Summer 2015 September 20 Sunday

67 degrees this morning.  Walk 39:07 minutes

Got my walk in this morning, but lightning and thunder were in the north the entire time.  Then I got a message that “rain would start at 4:32 a.m. and continue for about an hour and one-half.  Believe it or not at 4:32 a.m. it started raining!

Still lightning and thunder.  I am on the “inside” of the patio watching and listening to the rain.  Not near as good as the “outside” part (well, it is now, since I would be rained on on the outside part) but better than inside.

Spent part of yesterday (and wasted several hours and some $ on a flash drive) trying to install Windows on my iMac.  The problem was a Wall Street Journal story said you could get a 30 trail period of Windows 10.  Unfortunately I believed it until I finally contacted Microsoft (a torturous process on it’s own, their customer service has not improved since I started using Apple products partly because of Microsoft and suppliers  horrible customer service).

Anyway, the outcome is I have to purchase Windows 10 and assume it will work on my Mac.  I know it does, but actually getting it done is the problem.

What is ironic is that the reason I want to put Windows on my Mac is because Quicken (Intuit) can’t produce a decent copy of Quicken for the Mac.  Ever since our very first purchase of Quicken for Mac some years ago, it simply has’t worked.  It is a horrible product and should never have been sold.  Each year they promise “this is it” and “it” is just as bad or worse than the previous version.  

Anyway we finally decided  our record keeping is too important, so we would install Windows and go back to Quicken for Windows, since we thought we could add Windows to our Mac relatively easy.  

Happen to be listening to a song by “Enya” while the rain falls outside.  Somehow the effect is perfect.  I am outside, although undercover, so the rain is loud.  

Of course, there are always jokes about how the State Fair brings rain etc., but so  far the rains have been beneficial, since they come early in the morning and cool off the day.  

We got our first “mums”  last week and several pumpkins (to put outside) yesterday, a sure sign that Fall and Winter is coming!  Aliene has had the Fall and Halloween decorations on display in the house for several weeks now.  

Glad to be taking my morning walk again and listening to the book on Elon Musk.  It is currently in the part about the “Space X” program and the start of Tesla Motors.  As with all such projects, it is amazing how several small events could have changed the entire progress (or lack thereof) of the companies  

To be honest, I really haven’t followed “Space X”.  While I was vaguely aware of it I still am not sure where it stands now, although I am doing some research on both.

Another dream, I like to try to keep track of my dreams I can remember, so I hopefully will become better at remembering them.

9-19-15:  Saturday Dream

Dreamed was shopping for something (can’t remember what now), but it was a BMW dealership (I don’t have or even want a BMW).

For some reasons, it was a cafe like atmosphere and I ordered some water and something to eat.

They bought me the water and it was in a can (a small can) and warm, and I  was very disappointed in the business.

In the last part of the dream, I was looking for a place to park.  The guard had just picked up some blockades from the parking lot and opened a lot of spaces as I drove in and everyone cheered.

I was with Aliene, but I don’t remember the occasion or purpose.

That’s it for now, Sunday, September 20, 2015.  

Summer 2015 September 19 Saturday

64 degrees this morning  No walk (thunder, lightning, some rain)

Did about 17,588 steps yesterday (I believe about 8 miles)  A few less steps than the day before, but there was a lot of standing around, which for me is worse than walking.  

I will be glad to get back to my usual routine, which while not routine, (thank goodness) is more to my liking!  Not that I am sorry about the special assignment, (it still isn’t over, I will have next weekend and maybe Monday).  I learned a lot and it was a nice experience in human dynamics.

Updated my “office iPhone” (an iPhone 5)  to IOS 9, with no ill effects yet, although I haven’t played around with it much.  

I am updating my primary iPhone today, although I may read up on it a little more before I do so.  My iPhone is one of the ones with a defective photo lens, so I understand it will be replaced.  

Supposedly, the defective lens causes the picture to be fuzzy.  I guess I just thought it was “operator error”!  

I always hate to change to another iPhone.  No matter how hard I try, much of it really doesn’t backup and transfer (primarily apps and passwords etc.) so it is a pain for several weeks to deal with it.

My job pays a “phone allowance” and I keep my phones separate primarily because I can, and do, set my “work” iPhone to shut down for non-work hours, since many people assume I have an office phone with e-mail and they can call anytime to leave an e-mail.  This way they can leave an e-mail.  

I “repurposed” my iPhone  5 as a work phone  If Aliene upgrades to an iPhone 6S, I plan on “repurposing” the iPhone 5 primarily as an iPod and security alarm remote and using Aliene’s iPhone 5S as my work phone.  

In regard to the socks, a month long experiment indicates the “expensive” socks ($11 or so a pair) are well worth it, although there are some other socks which are good walking socks.  However, I can notice the difference immediately with the new socks.  

Also, assuming they truly have a “lifetime” guarantee, they could be cheaper over the long run, although I doubt if I actually would even attempt to use the guarantee after a year or so.

Some of the socks I used are good socks, they just  aren’t as good for exercise.

I assume they are trying to do for socks what they did for exercise shoes, you buy a different a different pair for each activity.  

I don’t, but the advertising gives you the impression that you need a pair for weight lifting, another pair for walking, another pair for running etc.  Maybe it does help if you are intense about a certain exercise.  I can certainly understand the difference between walking and running.   

Actually, I do use a different pair for bicycling, but that is it. Otherwise, I wear a pair for my “exercise walking” and “repurpose” them as general bang around shoes, where they last for years.

Actually, after having foot problems last year, and visiting a podiatrist, I am in the process of throwing away my old shoes since the fit creates foot problems.  My main problem I really have a hard time not keeping them for short wear, like in the rain, working around the house etc.

Of course, since I have my home office, I don’t even wear shoes during my “office day” which makes a lot of difference, I wear slippers or “flip flops” or footwear of that type.  

Looking forward to the weekend!

That’s it for now, Saturday, September 19, 2015

Summer 2015 September 17 Friday

78 degrees this morning.  Didn’t walk this morning due to working on special assignment and I will probably walk a lot today.  Actually, no probably about it, I will walk a lot.

For example, yesterday my iPhone showed I walked 23,583 or an estimated 10.13 miles!  A little more than I usually walk in the morning!  

It should be a little less today, but i never know. 

It is interesting to learn and completely new procedures, about situations I never even thought about existing before.  I have to suspend my thoughts (or at least any comments) about how it could be done better, at least until I learn more about it. 

The complete process actually won’t finish until a week from Sunday, although I am involved only today and tomorrow and next weekend.  

Quit using the oxygen machine last night, the machine itself if fine, but there is a humidifier bottle that rattles so loudly it woke me up and I decided it wasn’t worth it.  It has been a problem since I got it, but last night I just decided it was too much and shut it down.  

Hopefully the company has a better designed machine or a method to stop the rattling.  Otherwise, I’ll send it back and advise the Doctor the machine is not acceptable and try to find another company.  I am sure they are charging enough to cover a decent machine that should work.  

Nice morning outside, the wind has settled down a lot from yesterday morning.  It is very pleasant.  

I am undecided about listening to music while I sit outside and write this.

I forgot to put my iPod on this morning and am enjoying the sounds of nature (the sound of the wind thorough the trees, the light rattling of the “night bugs” (whatever they are) and just the sounds of nature.

I’m not sure what the “night bugs” are here, they are a lot different than the tree frogs in Memphis, (and the bullfrogs in the ponds), who made a tremendous racket, but still didn’t really disturb me.

I just realized, I haven’t really heard any cicadas this year.  The sound always leaves me with kind f a melancholy feeling for some reason. I think of growing up on the farm and listening to them as the night descended.  Not a bad feeling, and I actually enjoy listening to them.  

My original “iPad” still amazes me.  I listened to a book on it for three walks (about 2 hours) and battery is STILL at 100%.  (I do shut it off completely between sessions). 

However, I read my latest iPad at breakfast for about 10 minutes (and then shut it down completely) and it uses about 10% of the battery over just a couple of days!  It is actually about two years old, my original iPad is almost exactly five years old, or about a month past, since I bought it in August of 2010 on the “tax free holiday” in Tennessee.  

I do miss the Tennessee “tax free holiday weekends”  which allowed me to purchase my computers tax free!  That was quite a savings.  May not be good state policy, but it was good for me.

There are still a lot of things I like about the “original iPad” although speed is not one of them.  Of course, many apps do not work on it anymore, but as long as I can use it of photos, music, audiobooks etc., it will retain some use.

Another day on “special assignment’”.  I like the fact that it is something new that I am learning, although I have to admit I will be glad when it is over!

That’s all for now, Friday, September 17, 2015.

Summer 2015 September 17 Thursday

78 degrees this morning. No walk. (Didn’t walk since probably will get plenty of walking today at work)

Special assignment today at work, actually today and tomorrow.  I always approach something completely different like this with both apprehension and anticipation.  Something new is usually good, but not always! I enjoy my normal day so much, I will miss it.

Didn’t walk this morning, since work will probably involve a lot of walking.  Also,  tried to sleep a little more than usual.

Very pleasant this morning, wind is a little higher than I like (which isn’t difficult for the wind to be too high for me!) but otherwise a very pleasant morning.  

Set off the alarm this morning when I went out the back door, something that happens when your routine changes, at least we know the alarm works!

Went over the city next to the city we live in to get new eye glasses.  We have been very disappointed with the ones we currently have.  The last pair of glasses I got, I wore four years (at least), these I was ready to junk after two weeks, but it has been about 8 months.  

Fortunately, my eyes don’t seem to change too much from year to year and I didn’t even “need” new glasses last year, or even this year, but I knew I was getting new glasses his year even if my eyes hadn’t changed at all!

Anyway, we were struck again about how much more pleasant the city next to us is.  The commercial areas have screening and have subdued signage.  A much better place to live.

They also require their housing subdivisions to be planned, not just thrown together with the hope of maximum profit for the developer and builders and throwing all of the expenses normally paid by the city on the Home Owners Associations.  

There also are a lot of public parks, bike paths etc.

We really wished we had gritted our teeth (or our wallet) and decided we were only going to purchase a house in that city, but we didn’t.

Not that we don’t enjoy our house here, we do enjoy it.  However, we hate to support a city that  allows/encourages such extremely poor planning practices and kowtows to builders, developers and commercial developers.  

Thinking about it, anything extra we paid for a house in a decently planned city, we would have gotten back when we sold it, since house prices are going up substantially faster there than they are here.

Part of it was a matter of timing, and we just couldn’t find the house we liked since houses sold so fast in the nearby city due to their good planning. 

Anyway, we are here, and I doubt if that will change soon, although with the poor planning in this city we may eventually just get disgusted and move anyway.  

Hopefully it won’t rain today or tomorrow since I will be outside a lot.  

I was told I could wear a baseball cap (normally not allowed) today if it didn’t have any insignia on it.  Of the 200 or so baseball caps I have, I have one! with no insignia and it is in such poor shape, I use it only for  exercise or to wear to the YMCA.  

It is actually one of my favorite hats, since Aliene actually got it for herself when we were in California right after we got married.  I guess one reason it looks so old it is about 17 years old!

Hoping for a unique and interesting (but not too interesting) day!

That’s it for now, Thursday, September 17, 2015.   

Summer 2015 September 16 Wednesday

75 degrees this morning, walk 38:22 minutes 

Definite chill in the mornings now, although it is still comfortable.  

Listening to the book on Elon Musk, I realized almost all of the “disrupters” actually are following the tradition of centuries, following the steps of Carnegie, Rockefeller etc.  

-Break the law early ignoring “inconvenient” laws.

-Make money because of a combination of skill, individual effort, luck etc. as well as  ignoring such laws while others follow them or are caught

-Use the money to pay off politicians etc. so suddenly the laws are “adjusted” so they can take advantage of the new law and make even more money etc. or an exception is made on the basis of “economic development”  (crony capitalism).  

I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it appears to be the pattern. 

What I don’t like is what I see every day, is the small business person who either follows the law, or is caught and made to follow the law, so that the business is never a success and normally fails under the burden of rules, regulations and laws.  

Anyway, I also see enough small businesses that are successful by following the law and regulations etc. that it can be  and is done.  

On another subject, the city we live in bases the sewer charge on the basis of “winter” usage of water, so that, at least in theory, you  pay only for the sewer that you use and you don’t pay sewer rates for water sued for watering laws, swimming pools etc.  

Since sewer consumption is based on water usage, this generally makes sense.

Anyway, I noticed our sewer rate was based on “zero” winter month usage of water.  I called this to the attention of the city officials and they were very responsive and changed the base rate to 4,000 gallons per month, probably saving us a few dollars per month during the summer (probably around $12.00 per month, but that is $12 we can use somewhere else)!

Anyway, it proved to me that it is worth it to check your bill!  I have noted mistakes on every credit card bills where a charge was incorrectly based on my bill.  Not often but it happens.

Of course, the phone companies and cable tv companies are notorious for putting little charges “for your convenience” on your bill.   They always take them off if you complain, but you think of the number of people who don’t complain and they make a tidy amount from this practice.

Last two days I have ben “training” another person.  I both learn how much I know, and how much I don’t know, when I have to train someone.  

When you try to teach something, I can understand why teachers appreciate questions.  It points out areas where you may have been unclear or even areas where I misunderstood something or need to clarify my understanding of the process.  

It is also always enjoyable to watch someone suddenly catch on to something based on on my instruction1  

Killed a scorpion last night, or what appears to be a scorpion. so we are going to call the pest control person!

I got bit by a scorpion (actually two bites) years ago, and I never want to go through that again!  We are also suddenly wearing some kind of footwear in the house!

That’s it for today, Wednesday, September 16, 2015.

Summer 2015 September 15 Tuesday

73 degrees this morning.  38:22 minute walk

In spite of being 73 degrees this morning, the wind is making it almost uncomfortable out on this patio this morning, even more uncomfortable than 65 or even 62 degrees was several days ago.

I also decided the wind has a major role in my walking speed each morning.  It seems that the wind effects would “even out”, but I don’t think that is the way it works.

Oddly enough, one of my biggest fears (maybe not the right word) of living here was the wind, the continuous wind, but it really hasn’t been all that big a factor, at least in discomfort.  I much prefer the climate of Memphis, including just occasional wind.  

I think the effects of the wind are a  little, or maybe a lot less, in the city then they would be outside of the city. 

Maybe the buildings, and what scrub trees there are, act as a sort of wind break.  

I remember when I was growing up on the farm, my Dad planted a “windbreak”  (or at least I think he planted it) that was to the north.  I don’t know if it really worked or not, I guess it had to have some positive effect on reducing he north wind.  

Several years ago, I attended the wedding got my niece in Hays, Kansas, I believe in mid October, and we walked out of the hotel and I realized my memories of the freezing wind in college were true!  The wind was very nasty, to say the least and really emphasized the cold even in what was early Fall.  

Still have a nagging cough, of course not near as bad as several weeks ago, but just enough to remind me of what we went through (Aliene has the same thing.)  

I hate to let such things go as “just an allergy”.  If it is an “allergy”, it means I am seriously reacting to something in my environment.  

I really believe, the whooping cough vaccine caused it.  I know everyone says it is a “dead” virus (or whatever), but he timing was just too close to be accidental.  I remember well my whooping cough of 7 years ago, and it was exactly the same thing.  Probably I am wrong, but if the vaccine didn’t cause it, what did, and why is it so close to the whooping cough?

On the other hand, I am just thankful for good medical care and the protection provided by vaccines. I still can’t believe that this isn’t some sort of reaction to the whooping cough vaccine, maybe not the actual whooping cough, but something like it.

The book on Elon Musk is interesting, although still written in the overall tone that he can do no wrong.  It is just interesting to hear about the process and what went into the development of some of the projects  

Right now, the book is in the “Space X” development, the early stages.  

The “State Fair” starts this week.  I haven’t been to a State Fair for a long time, but will be involved i this one.  Not something I am looking forward too necessarily, but something that I am looking forward to as a new experience.  

I remember the State Fair where I saw the first microwave.  I don’t know that the microwave has developed much past the early model, now that I think of it.  Of course they got more powerful and became essential (at least to people like me), but they never developed past their basis mission, to cook some as fast as possible.

Maybe sometimes, lack of progress is good.  A microwave does what it does well, and doesn’t try to be everything to everyone!  Maybe one reason it has become essential.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, September 15, 2015.

Summer 2015 September 14 Monday

75 degrees this morning, walk 38:03 minutes

Rain coming in this morning.  Still managed to get my walk in, since the lighting and thunder were far off.  

Sat out on the patio, just leaving the outside  portion of the patio as it is starting to rain!  

Although the “weather app” is amazing, it is also frequently wrong, as it did’t have the rain coming in for another 1 1/2 hours.   It actually says “0%” chance of rain right now, but my eyes and ears say it is raining in spite of what the weather app says!

It is nice to have a large enough covered portion of the patio that I can be out of the rain, but still somewhat enjoy being outside.  

One of life’s big questions (besides why concrete cracks) is how the “earbuds” can get all tangled up when they have set there since yesterday morning without anyone moving them or touching them!  

Sure as anything, in spite of no one moving them or even being close, they are tangled when I pick them up!  I don’t know if there are any that are “guaranteed tangle proof”, but there should be!

Aliene and I got our rings cleaned  and inspected yesterday, a yardstick event we do every six months, and we have done every six months since we got married.  Since we get it done in September and March, it also marks at least the beginning of the change of seasons .  

Or the end of the previous season, depending on how you want to look at it.

This week will be much different than most weeks, for good or bad.  I am training a new person today and tomorrow, and then I have as special assignment on Thursday and Friday.  One of those weeks that I look forward to the new learning experience, but also will miss my usual routine, which I really enjoy.  

Had a chance over the weekend to work on “Whink” and another “productively app”.  I always think that if for some reason I don’t use an app or software program after I learn it there is probably a reason, primarily that the the costs of doing the work exceed the benefits I derive from the program!

It is always hard to give up on an app or software program, especially one that is hyped as helping you save time etc.  

I have found “Evernote” useful enough although never the benefits that seem to be hyped.  I figure I am lazy and I want an app or software program that are easy to use and take as little work as possible, at least on a daily basis.  

I don’t mind setting up an app or program, but I need to see that I can maintain it with as minimum as fuss as possible and it really does save time.

Evernote is good for saving information and eventually, being able to locate  it.  It’s search function has seemed unduly burdensome.  

I also use “My fitness pal” to keep track of my exercise and what I eat.  Again, it can occasionally be more trouble than it is worth, but I try not to be too persnickety (a word my Dad loved to use!) about being exactly on the calories or portions.  Otherwise it takes too much time and I don’t use it.

My favorite is still  Apple “Notes”.  It is easy to use, easy to search and is effective.  What else can I ask?

That’s it for now, Monday, September 14, 2015.    

Summer 2015 September 13 Sunday

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65 degrees this morning, walk 37;37 minutes 

Strange that my walk yesterday was 38:38 minutes and my walk this morning was 37:37 minutes!  I literally couldn’t have done that if I had tried!  To the split second is amazing!

Cooler weather is apparently here, at least in spells.  

I am still sitting on the outside patio, wondering how much longer it will be comfortable to do so.  

I looked up when Fall of 2015 starts and was startled to find that it begins on September 23.  I always thought it was the 20th or 21st.  (Winter of 2015 starts on December 21, so that means the 2015 Fall is actually shorter than normal!

Have to say something about the continual rattle about bottled water.  What in the world is wrong with bottled water?  No one complains about bottled soft drinks, juice, tea, coffee etc. but some places even ban bottled water.

Believe me if everyone realized all of the chemicals that go into “regular” water (especially if it comes from a river or lake etc.) they  would drink bottled water also!  

Around here, the “lake turns” sometimes and drinking the water is simply not enjoyable.  Doesn’t happen often, but it happens.

While I am sure all of the chemicals are “safe” as far as they know, and I drink the water in restaurants etc., I still don’t like ingesting the chemicals necessary to make water safe to drink, certainly not in the quantities I drink of water!  If I have to, sure, but if I can drink bottled water, why not?  I don’t drink almost anything else in bottles (I don’t drink carbonated beverages, or like items, so actually I am just substituting bottled water for those beverages! 

Anyway, if they are going to ban bottled water they need to ban all beverages in bottles, or maybe even cans, depending on their reasoning.

Actually, I have seen canned water and the other day I even saw water in the old cardboard milk container type of container!  (I didn’t buy any.)

Back to the low-carb style of eating!  Actually it seems it is the only only eating pattern that helps me lose weight.  I actually don’t do a true low-carb eating plan, I eat all the fruits and vegetables I want and don’t even count those carbs.

I do try to control bread and potatoes and  foods with high “fast” carbs and avoid large amounts of sugar and especially fatty foods etc. if possible.  

Due to our colds and the continual hacking coughs we haven’t used our YMCA membership near as much as we expected, but we enjoyed it when we used it, so I am sure we  will be able to get back into the pattern soon.

I especially enjoy swimming.  There is a joy in sliding through the water, even though I am not an accomplished swimmer by any means.  I enjoy it until I get bored, which is about 20 minutes.  If I go any longer than that, I will need to get a waterproof case for my iPod or my repurposed iPhones to listen to something!

Continued listening to the book about Elon Musk.  Still being written in that breathless tone of a teenager talking about some teen heartthrob that can do no wrong.  Still an interesting book, but would have been a lot better if not written in that “gee whiz” type of tone.

Delving more into the app “Whink”.  Using it for both work and personal related items.  I figure it will ether work well and be worth the time it takes, or I will quit using it because it isn’t worth the time it takes.  Or it could end up like Evernote etc. and I use it occasionally, but don’t feel like I am using it to even close to it’s capacity. 

That's it for now, Sunday, September 13, 2015 

Summer 2015 September 12 Saturday

62 degrees this morning Walk 38:38 minutes

Obviously much cooler this morning, although, like when it changes from Winter to Spring, I tend to keep dressing in “warm weather” clothes for a length of time.  

It is strange how that works, in the Spring, I tend to keep wearing cold weather items (long sleeves etc., even thermal underwear) until it reaches in the 70’s.

In the fall, I will keep wearing warm weather items (short  sleeves shorts etc.) into the 50 degree weather and not think anything about it!

Actually, I tend to cover up my chest more than my legs.’

Still have that  nagging cough, not as bad as once was, but it just seems to hang on.  Some of it (as this morning) could be my “exercise indued asthma, especially in cooler weather”.   

Until a Doctor advised me what it was, I never could figure out why I couldn’t exercise in winter (or any kind of cool weather) without going into a coughing fit.  Some spray I use right before I exercise helped that, as I found, does covering up my mouth so I don’t breathe the cold air directly.

Last AAA baseball game last night for this season..  AAA baseball has the goal of developing players for the Mayor League, so unfortunately for the fans, he players come and go and the better they are, the more likely they are to disappear.

On the other hand, we have seen many players (especially for the Memphis Redbirds) who went on to become stars for the St. Louis Cardinals, start off as newcomers and develop their skills 

There is a certain personal pride in seeing a player develop and become successful.  We have actually seen most of the St. Louis Cardinals as Memphis Redbirds, some excellent when they started, but many who developed into stars through a combination of hard work, ability and luck.

It really makes me wonder what does make a success.  From my own life, I know there is  lot of luck involved, a lot of other people who help you develop, personal ability and personal work.  

I trace my enjoyment of writing and the lack of “writers block” to a high school teacher, Jack Green, and other teachers who taught me the “journalism” way of writing.  Also, I was lucky that I enjoyed typing, and actually took two years of typing.

On the other hand, there is the bad luck involved that you can also trace that blocked you or created problems due to some narcissistic spoiled brat  with the no ethics being elected or appointed etc.

I just realized this morning that the Summer of 2015 is almost over.  I enjoy the Fall also, but hate to see the coming of Winter.  We really need to get away in the dead of Winter this year to someplace warm to escape the cold for awhile. 

I am still sitting outside on the patio in spite of the 62 degrees weather.  It really isn’t that cold although it the wind was blowing I doubt if I could stand it.

This year, I have the “inside patio” with a fireplace, so it will be interesting to see if I can literally spend the morning on the patio all year round. 

Looking froward to the weekend. It is going to be a busy week at work next week, so I plan on enjoying the weekend while it is here.  

That’s it for now, Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Summer 2015 September 11 Friday

71 degrees this morning, 37:43 minutes walking (a new record)

Storms to the north this morning.  So close I didn’t really think I would be able to walk, but I started and was able to finish.

They looked like major storms and there may be some light rain starting here now.  

I am on the patio (at least for a while), 71 degrees is much cooler this morning than it was yesterday, so cool it is almost (but not quite!) uncomfortable.  

Still listening to the book on Elon Musk.  Thus far, the more I hear, the less I think of him.  Considering the fact that the book is written in the breathless voice of a kid writing about a hero, it is hard to believe he is coming across as negative  Of course, even the negative things about him are written in a positive tone, if that makes any sense.  

Not to detract from his accomplishments, (whether you like them or not), but at least I expect a biographer to be honest about the faults of the hero!

Friday, almost the mid-point of September!  It is crazy how fast time flies.  It seems like 2014 just started!  (Right, 2014, not even 2015!).  

Another dream yesterday morning during my “after walk nap”.  Rather sketchy, again I woke up and dozed for a few minutes so I forgot part of my dream.  I set my alarm in the morning and I woke up early so I was dozing until the alarm went off and forgot part of the dream.

By the way,  the oxygen has been a rather odd experience.  I seem to sleep better in the sense I feel more rested when I wake up, but I seem to walk up more and note the time on the clock. Not disruptive, actually I kind of like it because I like the feeling that I have three hours, an hour or whatever to sleep.  

9 10 15 Dream Tuesday

Dreamed I was out  and it was mid morning but it was dark and the night bugs were even making night noises.  I even noticed it as part of the dream.

I dreamed I walked into a restaurant  and ate breakfast and then came back to eat lunch and it was like it was closed and in a dilapidated building and hadn’t been open.

I walked in and than realized I didn’t have any shoes or socks on, so I went back to my car.

I couldn’t find my car in the dark and finally recognized it by it’s shape.

I woke up and don’t remember anything else about the dream, except I was wondering around looking for something, what I don’t know.

As I mentioned although it was morning in the dream it was dark.

I thought about Aliene, I believe I was supposed to meet her at the restaurant for lunch, I don’t know if I expected her to call me or what.

The setting was, oddly enough, Hays, Kansas, where I went to undergraduate school

Field Day today, I am training someone Monday and Tuesday and then I have a special assignment Thursday and Friday.  It will be a busy and unusual week, so I intend on enjoying the weekend!

That’s it for now, Friday, September 11, 2015.  

Summer 2015 September 10 Thursday

68 degrees this morning, Walk 37.47 minutes 

New time record for my walk, in fact the first time I have completed it in less than 38 minutes (I believe anyway).  

Anytime I set a new time record, I review where I walked to see if I unintentionally took a shortcut!  Sometimes I suddenly wonder if I am lost while walking (although I quickly get my bearings), so it would not be unusual if I took a wrong turn, but I”m pretty sure this is my usual walk this morning.  

68 degrees is a 13 degree drop from the last time I sat on the patio.  Obviously I can feel the coolness, but it really doesn’t feel uncomfortable, in fact it feels very comfortable.  However, there i son wind.

Listening to a book about  Elon Musk during my walk (founder of Paypal, Tesla etc.).  Unfortunately  the book is written in a tone of awe that indicates it will only be positive.  Nothing wrong with positive, I appreciate it, but I think someone like that deserves a balanced biography, not a book written in a tone of awe  (or a tone of he can do no right either).  

I do get tired of people trying to tear down persons like Elon Musk, but if you are going to write a biography….  Maybe it will get better.  At least I will learn something, since I know absolutely nothing about him.

I never really had any positive feelings for “Paypal” and try to avoid using it except where absolutely necessary, although that is just me.  I prefer to use my credit card and get “rewards”!

Maybe if I had a business, I would feel differently.

The walk went ok in spite of the carelessness and lack of cleanup by the builders.  I have a flashlight to get around the junk in the street and the balls of dirt left from the lack of erosion control.

Read up some more on “Lifetime” warranties after noting a story about a person who purchased a product with a “lifetime” warranty and was advised after making a claim after seven years that the “lifetime” of the product was five years!  

I should have noted the name of the company, since I would want to make sure I never purchase a product from them.

I did find out that a company saying a product has a “lifetime” warranty has to define “lifetime”, although it is unclear exactly where and how.  

I think they ought to make it simple and say “lifetime” means “lifetime” instead of allowing room for companies to confuse the issue, which the unscrupulous will.

I”m still not sure if my “lifetime” guarantee means “lifetime” or not.  Why not just say “five years” if they define five years as a “lifetime”? 

Of course, there is the other side, a “lifetime” guarantee also means the “lifetime” of the company which makes the guarantee.  

Started listening to music while writing this every morning. Right now, of of my favorites, the “Orange Blossom Special” with the fiddle and accordion!  

Also reminded that while Apple makes some great products they also make some major flubs.  Listening on a very early generation of the iPod shuffle because after the “gum stick”, iPod Shuffle, I don’t care for any of the IPod Shuffles.  I don’t know why the batteries are still good after almost 9 years (I believe), but I just am glad they are.  

Office day today.  

That’s it for now, Thursday, September 10, 2015.