#700 A Milestone, of Sorts

This all began as a way to write and share some thoughts, ideas, jokes, and photographs.  To share a bit of a life as seen from my perspective here in Lansing, KS.

It started with number one, an extremely brief beginning.  October 22,  2006 I switched to the beta offering. These two postings are the briefest of all my postings.

Along the way I have met many wonderful people from all around the globe.  Every day, when possible, it is a pleasure to go to their sites to find out what they have been up to.  While I don't always agree with them, I do enjoy the idea that we can freely state our perceptions of this amazing world.  Feel free to use the links to those sites.

Facebook has also captured my attention.  I don't post there on a regular basis.  It is a great way to keep up with family and friends.  I have taken to posting photos there too.

Postings here will continue to be spotty at best.  The muse doesn't visit as often as I'd like.  That may be a blessing in disguise.  It seems that some of my ideas that seem interesting come to me when I am unable to capture them. Hopefully, I will be able to do better.

Thanks to all of you who have taken time to visit and make comments.  I appreciate your efforts.  (Did I ever tell you that I have a high need for recognition?  Somewhere in my files I have the results of some psych test I took in grad school that confirms it. snerx.)

Every day I commend you to...

Serve with integrity, care about those you serve and share the love in your heart and soul.

#700

#668 Winter at the Golf Course

Today began with freezing fog. In spite of that the Old Bastards did get together for our monthly breakfast. We had quite a crowd for such nasty weather. We meet at the Snack Bar at the Trails West Golf Course on Fort Leavenworth. I decided to take my camera on the off chance I could get some interesting photos. These are the best of those that I took.

The photos above show the gazebo at the first tee and down range of the driving range.

These photos also look at the tee for the first hole. You can see that the temperature is below freezing. I can hardly wait for Spring and the grass turning green again. While I don't play this course very often, it is a good course. I will probably play it a couple of times.

#668

#572 Not much to say...

Just wanted to let you know a few things.

• We are finished with the trolley tour script/CD.
• The first Principles of Real Estate class started last weekend.
• The class will be finished next weekend. (four days, succeeding weekends).
• Thoughts for a new posting still mulling around. It has to do with the Messiah.
• Today is the day to Spring(?) clean the den, remember the bookcase? It gets polished.
• Bed sheets are being washed and dried right now.
• Making the bed is on the agenda, too.
• I have added a couple more sites to my must visit list. Check them out.
  

Not much more to say right now. Got to get back to chores.

Serve with integrity, care about those you serve and share the love in your heart/soul.

#572

#517 It's too......

damned early. I woke up around 0530. Nature usually calls at that time. Then I remembered I hadn't reset the clock in the bedroom. The funny thing about that is that it is supposed to be one of those clocks that receives time messages from the atomic clock. Bull. Last weekend, or was it a couple, I had to reset it to DST because the inner programming set it back. So it was time to reset all of the clocks in the house--six to be exact. I even changed batteries in a couple of them. (Smoke detectors are all good, too.)

I have been unusually quiet here. Nothing to say. After reading this, I probably should not take the time. I did watch the Texas, Texas Tech game last night. I had to root for Tech. It was a nail biter. As usual, the last two minutes were the most exciting.

I am looking forward to Tuesday for two reasons, I will vote, and most importantly, we will finally be rid of all of those annoying campaign ads. And, I do mean ALL. I wonder how long it will take for the next round to start?

Some good news. We recent got news that one of our daughters is with child. She is due in April. Shortly after getting that news from her, she called to let us know they were able to get the house they wanted. It's their first of both. There is no doubt that there will be a few more trips to the West coast in the future. The photos she sent of the child in utero and of the rooms in the house are great.

I think it is time to go back to bed to take advantage of that extra hour of sleep. After all, it is good for the heart according to some recent study about such things.

#517

#500 A Minor Milestone

June 16, 2005 was not a momentous day, as I recall. Given the phenomenon of "senior moments" it is a wonder I remember much of anything at times. It was the day of my first posting. It was done a while back before the beta version. I have learned a lot about blogging since then. I still have a lot more to learn.

I still don't remember/know what happened to the photo that used to adorn the banner. It can't be too difficult to put one in and have it the proper size. (As you can see, I have discovered a way to put the photo back in. I can even change photos periodically.)

As I review the labels that I have created, I realize that I have covered a variety of subjects. That is to be expected. When you learn new skills you figure out ways to use them. That may be one way to beat "senior moments".

Along the way there are friends who have come into my life. People who have interesting lives and who are willing to share their joys and pains with the world. They are friends whom I may never meet face-to-face. Perhaps, they may be a voice on the telephone. My thanks to you for your willingness to share your lives this way. To meet them you need only look to the sidebar and take your pick. (One of the skills I learned was to add the feature of keeping track of their postings.)

Who knows what the future holds in store. I do know one thing, someone will post about it, and I look forward to those posts.

#500

#469 Photos of the new vehicle

It didn't take too long to wash, wax and treat the windshield. It did take a bit longer to capture these images. Believe it or not, there are only 74 miles on the odometer so far. Perhaps next week it will get out of the garage.

I have not given it a pet name yet. Perhaps I won't.

#469

#464 Today was the magical day.

Today was, indeed, a magical day. It was sad because an "old friend" was replaced by a new one. The photos below are the first of a few to come.

So far I have taken time to treat the windows with Rain-X. It really makes a difference on the windshield during the rain. The next chore is to apply a coating of Turtle Wax Ice. It is a very good application for protecting the painted surface. Photos of the "waxed" vehicle will be posted. I am thinking of using a photo of the Civic Si to replace the current photo of the Del Sol. Any suggestions?

#464

#401 Could be a milestone

Here it is, posting 400. It is probably some sort of milestone.

It is Sunday evening. The KU Jayhawks are on their way to the final four. The games this weekend were quite exciting. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!!!

I talk to my brother just about every day. Mom is doing as well as can be expected. She still wants to go home. She still claims that they put her in the basement or up on the second floor. This is an amazing feat considering the facility is a single story building on a slab. She still claims that no one looks in on her even when a staff member is standing nearby. That is not surprising, since her eyesight is almost totally gone. She still laments her childhood and claims she was not wanted. She still carries ill feelings towards her mother and grand-mother. She still needs to receive constant attention. She still isn't eating much. She is still mom.

This weekend was the first weekend of a two weekend real estate class. (Its the second of six that I will teach this year.) It was a tiring but exhilarating weekend as usual. There are 25 students who have different goals, personalities, needs and desires. They are absolutely marvelous, uplifting and a joy to spend time with. There is something magical being in the classroom with that many folks from different backgrounds. Each has a unique story. Each gives a unique contribution to the experience. Each is a blessing to me and to their classmates.

All in all it has been a wonderful weekend. And the weather may just begin to get warmer.

#401

#356 Elder Marine

I received this story in an email from a friend. I have no idea if it is accurate or not. There was no mention of it at snopes.com

It is a shame that young men seem to think it is OK to rob others. It is also too bad that parents don't teach their children that an education is the way to a satisfying life.

Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007

Don't Mess With A Marine Who's Trying To Eat

Police called to investigate the scene:

The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, FL, Sub shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former pilot for two presidents.

He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he works out everyday. Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night.

According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Rd. Just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner -- Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money.

But then Lovell pulled his handgun, opened fire, shooting one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.

When police arrived, they found one of the men in the shop. K-9 units found the other in the bushes of a nearby business. They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop according to Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.

Both men were taken to Broward General Medical Center, where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition.

A longtime friend of Lovell, was not surprised to hear what happened. ''He'd give you the shirt off his back and he'd be mad if someone tried to take the shirt off your back,'' he said.

Lovell worked as a pilot for the Marines, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta. Lovell is not married and does not have children.

He is not expected to be charged, authorities said ' 'He was in fear for his life,'' Rettig said. ' These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and aren't intimidated by idiots.'

Something tells me this old Marine wasn't 'in fear for his life' even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could be charged with is participating in an unfair fight. One 71 - year young Marine against two punks. Two head shots and one center - body- mass shot - good shooting!.

That'll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal.

#356

#187 Happy Fourth of July

Another year has gone by and the USA can celebrate its existence. I, for one, am glad I chose to be born here. Perhaps in the next life I will choose another country. But that is for another posting.

Our country is one great dichotomy. We have freedoms like not other nation. We can, and do, vote the rascals in and out. That is our saving grace, and perhaps our downfall.

It is so easy for those are living well to forget or denigrate those who do not.

It is so easy for those of one group to castigate and mistrust those who are different.

It is so easy to get so absorbed in our daily lives to forget about and ignore those who need our attention and energy.

It is so easy to respond to natural disasters to provide assistance but not so easy to recognize the need for additional assistance others may need.

It is so easy to blame others for our place in the world and label ourselves victims and so difficult to take personal responsibility for our place in this life.

It is so easy to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy and forget that freedom is something that must be earned.

It is so easy to think the other guy will do it, and I won't have to do much.

It is so easy to thank those folks who volunteer everyday to do the work that will keep us free, and then go about our daily lives as if not much else is happening in the world.

It is so easy for us to blame our elected leaders for their transgressions, but not demand they pay the price for those transgression.

It is so easy for me to write these words because I have chosen to live in a country that not only allows me the opportunity, but almost demands it.

It is easy for me to say these things because in my own small way I helped pay for it. Over 20 years of active federal service in the military was the price I paid, and I would do it again.

So, my fellow citizens, a very happy Fourth of July to you and our wonderful though somewhat flawed country. It's these things that make us great, and why others want to be here to enjoy the same freedoms.

#187

#114 Stream of consciousness...

Here it is late in the afternoon of Monday, 3/12 and I am finally able to stop, catch my breath and write a few words to the blog. I'm not sure what it will look like by the time I'm done. I hope we will all be pleased.

There is a large Black Russian within reach, I have just been able to shower after a day of physical activity and Maryann has gone off to spend some time with former colleagues. Now if I can just find Erato, things will go well. If not, then.....

The weekend was great. I finished the last two days of the real estate class. It was the second one for the year. As usual, the folks that choose to attend are fantastic. I know that not all of them will go on to get their real estate licenses and I am comfortable with that. I have come to realize that they are there for many reasons. I believe it has something to do with learning, teaching and doing. With a little bit of luck I will learn some things too. I usually do.

Margaret is doing much better. Her heart beat will never come back to it's former robustness. However, she is able to get around the facility with her wheel chair. She apparently doesn't go as far or as fast, but she does go. She is looking for the way "home".

My brother called today with some great news. He found a young web master wizard to develop a web site for him. He is quite an accomplished artist. When it gets up and operational I will feature it here and provide a link. He also reported that our mother is eating more now than she had been for a couple of weeks. She is getting a little weaker every day. I believe she is doing everything she can to go out on her terms. That too can be the topic for another posting. (Hazel just joined me and she is quite upset that I am still typing. She seems unable to get comfortable. She couldn't so she hopped down.)

Now for a recap of the day's events.

• Bake two loaves of Pepperoni Pizza bread.
  
• Move flower pots from patio to the front of the house to prepare them for this year's plantings.
• Empty the pots and put the dead flora in the trash at the curb.
• Wash the floor mats for both of our vehicles.
• Set the floor mats out to dry.
• Move the vehicles onto the driveway.
• Move just about everything out of the garage.
• Sweep the garage.
• Wash down the garage.
• Let the garage dry .
  
• Wash the pots.
• Eat lunch.
• Check email.
• Read some of my daily blogs.
• Make comments on blogs.
• Move the stuff back into the garage.
• Wash the vehicles.
• Move the vehicles back into the garage.
• Treat the windows of both vehicles with RainX. (It does a great job keeping the windshield clean in the rain.)
• Wax the Del Sol. (My brother advised me to use Ice a Turtle Wax product. It is fantastic.)
• Wash the towels from vehicle cleaning.
• Watch Maryann prepare a spinach/artichoke heart dip.
• Take a shower/shampoo.
• Check email.
• Answer emails as required.
• Fix a large Black Russian.
• Get out a frozen burger patty for dinner. (I know, I should have thought of that earlier.)
• Go online and write this missive.

In the meantime I have been listening to 181.fm through iTunes on the computer. I even moved one of the wireless speakers to the garage while working there, then moved it to the bathroom while showering. Now it is at my elbow, near the drink.

With a little luck I will also get the desk top computer back on Wednesday. They called Sunday afternoon to say it was ready.

Life is exceptionally good.

I hope that your day has been as pleasing to you as mine has been to me.


#114

#113 Stuff and things

I just realized that it has been a few days since I posted anything. Don't have much to report on. I am teaching the last two days this weekend and the desk top computer had to be taken into the shop. Seems the power supply started going bad. It is rather exasperating to have the power go off when you least expect it.

Hopefully it will be back early next week.

The class is going well.

I also have been thinking of great things to write about, but only when I am unable to get to the computer. So perhaps I will make some notes and get ready for the return of the desktop device.


#110

#110 How to forward an email

I received this in an email from a friend. I had been doing man of them but not all. I pass them on for your consideration.

A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails. Please read the short letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures.

Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.

Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail?

Do you hate it? Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses and names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit.

That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel!

How do you stop it?

Well, there are several easy steps. Try the following if you haven't done it before:

(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the "Forward" button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.

(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC:(blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it.

(3) Remove any "FW :" in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling.

(4) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those e- mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.

(5) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. DO NOT put your email address of any petition. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition. (And don't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just ain't so !)

Some of the other emails to delete and not forward are:

1. The one that says something like, "Send this email to 10 people and you'll see something great run across your screen." Or sometimes they'll just tease you by saying 'something really cute will happen.' IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! (We are still seeing some of the same emails that we waited on 10 years ago!)

2. I don't let the bad luck ones scare me either, they get trashed.

3. Before you forward an 'Amber Alert', or a 'Virus Alert', or some of the other emails floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward them. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for YEARS! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out a Snopes. Just go to www.snopes.com.
It's really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on. So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.

Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to everyone we know (but strip my address off first, please ). This is something that SHOULD be forwarded, so do it.

Thanks for reading this. (Print it if you need to, and read it until you learn to do it!)

NOW GO DO IT!

#110

#73 It may time for words from me....

or not, but here goes.

The muse has eluded me for a couple of weeks, hence, the plethora of copied emails. (I didn't want to be considered MIA again.)

The muse does visit at the oddest times--in the middle of the night, while driving, away from the house and computer, etc. With an attention/remembering span that is not what I think it used to be, I don't remember the nifty ideas that have come to me.

Winter has finally come for a short visit. I am not complaing for I have nothing to complain about. It is just cold. The birds have found sanctuary on and around our patio.

Cardinals are beautiful birds, particularly when posing against a white background. The are almost as beautiful as terns in flight.



#73