Tonya's Wedding

We really enjoyed going to Tonya's wedding last weekend. We enjoyed seeing everyone, and it was a wonderful day for a wedding and everything really went well.

It was fun to watch the entire community come together to celebrate this event.

The drive back was long, but enjoyable. The weather was perfect and we listened to a "audio book" to help pass the time.

The wind in western Kansas reminded me of why we now live in Lakeland, Tennessee, but we did enjoy visitng! I had forgotten how high an altitude Hays, Kansas is (Fort Hays is where I got my BA) and I now realize I'm not just exaggerating how cold and windy it got out there!

Doris Kearns Goodwin

My favorite history author, Doris Kearns Goodwin spoke at the conference on Wednesday. I saw her about 7 years ago and immediately went out and bought all of her books and read them. She has a way of making history come alive. She won a Pulitzer several years ago and wrote a biography of Abraham Lincoln (Team of Rivals) which I read earlier this year. Her speech was mainly on the findings of her book, Team of Rivals. It was a super book. If you think you don’t like history, read her book.

She gave a super presentation at the conference. I wanted to get her to sign my book, but I had to rush and check out of the hotel and head to the airport.

We went to TGI Fridays to eat. To my amazement, about five minutes later Doris Kearns Goodwin came in and sat at the table next to us! We were nice and merely told her we appreciated her excellent presentation and I advised her how much I enjoyed Team of Rivals. She may not have believed I owned and had read all of her books, but I wanted to tell her anyway!

It would be like going to a concert and then having the star come and sit next to you in the restaurant after the concert!

It was a moment to be remembered and treasured.

Oddly enough, at the same conference 7 years ago, Beck Weathers spoke (Left for Dead) and I went on an odyssey of reading mountain climbing books, as well as books by Doris Kearns Goodwin. (Goodwin also has written books about Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy (before he became President), a book about her love of baseball, and Lyndon Johnson.

Pittsburgh

Just got back from Pittsburgh, PA (actually I’ve been back several days, but this is the first chance I’ve had to write about it). It is an interesting town. A lot of the residents seem a little insecure about how visitors will like the City but it has a lot of variety and is a comfortable town to be in.

It is definitely a “Steelers City”. The Steelers played while we were up there and it was evident everyone loves their Steelers, whether they go to the game or watch it on tv or whatever.

I think they are still recovering from the steel mills going down, and they are doing a good job of rebuilding.

Arkansas Walking Stick

Every morning when I walk, I carry my “Arkansas Walking Stick” or a another walking stick (with a name I can’t spell!). They provide a certain comfort as I confront possums, skunks and other early morning critters. Fortunately, they are as surprised by me as I am by them and we each quickly go our own ways. (I go my own way very fast when I see a skunk!)
I got the Arkansas Walking Stick for $5.00 in 1994 just across the Oklahoma Line in Arkansas. (Some friends and I went on the Talihina Drive into Arkansas to a resort called “Queens..” something or other. The other walking stick I got in 1973 at an estate auction of a 93 year old man. Supposedly, the walking stick had been owned by his Great Grandfather. I don’t know how old it really is, but I can guarantee it is 34 years old! I bought it in Wakeeney, Kansas, just after I got out of the Air Force. I couldn’t foresee the future when I bought it but I am sure I would have been amazed if I could have seen the future!
Right after that, I went to Wichita, Kansas and enrolled in Wichita State University to get my M.A. in Political Science. Somehow I have carried that with me all of these years.
I get a certain comfort and sense of balance out of carrying them. The Arkansas Walking Stick is a lot taller. I’m not sure how I make the decision on which one to carry, but the walking stick is as much a part of my walk as the walk itself.
By the way, I recently noticed them for sale for as much as $50, and appeared to be the same ones I paid $5.00 for 13 years ago!

September thoughts

Tonight I had the unique experience of finishing my bike ride and finish with exactly 1:00:00 on my bike computer! I couldn’t have done that if I had tried!
Last night I went out to ride and found I had a flat. Since I have no ability or talent in that area, we loaded the bike up and took it to Bikes Plus to have the tire changed. I need a backup bike for those times! We are taking Aliene’s bike up tomorrow to have the seat changed and the brakes checked.
Everything has been really hectic at work. It seems I get to work, am busy all day, and still haven’t gotten much done! I do most of my writing and research during non-office hours. It keeps me busy, but I enjoy it. It varies, and right now is a busy time.
The weather has definitely cooled here, so I believe the hottest part of the year is over, at least for any extended period of time.
We really enjoyed having everyone out for the Courter Reunion and are looking forward to the Courter Reunion next Summer.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is one of the biggest garage sales in Memphis and it is in a neighborhood right next to us! We normally try to be out of town when it is held, but it didn’t work this time!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Tonya’s wedding. It wil be here before we know it!

Summer of 2007-Labor Day

Labor Day 2007

I have enjoyed the Summer of 2007 and, in this area, will continue to enjoy it for several months.

The temperature is cooling in preparation for winter and there is always a bittersweet aura around Labor Day since I know Winter is coming.

I was asked my age the other day, and for the first time, said “60”. Lighting didn’t strike and no one screamed in fright. I did suddenly realize I had started another decade!

I have been biking a lot since I got back from OKC. We have been in Lakeland and I had the chance to ride every day since last Thursday. I rode over 11 miles per day (12 miles today) which is great for me.

I am venturing out of the neighborhood more. For the most part, residents and motorists are very courteous. For some reason, there is one street (Canada Road) where they seem to lose their cool and become monsters, as far as driving and respect for bicyclists go. I can even ride on the highway and have 55 mph (and faster) traffic flowing past and feel safer than on Canada Road where I have motorists seem to aim at me to see how close they can get. I am seriously thinking of getting a video camera so I can tape the cars so I can identify the ones who get too aggressive. I walk between 2 ½ to 3 ½ miles at 3:30 -4:15 a.m., so I don’t have a lot of problem with aggressive motorists at that time. (I am more concerned about aggressive skunks and walking over a snake laying in the road etc.!)

I recently printed out some of the nutrition information on restaurant food and suddenly realized why I am not losing weight as fast as I thought I should! While it won’t stop me from having my # 9 breakfast (with a strawberry shake) at Steak and Shake once a week, I will watch myself at other meals! It was a shock to see the calories and the sodium I had been consuming.

The Lakeland City Elections are coming up so that is always interesting to me. They are September 20 and I will be glad (I think!) when they are over.

Aliene though she may need a neck operation, but instead the Doctor is having her tested for Carpal Tunnel (I may have misspelled that).

I hate to see Labor Day end. I love Holidays, because, unlike a vacation day, I normally don’t worry about work, except in the case of a real emergency.

Aliene and I went to a Memphis Redbirds game last night (Sunday) and really enjoyed it.

Well, Labor Day is almost finished. I have actually spend most of the day “laboring” getting ready for the week.

August travels

A busy week. Aliene and her mother flew to Nashville, I met them. (Due to Northwest pricing, it is impossible to fly directly into Memphis. Northwest charges excessive fares into Memphis, just because Memphis is a “hub” and it is put it to Memphis residents. It ought to be illegal. For example, Northwest charges $400 to fly from Oklahoma City to Memphis, and $200 to fly from Oklahoma City to Little Rock-on a flight that lands IN MEMPHIS! Thank goodness for Southwest. I have no sympathy for Nothwest when it declares bankruptcy again-they deserve it. What a ripoff.). Hopefully some other airlines will start flying through Memphis and keep Northwest honest and quit ripping off Memphis residents. For example, if you are going to Orlando or Denver now, you can get decent fares since Frontier is here.

We took Aliene’s mother to the “Grand Old Opry”, since she had never been there before and had always wanted to attend.

We then went to Lawrenceburg where Aliene’s and her mother visited a relative. We had lunch at the “Square 40” café in Lawrenceburg which had some good Southern cooking! They had pictures on the wall signed by President Bush and Harold Ford who had eaten there.

I also visited “Davey Crockets” home. He grew up in this area. I can remember he was my hero when I was a child and I was part of the Davey Crocket craze in the 50’s .

We went to Lakeland for several days and then took Aliene’s mother back to OKC. I figure I drove over 1600 miles in that week! We had a lot of fun.

While in OKC, we were in part of the storm from the hurricane. While we weren’t “in the eye”, we were close to where it was. We were glad to get out of the area safety Sunday.

We celebrated Katherine’s 5^th birthday and my 60^th in OKC and returned home Sunday. As always, traveling is fun, but it is nice to get home!

I am still watching the podcast on “Mount Everest”. They are now actually climbing Mount Everest. It is an interesting series.

August 12, 2007 Summer 2007

103 degrees today, supposed to top 106 degrees Wednesday and Thursday. I went on my bike ride today, tried a new route, going down the bike lane on Highway 64. It has a bike lane, but it is still intimidating to have cars going by at 55+ mph. Actually it went pretty good. My clothes were literally soaked when I got back. My head bad was really soaked. I’m going to have to bring an extra!

Biking down the highway gave me the best average speed I’ve had for awhile although I was holding back a little, since I didn’t have anyone to call if I get in touble..

I’ll be glad when the election is over. I’m already tired to seeing campaign signs. Of course when the Lakeland election is over, it’ll be time for the other elections in the area (Memphis etc.). Oh, well, just part of the process I guess.

I think August has always been one of the hottest Summer months, even though Summer actually starts in June.

Living it and loving it, Day 2-Summer 2007

85 degrees again this morning. Yesterday it reached 102 degrees. I went biking for about 45 minutes. It’s not as bad as it seems since by the time I went biking (around 5:30 p.m.) it was actually shady in many areas on my ride route. I’ll probably ride earlier today. I have been riding in “the neighborhood” so I can stop if I start to feel overheated.

Just saw a couple from Tennessee on the “ Rest of Everest” podcasts. It is a long slow group of podcasts. I don’t think I could just sit and watch it, but I do enjoy watching it while I working on the computer or reading and picking up the highlights.

During my walk this morning I was thinking how my job is somewhat like a Conductor of a symphony and just now I am reading an article which says that is what a Manager’s job is like.

Crews are pouring the foundation for a nearby house this morning. It is interesting to watch. They seem to pour a lot of foundations on Saturday when the Inspectors aren't around! (The County inspects houses in Lakeland, not the City.)

Living it and Loving it-Summer 2007

85 degrees at 3:45 a.m. this morning! I love it! I am currently sitting on the patio enjoying the head, and, oddly enough, a nice cool wind.

I really enjoy sitting on the patio, either working, reading or whatever. I am currently also watching a podcast on Mt. Everest (“The Rest of Everest”). I enjoy reading and watching about mountain climbing, although I don’t have any interest in every mountain climbing. I read “In Thin Air” and then heard Beck Weathers at a conference and read his book (“Left for Dead”) and a lot of other books on mountain climbing.

The podcast on “The Rest of Everest” is a daily (almost tedious) film of a Mt. Everest expedition.

I have been staying busy both for the City and personally. Somehow things never seem to slow down, and obviously I hope they don’t. I am currently reading a book about Lincoln, autobiography (David Donald, Lincoln), a book about Iraq (Bob Woodward, State of Denial), and a book “Bringing Out the Best in People”. In addition, I try to keep up with my magazines. I also love newspapers and spend too much time reading the Commercial Appeal and Wall Street Journal!

We enjoyed the Courter Reunion, and then my 60^th Brithday. Aliene’s daughter is having knew surgery so she is with her for the surgery and aftermath.

83 degrees at 4 a.m.-Summer is really here!

83 degrees this morning at 4:00 a.m.! I love Summer, I enjoy the heat, and especially enjoy being able to sit outside and read/work, the long daylight hours, the fresh blueberries, the flowers, leaves etc. and even the sound of the cicadas in the early evening.

Of course, now the Summer is at its height, it is also declining into Winter, somewhat like life.

I enjoy it while I can. Actually I love the climate out here, since the Winter isn’t really that bad. What I don’t really like is the way the cold/coolness hands on in the Spring. I always think around late February or March I want to go someplace hot to get away from the cold.

I really enjoy fresh blueberries for breakfast with my oatmeal and, while frozen blueberries are better than none, I really miss fresh blueberries!

August always means the Courter Reunion. The Courter Reunion is here and gone. It is always a surprise to me how long you plan for something and how short it lasts. We had basically planned for the Courter Reunion for a year (in our minds anyway). Suddenly it is over.

We really enjoyed having everyone out. Sorry more people couldn’t be here (you were here in spirit, we talked about you!), but we had a good group and we are already looking forward to next year.

60-no longer an abstraction!

60 years old. What used to be an abstraction (and a far off one at that) is now a reality. I don’t really dwell on it. Over 20 years ago, I firmly decided not to worry about events I couldn’t do anything about so I could concentrate on events I could do something about. Turning 60 is definitely not something I can change!

I have learned the value of experience the older I get! I have also realized how important it is to look at life with the wonder of a child looking at something new and exciting and not to get into a rut.

Probably, as for the past 20 years, maybe 30 years, what bothers me most is the lack of time to do what I want/have to do. Probably for the last 15 years, I don’t like the idea that opportunities are closing on me.

I will always remember the first time (and subsequent) times I heard the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken” and how I immediately recognized the Great Dilemma of life.

Some roads I am glad I have taken is my career as City Manager, marrying Aliene, moving to Lakeland, bike riding, walking in the morning, l loving to read etc. Not to say there aren’t many things I would have done different, but overall I feel I am on the right road in those areas. I think that helps facing the years to come and the feeling that opportunities are closing.

Looking back, I am glad that at 40 I realized the “future is now”. While I realized you still need to plan for the future, you live in the present. At 50 I finally understood the beauty of experiencing every minute of life, including the rough times.

One thing about living in a 55+ community, I see some many people “more mature” than I who still enjoy life and have a high quality of life. It can be done!

Yesterday I mentioned that perhaps the scariest thing about turning 60 is that in 10 years I will be 70! I hope to work at least 10 more years, so in only 10 short years I could be facing the major life change of retirement. Of course, I remember when I was in my 30’s I thought retiring at 55 was a great idea, in my 40’s I thought retiring at 62 was great, when I was 57 I liked the idea of retiring at 67, now I am thinking of retiring at 70 when I am 60!

Of course, one reason I picked 67 was that in 2015 I wanted to walk up to the stage and receive my “40 years of service” award from the International City Managers Association at the Annual Conference! It is hard to believe on October 21, 1974 I started my first full-time career job with the City of Liberal, Kansas. (I started my first City Manger position in 1981. I can still remember the impact of realizing my responsibility-as well as the opportunities-of the position.)

The first real impact of working for City government actually came shortly after I started my first job. I was standing in line for a show and I looked at the line and a chill went down my back (a pleasurable chill) when I realized that my job affected, however small, the quality of life for everyone in the City. I am pleased to note that I still feel that chill of pleasure!

60 years-perhaps still an abstraction, but I am living it!

Tennessee Update

It has been a while since I have written. We have been busy, but really nothing noteworthy, other than getting prepared for the Courter Family Reunion. Angela and the girls are coming out early for a visit, so it will be nice to visit with them and then visit with everyone at the Family Reunion.

We set up a bird feeder that the Realtor bought us when we bought the house (it shows how slow we have been on this!). We had fun watching the wide variety of birds we didn't realize nested in the area. Soon the squirrels started eating the bird feed (even though it was supposed to be a "squirrel proof" bird feeder. We finally found something that stopped the squirrels from eating the bird feed.

I am now walking about 3.45 miles each morning, and then I do my weight lifting. I bought a weight bench so I can do everything but bench press at home. It saves a lot of time going to the club and back. I enjoy going outside in the morning before I go to work and reading, working on the computer or whatever.

I usually get an hour bike-ride in about 4 times per week, depending on the weather and meetings etc. I finally decided it was just too dangerous to try to go too far from the addition, when the addition is such a safe place (relatively speaking) to bicycle.

We're looking forward to visiting with everyone at the Family Reunion who can attend! I can guarantee it will be warm!

Suddenly it’s Summer

June 21 is my favorite day (longest day of sunlight and the beginning of Summer). Unfortunately, it also marks the time that the days will start to get shorter and Winter is coming! Of course, I can’t allow myself to dwell on that, I just enjoy the Summer.

I had hoped to be bicycling longer by now, but time and safety are always factors. So far, my neighborhood is interesting enough I haven’t gotten bored with my hour or so bike ride, and I just don’t like the odds of trying to ride on some of the streets near me. While the highway by the addition has “bike lanes”, the speed limit is 55 mph, which is kind of intimidating. Also, I can’t get across the highway (a five lane road) because of the traffic. I am glad I have a safe neighborhood to ride in and right now I would have a problem finding time for riding more than an hour or so a day anything. At least the sun is up enough now I can ride after work. During the Winter, I feel lucky to ride 30-45 minutes.

I am thinking of riding early morning, but then I miss my time with the newspaper, reading and catching up on work!

Aliene and I are looking forward to hosting the Courter Reunion (the 60^th if I am figuring right) in July! This will be the first Courter Reunion ever held in Tennessee!

Summer always seems to go so fast (and Winter always seems to drag!) so I really enjoy the climate in Lakeland.

I don’t want to waste any of the sunlight, so I’ll quit for now!

Tree Frog

This morning, I suddenly heard this racket, right outside the back door. I opened the door and found a light green tree frog, right on the door step. I think it fully expected that it ws announcing itself to be let into the house! (fat chance of that!).

I temporarily lost my compassion for animals and knocked it onto the patio. (I had some qualms as to whether the tree frog was actually trying to tell me something,thinking of persons being turned into frogs, but these are only thoughts that I have in the early morning.)

Later, I heard this racket and found the tree frog had climbed up on the ceiling (of the enclosed patio) and I quickly got a broom and, with some compassion, guided it out into the back yard and it was quickly jumping away towards the trees where it belongs when I last saw it.

I like the sounds of tree frongs in teh distance, but not in or near the house!

1000 miles on my bike!

Saturday, June 16, I just went over 1,000 miles on my “new” bike. (Just about a year old.) It is a milestone for me. I would like to start taking longer rides on an occasional basis. That 1,000 miles is all daily rides of from 7 to 12 miles per day, usually averaging about 11 miles per hour. I would prefer more, but that is what it is. Based on my miles per hour average, that is approximately 100 hours on the bike.

I plan on starting taking longer rides and hope to ride in one of the multi-day rides in the next several years. Of course, I have a hard time finding the time for longer rides, primarily because there is no safe routes for me to take longer rides. I could drive to another area, but that drastically incrases the time.

I am thinking of riding in the morning right after I walk. I rarely miss a walk, because I walk from 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. just after I get up. Of course, I have my morning routine (read the paper, get some work done, read something I normally wouldn’t read fro at least 15 minutes etc.) that I would miss if I rode my bike for an hour after my walk each morning.

Lately I have been waking up at 3:00 a.m. but I decided that is just too early to get up! I always take a nap before I go to work, but I expect getting up at 3:00 a.m. is just pushing it too far!

In the meantime, I enjoy my short daily rides. I ride a little longer in Summer and in the winter I just try to grind out a few miles so I stay in shape! I really enjoy it and maybe the short rides of an hour or so is what is right for me at the present time.

The Innocent Man

John Grisham, The Innocent Man

This book illustrates what I consider the horrible example of Police Officers and Prosecutors and how some of them can develop mindsets of “win at any cost”. The book documents lying, framing, setup, the “good old boy/girl” network (including the residents) that allowed innocent persons to go to jail and almost be put to death.

Looking back, I sometimes wonder about some of the Police Officers working for me and if they had the same mindset.

This book probably affected my actual view of City Management as much as any book or session. I consider one of a City Managers’ primary objectives is to insure that services are provided consistently and fairly and that the “power” of the City not be misused.

The book documents gross, gross abuse of office by Police Officers, Judges, Prosecutors, and even the residents. What is REALLY frightening is that some of them are still in office, even after documentation of gross misconduct!

I had to ask myself numerous times throughout the book-Where were the Police Chief, the City Manager, the residents...?

What controls can we use to insure this doesn’t happen in "our" city?

10th Anniversary!

Aliene and I celebrated our 10^th Anniversary June 7, 2007! It has been a wonderful 10 years and I can truly say we celebrated 10 years of happiness.

On our June 7 Anniversary we had Teri Clark, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire perform and we had 30,000 people attending!

We actually were at the CMA Musical Festival in Nashville. It was a great 4 days of music and fun. We went last year and really enjoyed it and already have our tickets for next year!

The ten years have certainly flown by.

Lincoln and his Generals

I am reading the book "Lincoln and His Generals" (actually published in 1959) in my continuing quest to learn about Lincoln.

I was fascinated by his Generals, who were characterized by inaction and continuing requests for "more, more, more". It was also interesting to see how Lincoln grew in office, as he gradually learned what a made a good General. (He put it simply-a good General takes action and wins battles!).

In a much smaller way (but just as important to our residents!), I can see parallels to Department Heads who delay action and continually want more resources and they they'll take care of a problem. I can hear it now "just one more (name it) and THAT will be all I need".

TEAM OF RIVALS-A super read!

I just finished reading “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It was a fascinating story of Lincoln, his election, selection of his cabinet (including many of his rivals for President). It included the civil war period and his assassination.

At the end, she described the impact of the assassination on his wife, family, cabinet and colleagues and especially the nation in such a moving way I even had tears come to my eyes.

I heard her speak at an International City Managers Association meeting a few years ago and was intrigued by her knowledge and her way of describing history. I read all of her books (Wait Till Next Year, a story about her love of baseball and how her father taught her to love the game; No Ordinary Time, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II; The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys (which covered the history of the families up to when JFK became President) and Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream.

They are all fascinating, informative books regardless of your political beliefs about the persons involved!

At the conference, she had just finished Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream and she mentioned her book on Lincoln, so I was anxiously awaiting the book.

If you have any interest at all, read Team of Rivals.

I am starting next on “Lincoln and His Generals”. Lincoln was such an amazing man, decided I was going to always be reading something about him. I am also starting Walter Isaacson's book, Einsteen.

I am looking forward to seeing Doris Kearns Goodwin at the ICMA Conference this year. I am hoping I can get her to sign all of my books!