (mainly books) stacked around and there will be many more to come!  Since we live only about 4 miles away, we can take many of the items when we have time.  Of course, first we need to get through with the closing, which is in the near future.  It will be nice we  still be able to use the same Doctors etc.  

It may take several more minutes to get there, but we will be closer to other areas, so I assume it equals out. 

After years of being active when storms came in (damage to city facilities, what to do about flooding etc.) it is a weird experience to be sitting here with just normal concern about the storms.  

For years I could do something about it, now I can’t do anything about it.  

In a way, it is a sense of freedom, in a way, a sense of loss.  On the other hand, that’s just the wheel of fortune of life and I happened to land where I am.  

There are a lot of times when something happens and my first reaction is to act, and then I realize it isn’t my job to act.  Again, a sense of  relief and loss together.

I think that is one reason I like my current job so much.  A large part of it is helping people, especially people who are trying to upgrade their lives.  I’m not always successful, but at least I can try.

Planned (and need to) go “in the field” today, depending on the weather.

That’s it for now, Thursday, May 7, 2015

Spring 2015 May 6 Wednesday

60 degrees this morning, heavy rain, no walk.

Rain threatened all day and finally started yesterday afternoon.  After it started, it obviously decided to stay around for awhile.

“Buy the stocks of the Companies that own the most Congressman”.  That is a quote from an article I was sent.  Much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree that it is right. 

An example  is Uber.  In my opinion, they literally paid off enough legislatures for a law that jeopardizes the  lives of all the residents of the state by avoiding almost any regulation.  They brag about “disruption”, not mentioning buying special favors.  Be interesting when the time comes to report campaign  contributions. 

I hardly know the answer and really don’t know if there is one.  There are numerous examples of it, much worse than the one I mentioned.  Companies and persons  get special “exemptions” and privileges when they frequently should be in jail for what they do.

Many individuals and companies  would be in jail instead of in the penthouse, except of the money they pay for special favors and laws.

On another subject, Quicken has to have the worst customer service of any company. 

 I called up and asked for SALES (for an “upgrade” which is supposed to fix  the numerous  flaws in the current program) and there was over an hour wait! I wonder how much time the wait was for “service”, if they ever heard of such a thing.  In spite of the hour wait, their “help” line is only open 8 hours a day and about two hours before the end of the time, you start getting a “closed” message, which means they really are open about six hours. 

If I wasn't using an Intuit product, I wouldn’t start!  They really don’t seem to know what they are doing and their the simple part of their product is fine, but, like I found out in Turbo Tax this year, their products are poor  when you get beyond the basics and full of sales pitches to peddle their other products.  

Some other quotes from the article I was sent:

“When you become the ally of one person, you automatically become an enemy of all his enemies”.

“Millions have been taught that right and

 wrong are matters of opinion”

Pansophism:  “Pretending to know all that can be known”

On other subjects, time really moves.  It seemed like the “closing” on our house was a long time away, now it is almost here, if everything goes ok, we will be moving soon.  

I will be so glad to not have to worry about having to move every year due to rent increases, the owner selling the house etc. not making repairs etc.    Actually our payment will be less than our rent, (including taxes and insurance), although of course the actually expenses and cost will be higher.

At least there is the tax deduction, which is somewhat overrated, but my experiences of the last several years any tax deduction is well worth consideration!  

What has amazed me on the process is the amount of time I have spent on meaningless, expensive and time consuming tasks to meet “requirements” that are vague and  confusing and obviously meant to allow for “fees”, not to meet any real requirement.

Anyway, I try to avoid too much “ranting”, sometimes it may be justified!

I always look forward to the first part of the month as I research my new accounts at work to resolve.  I always learn something new and interesting as I prepare for my “field days”. 

One fad that amazes me if the rise of all the “e-cigarette” or “vapor” shops!  It is amazing how many there are.

By the way, I have had the opportunity to observe some of the Starbucks stores.  They are BUSY!  Some of the traffic from drive thru’s even go out into the street.  

There is a lot of caffeinated and nicotined people driving around!  Another subject for another day is the drivers around here! 

That’s it for now, Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Spring 2015 May 5 Tuesday (The Death and Life of an iPod Shuffle)

67 degrees  this morning, 44:35 minutes walking

I saw my iPod Shuffle lying on the pavement, obviously run over by some cars.  I carry it on my early morning walk as a backup and apparently had dropped it, which means it had been lying in the street for almost 12 hours.

I got the iPod Shuffle in approximately 2006, which means it is about 9 years old.  The battery is still excellent, and I assumed that some day the battery would give out, not that it would be run over by traffic.

Perhaps worse, the area I dropped it is at a bus stop, and none of the kids probably even knew what it was to pick it up!

I carried it into the house, and was shocked when I turned it on and it worked!  I’m not sure how much longer it will work, it had to have some damage.

I am just amazed at the battery life of Apple products.  As I have mentioned, I have three iPod shuffles, all, about 9 years old, still working.  

My original iPad is probably at least 7 years old and has a super strong battery.  

I have repurposed my old iPhone 3 and 3s and they continue to work.  

My old original iPad is still working fine, although the disc drive catches sometimes (but hasn’t since I reset it).  

I do have a problem my iPad Air, about a year and 1/2 old and have had problems with it lasting since I got it.  It may be because I maintain it bright and have it on “always on” (no automatic shutt-off along with the poorly designed keyboard cover.  

It if seems like a lot of gadgets, remember this is a collection of almost 9 years!

Went to the baseball game last night.  It was a wonderful night and a good game.  The opposing pitcher hit three batters in a row (lack of control not any intent).  

As usual, my regular reasonably good eating habits were suspended in favor of the free baseball food (hot dogs-although without the bunII), chicken breast, peanuts, M & M’s, big pretzel with cheese etc   However, I do only drink water!  

We figured by the time we went to the ball game and had water and a snack, the ticket with free food was worth it.  Anyway it is fun and there are only a limited number of games.  

Aliene continues to feel well and can quit  wearing the neck brace in about and week and start driving .  She currently only needs to wear it while riding in a car or out walking etc., I assume where she might fall or be jolted.

She should be able to start driving shortly, which I’m sure she is looking forward too.

A short dream I haven’t noted yet:

5-3-15 Dream

Dream involved getting on a bus.  Not sure of location almost desert scene.  

Kept discussing with someone the results of someone beating the spoiled brat mayor and whether their approval rating was going up or down.  

Didn’t understand the dream or why or how we were getting the results but that is the way dreams are.

for some reason were getting on a bus. Can’t remember much more.

Weather has been wonderful.  Supposed to be storms coming in.  

I finally learned how to open the storm shelter in the garage.  Simple to say the least!

That’s it of now, Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

Spring 2i015 May 4 Monday

64 degrees this morning, 45:14 minute walk

Monday, start of a new week.  I peeked over the weekend and noted I have received my account updates for the first  of the month and so will have plenty to do for awhile, plus I already had a full schedule today.  

I really enjoy opening the account,  reading the situation, developing a strategy and working with the business owner.  (Will, in most cases anyway.  No matter what, it is interesting.)

It is nice to be busy!

Wonderful weather over the weekend, I hope it continues.  

I am getting used to the “late” sunsets here.  It actually was something I really missed in Memphis, even thought the actual hours of sun were of course the same.  

The long lingering sunsets are beautiful and something I really missed in Memphis.  Somehow it doesn’t seem like the morning sunrise is much earlier of course, it would have to be the same number of hours of daylight.

The trees and terrain in Memphis also stopped any long sunsets or sunrises from being seen.

Sometimes I wonder how that affects your life.  While I enjoyed living in Lakeland /Memphis, I did miss the sunsets and I really felt the early sunsets especially in Summer.

I didn’t sit around and thing about it, but it was a major pleasure missing from my life and I felt like it probably affected me, at least in a small degree since one of my pleasures in life was missing.  

If I had lived there all my life, I wonder how that would have changed my thinking.  Personally, I feel it may lead to negative thinking from the additional darkness, but I guess it would only so affect you in that way if  darkness made you depressed.

It could be if you lived here all your life, the darkness, or at least the darkness of the early sunset,  wouldn’t make you depressed.

Same with growing up surrounded by mountains, vs. the wide open plains etc.  Also, perhaps the same with the wind.  

I can understand why the wind drove people crazy and I basically grew up with it.

I can remember as a child  being in a cafe in western Kansas and a lady said something about the sagebrush and desert.  (This was someone coming by on a bus tour of some sort.) I thought, what sagebrush, what desert?!  It all is in your perspective and experience!  

Years later, I understood how she felt. 

I remember when we moved to Memphis, I kept hearing “the MidSouth”.  I remember thinking about that term and how Tennessee was the “MidSouth” and Kentucky really wasn’t the “south” at all, anymore than Chicago is the “west”.             

We are starting to pack and prepare for moving, assuming that everything will go through, not always a reasonable assumption!

This is going to be an interesting day, something always to look forward to.

That’s it for now, Monday, May 4, 2015.

Spring 2015 May 3 Sunday

67 degrees this morning 45:40 minutes walking

21 degrees wind makes 67 degrees seem cold!

May, already, as the year rushes on.  

As i noted yesterday, a year ago, we arrived in China.  We were in Shanghai for two nights (the night we arrived and the next day and then flew to Xi’an, where we toured the Terracott Warriors and some other attractions.  We had a super guide, which really helped.  

Getting into the swing of moving, started packing up items.  

I decided the best way to weed items is to select what I want first, not concentrate on what items i am going to get rid of.  At least it has worked so far on the books.  

We are moving to a house with almost exactly the same square footage, although the configuration is considerably different.  

It makes it a little  easier knowing that much as I think I will, I will never read many of the books again (or for the first time), much as I think I will or want too.  The world is just a different place.  

I always had visions of children or grandchildren looking at the books and discovering some of the excellent books and stories I enjoyed, but realistically that isn’t going to happen.  As I mentioned, the world has changed and time is used so much different.   

It isn’t necessarily good or bad, but that is just the way it is.  Also, knowing I can easily obtain a copy of a book etc. makes it easier.  

I can remember reading many of the books when I was a kid and obviously children today have different interests  as do I.  However, I”ll never forgot the pleasure I got from reading the books and stories.  I read may of the literature books many times and didn’t understand the stories until years later.  

I did read the “Arabian Nights” (or the thousand and one nights) many times, although I doubt if I fully understood it when I read it.

Anyway, hopefully I can accept the fact that times have changed and many of the things I have carted around for life are better to be set free and use by someone else.    

Had two very strong dreams yesterday, don’t remember much on first dream:

Dream 5 2 15

Was in a city/organization with a lot of conflict.  Several important people in my dream.  

Dream involved decisions etc.  An unsettling dream.  

Not sure of place, seemed to vary,  a lot of hills and valleys and trees

Dream # 2

Dreamed somewhere along ocean  There was a tall lighthouse.

Part of dream was going to see someone, I’m not sure who.

He was remodeling two houses, with very large living rooms and few other rooms.

The person who was doing the remodeling showed me a house he had remodeled and he laughed at the very large living room and said there was even one bedroom “for the Master”.

I don’t believe the first house we looked at had a bedroom or anything but th living room.

Not sure what the house was originally, but have a feel it had been a floor of motel rooms

For some unspecified reason, I was visiting him and his wife.  I had my shoes off and was trying to find my socks.  I found some coffee filters and other junk and he laughed and said he was going to have to clean it up.  There was an upstairs to this one, because  we moved much of the  stuff to an upper floor.i

Aliene and i were somewhere, and I saw him (the remodeler) and his wife climb up the Light house.

I pointed him out to Aliene and mentioned how rough looking he looked as he claimed the lighthouse.  They were climbing the stairs and would come into view and then keep climbing out of view.  They were almost running up the stairs.

For some reason the number “6” seemed to be an important number

Another snippet I remember was riding with a former Lakeland colleague, we saw one of the Commissioners and waved as we went past.  He is the only one I respect enough that I would acknowledge.

A very strong dream, as was the previous one, except I remembered more of this one.

Watching a series on Mt. Everest, an expedition to the top (or an attempt).

That’s it for now, Sunday, May 3, 2015.

Spring 2015 May 2 Saturday

63  degrees this morning, 45:18 minutes walking

One year ago today, we were in Shanghai, China, on what would turn out to be a wonderful 18 day trip.

Actually, due to time changes and travel, we “lost” May 2. We gained it back when we came back!  I thought at the time i wanted to really experience the trip and we did.  

Even now, I can’t really comprehend all we did in the trip.  I have learned a lot more about China since our trip, and continue to learn about it.  I will go back sooner, not later.  

Super weather yesterday, supposed to be even better this weekend.  I intend to enjoy it!

Aliene is feeling much better and soon (in two weeks or so) she can quit wearing the neck brace.  She is enjoying not having to wear it at home.  She does have to wear it in the car and if the takes a walk outside etc.

She has to wear some sort of device for four hours per day.  It is interesting.  Supposedly it puts out electrical impulses that attract the atoms of her bones to come togeher and facilitate the healing of the bones.

Don’t know that I explained that correctly, but I think I included the overall concept.

We figure it must  have some validity since the insurance company paid for it.

The birds have quit trying to nest above our door, but have resorted to their old tactics of sitting on the gutter and glaring a  us and occasionally doing some “dive bombing” of the owl and us and their old  nesting location.  

I learned that my theory about President U.S. Grant having something to do with the us of railroads in China was wrong.

President Grant visited the China Emperor  (I believe) in a world tour in the 1870’s.  He discussed the importance of railroads in the U.S. and my feeling was that maybe this conversation led to the importance of railroads in China.

Wrong.  I learned this morning that China railroads were pathetic until the late 1990’s, early 2000’s, when China built all the high speed railroads etc. 

So much for that theory!

Actually the railroad project full of corruption, straight out theft etc. that I thought it was lucky anything got done. (The United States transcontinental railroad also created a lot of scandals with corruption, theft etc.)

I have been going through papers, clothes etc. in preparation for the possible move.  I found a lot of stuff I could get rid of (and have).  I still need to tackle the books.

I have decided to donate/sell all the CD’s we have on the theory we rarely listen to them.  If we really want a song, we can listed to it saved or we can buy though the internet.  It just doesn’t make sense to keep them.

I heard something speak  this morning about how so many persons are renting furniture etc., so fhey can have nicer furniture (of course, he was in the business of “upper scale” rental furniture).  

However I have heard about persons saying their children don’t want their cherished “heirlooms, or whatever you want to call it”  (and their children confirm it.).

That’s it for now, Saturday, May  2, 2015

Spring 2015 May 1 Friday

64 degrees this morning,45:33  minute walk.

I didn’t realize 64 degrees could be so cold as it was during my walk this morning.  However, I did warm up as the walk continued.  

Weather was wonderful yesterday and is supposed to be even better this weekend.  We will enjoy it!

The  new house is looming, with possible closing on May 15, assuming everything goes well 

I am considering my exercise options.  I really need to start riding my bike on a regular basis early in the morning.  

Moving always changes my exercise patterns.  The best YMCA in the area is about 2 miles away,  the next problem is how busy is it when I want to exercise!  

Also, I am used to a 24 hour gym (in Lakeland) 7 days per week.  Of course, here I don’t go to a gym.

Considering the problems with my feet, it would be better if I started bicycling more and cut back on walking just a bit-I definitely can’t stop walking completely.  It is too much a part of my daily life.  

Walking for me is a time to listen to a book I wouldn’t get to listen to or read otherwise, a chance to meditate, get out for fresh air, get to know the area, think about actions I need to do and otherwise is a very important part of my life.

So far, my feet haven’t gotten any worse since I changed my walking shoes so I don’t think that is a problem.  

I am so used to walking, I assume you could consider it an “addiction” but….

While I really enjoy bike riding, it isn’t quite the same.  It is a different type of time of my life.  I enjoy it, and it is different than walking.

I think the bike riding, having the threat of falling at any second makes it so much different, as well as the speed  

I always thought the bicycle was the perfect means of transportation “see” something became it is faster than walking and you don’t get bored, but it is much slower than a car and you can see a lot more.  

I am always surprised at how much more I see when I am riding a bide than when I am in a car.  Of course, that also depends on whether I am driving or riding.  When I am riding,it is like I see a lot more.

Got some more information on Netflix, now I understand how it can be a real asset.  I had forgotten about the DVD service, which apparently is sort of a “long tail” of almost endless supply of any movie or DVD you want or think you want to watch.  

I think it is something like an internet book store or music store, eventually you can find anything you want, probably at a very reasonable price. 

I never thought of the internet as limiting before, but in a way, for movies etc., it is limited, as least as far as streaming, plus it takes so long to find it.  A DVD, book, or recording is available with a short search.  I”ll try it.

Start of the month.  Soon I should be receiving a bunch of new accounts, endless possibilities in the world of retail.  I love to get a bunch of new accounts and work through them.  Resolving the problems or issues is very satisfying to say the least.  

That’s it for now, Friday, May 1, 2015.