Winter 2014 January 5 Sunday

48 degrees this morning.  Supposed to be much lower later today (in single digits).  It was supposed to rain at 4 a.m. this morning.  I even saw the little green clouds coming this way.  So I didn't ride my bike to the gym.  Of course, it is now 7:21 a.m. and it still hasn't rained!  Not that I will ever complain that it's not raining that day (although I realize we need rain).

Sunday morning, tomorrow is the first day after "the Holidays"  Eight of the 11 holidays actually fall from November 11 to mid-February.  

Started reading a book by Alan Greenspan, 'The Map and the Territory".  Perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised that it is so readable and informative, but I am .  It actually is an excellent book if you want to learn about the financial crisis.  Other books i have lined up and ready to read includes  Jim Cramer "Get Rich Carefully"  (CNBC "Mad Money); Christann Brennan, "The Bite in the Apple" and Jefferson Bass "Cut to the Bone".   The last is a "body farm" mystery.  These are just the library books I am reading, I have about five others ready to go.  Of course, I never have enough time, so I end up reading about a book every week.  I've had to cut out a lot of what I'd like to read, but I"m just glad I have the opportunity to read.

The "Body Farm" novel revolves around a real "body farm" around Knoxville (there are also a few others) that study changes in bodies etc. to help law enforcement.  I thought about, and probably will donate myself (after death of course) for the cause.  I like the idea of being outside instead of underground or burned up.  Not that I will probably care at that time, but who knows?

A lot of projects this week, primarily going through my stuff and trying tow weed out what to throw away, give away, sell or donate, if anything.  I also have some other projects (writing etc., training at Apple) I am working on.  Also plan on starting back at Toastmasters if I can find a club in a reasonable distance at a good time.

See three deer out back in the trees.  That is one reason I love this house.

Read this morning about an "all digital" library (all computers and iPads).  No problem with that but I hope they don't forget the traditional books.

Winter 2014 January 4 Saturday

28 degrees this morning.  Actually felt colder than yesterday when it was 18 degrees.  Walked, but drove to ATC.  Currently, looks like it will be a nice day, although supposedly rain, snow and extremely cold temperatures are coming, just in time for school starting again!

Working on a variety of projects that are keeping me busy.  Trying to fit in some reading and having a hard time finding the time.  Usual!.  Trying my best to keep up with "My Fitness Pal", so at least I am aware of how much I eat.  My goal is to be down another 10 lbs by late February or early March.  If I don't get there by then I'll re-evaluate my program and decide if I simply need more time or if I need to make some changes.

Sitting in Starbucks on a Saturday morning.  I really enjoy it here.  I love their coffee, but find their food to be less than satisfactory, at least what I have tried.  (I'm not counting their oatmeal or peanut butter cookie.  I am referring to their breakfast food, especially the wraps.  They are almost uneatable.  The oatmeal is ok, but....  In spite of that the coffee and atmosphere and staff are excellent.  I don't know whey they don't have a better breakfast.  They do have a bunch of sugary food I don't eat anymore, unless I am really desperate.  I don't know why Starbucks can't develop a better breakfast, and more variety of healthy food.  Also, it is weird and strange that they don't have any recycling containers!  They need to start walking the talk.  But the coffee and atmosphere more than make up for any failings in the food, I just don't eat their food.

Reading this morning about the "death" of the print media.  Probably correct, although I really hate to see it.  Of course I read it in print, so it isn't completely dead.  Buffet's thesis was that print media will continue to thrive to provide local news.  Maybe.

Speaking of "walking the talk", many apps for smart phones, tablets etc. (iPhone and iPad in my case) don't "walk their talk" and I delete them after they either don't hold up to their promises, continually crash etc.

Temperature was forecast at 18 this morning, hopefully the forecast will be better than forecast.

Winter 2013 January 3 Friday

18 degrees this morning.  Felt it also!  I rode my bike to ATC Fitness and while it was parked outside (I am there for about 40 minutes), the moisture from my breath (on the deal I wear over my mouth to mitigate cold/exercise induced asthmaI) was actually frozen, as was the "riding" water bottle I left on the bike.  (I actually carry two bottles of water, one for on the bike, the other for whilel I am in the gym.).  Anyway, it so cold.  My hands really felt it on the way back!

Great OU (Oklahoma University) game last night.  We record the games and watch them delayed by an hour or so.  I don't let a football game get in the way of my sleep time (from 10:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.), so I told Aliene to ''wake me if they're winning, let me sleep if they are losing", so I got to watch the last few minutes of a wonderful ball game!  I'm not quite sure why I am such an OU fan (I have six hours of Graduate Work from OU, but it was a program offered to the Air Force (and probably all the military and companies) to get a degree.  I have only been on the campus several times, although I used to go fairly often to visit a wonderful little museum on the campus.  Anyway, I've been a rabid OU fan (in all sports and other programs) since probably the early 70's at the latest.  Of course, I am also a Wichita State fan and University of Memphis fan.   And I will always be a Memphis Redbirds fan, no matter where I live, I had so much fun attending the games and seeing the players move up to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Looks like it should be a wonderful day, after a very miserable day yesterday (windy, cold and wet).

I am going to the Apple Store to look at my "iTunes", I need to get it better organized.  

Amazon.Com is not charging Tennessee sales tax, so I feel much freer to purchase from other companies and express my dislike for the techniques Amazon uses. 

Speaking of techniques, one gouging action I really hate is the huge markups on "Premium" unleaded gas over regular unleaded.  Kroger (at least the one at Macon and Houston Levy) chafes like a .20 markup over regular for Premium Unleaded.  Recently, we were fooled into paying a .50 difference.  I know, drive a care that uses regular, or just drive off if the price is too much, but it's not quite as simple as that.  I'm not a big fan of Kroger, but at least on gas, they treat you right.

Finished reading "Catcher in the Rye" for my book club.  Kind of reminds me of "Bright Lights, Big City", with BLBC being the career version and CITR betting the teen version.  

Starting my "Hot Wheels" Tumblr blog, gradually develop pictures of all my Hot Wheels (and Matchbox etc.) cars.  At 2 a day, it will take me about three years to have pictures of all of them (I'll take a picture of the new ones when I get them), but if I don't start, in three years I won't have any pictures also!  I can't even count how many there are.  My main problem may be not duplicating cars as I gradually get the photographs.  That is one item I don't plan on weeding.

I am tossing a lot of paper, I figure I may as well do it now.

Winter 2014 January 2 Thursday

48 degrees this morning, but rain and high (for out her) winds.  Didn't walk or cycle outside, just did the stationary bike at ATC Fitness.  I really like ATC Fitness since it is literally never closed (open 24 hours/7 days per week), seems relatively safe and clean and is maintained well.

X+1-i first heard this when a speaker said the the early test pilots (and some military pilots) had a joke about how many times you could break the rules (flying to the limit) without getting caught or crashing.   X is the number of times you do it, +1 is for when you get caught or crash!  

I really liked the general concept of describing any type of actions, not necessarily breaking the rules, but just to describe that moment or time when the variable "+1" comes into effect.  There is a lot of ways to look at it.  I guess you could even say it is the formula for when you are going to die or how long you will be employed, as well as a formula for how many times you can test the limits of an airplane.  

I discussed it throughly with a friend of mine at the time and we had a lot of fun and thoughtful discussions about the concept, as well as the concept of "The World Without End is Ending'.  Of course it could be positive also, the formula for success of the KFC Colonel Sanders in selling his formula for cooking chicken (if I recall correctly, he lived out of his car and was rejected over a thousand times before he actually sold it and later became successful), or maybe how many resumes you have to send out before you get a job.

The concept of "the World Without End is Ending" became "...has ended' in 2013.  Of course, it actually ended on September 19.  i guess if you really think about it, there is an overall "World" and a bunch of "mini-Worlds", with the overall World being your life. 

Maybe better not to to read too much into "X+1" or "The World Without End is Ending", although it is fun to discuss it and think about it. 

Miserable looking day  today.  Only good thing, it's not cold enough for freezing rain or snow.  Of course, even the best day can have it's bright spots!

Starting the dreaded process of "weeding" books, papers etc. 

Winter 2014 January 1 Wednesday

25 degrees this morning.  

Read another story about the importance of "design", although it was in physical items such as headphones etc. rather than "design"in the concept of "design" being the interaction of the consumer and item/experience. I tried to research the concept of "design" in providing municipal services, but I haven't found anything yet.  I'm sure information is available  on this.  

It is somewhat like "big data", it just really rose to my conscious mind at a conference where there was a session (or several sessions), now I see the term "big data" all the time.  From the information I read, the "big data" concept has obviously been around for awhile.  I was aware of the general concept, but not the term.

That is strange how something (a slogan, idea, person etc.) can suddenly rise to your conscious mind (such as "drink the kool aid, throw under the bus etc.) and you hear it all the time.

The 2013 "holiday season" is now officially over (or at least by Monday), so I am looking forward to important decisions to be made in the next several months.  

Wonderful day again weather wise today again after the cold start this morning.  

Looking out over the woods at the back of the house, I am struck by how full the woods appear in the  spring and summer (when the trees are all leafed out) and how desolate and empty it appears in winter.  (See pictures).  The green leaves etc. make such a huge difference in our   experiencing the forrest  I'm not sure what that all means, but it is interesting to think about how the leaves change our interaction with the forest.  In Winter we can see through basically to the other side, in the Summer we can't see through them at all.

Winter 2013 December 31 Tuesday

23 degrees this morning.  

It was cold out there, didn't feel too cold until I came back from the gym (on the bicycle) and hit some wind going down the hill.  I usually wear a bandanna on my head, but I needed a hat this morning!  Actually, it really wasn't that bad and I was able to get my full exercise program completed.

Wonderful day today after the cold weather this morning.  We had some minor things done at our house and I went to the Apple Store (Aliene's phone developed ringing problems and they replaced the phone and I did some work on some computer programs while I was there.).  I have been working on some creative aspects of the programs such as keynote etc.

I am always pleased at the little things that happen that are so pleasing, an e-mail or call from a friend, something in the mail I was waiting for or, like the other day, I actually heard both the "Four Seasons" and "Canon in D" on XM radio in one trip!

I always am surprised when the realize the full capacity of iPads, iPods, iPhones etc.  I can actually listen to any specific song or music anytime I want to.  It is still nice when I hear a favorite song or music unexpectedly.  

As far as Resolutions, I really don't make them at New Year.  I may made some promises for improvement to myself at anytime, but I normally don't do it at this time of year.  I also never (unless requested) do "year in review" type stuff, because while I hope I learn from the past, I just normally don't have time to rethink the past.  Doesn't mean I don't note events or happenings and hope to learn from them. 

I will always remember 2013 as the year "the world without end, ended".  I knew it would happen sometime, too bad it happened in this way.  My first Mayor told me he thought of the City as a ship going down the river, people get on, people get off, but the ship keeps on going down the river.  

As far as another year gone by, I am beginning to fully realize the problem older people have in the common perception by many people of what older people can and can't do or what they are going to do.  I think everyone assumes I am going to die or retire shortly, or I don't have new ideas etc. or whatever.  I can understand some of the comments I have heard in the past. 

Winter 2013 December 30 Monday

30 degrees this morning (28 degrees now).  It really felt cold this morning, even for 30 degrees,l probably due to the wind.  Didn't help I forgot my keys (to ATC Fitness) and had to cycle back up the steep hill coming into the addition to get them!  (Only steep if you ride a bike!)

Read another story on design this morning, this time for noodles, among the more common tech type items!  I really have to wonder how design can be used to improve municipal services.  Design as oriented to making the experience easy to sue for the customer, not design as to make it attractive, although that could be part of it.  Interesting concept I'm researching it some more.

I am concentrating on watching what I eat and trying to increase my exercise.  I figure it is time to go for that last 10 lbs I need to lose!  (Probably 15 after the Christmas gorging!).  Basically, even then, my target weight is 10 lbs more than the "maximum" recommended for my height, but even when I was in my teens and early twenties I couldn't reach the "model" weight for my height.  The last time I weigh less than I weight now (currently I weight the least I have since 1989) I just couldn't maintain a weighty below my goal weight.  It has been two years since I lost weight (actually one year at my current weight) and it is well stabilized (for me this means a range of about 5 lbs), it is time to bear down and get down to my "model" weight.  I can decide then if I want to make it even more, but I need to reach the goal weight first.

It will also help train me for longer bike rides  I doubt if I will do the "ride with the summer" ride this year (probably 2015 or 2016 at the latest).  I may try the "ride across Tennessee" bike ride this year if I don't have any conflicts, but I need to develop my ability to ride further.  I ride my bike almost every day, but it is a relatively short distance and doesn't prepare me for a long ride.

Getting new eye-glasses today. My current ones are four years old.  I decided to change to provide myself with a backup pair.  The ophthalmologist advised I didn't really need a new prescription, but I wanted a pair of glasses I could wear for reading on the stationary bike.  I am going to try to ride my bike longer in the afternoon and maybe even take a second walk.

Current reading "The Catcher in the Rye" for my book discussion class.

Picked up new eye glasses, really feel good.

Winter 2013 December 29 Sunday

43 degrees this morning, misty and foggy.

Recovering from Christmas trip.  Overall a really nice trip, hard to believe it is over and Christmas 2013 is now just a memory.

One thing we noticed is how it stays dark in the morning in OKC so long (dawn is about an hour earlier here, and of course sunset is also an hour earlier.)  Not sure which I prefer.

One thing I really miss when traveling is my exercise routine.  I really enjoy it and it seems to start the day well.  I usually walk several miles, cycle to the ATC Fitness Center, ride the stationary bike (and read the morning newspapers) for 37 minutes, than shower etc., come home and take a nap before I eat breakfast.

We keep our Christmas decorations up until early January.  (Most of our decorations are inside).  Aliene does a lot of work on marking each season, especially Christmas.  She also has a variety of plants that live on the window sills during the day and on the table at night.

Read a story on "time" this morning in the NYT, he used a prisoner to illustrate how time starts to narrow your options, probably the worst thing about time passing.  The Prisoner (and I believe the writer) concluded you couldn't do anything about time passing, but you could be the best possible prisoner or other) that you could.

Starting to read "Catcher in the Rye" for my "book discussion" group.  I'm really not sure if I have ever actually read it before, although I"m sure I did when I was a kid.  I read almost all American writers and many international writers (who wrote in English or translated), i read everything I could get my hands on.  

Strangely enough, I don't read that much fiction anymore.  In the early to mid 90's, I even quit reading fiction completely, since I decided it was a waste of time.  I obviously seen changed my opinions and read fiction, but still not like I used to, and I probably quit reading about 50% of what fiction I start by the first chapter, usually because it is just a canned plot the author keeps just chaining the characters in, or it is just plan boring.

I will be glad to get back on my diet and exercise.  I'm not even going to weigh myself for a week, I would probably get discouraged! I have decided my fist step is to make sure i update "My Fitness Pal" when I eat anything.  I think the first step is to be aware of what you are doing.

Reading about advancements in technology in "Wired" Magazine and the possible new technology.  It is amazing.  Several articles in particular hit a chord, the importance of "design" in everything, but especially technology.  I was thinking that could apply to government programs, how residents perceive and interact with the programs. 

Winter 2013 December 28 Saturday

36 degrees this morning, warming up fast

 I will need to get used to saying 2014, it definitely will be a year I remember for whatever reason.  Currently at the OKC airport, returning to Memphis via Houston (kind of like riding on a slow freighter, it is a 6 hour trip.  However, I want to support Southwest and they were cheaper. 

Reasonably sparse today, although I assume it is busy for a Saturday.  Certainly cheaper on  a Saturday.  Delta used to have a nice non-stop on the Memphis/OKC route, but like everything else Delta does, customer service is secondary to making the maximum revenues..  (On the way up, we went through Houston, but it was the same plane and merely stopped for a few minutes.  The entire flight was around 3 1/2 hours, it will be 6 1/2 today.

Later:

Landed in Houston, ate at “Buffalo Wings” at the airport.  First time ever ate there, it was good.  

3 hour layover at Houston Airport.  Layovers (like the flights themselves) seem to develop this sense of timelessness, when time seems to take a vacation and not press itself on you.  You don’t feel like you should be doing something else since that is all I can do.  I read, worked on the computer and even played some computer bridge.

Overall good flight home, as is normally the case with Southwest Air.  Ate at Bob Evans and went home, extremely tired.  It is nice to be home.

Winter 2013 December 27 2013 Friday

34 degrees this morning.  Woke up early this morning.

Daddy passed away 19 years ago today.  It is hard to believe it has been that long.  I can have a picture in my mind of when Mama called and advised me he had died.  I guess it wasn't necessarily unexpected,, but it was.  I guess like all parents, my feelings about him are still mixed.  Certainly many things about him to admire, including his honesty, his work ethic and certainly his overcoming his upbringing in an orphanage that today wold probably be considered abusive in a lot of ways.  I am still amazed at how a man who grew up in an orphanage who only saw his sister rarely (in the girls side of the orphanage) etc. ended up with seven children and basically making a go of it and saving money in the process.  I think I still grieve somewhat about ambitions both Mama and he had that they never achieved.  i think going through their papers is kind of an "Our Town" type experience.  Speaking of loss, it is probably just starting to really hit me as to what happened in Lakeland.  Such is life.

The much anticipated Christmas (anticipated no so much for Christmas, as for the family gatherings etc. ) are almost over.  New Year is the next event, a time I normally assess (or rei-assess as it may be) my life and where I am or want to be or wish I was. 

Time becomes even more precious somehow even through theoretically I have a lot more free time now. It is hard not to hate the Spoiled Brat Politician, my Judas neighbor who used me for his own purpose and the other two toadies, but I just feel a coldness, really no anger.  What is, is.  

Later....

Enjoyable day today, took Kali and Katherine to the lake (it was a little cool, but nice just to look around for awhile and do something different).  Also, very few people were out there, so it was nice.  

(Some areas in shade were still icy).  It was fun doing something different like that, they are a lot of fun.  Had lunch with Angela and then with Kali and Katherine.  I feel like I've gained 10 pounds this week from reduced exercise and increased eating!  

Last day of "Christmas vacation" such as it is.  Actually, in spite of the unexpected, it has been good.  

Somehow, Katherine became quite a shopper.  She gets this glazed look in her eyes as she determinedly heads for all the stores she wants to look in and quickly makes decisions on what she wants.  It is amazing to me an 11 year old would show such determination and focus.

Winter 2013 December 26 Thursday

25 degrees this morning, wind mede it seem cold.

Breakfast (included lox, which I love, but rarely eat due to the salt content and calories).  A minor bit of after Christmas shopping. Not a large crowd out shopping.

I have put off some things (like many years) until "after the holidays" and the holidays are almost over.  However, in my case I probably have mentally put off some very important decisions until after March 1 depending on what has happened.

Enjoyable day with Kali and Katherine, they are fun to be around.  I am amazed at how fast they are growing up and developing their own independent personalities, more power to them.

Winter 2013 December 25 Wednesday

30 degrees this morning.

Christmas Day.  

Driving a car without SiriusXM raised my appreciation for XM (and for iPods and iPads) and increased my disgust about commercial radio.  Couldn't find Christmas music but on one channel and the evening version was that creature "Delia' (I may have the name spelled wrong) who for some reason has been hanging around commercial  radio for years as some kind of "therapist".  I automatically turn the channel when I hear her.  The only thing worse is sports radio talk/call shows.

A lot worse things have happened and could happen than minor inconveniences of having to turn a radio channel and shut off the radio and plug in an iPad or iPhone I realize.  I am just amazed that commercial  radio stays in business at all with their low quality of programming.  I wonder if people really listen or are the  surveys on listeners wrong?  On the other hand, if people really enjoy it, more power to them.  

Found a channel on tv with a video of  fireplace burring and playing traditional Christmas/holiday music.  It is really nice to have traditional Christmas music available. 

Winter 2013 December 24 Tuesday

25 degrees.  Christmas Eve day.

Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve with Aliene and my side of the family. That is always fun.  This year it was a little subdued since Aliene's daughter was in the hospital.  

Christmas Eve/Day is always a day that always surprises me when almost everything shuts down.  It is the one day of the year that almost everyone takes a rest. 

The next day Aliene and I just take it easy.  Unless we visit my sister, this is one day we just take it easy and don't really plan anything, or at least if we plan anything it may be a mindless trip, or a trip just to visit my sister and her husband and daughter.  Regardless, it is a day to relax.

It seems that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a day of relaxing for almost everyone, between the mindless flurry of shopping before Christmas and after Christmas.  

Usually we stay at the Waterford Hotel and eat the "Christmas Lunch" the next day.  This year the Waterford didn't have their regular Christmas dinner, so we switched to the Skrvin Hotel, which has a Christmas Dinner. 

Winter 2013 December 23 Monday

32 degrees.

Heading ot OKC for Christmas.  Stayed at the Marriott Courtyards outside of Memphis airport.  Nice enough.

Airport was an easy process.  The server at the Airport Starbucks had a real attitude, something which surprised me, actually has never happened before at a Starbucks.  Got coffee, water in the “cooler” was actually warm, had to ask for cold water and you would have thought I committed a crime.

Traveled Southwest Airlines for the first time ever out of Memphis, and it was nice.  One of the few times we have had a SWA attendant who was a you know what (surly is a little too much, but not your typical courteous  SWA attendent.)  Also, the wifi and free tv didn’t work or at least not on my computer or iPad.

Cold in OKC. Trees were covered in ice as was many cars. Picked up rental cars and ate at Classen Grill, then did family events.  Aliene learned (while at a stop on route) that her daughter was in the hospital.

Late evening meal at On the Border with Aliene, Angela, Kali and Katherine.

Overall an enjoyable day, but wish I could have listend to Christmas music more.  For some reason, none of the radio stations carried any holiday music and for some reason the rental car doesn’t have Sirus XM.  Of course, that is really the least of my worries!

Winter 2013 December 22 Sunday

53 degrees this morning.

Heavy rain last night, no damage that I could see.

The lights blinked this morning for just a second (enough to start the clocks blinking) and then I found we didn't have any internet or cable tv.  One of the times I am glad I maintain a backup DSL accent, which is working fine.  We depend a lot on cable/internet electricity!  The DSL, with the  home phone, is almost free, so it has been worth it, although it has created it's own problems at times.  And it has been extremely hard to get ATT to come out if there is a problem.

Comcast can be just as bad, but at least they have a local office.

Went to a "Christmas Party" over the weekend.  One of the events was a 'dirty Santa" gift exchange.  I ended up with a very nice Christmas Tree ornament.  I am very pleased with it, not because it is a nice looking ornament, which it is, but that every time I see it I will think of the friends and the occasion, but especially the friends involved. I have always thought I should give a nice "disposable gift" (something to eat, flowers etc.), but now I think if I had gotten that i wouldn't have the Christmas tree ornament  for years to remind me of the good times here and my friends.  One of those small, but big, important happenings that define your life.  Sometimes it can just be a look or a comment.  

Winter is here, which isn't all bad, because it means the days will start getting longer until Spring is here! 

Winter 2013 December 20 Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fall 2013 December 20 Friday

61 degrees this morning, felt colder, probably due to wind and cloud cover. The roofers are already working on the house next door.  Almost every house in our subdivision has had a new roof except ours.  Not quite sure how our roof escaped the storm, although it probably is the right people haven't checked it out!  

Last full day of Fall 2013.  I have to admit, I am ready for 2014, and even Winter to begin, since it means the Spring and Summer is only closer.  I will see some major changes in my life in 2014 (or that itself will be a  major change!). The shortest day of the year tomorrow (I believe Winter actually starts at 5:06 p.m. or something like that, but as far as I'm concerned, it is the first day of Winter.  

Didn't bicycle this morning, just too windy and  I was concerned abut it raining.  

In the late 80's, I started collecting ti-shirts (either "event" t-shirts or promotional t-shirts, with the thought then I walked and exercised I would wear them.  I probably have over 300 such t-shirts now (sometime I will have to count them), including he ones I put away as way too big, although I like large t-shirts.  

Of course, now I wear only "athletic", "wicking" special t-shirts/jerseys etc. when I exercise!  Which means I have all the t-shirts for daily wear, so I have a lot t-shirts that never see the light of day.  Like my books, I have an extremely hard time "weeding" my t shirts, especially the "event" t-shirts and even the promotional  t-shirts to a degree.  I like the idea of giving them to someone who can and will use them (the t shirts) and read the books!  

Now that I have time (or at least expect to have time, it hasn't happened yet), to read all of those books "when I get time", I will see which ones I actually need to keep!

When I was about in the third grade, I was bored to death (no TV, computers etc) and I started reading my brothers and sisters high school literature books.  I started collecting them years ago and finally have all of them I believe.  I still have a lot of nostolgia about them.  "Alas Babylon", I didn't understand until I read it years later and I was scared every time I read "The Tale-Tell Heart" and "The Hitchhiker" etc. I am amazed at how the meaning of the stories changed as I aged and I looked at them from a different perspective of both age and experience.  For the most part, I think I did understand "The Most Dangerous Game", "To Build a Fire", "Our Town", "The Road Not Taken" etc. I wonder how they shaped my life and thinking.

The last day of Fall 2013 "and how the time does pass". 

Fall 2013 December 19 Thursday

45 degrees this morning.  

Time seemed to get away from me this morning.  I am trying to maintain my normal routine in the morning (basically be done with reading paper, exercise, eating breakfast, my morning nap, reviewing e-mail and writing this journal) by 7:30 a.m.  I'm letting something slip someplace!  I don't like the "activities expand to fill the time available" type of feeling.  

Another beautiful day today.  

Finished "And the Mountain Echos".  I refrained from noting any more quotes from the book, although it had some excellent thoughts and quotes.  I had a little problem following it at times, but it was really an excellent book.  

I am trying to increase by stamina on riding the bicycle to eventually ride some long distances.  While I ride my bike almost daily, it is a short "commuting" ride and I need to ride my bicycle more to build up to longer rides.  My bicycle ride won't be near as safe due to the failure of the City to "accept" a million dollar grant for a bicycle/ped trail down Davis Plantation (from Highway 64 to I-40 bridge).  That is a very dangerous area for both bicyclists and walkers.  The "Mayor to Nowhere" called it a "trail to nowhere", ignoring the fact that this road is a real danger to walkers, bicyclists and motorists and serves (probably) about 3,000 residents and this would not only provide healthy living but also access for employment and shopping for people in this area.  Same with not spending $70,000 to correct hazards at the City Hall Park. What is it worth to avoid injury to children? There won't be  lot of children  to attend the new school if such thinking continues!  

Christmas is less than a week away.  This has obviously been a strange holiday season. I always enjoy Christmas and holiday music and never seem to spend the time I plan to listening to it.   I am looking forward to 2014. 

Fall 2013 December 18 Wednesday

37 degrees this morning.  Felt warmer than that, maybe just used to the cold weather.

Another quote from "And the Mountain Echoed":  "That is what aging is, she thinks as she follows Isabelle into the store, those random unkind moments when you least expect them"  (This is a point when she looks into a store windows and realizes how old she looks).  Kind of like when I look in a mirror and wonder what my father is doing here. 

Another favorite quote of mine is also from a fiction book, I believe by Jeff Deaver (I'll have to check on that).  It is a point when a older woman who is a spy is caught.  She thinks to herself that this is the point that her life, which she enjoyed, will never be the same again.  I can think of several recent points like that.  (Including the "spy" angle, bur from the other side!).  Probably "moment" that you realize everything is changed and its will never be the same  hit Aliene worse then it did me.

I guess life is composed of moments like that, when a momental change is occurring and you may  or may not be aware of the gravity of it.  On the other hand, maybe life doesn't have enough of those moments, maybe that is why time passes and we suddenly realized the journey is going faster than we want or realize.  

Apple Store today.  Trying to get control of my e-mail, calendar and contacts (also reminders) while I can take a breath and do something with it.  When I look at my e-mail and see 29,000 e-mails I need to do something to get organized!  

Looks like it will be another beautiful day today, will be in the mid-fifities and sunny.  About as good as it gets this time of year.

Fall 2013 December 17 Tuesday

45 degrees this morning.  Lengthened my bicycle ride a little.

Reading "And the Mountains Echoed", as noted in the last post. 

I rarely have a quote leap out at me as if it was intended for me to read.  That one, really hit home.  Actually the entire book (except for the first part, which I still don't understand), is really speaking to me.

In one chapter, the narrator reviews (from an old age) his life.  What struck me was how the years can pass without any  real realization, even when major events come and go, the time still passes.  In the case of the narrator, he was an assistant (perhaps a servant?).  The years passed and he started as a young man and was old (self described) when the man he worked for died.  Even their relationship was fascinating to read about.

The quote described his feelings after the person he worked for died and he was (i guess you would say) "retired".  He inherited everything , so it appears he was not required to work.

It got me thinking, six years ago, I noted that "in ten years I will be 70".  Obvious, but there is still the journey, which is going to happen regardless of what I do.  I have been here for 12 years, my last job for 13 years (I left to take this job). That is 25 years that has passed in  a flash, yet, my Dad and Mom both passed away during that time, my 11 year old daughter became an adult, married and now has two granddaughters (the oldest of whom is now a teenager), I met and married Aliene, Aliene's mother, who was a lively alert person when I met Aliene, gradually failed and passed on,  Aliene's grandchildren grew from the small children at our wedding to adults etc.  

I'm not sure where this is all going, except this is a pivotable time of my life when any decision I make will reverberate for literally the rest of our lives.  So many times, the entire structure of our lives are based on chance, which I guess is obvious, but when it is happening it is not so obvious.

It will be very difficult to leave Lakeland if it comes to that.  Not the City itself, I expect the changes will destroy the true Lakeland that I love, but still it will be difficult to leave friends and routines we have grown accustomed to.

Christmas Eve is a week away.  Hopefully the weather has reverted to the "regular" weather type.  So far, the weather looks like it should be good.