Spring 2015 April 20 Monday

44  degrees this morning. 44:56 minute walk

I’m glad I didn’t put away my “cold weather” wear for walking!  I would have really missed it this morning.  

Monday, it’s nice to have a weekend, but it is also nice to work and have the the routine of the work week also!  

I was reading over the weekend about people who immunize themselves from various poisons, including snakebites.

There are even some people who gradually build up them immunity to snake bites and let a variety of snakes bite them so they become immune to all snake bites.  (One such persons is the only person who has ever survived the bite of a  especially poisonous snake, I believe the coral snake.)

Supposedly, Kings and other rulers etc. used to build up immunity to avoid assassination by poison.  

In fact, one such person was toppled and couldn’t kill himself since he was immune to poison!

I found these nuggets in a book I”d never heard of before, Kent Russell “I am sorry to think I have Raised a Timid Son”.  

There are a lot of other stories in similar vein that make it an entertaining (and to some degree) educational book. 

It kind of reminds me of an American “The Kite Runner”, at least as regards some of his characters.  I think the book itself is much different.

It is one of those books I picked up at the library on impulse, I would never have bought it or bought it as a regular book, an e-book or an audio book.  

One of the benefits of having an wonderful  Library.  

Busy “office day” today for my job.  I have a lot of catching up to do from my “field day” Friday.  

Got a scanner set up yesterday.  I’m a little disappointed in the lack of speed etc. it will incur, but since it is for photos, I guess that is one reason it is slow is, it is a high resolution.  (At least that makes a good excuse.)  It is primarily for us to scan our “hard copy” pictures etc.  I’m afraid it won’t be much of a document scanner, but then the scanner apps do a pretty good job of that.  

Sunday 4-19 Dream

Dreamed I was going somewhere, on a trip.  We (my mother and most of my family) were on the trip).

We walked to the hotel, agreeing to meet later for some type of meeting.

I was in the hotel by myself, things keep happening to prevent me from getting out.

Finally I walked out and elated I had forgotten my gun and cell phone.

On the way back to the hotel room, I reflected (in the dream) about  how horrible it is to live a a country or time when i have to carry a gun. (Note:  for reference, in real life I don’t  carry a gun)                                                                                 

I tried to walk back into the hotel room, but a bunch go children on some kind of trip blocked me from going in.

Finally I went in and a young boy followed me in.  We didn’t talk, but I noticed the   carpet in the middle was dirty like someone ha swept the carpet forwards the middle and left the debris there

I woke up.

Second dream 4-19:

Dreamed I was in a hotel, or perhaps a doom room.

Later):  Dreamed rented a bike and went for a bike ride.  I rode around an area I can’t identify although there seemed to be tents like at a festival.

Seemed to be fast.  There also was a wharf or beach area.

Couldn’t always figure out how  how to stop the bike and I frequently had to use my feet to stop it.  Sometimes I was surprised at how fast it accelerated.

Took it back to the hotel, went up to my room and then realized I had forgotten to take the bike back.  Saw Eric Bridges, whom I used to work with.

Went down and found it was still there along with some baby buggies, wheel chairs etc.

Woke up, no idea what all of this means!

That’s it for now, Monday, April 20, 2015

Spring 2015 April 19 Sunday

60 degrees this morning, 45:02 minutes walking

20 years passes fast.  April 19 and the next several weeks and months were almost a time in suspension as everything was directed to the bombing.  

Overall good day weather wise yesterday with some storms coming in late, although no rain etc. here.

Kali and Katherine got new iPhones, which elated them to say the least.  

I am pleased they seem to pick up so fast on learning the iPhone (Kali had an older one before)  I am hoping I can concentrate more on learning and improving my ability to use computer programs and apps such as Evernote.  There just seems to be so much potential to learning them.

I think the personal instruction is invaluable, since normally what happens is I run into a snag I can’t get around.  If I have the ability to ask someone about it, I can easily get it resolved.  If I can’t , I generally have to stop since I don’t know how to resolve the one problem.

I have also found that when I “need” to learn something I learn it.  I think it is difficult (at least for me) to learn something completely in the abstract, something I don’t use on a regular basis.  I learn it, but then of course if I never use it it doesn’t  do me any good.

However, if I learn something (about computer programs or apps), and then don’t apply it I have to jog my memory when it does take time to use it if I don’t reinforce what I learned by doing it.

Almost finished up the U.S Grant biography.  I was surprised what a key role he played in U.S. history, especially when you consider at that time, the United States was less than 100 years old and he played a major role in the Civil War as well as during the recovery period.  He actually played a major role in the period until he died.  

Some recent dreams (I am remembering small portions)

Dream 4-17115

Dream in a big house, someone like the house on the farm I  grew up on. 

There were numerous persons in my dream.  

There was some kind of a testing or instruction on how quick you were.  The first skills involved questions on your knowledge, the second something else

The entire time, I had a large kitchen knife that I had to lay down so I could participate in the testing.

i went outside for some reason and everything changed.

There was some discussion on the weather, I don’t know what

This was an active dream, I delayed too long in writing down details.  Woke p thinking it was a real situation.

Second Dream 4-17-15:

Dreaming about riding in a car.

Then we are waiting around and someone announced that Frank Sinatra was out of the Hospital and coming to sing  tot he group

It was a very small group of people , and i vaguely remember a Senator or someone else important all being thee

The  was a “washhouse” on the farm I grew up on and this was the setting.

Third Dream 4-18-15

Dream was discussing going somewhere or taking someone. Aliene said for her brother to take someone (two people I didn’t identify) and a child in a car.

I was in the front passenger seat.

It was kind of like one the  the Model A or T cars.

There was some wild driving, and then the child in the back seat got hit by something thrown up by anther car  

I looked back and saw she wasn't responding.

I told the driver to go to the nearest emergency room and i woke up.

That’s it for now, Sunday, April 19, 2015

Spring 2015 April 18 Saturday

63 degrees this morning. 46:31 minutes walking.

Actually the walking time this morning is an estimate, somehow I forgot to stop the stop watch when I finished the walk until I was in the house.  

The stopwatch has truly been amazing.  I can trace it back to at least ten years ago (I use it when I swim also) and a watch that, if I remember right cost $2.00 is still running on the same battery ten years later and probably  more. 

Of course, it is just one of those plastic, velcro band watches that are “disposable” and when the battery wears out you  just throw it away.  I never thought I would have it this long!  

Actually I just looked at it and it looks like it may have a battery that can be replaced, a size 2025.  

More on the birds.  I noted “evidence” today that the birds  had gathered so to speak.  We will see what happens.  

We have a wind chime we put out that seems to keep them away, but it has a tendency (in this windy area) to drive us nuts also.  Actually, they don’t affect us much, we don’t want to bother our neighbors and they aren’t the type to complain.

I had a full day in my new area yesterday.  I enjoyed it.  There is a lot more to keep busy and a lot less driving.  It is ever more diverse than my previous area, which keeps it interesting.  

The day started off with rain, but it quickly changed to a very nice day.

The local paper will shortly publish an attempt by a reporter to walk down a major street throughout the city.  It will detail the lack (or availability of) trails and sidewalks.

In my opinion, the planning in this city is atrocious.  I see brand new gas stations with two entry points within 20’ of the intersection, numerous commercial buildings built without any concern for turn lanes.

In one case a large commercial store was built right next to a new subdivision!  I really wander if the neighbors knew what was coming when they bought their houses (which now I’m sure they can’t sell) them.  

And of course, subdivisions are still being built without any parks or sidewalks/bike/ped trails!  It almost is like the planning division here caught caught in the sixties (as in 1960) and never progressed.

I really think the problem is the city administration is so ingrown hey don’t consider any new ideas and they tend to develop “relationships” with developers and builders rather than the residents.  

The developments certainly does not appear to include any concern for residents.

The lack of even 1980’s recycling procedures and techniques (much less 2015) techniques and procedures really indicates this.

It is offset by some good activities and policies also, but I think the lack of good planning will negatively affect the city for years.

That’s it for now, Saturday, April 18, 2015.

Spring 2015 April 17 Friday (The Return of the Terrorist Bird)

Spring 2015 April 17 Friday (The Return of the Terrorist Bird)

63 degrees this morning.  Started walk, stopped after light rain started.

Decided not to walk after light rain started early in my walk.  My route is rather linear and at one point I am about a mile from the house (or more) so I decided to end my walk when it started raining. Of course, it stopped when I got back and never started again.

The weather app said “zero” % chance of rain (with heavy rain starting later).  I thought about believing the app, but then decided actual experience may be a better information source to follow.  

No matter what the app said, it was raining!

“The Bird” is back.  Last year when we first moved in, we had a terrorist bird that had a nest (actually two) right over our front door.  

As you can imagine, the mess was horrible.  Worse yet, the bird (I  call it a blue jay, i could be another brand of bird), started attacking visitors.  

We tore out the nest (not with any pleasure, we felt sorry for the bird, but….)and the next was immediately built back.

We tore it out again, and purchased “Henry the Owl”, a large plastic Owl.

For several weeks, our front door (and Henry the Owl) were dive bombed by 8 or so birds who would dive bomb the front door and sit in menacing manner near the front door.

This kept on for a week or so, and then seemed to subside.  

Anyway, for the past several weeks when I go out the front door here are now one to about four birds who sit on the front gutter watching the front door.  

At times, I have seen several birds dive bombing the owl, but I don’t see any signs of a nest.  

Meanwhile, the bird/s sit and watch, I know not for what!

Anyway, it’s Friday!  It seems like it has been a long week, perhaps because of the weather.  Looking forward to the weekend.

Actually, I really enjoy my work week also, but it is nice to have a two day break.  

The new area seems to be going well and is going to be interesting, I am winding down the old area and getting acquainted with the new area.  

Went to the baseball game last night.  I still ate more than I intended, but I am becoming more moderate. 

it was a perfect night for a game.  We were pleased too see one of our favorite baseball players (Darwin Barney) whom we used to enjoy watching on the Cubs.   Although we were pleased to see him in person, we were disappointed to see him playing for a minor league team, but found our he was probably here  temporarily in one of those actions MLB baseball t ams have to take occasionally and he was probably here     on a very   temporary assignment, so we will enjoy w watching him while he is here.

Aliene is still recovering nicely.  She is not past week two of wearing the neck brace (hopefully no more than six weeks) and basically has to watch and not do too much, which is difficult for here!

That’s it for now, Friday, April 17, 2015

Spring 2015 April 16 Thursday

59 degrees this morning.  Walk 46:10 minutes

April 16, which means we are close to the year 2015 being 1/3 over.  Looking back the year is more or less of a blur.

That is why I like to “live in the present” in the sense that experience the present, whether it is positive or negative and just enjoy the experience of being alive.

Aliene is feeling better, this will be two weeks of the six weeks she probably has to wear the neck brace!  She had the operation two weeks ago.  

Right now, the indication is that we wish she had had the surgery years ago, it would have saved a lot of time and pain.  (Speaking for myself, which is easy when I”m not the one that has to have surgery! )

Went to the ballgame last night.  It was fun, although I”m not sure if it is a good idea for me to have access to “all you can eat” baseball food, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, cookies, M & M’s, Crackerjacks etc.  A little cool, but not bad.

Aliene lasted pretty good, she is recovering well and hopefully will soon be able to start regular walking and exercise again. 

I am finishing listening to the book about U.S. Grant.  I have to admit, my grasp (or knowledge) of history must have been rather light about this era.

Obviously his contribution to the Civil War and as President were well known, although I didn’t realize the extent of it until I read the book.  

What has been really interesting is what he did after he left the Presidency.  He was young (55 years old) and he took a “world tour”, an amazing tour (for what must have been for the times) of the world.

Of course, he toured as a successful General and President and was an exceedingly popular person.

He visited England, Germany, India, Burma, China, Japan, Thailand and numerous other countries, all as a visiting hero.

I listened to his advice to China on railroads (he emphasized he importance of railroads at the time for trade, economic development, defense etc.) and wondered if his advice is one reason China is so far advanced in the system of railroads etc.  

Of course, China  is a huge country and railroads make sense, as do a well developed air system.  

Anyway, for some reason, I had always thought Grant hadn’t done much after he left as President, but he was actually up for a 3rd term (in 1880) and was a major political figure.

Transitioning over to my new area.  I will enjoy the new area, while I also will miss the old area.  

Hopefully will be a nice day  today.  I am so ready for Spring and Summer weather!

That’s it for now, Thursday, April 16, 2015.

Spring 2015 April 15 Wednesday

54 degrees this morning. 45:06 minutes walking

150 years ago today President Lincoln died.  It almost seems like a short time, relatively speaking.  There is some discussion on whether Stantons comment was “now he belongs to the ages” or “now he belongs to the angels”.  I think “Now he belongs to the Ages” is better whether that was what was said or not!

Like always, people heard different, just as different people heard Booth yet completely different things (or if he said anything at all).

We’ll never know for sure.

i have to wonder how things would have been different if Lincoln had lived.  Until a few years ago, I didn’t realize how tenuous the “peace” actually was at the time.

Finished our taxes and sent what we owed.  Actually I finished our taxes last weekend, and just paid today.  It is good to get it over.

The next step is to finish the paperwork on purchasing the house, we just finished gathering the paperwork on that tonight.

The paperwork involved seems to be a lot more  than it was last time.  I can undersign the requirements, but it seems there have gone to extremes.    

I read where people our ages expect to have their house paid off while we we are just starting a mortgage!  (Assuming we are approved.)  

Watching a copy of the 60 minutes story on “hacking”.  It is really scary to thing what could happen with incurs electric, and water utilities and companies such as shipping etc.

Today was an “office day” for me as I tried to catch up on paperwork and keep learning my job duties.  There is a lot involved, in fact it is almost more of an art rather than a science.  Maybe that is one reason I enjoy it so much.  

One year ago we were making final arrangements for our trip to China.  Certainly before the trip I didn’t know it would be such a memorable journey.  

Another dream (actually two, but one is really short)

All I recall is making several attempts to drive somewhere in the rain.

As the dream was ending, there was a lout weather report about how the rain and storms were continuing.

Persons in the dream included my sister Eleanor, and Aliene and several other persons.

The local area  seemed to be the farm I grew up on (plenty of mucky roads there!)

However, I seemed to be driving to Tulsa, which is long ways from where I grew up!

There was a big tree that I drove around as I was leaving, similar to the big tree we had on the farm.

I made several attempts to get where I was going, but never seem t get there.

Another brief dream:

Driving again.  Talking about whether it backing into a garage door was the most common accident.

I wonder if I dream a lot about cars and motels, or just happen to remember those type of dreams.

That’s it for now, Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Spring 2015 April 14 Tuesday

54 degrees this morning.  44:33 minutes walking.

Thought Spring/Summer weather was here, but.. Yesterday was rainy and cold.  Didn’t feel like Winter, but it sure didn’t feel like Spring!

Aliene is still recovering from neck surgery, but I observe her feeling better every day.  It is a long process.  However, soon she will have had her neck brace on for two of the six weeks, so soon she will be on the down slope!  

On the really good side, her hands are already feeling much better and her head aches are gone!

Thinking of how fast progress is (not including what I don’t know about!), in the late 1990’s, I saw the first time I ever saw a car key fob with a trunk opener on it.  Now, every car has it, just like they all have electric windows, safety items, etc.  

One of the reasons I saw for leasing cars the other day was that progress is so fast you don’t want to own a car, since, like computers, it will be obsolete in three years due to all of the safety advances and electronic advances!  On the other hand computers have a long life for basic items as do cars.

i have to admit, the car I use for work may only be a Toyota Camry, but I throughly enjoy the extras on it, such as the sunroof, heated seats, side radar that warns of vehicles  in the blind spot, detection of vehicles coming when the car is in reverse etc.  

Went to the Library yesterday.  As usual, I can’t resist picking up a book that looks interesting even when I really don’t have time to read it.  I figure if I really want to  read it, I’ll make time for it.

At a conference years ago, we heard Wes Moore speak about “The other Wes Moore”, which was about a person with the same name who was in prison and, I believe, had had a similar life.  Anyway it was another book by  him, than a book on “sustainability” etc. 

Latest Dream, which I have no idea what it means:

4-13-15

Dream  I was dancing a very fast dance on a dance floor. My partner andI I were the only persons on the dance floor.  Extremely fast dances.  A group of people walked across the floor and my partner became part of that group

I was thinking of a class or meeting I had to leave to go to.

Our Dance Instructor we had over 13 years ago, (actually I started in 1994 so this is over 21 years for me and 20 years for Aliene) came up and talked to the group. They were asking him out to eat and he was joking he would if they would buy him steak

He was the living image of him 13 years ago, and just the way he acted then.

I was thinking I needed to go get Aliene and go out to supper with him.  I was waiting for him to ask about Aliene when I woke up.

Planning on an office day to catch up on some paperwork, although that could change.  A good day for an office day since the rain is supposed to continue.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

Spring 2015 April 13 Monday

71 degrees this morning (dropping to 65  degrees at 4;30 a.m.). 44:30 minute walking

First rain was predicted  at 7 a.m. this morning when I got up.  The weather app showed the clouds long away and a “0”% chance of rain until 7:00 a.m. when heavy rains were forecast.  

I was surprised to hear the rain at 4;30 a.m. and look at the weather app and now see clouds of rain over our  area!  

Weather forecasting is an art, not a science, although I personally feel most forecasters really do an excellent job.  

Really strange, that the clouds just seemed to come out of nowhere, which is why weather forecasting is so difficult  

Fortunately,  I finished my walk before the rain started. 

Expected some storms and rain yesterday, but actually it was a nice day, weather-wise.

I finally finished my income taxes, I hope somewhat correctly, which is a relief.  I have lost a lot of faith I had in Turbo-Tax, although it was a lot of difficult situations, especially the partial year state of residence matter.  

Kind of reminds me of Quicken, which is made by the same people who make Turbo-Tax.  Quicken worked fine (if a little quirky or maybe quacky) for our accounting purposes.

Then we switched to Quicken for Mac, which has never worked right, even though it was the same program.  We never got anything but excuses from them and they just never got the Quicken for Mac right.  They still haven’t gotten it even close to working right, and it has been almost ten years.   

Another dream, this one especially intense and varied.  

Dream 4-12-15.

Dreamed was in city, staying in a hotel.  (Believe the hotel was down by I-40 and Meridan, 

Went to a  hotel (one that had turned into a Days Inn rather than a Hilton inn without any notice to me. I was thinking that the reservation had disappeared and I wondered why.  (This has actually where a hotel “rebranded” and didn’t notify me).  

I left the room key in the hotel room.  

We went to an attendant who had just showed another person to his room.  He was apparently an official at another hotel chain  but haven’t been able to get a room in his hotel.  (Strange thing to dream about.)

The attendant  opened up a room with a lot of  towels and some key cards on the side of the  door but said he didn’t have a key card for  my room.  He had a big tooth in his head.  (actually  a big single tooth in his mouth) and he said was sorry, but I had to go to the front desk.

There was a long wait at the front desk, so we apparently went on to eat. 

Next scene was we were at the Classen Grill, a local restaurant.  I was with Aliene.  I don’t recall how we got to the  restaurant.

We thought it was closed, it it apparently was open.  We went in and I told the host I had lost my room key.  For some reason, I thought he would have the answer.  

He kept saying we needed to get a cab to go back to the hotel to get our key.

It became  obvious they couldn’t help us, I then realized if had left my cell phones there also. We realized they want to close.  The scene was the area around Classen Grill, almost exactly.  

We were deciding on whether to get a taxi I woke up

That’s it for now, Monday, April 13, 2015.

Spring 2015 April 12 Sunday

63 degrees this morning 45:39 minutes walking

Tried to go to the minor-league baseball game last night. There was simply no parking available, nor any traffic control.  It illustrated the pathetic planning in this city.  

Encouraging all kinds of businesses without the parking or infrastructure will eventually lead to the decline of the area.  I think they got the horse before the cart, so to speak.

Traffic was backed up all over.  I think they need to start looking at some basic things most cities have like adequate parking lots and infrastructure. etc.    Very unfriendly area to visitors.  I surprised it remains so popular. 

I have to say Memphis is much better coordinated and does a much better job at handling events.   

Aliene is still feeling better. She still has periods of being sleepy, but she is really getting around well.  Just has to watch herself and not try to overdue it.  She still has  some pain.  She also only has five more weeks in the neck cast!  (Actually it is a brace, she can remove it.)

News story the other day mentioned a walker who was robbed and shot the other morning.  He is in critical condition and may be paralyzed.  It was in a much different area of the city and happened at 7:00 a.m.  

So I was a little paranoid this morning when on my walk I saw someone walking ahead of me.  I almost changed my course, but then decided I wouldn’t catch up with the person walking.  

Supposed to be relatively nice this morning, with rain later today.  Almost Spring, but the wind and weather has a touch of the Winter left behind. 

Quickly review several dreams I had.

4-11-15  Kept having this dream I had to get four people someplace on time.  Don’t remember why, just remember it was urgent.

At times would be six or 3 etc, or would be slightly late or too early.

Dream 4-11-15 (Later in the day) Dream in a house with a group of people, apparently at a good friend’s house where we played table games and  cards in Lakeland, although in a different house than she has) with her daughter and son in law.  Aliene was there, as was a son in law of ours and some other people.

I kept trying to figure how how to drive a pickup and the others kept giving me advice.  We were in a long kitchen , with a window looking out on some farm buildings.

Every once in a while,  I would go out to try to do something with the pickup.

At one time there was a car wrecked on a driveway with a culvert and an old “bar ditch” set up.  However, when I looked back it was gone.

There was a lot of conversation about everything with the group, (which was true to life!) although it concentrated on driving the pickup and ways to drive the pickup better.   

The kitchen window for some reason seemed inordinately important.

In spite of the fact it centered on why I couldn’t maneuver a pickup, it was a very pleasant dream, everyone was just talking and enjoying themselves, except I was frustrated by my inability to drive pickup.

Very intense dream, one of those you wake up and it takes you a while to realize it is only a dream.

Watching the Chinese Grand Prix.  Maybe I can attend some day!

That’s it for now, Sunday, April  12, 2015

Spring 2015 April 11 Saturday

59 degrees this morning, 38:04 minute walk (shortened due to lightning and light rain)

Checked my weather app this morning, said “lightning within 24 mi”.  I assume that meant miles.  Walked most of my walk, shortened due to light rain as I came to a point I could cut it short just in case.

Starting to transition to my new area at work.  Our area is based on which zip code we are working in. 

Maybe that is where my dream comes in?  Zip Codes were a major problem in Lakeland (a smaller city near Lakeland had the same zip code and for some maddening the other city was always used.  Now the Zip Code defines my work area, which actually makes sense in this context.

Anyway, today I mentally said goodby to some of my areas and hello to some of my new areas.  The new area will keep me busy, which is good, and I won’t have to drive near as much.  Always a little good and a little bad. However, congested traffic and finding a parking area will be more of a problem.  

There are a lot more Starbucks in my new area, but I don’t take breaks when I’m “in the field”  (It is just too intense and you can’t really relax until you get done what you planned to get done, and it always takes longer than you think!)

I have to think it is like any change, you say hello to a lot and goodbye to a lot and just realize that is part of it.

I used to have a friend who said “Life is a series of Hellos and Goodby’s”.  I didn’t like it, probably because there is a lot of truth to it.

I always say “embrace change” since change is going to happen anyway, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Finalizing my tax return has been very frustrating, primarily due to Turbo Tax.  I think it is an excellent program, but there is some kind of bug in the system.  

Somewhere, Turbotax got it in it’s head that some of the W-4’s, 1099’s etc. were in one state, with the zip code (there we go again with the zip code again!) in another state.

That may seem simple to change, but the appropriate state is our current state, and Turbotax won’t let me change the state (which is incorrect0 , it wants me to change the zip  code, which is correct!

I have gone all the way back and restarted to fix the error,,but the program won’t let me do it!

A good reason we will never be taken over by machines.   (or maybe this is a start!)

The idea of “drones” flying the skys worries me.  I can see the advantage (especially for a lot of projects), but them flying just for the heck of it or to deliver junk we don’t need I think could create problems.

My biggest concern is a “1984” (seems quaint now!) type situation, which is very possible now, with GPS and camera technology.  You can literally be monitored for everything you say and do 24/7 and not even know it!

I think (maybe) anyone flying a drone over your property should have to pay some sort of “air rights”, if not to individual property owners, at least to the City or state.  it would be simple to have the drone programed so it reports and pays the lease fees.  

I don’t know if that is the right way or not, but it just seems unjust that they shouldn’t have to pay everything and property owners are subject to someone flying a drone over your property and “storefronts” have to pay taxes, rent etc. 

Questions of the future.

That’s it for now, Saturday, April 11, 2015