2018 Spring June 21 Thursday

74 degrees this morning, walked 34:35 minutes

Good walk this morning  I actually thought it might be “cold” after the 79-80 degree mornings, but of course it was fine.

No wind or breeze this morning, which may have made it cooler, but I need to remind myself 74 degrees is really not “cold” and is a great temperature.  

Sitting out on the patio, again, I thought it may be too cool, but it is fine.  (Remember, this is in the dark and 74 degrees in the dark is a lot different than 74 degrees in the sun!)

Pace was 6 seconds faster than my goal.

I’m not sure if most of my times basically are on either side of my “goal” means I have the right goal, or if I am walking to justify my goal!  Since I don’t really pay a lot of attention to my “pace” while walking, it probably is just a comfortable pace for me.

Being “comfortable” may mean I need to look at it and see if if is worth the effort to get out of my “comfort zone”!

I don’t even remember now how I set that as my “goal”, probably based on what pace I was walking at the time.  

Probably that is the way a lot of goals are set, which is why we normally don’t improve!  

Actually, if you set an unrealistic goal, you may just get discouraged, but I think it also is easy to set too easy fo a goal.  (I don’t know if I should use “to” or “too” in these cases, maybe a goal I need to set for myself.)

The Summer of 18 will be here, probably before I finish this, or at least finish posting it.  Since it is technically “Spring”, I will count it as the last day of Spring of 18.  

I dread the thought of shorter days.  The sun will “hang” for several days and then gradually start setting and rising a minute or two earlier each day until it becomes hours again.  

A little dramatic I guess, it is what it is, and there are good things about all seasons of the year.  (I can’t think of any for Winter, but I’m sure there is, maybe that each day is closer to Spring!)

If I read any more stories or articles about “Millennials”, it will be one too many.  Normally I don’t bother to read them anyway because most of it is just stereotyping,  someone trying to sell something, or just someone trying to sell an article.  

Soon the news media will have another theme.  It used to be about “baby boomers” and I’d read them and think “I don’t know anyone like that”.  I was probably right, there really wasn’t anyone like that, just someone trying to sell an article or a product or service.   

I remember when I was a teenager, reading articles about teenagers and thinking the same thing.  

Patio is wonderful this morning, although there is no moon.  I’m not sure when or why there is a moon (when it is clear), maybe something else I need to find out!

That’s it for now, Thursday, June 21, 2018, soon to be the first day of Summer of 2018.

2018 Spring June 20 Wednesday

75 degrees this morning, walk 34:41 minutes

Overall good walk this morning, didn’t really seem much cooler. 

While I enjoy the walk, I am so glad to get it done.  Each stage of my morning is it’s own little step, the walk, than the weights (although I don’t do the weights every day), the my shower, and then post on the journal, either inside or out on the patio.  Than the daily newspaper and then my nap!

Patio this morning is wonderful in it’s own way, dark this morning with no moon.  The “night noise” of what I believe is bugs, no wind or breeze this morning.  

Pace was 8 seconds slower than my goal.  Somehow I can’t find the faster pace of several weeks ago.  Actually I don’t try to set any kind of pace, I just get out and walk.

Last full day of Summer, and then Summer starts and the days start getting shorter.  I love the long days, both the early morning and the late evening sun and don’t like to think of the shorter days and then winter to come.  

Somehow as I grow owner, the cycle continues, but the Winter seems to get longer each year and the Summer goes so fast.

I have to take back some of my comments about the cellular phone company T-Mobile.  While they erred in setting up my account so the first month was higher than it should have been, they adjusted the bill and the monthly cost is about what they said it would be.  There customer service is also significantly better than ATT.

My favorite plant/flower/tree, the Crepe Myrtle, is in full bloom.   Except of course the two in our yard which haven’t bloomed yet.  Anyway, I can enjoy them.  Probably what I like best about the Crepe Myrtle is that the bloom lasts so long.  I believe, in most cases, they will bloom until about mid-September.  

I really like the variety of colors and types of Crepe Myrtle.  

I am still trying to figure out why so many “financial experts” say people should pay off their mortgage when they retire, or as soon as possible.  Paying a small amount of interest on a loan for an asset you are using for a basic need is hardly a problem.  

What do they tell people that rent?  In most cases renting is about the same or more for a comparable house and you don’t have the chance for the value to increase, although in a house you do have repairs, insurance and taxes, which are a significant expense.  In fact, taxes and insurance roughly equals 25% of our mortgage payment and probably more.  

Anyway I think a lot of it is stereotypical  thinking about older people.  Like the “older people should buy mostly bonds” is so stupid.  Obviously if you depend on an account, you will want to hold a certain number of years in cash or something that is stable value, considering what would happen if there is a market downturn.

Birds haven’t started chirping/singing yet.  Based on my observations, they will start in about 5 minutes.  I’m going to trying to observe them to see if there is any difference on when the son comes yet.  (I just heard the first chirp at 5:14 a.m)

That’s it for now, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

2018 Spring June 19 Tuesday

77 degrees this morning.  Walk 34:06 minutes.

Relatively cool walk, the air felt a lot less dense.  As usual in my walk, I just try to walk one step at a time and don’t think about the distance I have to go.  

Pace was 8 seconds faster than my goal, which I was glad to see.

Thinking about walking or any mid to long term project, so much of success is doing each day, each minute successfully and proceeding toward your goal whatever that it.  

That is one reason sometimes I feel like I am flittering away time, although I realize flittering time is an art in itself and necessary for a balanced life.  I guess I need to flitter  time on the right things!

Some years ago, I saw a quote, and I actually posted it on my office wall and I try to live that way that life is lived one minute, one second at a time.  I believe it was written by a survivor of the Holocaust and was how she survived the ordeal, by only living one second at a time.

As I mentioned last night in response to a question at Toastmasters, most stress results from future expectations that never happen anyway.

Back to “retirement”, I am always astounded to read supposedly astute and qualified financial advisors who thunder “you should have your mortgage paid off by retirement”.  In one case, the person was even saying you should have your mortgage and all debts paid off by 45 years old!

I think they have lost track of any common sense.  I see nothing wrong with debt, most people became rich by carefully using debt!  

I fail to see the difference between a house payment and rent payment, except (depending on circumstances obviously), you are getting something for your house payment.   The main “unknowns” about owning a house isn’t the mortgage payment, but the unexpected (and certain to happen) repairs etc., not a stable mortgage payment.

Even if you don’t “make money” on a house, renting ls literally throwing money away. At least a house, unlike a car etc., usually at least maintains it’s value.  

I really don’t know where these “financial advisors” are coming from.  Paying 3 to 4% on a mortgage of an asset that generally increases in value is hardly a bad deal. 

I think a lot more people (older, younger or whatever) have been devastated by poor financial advice than by a mortgage.

Of course I also ignore the “financial experts” that by now at our age expound that any  retirement funds we have should mainly be in “bonds.  That would have been a really stupid decision over the past few years and on any long-term basis! 

Perhaps the “financial advisers” should concentrate on “bad debt” and “good debt” instead of making broad assumptions based on their stereotypes of older people!

Patio is wonderful this morning.  I have kept track and found that the birds start chirping/singing about 5:15 a.m.  It will be interesting to see if that changes when the daylight shortens as the summer continues.  

That’s it for now, Tuesday, June 19, 2018.

2018 Spring June 18 2018

79 degrees this morning, Walk 35:17 minutes 

Overall good walk this morning.  Still feel I’m just not up to speed, and in fact there is solid evidence I’m not as fast as I was two weeks ago, for whatever reason.   

Pace was 17 seconds slower than my goal.  But, at least I am walking!

Thinking more about “retirement’, after reading several articles on it over the past week.  

Again, I think there is nothing better than the old time “pension”.  I have to wonder why songwriters, actors, writers, singers etc. keep control of (and receive money) forever from their work, but the ordinary person only gets their pay and no longer receive any kind of long term benefit from their work.  The only long term benefit is some type of retirement plan.  

I have nothing against the laws allowing songwriters, actors, writers etc. control of their work.  I just wonder why the protection isn’t extended to all workers.  I have no ideas on how that could be done.  I think the pension system may be a good alternative if it is handled right.  

It seems, at the least, if a business doesn’t want to provide the traditional  type pension, they could provide a Roth 401K etc.  The traditional 401K, IRA etc. has a big deficiency in that it is taxed as “ordinary income”.  For some reason, the ordinary workers salary and retirement is taxed as “ordinary income” while “investment income” is taxed at at much lower rate.  

Seems strange until you realize that the “investment income” is usually received by the donors, lobbyists and fat cats who donate to politicians and you get your answer as to why they receive all kinds of tax breaks plus the lower rate while the ordinary worker has their tax advantages like interest, taxes etc. ripped away and is taxed at much higher “ordinary income” rates.  

It seems like the person who has an IRA or 401K under the “ordinary income” rule ought to get the same right as the big businesses who squirreled money away overseas to avoid taxes, should also get a break to transfer an IRA or 401K to a Roth IRA at “investment” rates rather than “ordinary income”.  Of course that makes too much sense.

Another aspect of “retirement” I read about was the concept of “early retirement”.  The story mentioned people who retired early (I have nothing against that, good for them), but it seemed to deny the fact that many people enjoy working and don’t want to retire or at least would like to retire later rather than sooner.  

There are many reasons to retire early, including staring your own business, a second career etc. as well as the opportunity to do what you want with your life.  I know many people who have retired early and enjoy it.  

I think my qualms are about the advice they are giving younger people. I think a good plan for someone just starting out is to fully fund a Roth IRA, their 401k etc. if they have one, and then take advantage of the time to enjoy your life both in your younger days as well as the “golden years”.  

Just my opinion, that of course wasn’t available when I was younger  (The Roth IRA is a relatively recent opportunity) and I probably wouldn’t have taken my own advice!

That’s it for now, Monday, June 18, 2018.

2018 Spring June 17 Sunday

79 degrees this morning, Walk 34:51 minutes

Enjoyable walk this morning, slight wind kept it coolish etc.  

Pace was 17 seconds slower than my goal.  Kind of puzzled I’m not walking a faster pace, but I’m just glad to be walking, the faster pace will come.

Concentrating on losing weight, my bout with not eating meat gave me “permission” to eat a lot of carbs, including frequently items high in calories and not what I normally eat much of.  I am concentrating on avoiding overeating, and avoiding carbs as much as possible.  

I figure if I concentrate on avoiding eating too much or the wrong types of foods, the loss of weight will come.  Whatever I decide to do about meat, I can incorporate that into my eating patterns.  

Actually, I don’t ever see myself eating high fat foods (at least meat high fat) again.  

Sitting out on the patio, enjoying the light breeze, the almost cool morning.  Night sounds of some kind of insect are in the air, but no birds chirping or singing yet.  The moon is not noticeable. 

The area I live in has a limited “black sky” type of environment, with limited street lights, but enough for safety and security without a major impact on not seeing the “black sky”.

Actually, we are probably one of the major “light” contributors in our area anyway, with several lights that light up our back yard and a little beyond it.  Our neighbors to the back have thanked us for our lights, I think in honesty. 

I am getting ready to order the “Nest” video doorbell, lock and a camera again.  In spite of what I feel is some unethical wording (“overnight delivery after processing”, but than after you order you find out it takes up to 12 days for “processing”).  I think it is just has the best devices right now.  

One sign of progress I have made, I have avoided any contracts for a cellular phone plan or for a security plan!  To me the 3 year contracts with a very small print “automatic year renewal” if you don’t cancel 6 months in advance should be outlawed.  I took the next best step and just refused to sign a 3 year agreement.  

Both our cell phone plan and our security plan are “month to month” with no penalty for cancellation.  

Next week will be the start of Summer and the start of the end of  Summer as the days start to get shorter again.  Summer is really such a brief period, even if you consider the middle of May as the “real” start of Summer.

I have made almost no progress on my “Strategic Personal Plan”, just seems to be too much come up recently.  Of course a “Strategic Plan” should allow for change of plans etc.  I will look aa the important action items and proceed with them.

Actually, I am developing a much better working relationship with Evernote, still not using it to it’s maximum, or even 10% of it’s potential, but I am learning more as I use it.  I found I learn by doing, at least such things as apps and computer programs.

I wish a Happy Fathers Day to all of the Fathers, Grandfathers and Great-Grandfathers reading this!

That’s it for now, Sunday, June 17, 2018.

2018 Spring June 16 Saturday

79 degrees this morning, walk 35:21 minutes 

Wind made the walk seem almost coolish this morning.  One of those summer mornings when you can hear (and almost feel) the wind blowing through the trees.

Sitting out on the patio, feeling the light wind.  As I mention, it is almost cool out here, before the sun comes up.

I can hear the chirping, rattling or whatever you call it of insects, or what I call “night noise”.  Not quite like the tree frogs of Memphis, but somehow almost comforting in the early morning.

I’m not sure what time the birds start chirping/singing, I need to try to document that.

Pace yesterday morning (I forgot to include it) was 17 seconds slower than my goal, this morning I was 28 seconds slower than my goal, almost a minute (per mile) slower than when I first started wearing “summer’ walking clothes.  

Not sure of the reason, I’ll see.  I’m concerned, but not all that concerned, the important thing is that I walk.

Talking with a friend in the electrical supply business, I asked how far off he thought “house batteries”  (houses powered only be batteries, either solar powered, or just recharged occasionally) were for most houses.

He mentioned an aspect I hadn’t thought of before, that the LED lighting systems, LED tv’s etc. and low power appliances etc.  could make the “house battery” much more feasible sooner, since lower power requirements mean less of a battery requirement.  

I think there still will need to be some breakthrough in battery technology, but lower power requirements will speed the process.

Of course, on the other side, there is already many gadgets that have a battery life of months without being recharged.  Looking at both sides, it is encouraging for the “house battery” to actually to be feasible.  

A little off the subject, but I have always thought about cars  having “automatic braking” systems, where they sense the car in front of you and automatically brake to keep a certain distance.  

Recent driving experiences make me want to say they should be mandatory!  I really don’ know what drivers are thinking when they tailgate you, especially when they won’t get there any faster anyway!

I believe that is something that is available right now. I have always wondered, ever since I got my first “rear view” camera why it wasn’t required on all cars, same as blind spot indicators etc.  It  just makes sense, which is probably why it hasn’t been done. 

Looking forward to a great weekend, hot and sunny, a wonderful Summer weekend!

That’s it for now, Saturday, June 16, 2018.

2018 Spring June 15 Thursday

80 degrees this morning, walk 34:53 minutes

Good to get back on walk this morning.  Wind was up a little, and the air seemed relatively “heavy’ although the humidity was not that bad, around 64%  

I’m not really all that knowledgeable about humidity.  Sometimes it is 80 or 90% and really doesn’t feel like it.  Other times, it is low but the air still feels heavy.  Maybe there is a reason for the air to feel “heavy” that I don’t really understand.  

Had my first therapy session yesterday that I am hoping will at least mitigate my coughing problem.  Obviously I can’t really determine anything from the first visit, but there appears to be  some hope that it will benefit some.  I have some exercises (breathing exercises) that may be beneficial , I’ll see.

The profession must be a very secure one, I had to wait about a month for my first appointment, and the therapist was booked up for the next  3 weeks, so I am on a “wait list”.

Another dental appointment today.  I always approach it with some dread (and rightfully so based on the past) of what the dentist will find and want to do.  Hopefully it will be just a cleaning, a reminder (unfortunately never heeded) to “floss” etc with another appointment in six months.   I do brush my teeth on regular basis but have avoided other dental routines that I probably need to follow.

I really have a hard time believing that Independence Day, with the knowledge that it marks the “half” of summer is only two and 1/2 weeks away.  

I have started driving a bottle of “low calorie” Gatorade each morning.  I don’t know if it helps or not, but it does seem to  be a good practice.  Years ago, I started drinking Gatorade anytime I got a cold and it seemed to  help.  No so much lately though.  

Plan on buying a new pair of walking shoes, hopefully this weekend.  My current pair have high mileage on them.  They still feel reasonably good, but the last thing I need is foot problems.  

The deterioration of shoes, like the life of a lot of things, seems to catch up slowly and then suddenly are worn out. .  They are good and then one day they aren’t.  I know there wasn’t a sudden change, just a gradual change until one day I suddenly notice they are’t as comfortable as they were or my feet hurt.

I also wear “walking shoes” for work now.  Since we do a lot of walking, we can wear walking shoes in “reasonably good” condition.  I generally wear walking shoes that are close to dress shoe in appearance, not the bright colored ones etc.  

One problem with the walking shoes for work is I don’t keep track of my usage, so my first pair of “work” walking shoes could be getting worn out even though they seem to be ok.  I am planning to keep track of their usage since I don’t want to develop foot problems as I noted before.

That’s it for now, Friday, December 15, 2018.

2018 Spring June 14 Thursday

79 degrees this morning, No walk (schedule)

One of those wonderful Summer mornings with a light breeze, almost cool.  

I always watch in wonder as the Summer approaches and the trees, plants and flowers grow almost like magic.  Even plants that are “cut back”, come back fast, even when I begin to think they are gone for good this year.  

I get irritated by technology and the continual use of it to attempt to control our lives, even when it is “meant well”.   Examples are “My Fittness Pal” that continually wants me to “share” what I eat and my exercise?  Same with the Apple Watch  exercise app that continually asks me to “Share” or false encouragement about my exercise program.  

It may be beneficial to have “reminders” or even encouragement, but they interfere at the worse possible moment and frequently create problems in getting back to your program.  

That reminds me of all of the companies (especially credit cards, banks, phone companies etc.) who think it is cute to “cross sell”.  Nothing makes me more irritated  than to call for assistance and then be assaulted with attempts to sell me something I have no interest in buying. 

The other day, I called about my final bill from ATT and was “offered a deal” on Direct TV.  I am sure there are some kind of weird requirements they make a certain number of unsolicited attempts to sell something every day.

Probably the worst is companies that use private information to attempt to cross-sell services and items.  

As I have mentioned before, the number of unsolicited e-mails I get is approaching the rate that I almost don’t have time  to even delete the unread e-mails, or at least i don’t want to waste the time on it.  

I really don’t understand why they  think the bullying type behavior will work.  If I make one inquiry about something,, I an almost guarantee several e-mails about it per day for a year, which is disgusting behavior on the part of the companies.  

On the other hand, maybe they do this because it actually does work, or probably more likely some high-paid consultant tells them it works to get more business.  

Facebook and similar sites are now so full of “personalized” ads, it is drudgery to review it, even thought I skim the posts.  Fortunately some of the “group” options make it easier to keep up with people or groups you want keep up with.  

Anyway, I do have the option of dropping them, I don’t because I the benefit still exceeds the “costs” of the ads, etc.  Also, it is relatively easy to block posts you really don’t want to see.

That’s it for now, Thursday, June 14, 2018.

2018 Spring June 13 Wednesday

76 degrees this morning, walk 36:35 minutes

Not hot this morning, but the air was very dense.  

During the walk I had to mess with my audible book, which also reflected on my time.  

Pace was 55 seconds slower than my goal, which probably is an unfortunate record, although it isn’t as bad as it sounds, since I spend a lot of time trying to get my book on Robert Moses started.  

It is such a long book (66 hours) they have to break it down into parts and I couldn’t get the second part started.  I hope every part isn’t the same problem (there are  10 separate parts downloaded).  

For a short time in the book, I thought maybe I had switched to a biography of Al Smith (not complaining he was a fascinating person), but the author was trying to settle stage for the influence of Al Smith on the career of Robert Moses.

It is very interesting book, after somewhat of a slow start.  

Sitting out on the patio again, it is wonderful.  At this time, none of the birds are singing (or chirping in most cases), it is still too early for them.  

There is no moon this morning, at least one I can see.

Summer will begin at 5:07 a.m June 21 this year.  I read that there is approximately 15-17 hours of daylight.

I had always thought the sun “set slower” around the beginning of Summer and I was surprised to learn that it it a fact, the sun does “set slower” at the beginning of Summer.

I am enjoying this time of year, when the sun is up early and sets late and the days get longer.  

I always feel some regret when Summer is actually here, since it means the days will get “shorter”.  Even though I have several months of weather to enjoy the warm weather etc., it also means I have to go through a winter before being able to experience another Spring etc.

We have been watering our lawn for several weeks now.  Such a waste, watering a plant that doesn’t want grow in this climate, then artificially making it grow and then cutting it!  A never ending cycle.

I have read about grass that is indigenous to this area, and also grass that doesn’t need cutting or watering, but I don’t know if they are available in the same plant.  

Another research project!

Today is a “field day” as  I get back into work.

That’s it for now, Wednesday, June13, 2018

2018 Spring June 12 Tuesday

80 degrees this morning, walk 34:49 minutes 

Walk this morning was about as expected.  Hadn’t exercised walk since last Tuesday.  Weather was mild, wind was up and I obviously wan’t really up for walking, although I enjoy it!

Just opened a bottle of Gatorade and some drops of condensation spilled on my computer.  I am sure it is ok, but I am very sensitive to water around my laptop since I spilled coffee on the keyboard to the tune of a $745 repair bill! They need to not fill the bottles so full!  Some water bottles are almost dangerous to open around a computer.  

I am surprised they haven’t make all keyboards water and dust proof, it seems it would be a big help for the user not to have to worry about it.

Pace was 12 seconds above my goal, rather disappointing after my series of “beats” before vacation.  I’ll make it back!  

This morning, I did feel rather draggy during the walk, probably just getting back into it.

Regarding the Kate Spade phone case my wife has for  her old iPhone.  I was incorrect the I said it was red and white striped.  (I don’t have it around me whenI I wrote the note).  

Actually, it is an intricate and interesting series of parallel lines of pyramid  type shapes.  I can’t do it justice, I’ll take a picture and include it with a future post.  I can’t do it justice by just trying to describe it in writing.  

Our vacation was a drive of 1,436.8 miles, with an average mpg of 38.0.  I have to assume it is lower than past trips (39.2 mpg) due tot the long delays for accidents.  Or it could be anything, although a gap of 1.2 mpg is quite a bit.  

I figured I used 37.81 gallons of gas on the trip.  If I had gotten 39.2 mpg, I would have used 36.65 gallons, or about $3.00 worth of gas, so no big deal.  

On the other hand, if we had used our other car, we would have used 84.51 gallons of gas (estimated). 

I don’t get 38 mpg in regular driving because I idle so much in may job but it is close.

I figured for 100,000 miles in the Camry Hybrid,  I would use 2,631.57 gallons of gas, whereas our other car would use 5,882.35 gallons of gas.  Not an inconsiderable amount.  I’m not criticizing our other car, just noting the difference in gas usage.  Certainly it has some advantages also.

As I have mentioned before, I like the hybrid car, not just for the excellent gas mileage, but, more important, for the acceleration, even at higher speeds.  I especially appreciate it when I am trying to merge in etc. or pass someone!  

Sitting out on the wonderful patio again, listening to the birds start to wake up.  There are very few “early birds” and I guess they don’t wake the other birds. 

I do not see the moon at all this morning. 

Back to work again.  As they say, it is good to get away it is good to be back.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, June 12, 2018