Greetings from Lakeland

Time passes fast, as I look at the last time I made a post!

Everything has been very busy, which makes time pass fast, but also means I don't get everything done I'd like to get done!

In a way, I almost dread the weather this time of year more than any other as the cold weather just seems to "hang on", with an ocassional warm day, but the overall cold hanging on. I can't really complain since the climate here is so nice. Still....

I am starting to bicycle more again. Why I never actually stopped, I was getting in a lot less bicycling than I usually do due to the rain etc. I still am able to take my morning walk almost every day.

This is always a busy time of year (City budget, meetings etc.) and it seems even more so this year.

Overall, everyone seeems to be doing well.

I've been reading "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. It fits in well with my hobby of reading about Abraham Lincoln, who is # 1 on my "would have most wanted to meet" list. The Killer Angels is a book about the Battle of Gettysburg. It is actually a novel, but factually based.

As usual, I am backed up on my reading (both magazines and books).

First Croctus

Today I saw the yellow flowers of the first Crocus spring out, which means Spring can't be too far behind! I always wait for the first Crocus. I know there may be more cold weather but Spring isn't too far away!

February 29 yet!

Also, I always like to note the every four year extra day of February 29!

There is time

Realizing I hadn't written since February 1 reminds me of a conversation many years ago. I had mentioned to a co-worker that I was going to do something "when things slowed down". He looked at me and said "they don't slow down, there'll just be something else"!

I was reminded of this now since I have been busy and apparently felt I "didn't have time" to write. That conversation many years ago made me think and I gradually got to the point that I realize "things don't slow down" and sometimes I just have to make time.

Anyway, things have been busy. We are doing fine. I still find time for my daily walk and am still bicycling when the weather allows. I still try to read for pleasure occasionally, and visit with family and friends.

I wait for Spring. This time of year is when winter gets very old and I get tired of waiting for Spring and Summer. The air seems to remain cool well into April when suddenly it's Summer.

I always like to think that when I retire (I hope in many years and not in the near future), I'd like to "follow the Summer" one year and go to where Summer starts early and bike along with Summer. While I like Summer, I especially like the start of Spring, with the green grass, trees and the flowers bursting out into life, applauding and welcoming the return of Spring and Summer.

I'm tired of Winter already

Somewhere in the last week, I hit my "I've had enought of Winter, waiting for Spring" moment! Even though it hasn't been a "bad" Winter, I am ready for Spring, the hot sun, the green grass, trees, flowers, hot mornings and all the rest!

Some time I dream of following Summer, going down to Panama Cityand just going north with the Summer!

Memphis/Lakeland has a great climate and I enjoy it except for the time from around January 21 to mid-March! And I don't like the lingering cold air as Spring and Summer arrive. I always want to get someplace HOT about late January!

Brrr from Tennessee!

Winter is here! Actually the cold hasn't been that bad. I still am able to walk every morning (just dress for the cold) than it isn't raining. Bicycling is a little more of a problem. One major difference is the wind isn't here, or at least the trees help block it.

Glad to hear that Dick is finally out of the hospital. What an ordeal for both Anne and Dick.

Life continues to be very busy. It seems I am going from the moment I get up to when I go to bed, although I do like it that way!

I was just thinking how interesting it is to watch children grow up (both our own and co-workers etc.). I understand now why my parents friends were always amazed at how much we had grown since they last saw us! I know with our grandchildren, changes are noticable even in a few months.

This time of year, I am thankful for each day without ice or snow, figuring it is one more day until Spring!

2008

2008 is here-Let the year begin!

We had a nice Christmas in Oklahoma City. We visited on Christmas and also had a 90th Birthday for Aliene's mother. It was fun, but it is good to be back.

I like to reflect on New Year Eve and day on the coming year and the past year, although I don't dwell on teh past much.

One of my favorite quotes is "Don't look back, it detracts from the present". (The actual quote is from a movie, "I never look back, darling, it distracts from the now".) I also like the quote from Dale Carnegie "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain-and most fools do". Anyway, so I don't spend a lot of itme on reviewing the past, unless I can learn from it or correct it, so I don't spend a lot of time on the "year in review" etc.

I am looking forward to 2008 and the events to come. I have already planned to attend the Courter Reunion in Topeka in July and am looking forward to it.

Hope you all had a good Holiday season and 2008 is starting out well!

Shortest Day of the Year

I always like December 21, "the shortest day of the year", because it means the seasons have turned and it is all towards Summer from here! True, I am sure some serious cold weather will arrive before Summer does, but at least there will be more light!

Blueberries and hypertime

I am glad to find that fresh blueberries are available year-round now! Frozen blueberries are ok, but fresh blueberries start my day off much better! I always put them in with my oatmeal in the morning.

I will never understand why time passes so fast in the morning. It seems no matter how much time I should have in the morming, time passes faster! I have heard it described as "hypertime", which is a good description.

This morning, I could swear someone moved the clock up, time went so fast!

I think of the morning as "my time" and maybe that is why it goes so fast. I g et up about 3:30 a.m., and it is time to go to work (7:40 a.m.) before I know it!

Why I enjoy an occasional morning meeting/breakfast out (on workdays), I really enjoy the time to get things done.

I especially like my morning walk. I think that is when I process thoughts and events and try to make some sense out of what is going on and life!

Christmas

Christmas activities bring up all kinds of memories of "Christmas Past" and perhaps even "Christmas Future".

Comments from my sister about Christmas reminded me of growing up on a farm when Christmas was waking up early and waiting for my Dad to complete the chores. He always seemed to deliberately take his time, to the frustration of all of us.

Actually, I expect he really did take his time to entend his enjoyment. He grew up in an orphanage (from about the age of 4 or 5) and his Christmas literally was an orange and a chance to visit his sister. (I don't know how much is creative memories and how much is truth, but from what I have read, I expect he was close to the truth and it even might have been more stark than that!

One of my most memorable Christmas memories is walking over to a neighbor's house (it was actually about 3/4 mile, but I remember it as about 1 1/2 miles) and watch a show on tv about Scoorge and the ghosts etc. I left in the dark and ran all of the way home! I vividly remember the show even now.

We would never really start Christmas until my Dad completed the school Christmas program, so our "Christmas" always started late.

Perhaps one of my most enjoyable Christmas experiences was when I was "drafted" as a Santa Claus to deliver presents and food to needly families. I drove around in my Santa constume waving at people and REALLY enjoyed giving the gifts and food and seeing the reaction of the children and adults. Then I came back home and acted as "Santa" to 3 year old daughter-she never recognized me!

Another Christmas-I always look forward to it, but I enjoy the interaction and visiting-pershaps also I still feel a secret little thrill when I open a gift or give a gift I know will be enjoyed! There is nothing better than knowing you have found and given the "perfect gift".

December 9 2007 Thoughts

76 degrees here today! I have starting my biking again, although I am gradually getting back into it after my skin cancer surgery. I have been back on my walking schedule for some time.

I always expect this time of year (between Thanksgiving and Christmas) to be “slow” and am always surprised when it isn’t! Besides the usual work and personal activities, I am busy with Christmas preparations etc.

I am in a program with the International City Managers Association where I try to keep up to date on municipal management matters. It has been really valuable to me, but it takes a lot of time and I have to send it in by December 31, so it is one more thing!

I am trying to keep up with all of my reading etc. as well as work. I keep planning on learning more about setting and structuring my web page, itunes and iphoto, but …. I do make progress, but I need to use the techniques to keep them fresh.

I haven’t started on my Christmas cards yet, so I’ll get on it, probably next weekend. I have a meeting every day this week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), so it promises to be a busy week!

Since it gets dark out here so early (around 4:30 p.m.), I am thinking about riding my bike early in the morning, but I don’t know if I can squeeze it in.

Aliene is doing about the same. She is getting back into her exercise routine and has been busy making stuff for Christmas.

December 2, 2007

64 degrees at 4:00 a.m. this morning. A little windy, but I had a nice walk. I am glad to get back into my exercise program after a short break due to my skin cancer surgery. (The surgery itself was very minor and not any big deal, but keeping the area dry and trying to make sure I didn’t pull apart the stitches was a major hassle! Still haven’t started riding the bike or lifting weights. (I do the stationary bike and situps, but it’s not the same.)

Work remains busy, even though frequently it slows down this time of year (maybe I say that every year!) It seems like there are two or three projects arise to make up for the one I finish! Well, I would rather be too busy than bored!

Everyone is doing ok overall. Aliene is just getting over a bad cold, which I know is miserable. She is glad to get back into her exercise etc. program also. She has decorated the house for the holidays, she always does a good job. The house takes on a “seasonal” look as the year goes by and I enjoy the change.

I am about five books behind on my reading and, as usual, behind on my “thoughts” on the conferences and seminars I have attended as well as books I have read. As part of my designation with the International City Managers Association, I need to submit a report on what I have learned during the year. Although it is time consuming, I enjoy it and I know it helps me retain and use some of the stuff I learn.

I am currently waiting for the local paper (Commercial Appeal) to be delivered. As normal, it is late on Sunday.

Thanksgiving 2007

Rain and cold prevailed over Thanksgiving. We still had a lot of fun in OKC. We visited, ate and visited some more. We were glad to get back to Lakeland where the weather was a little nicer!

Both the trip up and the trip back were in the rain. On the way up, we hit some really strong rains, which I hate to drive in. On the way back, it started to sprinkle and rained literally all the way back to Lakeland.

We enjoyed visiting everyone in OKC. One memorable trip was to the Omiplex Science Museum. Angela wanted to see the "Our Body" exhibit. It was definitely interesting and I actually learned a lot.

We are home for awhile, and we are really glad. We enjoy our house and Lakeland so we are glad to get back into the routine after a lot of traveling the past two months!

As I mentioned in a prior posts, I haven't been able to bicycle. Unfortuanately, I have been able to eat and the impact on my weight has been rather alarming! I'm back into walking and am watching what I eat, so I am back into my routine and hope to lose the "holiday weight" before Christmas!

New Orleans & Skin Cancer

I have been rather delinquent in my posting.

I had some surgery for skin cancer (in three places) on November 5, 2007. It wasn't any fun, but it wasn't that bad. The worst part is waiting for the area to heal. I won't go into detail, expect I'm glad it was discovered before it got any worse.

I haven't been able to use my left hand (even for typing on the computer) since I may pull the surgery apart. I haven't ridden my bike since the surgery and I really miss it. I still walk etc., but I also can't lift weights.

I went on a tour of the "project areas" in New Orleans. 26 months after the hurricane, the areas are still devasting to look at.

The tour director started with the comment that she had just moved into her house (after 26 months) and "she was one of the lucky ones". The tv pictures etc. I saw couldn't begin to illustrate the absolute devastation of the City in some areas. Many FEMA trailers were still evident and many shopping centers, stores and houses are still closed and apparently waiting for either demolition or rehabilitation. Some areas were completely destroyed and had not been rebuilt.

The tour had a police escort-we didn't stop for the entire 2 1/2 hour tour! It was an experience I will not forget!

I saw the Superdome and the highway where the tv pictures of the people escaping the flood etc. and it was difficult to realize it was the same place.

A Tennessee Fall 2007

Daylight savings time has ended. I always enjoy the “extra hour” on Sunday after “falling back”, while dreading the impact of having darkness by 4:30 p.m.! However, I also can look forward to another Spring!

I recently had “skin cancer” surgery in three areas. I didn’t realize it was so extensive. What surprised me is the number of people who advised me they had had skin cancers removed. The Doctor advised me that this probably was a result of sun damage years ago, but I also should use sunblock on a daily basis. I still have the stitches in, but expect to have them removed next week. (I can’t wait!!!)

I haven’t exercised (walk or bike) since the surgery last Monday since I didn’t want to take a chance on pulling the stitches etc. I can feel not doing it! In addition, I hope I don’t gain back a bunch of weight! I like the extra time, but miss the exercise.

We enjoyed the trip to Kansas for Tonya’s wedding and especially seeing everyone. It was not a bad drive, since it was interstate all the way and there were plenty of rest-stops!

We also were in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about a month ago. Somehow, Pittsburgh was a lot different (in a pleasant way) than I expected. The people were very friendly and it is a beautiful area. The weather even cooperated and we felt (weather wise) like we were home in Lakeland!

Overall we enjoyed our visit and learned a lot.

The Realtor who handled our house sales gave us a bird-feeder. After we finally got it up, we were amazed and pleased by the variety of birds that came to our back yard. However, we didn’t like the mess created by the birds dropping the outside of the bird seed and resulting squirrels etc. We purchased “no mess” bird seed, but found the birds apparently don’t eat it! We haven’t even seen any birds since we put it out, so we will need to go back to “messy” bird seed so our birds will visit us again!

After some urging by Aliene, I read the “Kite Runner” in almost one sit-down reading and was impressed by the book. I am looking forward to reading his second book.

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.