2020 Summer July 15 Wednesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

77 degrees this morning  82% humidity Very light rain. 

Yesterday was another hot day.  I believe it was 82 degrees when I got up, a high of 97 degrees in this area.  One area of the state got to 113 degrees, actual temperature!  Sunny and overall a good day.

Walk yesterday 24:45 minutes, pace was 67 seconds slower than my goal.  I just kind of took it easy.  I have a little bit of a cough, but the walk didn’t make it any worse. 

Sitting on the patio this morning, just enough rain I can’t sit where I like to sit! The obnoxious bird is going at it again.

The Coronavirus is really spreading, some days doubling from the day before.  What is scary is considering this is only the ones who have tested positive!  If you chart it out, it is almost impossible, statistically not to get it.  

I did some research on it and have some idea of what they symptoms are, but the problem is the symptoms are somewhat the same as the flu , etc.  

Personally, I think preventing the Coronavirus and saving lives should be the top priority.  Inconvenience passes, death or disability is permanent.  I can see the viewpoint of a small business or someone who works at a small business (or any business where they are out of workI), but I don’t see how that supersedes lives.  

Actually, it appears if states had been more diligent on “flattening the curve” instead of playing politics (or whatever) it may well have been declining now, instead of setting records for the virus and causing another shutdown.

July 15, the day I went into the Air Force many years ago.  I got out on July 13 since July 15 was on a Sunday that year.

A group of us talked about walking back “home”  (in my case from jVirginia to Kansas).  We discussed it and planned for hours, but I don’t know anyone that actually did it!

I actually threw my stuff in the car and left.  Everything I had could fit in my car, which says something about my minimalism at the time!  I remember driving through Washington DC at rush hour and was terrified!  I also drove on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and stayed in a small hotel in the mountains, or what I thought as mountains.

It took me three days to get home.  I hung around the house for several weeks and then jumped I the car and went to Wichita, Kanas where I enrolled in the Political Science program.  

When I think of all the moving parts that had to go just right, I really don’t know how things do work our right!   I’m not sure (from the perspective of many years later) if I really had any idea what I was going to do.

I think the real fun was having unlimited alternatives. As we grow older, the alternatives become more limited, but somehow it doesn’t matter because you realize unlimited alternatives are a falsehood and your alternatives were always limited.  

A relative who is just getting out of high school wants to live overseas, although she knows not where.  I hope she gets the chance, but I think you always realize the pain or at least the sense of the loss of “the road not taken”. That term always had a haunting quality to me.

That’s it for now, Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_them_Out!

2020 Summer July 14 Tuesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

81 degrees this morning, 85% humidity, wind 15 mph.

Another weird day yesterday.  Some rain during night, went out to sit on the patio. Started to rain.  I sat under the small roof area, but I know from experience how much damage a small amount of water can do to a laptop computer, so I came in.  Able to sit down before breakfast and read my book.

After being cloudy most of morning, became sunny with a high of around 91 degrees.  

Dental appointment yesterday morning, fortunately didn’t find anything wrong, so I’m good for another six months!

Patio this morning is very nice, coolish in spite of the temperature due to the dark and the wind.

Walk yesterday, 23:29 minutes, pace was 54 seconds slower than my goal.  

“American Dirt” really got me involved as the story has progressed.  Although it is  novel, I can imagine it being true from what little I know about the drug cartels. Anyway it has made a fascinating book that keeps you reading!

Without going into a lot of detail, I am always surprised and disappointed at the continual lack of supervisory competence in many organizations.  Retaliatory and arbitrary actions appear to prevail, even when specifically prohibited by law and just general good supervisory practices.

Even when the organization spends an enormous amount of time and money in training supervisors, somehow human nature takes over.

I guess that is why attorney’s will keep making a good living!

I have started thinking more on what I will do on my “encore” career to my “encore” career!  I have been lucky in having basically two careers, one 40 years and one almost six years and continuing who knows for how long.  In both, I loved what I was doing.   

I would really like to do something that will exercise my creativity to a degree.  I don’t mean normal creativity, but something I can make a difference in and where I can work either by myself or a small group and we can push the edges sometimes.

Pushing the edges can be hazardous, but if you don’t I don’t think you really progress. 

I am “brainstorming” and it is exciting to think about something new.  Probably both good and bad I have always enjoyed learning something new.  I love reading or watching the news in the morning (which is where I developed a love for newspapers) and getting the mail because it meant something new.  

I’m at the point where there is still time to develop some new ideas, some new solutions, or whatever.  For whatever reason, I feel energized by and feeling and I will “ride the flow” and see where it takes me while honestly considering the limitations. 

That’s it for now, Tuesday, July 14, 2020.  

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 13 Monday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Jourmey_20

#Summer_of_20

79  degrees this morning  75% humidity wind 14 mph

Yesterday morning light rain about time I sat on the patio, but I hid out under a small roof and it had dried after I took my nap.  Then sunny and hot, high of 95 degrees.  

This morning, still lightning to the North, light showers, still sitting on patio until and if I get chased in by the rain.  The obnoxious bird is fouling the environment with it sound.  

Weights yesterday, sit-ups barbells, bench press.

Walk:  23:51 minutes, pace was 2 seconds slower than goal! 

Started on “American Dirt," got my attention.  So far, a really engrossing book.  I have read some about it.  I like my books with happy endings and I have a feeling this won’t be one.    

Start of another week.  I have a (routine) dental appointment this morning, just a checkup and cleaning.  It is my normal semi-annual checkup, I really debated going, but I know they are serious about disinfection , etc., even before the virus started and they have even more strict procedures now.

Strongly considering going ahead and taking at least Friday as a day of vacation even probably  Monday even if I just sit on the patio late and relax all day.  Originally planned for Friday and Monday for a trip, but no overnight stay’s yet.

We thought about a day trip, but realized we are’t eating in restaurants (inside) yet.  Might go anyway, if we have to sit in the car and eat, what is, is. If nothing else we can “Starbucks” on our patio or inside if it is too hot.  

I call it “Starbucking” because before the pandemic, we would go hang out in our “3rd place” while we drank coffee and read our books or watch our shows.  

]
The pandemic is actually getting more scary than then it first started.  At least we have masks” now and know more how to defend against it.

When it first started I really thought it would be over in several months, but incompetence by our “leaders” made it a lot worse than it should have been and now it is really bad, again because of the denial and incompetence on the part of the state and national leadership. 

Now masks, sanitizer on hand at all times, not eating in restaurants or shopping inside is a part of “normal” life. 

We made somewhat of a dent in our “stuff” last week when one of the non-profits resumed pick-up of donated items and a relative was able to use an old office chair and printer!.

Before the pandemic started, we were seriously considering significantly “downsizing," the pandemic decided us not to do so at this time. We were debating moving.  Not having to maintain the house , etc., would be a relief, but we would lose a lot of space and privacy that we would miss.  

Since they basically took away our tax deduction for he house to fund huge tax cuts for big businesses, it is kind of a wash money wise to rent versus owning.  

That’s it for now, Monday, July 13, 2020.

#Resist

#Voe_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 12 Sunday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nghts

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

74 degrees this morning 78%  humidity

Yesterday started off almost cool, at least in the dark with the wind.  The temperature  reached a 100 degree high! Wonderful summer weather.  

Sitting on patio this morning, heavy thunder and lightning last night, but no rain here.

Then I step out on the patio (no obnoxious bird) and it starts raining!  It is a very light rain so I retreat to a little alcove where there is a short roof and I am protected, at least during a light rain.  Better than no patio at all!  

Walk yesterday 24:36 minutes. Pace was 36 seconds slower than my goal. 

The sun is setting noticeably earlier, it seems it is dark by 7:45 p.m. now (perhaps dusk, but still noticeable).  That is very sad when I think it will be another year before we have the long sunsets.  At least I will have at least 3 more months of the morning on the patio.

As I have mentioned before, the biggest sorrow of no baseball is I don’t have the excuse to sit outside for 2 or 3 hours with nothing to do but eat, watch a ballgame and enjoy the outside Summer.  Even if the ballgame isn’t any good, it still is fun to sit outside.  Not this year though, the season is officially canceled.  

Finished the book by C.J. Box, “Long Range”.  Actually a pretty good story if you just want to read a good book of fiction, which I like to do occasionally.

Started reading “American Dirt," haven’t gotten enough into it to know if I will finish it or not. 

I have found by reading after my nap and before breakfast, I can actually get quite a bit of reading in.  

I need to find a time in to start bicycling again.  I also like to hit the “heavy bag” and punching bag after I bike an then sit and take a long bath and read.  Hard to do all of that in the early morning and I don’t have time at lunch so that leaves after work.  

I thought about very early morning, but I have the skunk that likes to prowl around our house to deal with as well as the dark.  I used to ride in the dark all the time, but I kind of associate exercising in the dark with my coughing spells.  Probably not any association, but no one will know the wonder of not coughing when you have had spells of coughing.  

I still hope to “ride with the Summer” soon, but I need to be in shape for it.  For those who don’t know, I consider “riding with the Summer” to be starting in south Texas and riding to Canada over the period of when Summer arrives.  I think I have been thinking of this for over six years, but this is the longest I have gone without coughing for a long time.  

When Amazon bought “Whole Foods," I really thought it would be real competition for the regular grocery stores.  However, my experience is it probably they aren’t a real threat unless they change their product line.  

Nothing against Whole Foods, it is what it is, but products and prices aren’t really competitive overall.  A nice niche store and it’s hard to beat 2 hour free delivery with only $30 in purchases.  We do buy “gluten free” and other specialized products there. 

Started watching a show called “Scott & Bailey” on Amazon Prime,  We are on season two of five seasons, so it has been around for a while.  A rather interesting show, a little difficult to follow all the relationships and activities  but fun.

I am learning a lot of British slang from the show.  I watch it with Google up and running. Of course a lot of the slang is on the show I would avoid using in all but the most informal situation!

Sunday, last half of the weekend.

That’s it for now, Sunday, July 12, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 11 Saturday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

73 degrees this morning,98% humidity 10 mph wind

Yesterday started off warm (82 degrees, then dropped to about 69 at one time with a fierce thunder and lightning, and heavy rains late morning.  Fortunately it was over relatively quickly and we didn’t have to drive in it.  There was street flooding throughout the area duet the rains.  But the sun came out with a high of around 93 degrees. 

Of course, the weather forecast was for a 10% chance of rain!

No walk yesterday due to weather and schedule.  Will be back in schedule today!!  I have gotten to the point I feel like something isn’t right if I miss my walk.

Sitting out on the patio this morning listening to the obnoxious bird whose goal in life is apparently to disrupt the nice mornings.  Our neighbors “chimes” no longer bother me anyway!  Actually the chimes are pretty it is just that it is “other peoples noise”.

I could listen to music, but I like the night sounds, even the obnoxious bird.  The white Crepe Myrtle is blaring into the dark, it almost is  a flashlight it stands out so much in the dark  The red and the pink Crepe Myrtle are pretty, but don’t stand out like the white one.

Started reading another book, CJ Box, “Long Range”.  I don’t recall having read any of his books before, although I remember the name.  It is on the best seller list, just reading it on a whim. Not bad so far, although it could turn into one of those that I think “a good read, but so what?”  And I don’t waste my time on future books.  Next one is “American Dirt”

I don’t know what makes one fiction book meaningless and one interesting. I think it is some authors are just writing, others are telling a story and I can tell the difference, or at least think I can, same difference! 

It  is one I have to read in three weeks so I can get it back in time.  I have four books on loan, and I have two that are have “holds” on them so I am limited to 3 weeks.  Of course I have to read the short term books first.  While the fine is only 10 cents per day (with a limit of $3.00), I just cringe when I have to pay a fine.

Strange dream yesterday morning, I dreamed I was at a meeting in downtown Nashville.  For some reason I was a a variety of places.  I was driving up the street right in front of the hotel we used to stay at (I believe the Sheridan) because it was right across from the State Capital.

A really weird little vehicle (like an enclosed motorcycle) started doing circles in front of me.  It hit the car I was driving and knocked out a headlight.  The driver stopped and apologized but at the time I was telling myself “it’s only a dream," which helped since I knew I didn’t have to deal with the hassle of insurance and repairing the car!

I didn’t write it down, I remembered so little of it.  

I am having very wild dreams, but I don’t remember them.  I read that somehow, the virus and the quarantining is causing many people to have especially wild dreams, although I don’t remember why.

Saturday morning, start of a weekend, thank goodness.  I have a 4 day weekend scheduled for this weekend (Friday-Monday), although I don’t know if I will actually take it.  Originally I had a reunion scheduled this weekend.  We are thinking of taking several short day-trips, no overnight stays yet!

The wind is blowing this morning, making the 73 degree weather seem almost cool in the dark.  

That’s it for now, Saturday, July 11 (7-11)! 2020.  

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 10 Friday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

82 degrees this morning  77% humidity wind  9 mph

Good day yesterday, a little windy, but high of around 88 degrees.

Walk 23:58 minutes, 27 seconds slower than goal.

Sitting on patio this morning, with the obnoxious bird really at it. I didn’t realize a bird could make such an unpleasant and loud noise.  

First day “in the field”  yesterday in almost 4 months for my job.  Frankly, with all of there increasing virus cases it wasn’t pleasant.  Hopefully this is the last time I’ll have to go “in the field” this month.  

Generally, it seems like few people bothered to wear masks, only one other person was wearing a mask that I saw today.  Of course, I wasn’t at any of the big retail areas or restaurants , etc. Still I can kind of see why the virus spread is on steroids so to speak.

Actually felt good to get out and actually talk with people instead of just talking on the phone, but the virus kind of hung over everything.   I used a lot of sanitizer and wore a mask anytime I got out of the car.

I think the major concern is doing something that was risky without thinking.  The penalty can be severe.  

My new “walking shoes” are doing very well.  Anymore I just automatically buy the Brooks Adrenaline shoes.  Not an endorsement, every one is different, it just really works for me.

One thing about my walking shoes is I get new ones every six months or so (usually a little longer depending on my mileage).  It is nice to be able to justify something new and know that it is essential to replace it on a regular basis!

Stacking up a number of books to read.  I finished the Stephen King book.  It is actually 4 novellas, I like the first one, the second one had an ending that made me wonder if I had actually read the story, the third one was ok.   The fourth was good, I actually felt a chill go down my back several times, which usually means it is a good book!

The library system here has a good system.  I get 3 weeks on a book and then can check it out for an unlimited number of times (at least it seems like it), unless someone has a “hold” on it.  Of course all of the popular books can generally be checked out just one time, for three weeks.  Better than the two weeks or even one week at other libraries.  

Just listened to our rather incompetent governor who said we will “live with the virus” because of his incompetence when it first started.  (That is my interpretation, not literally what he said obviously),  Frankly if he had been more vigilant  when it started and had more courage, we probably wouldn’t have to deal with the situation we have now. 

He is always trying to compare with other states, I think the term “do the best you can’” might be significant, other states aren’t doing all that well and I don’t think I would base my success on what other states are doing.   

Every time I think about how much the new “state brand” seal looks like’s Walmart’s “brand," I have to laugh.  Their obsession with the “branding” details has become such an obsession  it has taken over the reason for the program.  I can’t even imagine how much time and money has gone into this program.

That’s it for now, Friday, July 10, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 9 Thursday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

81 degrees this morning 77% humidity wind 13 mph

Weights yesterday sit-ups, 

Good day yesterday, occasionally cloudy and looking like rain, but overall sunny and nice.  High around 93 degrees. Excellent morning to sit on the patio both before and after my nap.

Sitting on patio this morning, the wind makes it a lot cooler than it sounds, since it is still dark.  The obnoxious bird is quiet thank goodness.

Finished the 3rd Novella in “If It Bleeds," reasonably good, not one of his best, but interesting enough.  Finishing up the 4th and final one, which is short.

Walk yesterday 27:27 minutes, 43 seconds slower than my goal.  

Going “in the field” for the first time in almost 4 months today, if my plans continue.  Not too worried, the field visits are limited and we are provided with PPE that I will use liberally.  I plan on treating it like a trip through enemy lands, with a “safe” place being each stop!  Well, not really, but it may feel that way.  

I could have delayed until next week, but a week probably won’t matter much, in fact the virus is getting worse daily.  I just need to concentrate on not making a mistake, but being continually on guard.  Since we have been extremely careful, I don’t want to get lax now.

Of course, due to earlier failures and incompetence by the governor, the virus is now back stronger than it was the first time.  As much as possible I think we have gotten “used” to having the virus and that is a good time to slip up.  

I find it unbelievable that our state and federal “leaders” are so interested in re-election and “donations” that they are willing to expose literally thousands of people, especially children, unnecessarily to a deadly virus that kills and causes significant pain and suffering.

When I read about sick actions of making the virus/masks etc a “political” action and the criminal use of the “virus money” that went to politicians, fat cat donors, lobbyists and buddies of the politicians, I feel the overall fraud, criminal behavior and chronic lying has become almost expected. 

I agree with a  Mayor  I know who said there was a major difference between a States-person and a politician.  He always said a States-person is someone who does everything for the common good of the organization and common good of the people represented.   

A Politician will do anything to get elected and gain power and thinks only of the good of themselves.

Of course, there are numerous similar quotes but the basic idea is the same.

It is obvious from the pigs and criminals who ripped off the virus funds, we have a lot more politicians/criminals than states-persons. 

That’s it for now, Thursday, July 9, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_them_out

2i020 Summer July 8 Wednesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

76 degrees this morning  85% humidity 

Good day yesterday, actually slightly cool in the morning.  High of 91 degrees, some clouds, but overall great day. 

Sitting on the patio this morning, thinking mean thoughts about the obnoxious bird that emits such an unpleasant sound.  I wouldn’t actually do any harm to a bird, but….

Weights yesterday  morning,  sit-ups, bar-bells, bench press.

Walk yesterday 24:14 minutes 31 seconds slower than my goal.  

One problem with “on-line” shopping is  if you buy one item, the vendors  seem to think it is an invitation to inundate you with e-mails.  Obviously the worst is probably Amazon, but all of them are bad.  

Recently I bought some “masks” at a Wichita State University site, since I got my MA there and they were a reasonable price and they are unique.   After I purchased the masks (and I haven’t even received them yet)  I have been I have been getting about ten e-mails a day peddling socks and masks.   I’m not how they decided I wanted to buy WSU socks, I don’t and I’m not buying anything from that site again!  

Not only that, every web page I go, I am haunted by the ads for WSU socks and masks! It doesn’t seem to matter what web page, I feel like I am haunted by the socks!  (I think the main product is socks and the masks ere made as part of the current situation.)

What really gets me if I buy, say a robot vacuum cleaner  (as I recently did) suddenly I get e-mails and have the ads jumping out at me for robot vacuum cleaners.  Like I would buy more than one!  

I could give hundreds of more examples, but I won’t.  Someone is making a lot of money by pushing ads to people who have already have purchased the item and the money is being wasted!

Perhaps, like the restaurants who ask for “feedback” and then use your e-mail to peddle e-mails to you, they are just selling e-mails rather than products.  

The worst part is having to waste time deleting the junk e-mails!  

We are wearing masks almost everywhere outside and certainly when we are inside (other than our house).  It almost seems normal, which is kind of scary.

It is strange, you can’t really tell people’s  expressions when wearing a mask, but somehow you can’ sense it.  I think it is in their/our eyes and gestures.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that others can’t see my facial expression.  

Hopefully the era of the masks and “social distancing” will soon be over, but I doubt it.  

That’s it for now, Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2020 Summer July 7 Tuesday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summero_of_20

72 degrees this morning, 88% humidity

Another wonderful Summer day yesterday, high of 90 degrees.  Rather muggy again,  a light wind helped.

Yesterday sat on the patio before and after my morning nap, and I has breakfast on the patio so it was a good way to start a day!

Weights, sit-ups, barbells, bench press

Walk:  24:16 minutes, pace was 41 seconds slower than my goal.

Sitting on the patio this morning the obnoxious bird still raucously “chirping," hardly a good word to describe the noise it makes.  At least it quiets down as the daylight comes in and I hear much more bearable bird sounds. 

The Crepe Myrtle are blooming, a sure sign of Summer.  I noted the white Crepe Myrtle blooming in the dark, the red and pink ones are a little slower coming out. 

Read a story where the “virus” funds (literally trillions of dollars) was mis-directed to “private equity” (who lobby to get special privileges and trillions of tax breaks already and use thieving methods to destroy copies while they get rich off of the destruction), politicians, and big business and political organizations  who didn’t use it for the intended purpose. 

Somehow the “priorities” for businesses who are even specified in the law (small business, minorities and female owned companies)  as priorities didn’t get funded.  Hardly surprising with the current incompetents in office, but it seems like they could somehow control for such fraud and abuse.

TWO Representatives in this State got millions, although no one knows how much  (What happened to public accountability and transparently ). Of course they are the first to scream about “big government," scream about “welfare for the lazy poor”  and they are  the first to the hog trough using their influence to get millions that should have gone to smaller businesses.  Hypocrites to say the least.

They even tried to lobby for bigger loans and tried to stop the release of the names companies getting the loans!  

I googled one  and found he is worth an estimated 93 million dollars.  Nothing necessarily wrong with that but…. Why he had to hog in and get a loan in front of some of the small businesses that I see that are desperate is really sickening.  Probably technically legal but that doesn’t make it right.   

I didn’t bother to check the other Representative, but he is the owner of a huge plumbing business and I’m sure it is the same story. (I didn’t see any plumbers quit working during the worst of the shutdown, so I’m not sure how he qualified.)

Summer days are starting to get shorter already.    Although July 4 is generally considered the “middle” of Summer, around here the end of Summer is more towards the end of September, if not October.  Some years it even stretches to the middle of November when we’re lucky.

One project I need to start on is taking photo’s of my Hot Wheels collection, t-shirts and hats.  I realize I will never wear many of my t-shirts and hats more than a few times, so I need to take pictures of them.  I will probably feel better about giving them away so they can be used (hopefully) and I will have the memory associated with them.  

Actually most of the t-shirts and hats do have a story behind them, at least a small one.  If I could take a picture and note a small (or long) story, it probably would mean more than just sitting in my closet in anonymity!  

The iPhone 12 makes it a lot easier to take pictures, the zoom is wonderful.  I think one of the reasons it is so hard to get started on taking pictures is you want them to be perfect, and there are never perfect conditions for pictures.

At least saying “conditions aren’t right” make a good reason for procrastination!

That’s it for now, Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

#Resist

#Vote_Them_Out

2i020 Summer July 6 Monday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

74 degrees this morning 87%  humidity

Yesterday was another nice day, a little muggy, high of 90 degrees.

Walk 24;04 minutes, 24 seconds slower than goal

Cool down walk:  13:45 seconds 

Monday after a 3 day weekend, always a little hard to get to thinking about work after a nice 3 day weekend!  I’m sure I will get into it fast.  Usually on a holiday, especially like this weekend when the “observed” holiday is different from the holiday,  I have several voice mails from people who don’t realize I’m off and then some people call at any time of night to leave a voice mail while they are thinking about it.   A good reason I have a separate phone that automatically shuts down during non-working hours  

I had scheduled several days off later on in July to attend a family reunion, which is now to be a “zoom” meeting.  I really thought we might make it in early June, but then the virus really flared and it obviously is going to be a “zoom” meeting.  

Anyway, I have about decided to keep the vacation time and just use it to hang out, possibly take some short “day trips”.  We really are’t psychologically ready to stay overnight someplace with the virus rising so fast.  

Anyway, the three day weekend kind of decided me to go ahead and take a 4 day weekend!

One of my relatives who usually attend the reunion just bought a Tesla, so I will lose our chance to see one close up and maybe even ride in one, at least this year!  We sat in a Telsa at the Formula 1 race, it looked like a great car! 

On my walks, I listened to a biography of both Elon Musk and Nikola Telsa.  Both were interesting, it is hard to say which was more interesting.  Musk is obviously more successful on using the Telsa name!  Telsa was a much better inventor, but made some bad business decisions.  Both were very interesting people!  

Musk actually had some very lucky breaks, although like always in such situations, he made a lot of his own luck. Telsa had some bad luck and trusted the wrong people. 

I always really thought that we would have a lot more electric, hydrogen cars , etc., then we do now.  

I really enjoy our hybrid because it has great pickup, kind of like the old V-8”s (without the roar though)!.  It is a lot of fun to drive.  

I always like the fact that I go a lot longer between gas fill-ups, with a range of about 600 miles, at least in theory.  

July 4 is usually considered “mid-summer," and it looks like we will go into  Winter without any of the summer activities.  Hopefully the virus will be over by Winter (although it really doesn’t look like it). I am not looking forward to having to “quarantine” through the Winter and not get away to warm wether during the winter!   

But, what is, is.  

That’s it for now, Monday, July 6, 2020

#Resist

2020 Summer July 5 Sunday

#Purple_Days_and_Golden_Nights

#My_Journey_20

#Summer_of_20

74 degrees this morning 90% humidity

Yesterday was a weird day, thunder, lightning and heavy rain during night and especially early morning.  It was pouring when I got up, by the time I finished my nap, it had cleared off and was nice enough to sit on the patio!

It continued to be a wonderful day with a high of 91 degrees.  

Sitting on the patio this morning, the obnoxious bird is chirping away, although the sound gives “chirping” a bad name. 

Walk yesterday day was 24:45 minutes, pace was 62 seconds slower than my goal. 

Actually, while I was walking a gaggle of geese (it seems like it should be a “gaggle of goose” but it’s not) were walking on the sidewalk and slowed me down a little.  They more fast when they see you coming, but not real fast, kind of a stately “I’m not really hurrying” pace.  

On the way back I saw the albino goose and stopped to try to get a picture.  It is actually kind of a light gray, but I couldn’t get a good picture, they keep moving fast.

We ate  breakfast on the patio of “Torchy Tacos” this morning.  Basically ate by ourselves so it was safe and a lot better than dragging the food home to eat, although it is just as good at home. 

After a great first story in Stephen Kings “If it Bleeds," the second one was a complete failure  It started as a good story, but ended in a very stupid way that made no sense.  Maybe  it was me, but that’s the way I felt.  As I mentioned, sometimes his endings are horrible.  I went ahead and started the 3rd story, it appears to be great, but I hope the ending is better.  

At least it is better being disappointed by the ending of a short story than reading an entire novel that ends in a way that doesn’t make any sense. 

One of my immediate projects is to try to make better use of my computer applications and programs.

An immediate project is to find a way to put pictures on a “flash drive” so they can be moved from an Apple to a PC type computer (and vice versa).  Not as easy as I thought.

Aliene has completed (or is completing) a major picture project of her family pictures since the early 1900s to present (at least all the printed pictures).  We are trying to figure the best way to distribute the pictures to her family members and thought the flash drive would be best due the variety of computer knowledge (or lack of).  

I found a way to format the drive that is supposed to work on both of them, I will see.  I bought one just to see if it works and then I will buy the rest if I works.

The era of cheap shipping (I know, I pay for it indirectly, but still….) has led me to buy one of something and then buy more if it works.

Aliene and her mother spent a lot of time determining who was in the photos , etc., and putting them in photo books, now they will all be digitized.  Between the time spent putting them in the photo books, scanning them and now putting them in photo books on the Internet, a lot of work has gone into it!  

I also need to develop more of a working relationship with Evernote.  I have had it for years but just don’t feel I have ever really using it to even minimal capacity.  

One of the programs I actually use the most is  Apple “Notes," it is good for a lot of actions, and while I really don’t utilize it to the fullest extent, I do use it for a lot of things.  

Somehow the Apple “reminder” app has never done much good.  It just doesn’t seem to work well.  Either it reminds you too much or doesn’t remind me enough.  I’m sure I just need to bear down and figure out to use it correctly!

That’s it for now, Sunday, July 5, 2020.

#Resist