January 2016

January 2016

An end of an era... The Gross Polluter being towed away. Farewell my beloved truck!

Friday 01- 50 to 30 degrees and clear.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I began reading “365 Starry Nights” by Chet Raymo.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening one mile jog with Cassie.

Saturday 02- 52 to 32 degrees.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening one mile jog with Cassie.

Sunday 03- 61 to 42 nice day.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I got a call from "Microsoft" telling me I had a virus on my Windows computer... I know damn well Microsoft isn't going to call me, besides I've been using my MacBook as my main computer for the last year... so I kept the guy on the line asking him all kinds of really technical questions I knew he couldn't answer (I was having fun) finally the guy gave up on me and hung up after I asked him to get me in touch with his supervisor or someone who knew what he was talking about.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening one mile jog with Cassie.

Monday 04- 56 to 36 degrees fog moving in late evening.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I read a bit of the geology book.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening one mile jog with Cassie.

Tuesday 05- 54 to 41 degrees heavy fog in morning hours lasting throughout until 3pm when moderately continuous showers came and lasted into late evening.

I woke up and there wasn’t any AC power, the batteries down and not taking a charge from the solar panels. I went out to the battery room and found all the connections were corroded and I had to clean and reconnect them back up to the batteries.

Wednesday 06- 49 to 41 degrees and rained all day long.

Watched a few Netflix movies...

Thursday 07- 53 to 36 with clouds and scattered rain.

I went to Walmart and Home Depot to get supplies and stopped off at the Mobile station to fill my two 5 gal propane tanks and get gas.

Friday 08- 53 to 37 clear and windy.

I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I did my stretches and went for an evening jog of a mile with Cassie.

Saturday 09- overcast.

I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I did my stretches and went for an evening jog of a mile with Cassie.

Sunday 10- rained here and there throughout the day.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

Monday 11- 57 to 36 clouds and some rain late at night.

I did my stretches and took the rest of the day off and just read and surfed the web.

Tuesday 12- 59 to 36

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I took my microscope out for the first time and looked at squiggly things

I did my stretches and went for an evening walk with Cassie.

Wednesday 13- 60 to 41

We went to Sherry’s house and Cassie played with Barney, Abbey and Willie while me and Sherry went shopping and had lunch/dinner at the Sizzler.

Thursday 14- 62 to 44 mostly sunny.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

I practiced playing my guitar for a while.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a night run with Cassie.

Friday 15- 63 to 44 and really really windy!

Just stayed inside and messed with computers and read.

Saturday 16- 64 to 44 cloudy.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

Kelly called and needed her tire fixed. So I went over to her house and worked on it. She didn’t have a tire iron so I couldn’t take the tire off, I would have to plug it with it still on the car. We jacked it up, inflated the tire with my air pump, but couldn’t find a nail or any place it was leaking air from. I had her get some soap and water and brush and I splashed the tire with the concoction. It started bubbling from where the rim connects to the tire and I could see a dent in the rim where she may have hit a curve or something. So she needs a new rim. It’s a slow leak and will hold air until she gets to WalMart later today. I told her to get that green fix a flat stuff to seal the leak until she gets a new rim. She also needs to get a tire iron and air pump.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a night run with Cassie.

Sunday 17- 60 to 47 cloudy.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

I read one of my study books: Astronomy.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a night run with Cassie.

Monday 18- 63 to 45 mostly cloudy.

I spent most of my time helping the guy who bought my old truck (the Gross Polluter)  get it out of my front yard, hooked up to his truck and making it able for him to tow it away. He has a use for it and it was sad to see it just sitting there wasting away. Kinda like an end to an era for me.

Tuesday 19- 59 to 44 cloudy with rain.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

I worked outside for a little while. Eventually I get this place cleaned up.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a night run with Cassie.

Wednesday 20- 62 to 43 overcast.

I took Cassie for a one mile jog.

UPS delivered my package that contained a selfie stick and a wool watch cap.

Thursday 21- 64 to 43 overcast.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I drove the truck to the post office to pick up a package that contained a gadget that will hold my smartphone’s camera to a lens of my telescope or microscope. It should be interesting what I can video of the micro and macro worlds.

Friday 22- 59 to 44 and overcast.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I started working on putting my front porch back together after all the storms we’ve had lately blew parts of it away, mostly the wooden lattice was destroyed.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

A review I left on Amazon for the TP-Link range extender (Technical stuff ahead)

It worked for a few months and then I couldn't connect. The website the instructions told me to connect to "tplinkextender.net" has a damn virus! Another website I was directed to "tplinkconnect.net" was for sale! I finally ended up at http://tplinkrepeater.net and still couldn't get into the device. It seemed it just stopped transmitting its wi-fi signal.... I did a reset on the device and was able to receive a signal and then was able to log into tplinkrepeater.net as admin with my Mac Air. It was almost finished when a popup said my Adobe Flash was out of date. I didn't click on that and closed the browser. I decided to try reseting it and try again on a different computer running Win 10. I got it to load up and there wasn't any popups for outdated flash, but a weird search site replaced the TP-Link site. I shut down my browser and opened it again, no problem. I went and connected my desktop ethernet cable into the TP-Link Range Extender and I was connected to the internet, but when I opened the browser it said I have a virus and to call the number they provided for tech help. I couldn't open another tab. I closed the browser without clicking on the notice and unplugged the ethernet cable and restarted my desktop. I opened up the browser and the notice popped up again. So now I have some kind of malware I have to deal with all because I used TP-Link's websites to get access to their device! I am dumping this and getting something a little more dependable...

Saturday 23- 61 to 44 overcast, high winds after 7pm.

Sherry came by to visit with Cassie and fed her a bunch of dog biscuits.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a mile run with Cassie.

I did a reset of Windows 10 on the desktop to be rid of whatever the system caught when I tried to connect to the TP-Link website. I’ll just connect the desktop to an ethernet cable hooked to my router instead of the TP-Link WiFi Extender. Another time waster I am not going to deal with again. It’s too late to send it back, but I might just send it back to the company and tell them to shove it.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a nice long walk, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

Sunday 24- 60 to 41 degrees.

I did my stretches and messed around the yard and on the patio. I mostly kicked back and read tech stuff online.

Monday 25- 44 to 40

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a one mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

Tuesday 26- 60 to 39

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a mile run with Cassie.

I worked on the front porch painting it white before I put the lattice on. Tomorrow when I go to town I’ll get some flathead wood screws to hold the lattice down.  

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

Wednesday 27- 50 to 43 degrees and overcast.

I did my stretches.

Me and Cassie went to Yucca Valley to visit Sherry, Barney, Abbey and Willey. Sherry and I went to the Sizzler before we went shopping and Cassie got to play with her friends in the backyard. She was very tired when we finally went home.

Thursday 28- 68 to 44

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile run, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I finally finished the patio by screwing in the lattice. This took a few hours because I had to work around cactus and other pointy plants.

Friday 29- 68 to 50

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile run, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

Saturday 30-  52 to 50

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile run, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I went to potluck and had a mighty fine time there with the folks in my community. We all got pretty stuff like always. I like to thank Mary and Chris for putting it all together and continuing our potluck tradition.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for a round.

Sunday 31- 49 to 29 lots of rain and wind.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile run, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes. I had just finished punching the heavy bag when the rain started to fall.

The rain had stopped for a spell and I decided to do my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening jog with Cassie. Unfortunately the wind picked up as we went for the job and as we jogged across the crest of the hill, little pieces of sand and grit was hitting me in the face and stung when they hit.  

***** Stuff I Wrote this Month******

I treat dogs and people alike... some will smile while some may bite.

~RD

I feel like I am stuck in a carnival surrounded by clowns and carnies; barkers shouting out their persuading pleas of solicitations to entice me away from my life’s calling and divert me into some shady tent for a dog and pony show. All the while, off in the distance, the dim sounds of a fading parade reach out and beg for my attention.

~RD

Green with fluorescence that rips across cresting waves, white is the ocean that pounds upon the shore. The sea sweeps over castles built of grainy sand, but a love can last forever, when a heart is gently cradled, sitting on a beach in silence, holding hand in hand. Your eyes sparkle with Moonbeams as we gaze into the night, hair that glistens with stardust, when I run my fingers through their lovely locks. Moist lips and eager cuddling that first kiss brings has begun, when I hold you closely, our heartbeats come as one.

These are memories I cherish, whenever I think of you, I tingle in delight with the love we kindled, and the love that we had. If I ever fall, I shall rise back upon my feet, for such a love conquers all, from whatever darkness seeks.

~RD

I lie in silence upon my bed, as cold sweat flowed down from my head, to drip and soak on silken sheets, frozen with fear the death I may meet. A feeling of grief, a wave of sorrow, has shaken me right down to my marrow. A dream of  dread, still lingers and seeps, had woken me from this horrid sleep. I am startled, I am stunned when a tap tap tapping at my door begun, then a foreboding cry I heard echo off darken walls within... Lenore! Lenore! Never more!

~RD

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December 2015

December 2015

Tuesday 01- 56 to 32 degrees

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1.21 mile jog at 18:36 min/mi, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening 1.12 mile walk at 20:38 min/mi with Cassie.

Cleaned up the yard some. I got rid of the ashes that have accumulated from burning leaves in a barrel and tossed them into the dumpster.

Too dang cold to go for a night jog.

Read more of chapter 5 in geology.

I put two of my ebooks up for free for 5 days: “Azure Sea of Dreams” and “A Little Desert Home”. 5 days free is all they give you...

Wednesday 02- 61 to 38 degrees, clear skies.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1.22 mile jog at 17:21 min/mi, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening 1.09 mile jog at 17:45 min/mi  with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for 3 minutes.

I finished reading chapter 5 of the geology book.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a .50 mile jog up the hill and back at 20:13 min/mi.

Thursday 03- 64 to 40 degrees.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1.20 mile jog at 17:39 min/mi, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk 1.07 mile jog at 21:50 min/mi  with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for 3 minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for .53 mile jog up the hill and back at 19:06 min/mi.

Friday 04- 60 to 41 degrees low clouds all day.

I did my stretches, yoga, took Cassie for a .63 mile jog at 19:56 min/mi, core trainer.

I went to my doctor’s for a checkup. I had to be there at 10:30am and I am not a morning person so I had my brother Kevin call me at 9am, but he lives in Tucson where it’s an hour later and he called me at 8am... oh well, it was a nice dream I was having too.

Sunday 06- 61 to 42 degrees.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1.20 mile jog at 17:02 min/mi, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening 1.09 mile jog at 17:32 min/mi  with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for 3 minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a half mile jog up the hill and back at 19:08 min/mi.

Monday 07- 71 to 47 degrees

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1.20 mile jog at 17:02 min/mi, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for three minutes.

I went to the dentist, but first stopped at AutoZone to get replacement tail-light that burned out, got gas, and made it to my appointment right at 2:30.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening 1.09 mile jog at 17:32 min/mi  with Cassie and did some pullups and punched the heavybag for 3 minutes.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a half mile jog up the hill and back at 19:08 min/mi.

I think I pulled a muscle in my right chest and will lay off lifting weights for a a few days.

Tuesday 08- 75 to 49 degrees. A nice sunny day.

A day off exercising! My chest muscle isn’t as painful as last night; I think it was caused by the new type of pull ups I am trying to ease myself into.

I removed the burned out tail light and replaced it with a new one. I unhung my front door that kept scraping against the floor and took a saw to the bottom to cut a quarter of an inch off. The door closes fine and doesn’t rub against the floor.

Wednesday 09- 76 to 50 degrees.

I woke up and me and Cassie went to visit Sherry and her dogs, Barry, Abby and Willie. While Cassie was out playing with the gang, me and Sherry went shopping and ate lunch/dinner at the Asian Buffet. Sherry gave me a bed she didn’t need any longer along with some sheets and blankets. Like always, Cassie was very tired after her visit playing with her fur friends and slept all the way home and the rest of the night.

Thursday 10- 54 to 49 degrees.

I did my stretches and took Cassie for a 1 mile jog. Note: I am not going to time myself the the new watch thingy anymore because it’s just too demanding to keep a log here on it.

I took the old crummy mattress that must had been pre WWII and threw it into the dumpster. I moved the new bed into the bedroom and set it up after giving the bedroom floor a good cleaning. Very nice to be sleeping on a comfortable bed.

Friday 11- 54 to 40 cold and windy with dark clouds.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Saturday 12- 60 to 36 degrees.

I took Cassie for a mile jog.

Geminid Meteor Shower: Very clear where I am (and cold) saw a bunch here and there when I went out with Cassie so she could do her business. Should be better tomorrow night.

Sunday 13- 61 to 35 degrees, windy all day with clouds moving in during the late afternoon.

Geminid Meteor Shower: Went out again Sunday night (just got back in 1:30AM)... saw more meteors then I think I've ever seen in one sitting. Dang cold too!

Monday 14- 54 to 34 degrees with lots of wind.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lbs dumbbells and ran a mile with Cassie.

I mostly watched various TED Talks on Youtube.

UPS delivered my new microscope. I am going to start a new hobby! I’ve been watching videos courses online on how to use one; there’s a lot more than I thought.

Tuesday 15- 49 to 29 degrees. Still windy, but not like yesterday.

I did my stretches and went for a mile run with Cassie.

I went shopping for supplies.

Wednesday 16- 50 to 29 degrees.

I did my stretches, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog.

I cut up a whole bunch of wood for my wood stove.

USPS delivered my telescope.

My neighbor’s golf car broke down and he came to my fence at 5pm asking for a tow to his house. I couldn’t keep Cassie from barking at the guy. I had stopped by his house to say welcome to the neighborhood when he and his family just move in about six months ago, but they didn’t seem all that friendly and have never dropped by my home and I hadn’t heard from them since.

Thursday 17- 54 to 32 degrees with clear skies.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Friday 18- 61 to 32

I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile run.

UPS delivered my 8 inch Dobsonian telescope!

Saturday 19- 64 to 32

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Right now I assembled the 8 inch Dobsonian telescope and I am checking out the optics right now. I will assemble the frame tomorrow and the scope should see first light tomorrow night

Sunday 20- 56 to 37 degrees with clouds throughout the day, but cleared in the evening.

I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walks.

I put the frame together and mounted the telescope. I took it outside into the night sky where it saw first light. I adjusted the finder scope, checked out that everything was in order and turned her 8” mirror onto Andromeda Galaxy and a few other objects. There was hardly any adjusting to do and I didn’t even have to collimate the main mirror. A car had just drove past at high speeds on our dirt road when I was having the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I got worried about dust from the road and packed her up and put her safe inside the house. I will have to devise a plan to keep the dust out of the DOB when outside.

Monday 21- 62 to 46 degrees and cloudy.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Tuesday 22- 66 to 46, very windy and cloudy today. The strong winds woke me up several times during the night when part of my garage roof came apart and I had to go out to fix it. I finally got to sleep and didn’t wake up until 1pm... My whole day was gone before it started.

It was after nightfall and I took Cassie out to go pee when I saw my neighbor’s truck go up the embankment and get stuck there. I saw that she wasn’t going to get it out herself so I got my shovel, threw it in the back of my truck and went over and dug her out. It only took me about ten minutes, no more and she was on her way.

Wednesday 23- 62 to 40 degrees mostly sunny.

We went to Sherry’s house to go shopping for supplies at Stater Bros. and sacks of dog food at the Tractor Supply store while Cassie played with her fur friends.

Thursday 24- 61 to 38 degrees, cloudy.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Friday 25- 45 to 29 degrees, very windy and cold outside.

I got a telescope and microscope that Santa Claus... err UPS and FedEx brought me.

Me and Cassie stayed inside and watched TED Talks on YouTube and other interesting stuff.

Saturday 26- 46 to 30 degrees, just as cold and windy as yesterday if not worse.

We stayed inside again because of the high winds.

I started going through my boxes of old receipts, bills paid, from as far back as 1997 when I moved up here; some even older from the 70s. It was many boxes packed one upon another taking up my space and adding to the clutter that seems to be affecting my progress. I sat there for three days tossing this and that, I mean who needs to keep a telephone bill from June 2001? I kept all my tax filings, correspondence, birthday, holiday Christmas cards, photos, and little mementos to remind me of those lost to me throughout the years, but the rest went into my woodstove and kept my home warm for three days. I do not know why I kept all these receipts and such; it was kinda like I felt some corrupt entity was waiting, watching for a weak moment to take everything from me. Or maybe I was just lazy, but I now took heed to these words I heard spoken once before, “If you don’t clean up your mess eventually someone else will have to do it for you.” I now feel free of this baggage whose weight weighed heavy on my soul.

Sunday 27- no wind finally! Still a bit cold.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a 1 mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Monday 28- 53 to 35 degrees mostly sunny.

I did my stretches and took Cassie for all her walks.

I had to go to the dentist office because a screw worked its way out of my implant. I left my house early and went to the post office to pick up some packages there and then shopping at Stater Bros before my dentist appointment.

Tuesday 29- 54 to 33 sunny.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

Wednesday 30- 53 to 30 degrees.

I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Thursday 31- 53 to 29 degrees.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, took Cassie for a mile jog, core trainer, and punched the heavybag.

I finished reading “365 Starry Nights” by Chet Raymo.

I'm getting ready to go for a run up the hill in front of my house in 2015 and run back down it in 2016... I think it's a good way to run out the old and bring in the new

***** Stuff I Wrote this Month******

Do not abandon your dreams.

A new year is upon you. A time for reflection. To re-evaluate and renew what works and let go of what doesn't, be they things, people or addictions. Walk away from their drama to make room for new beginnings. Eliminate those distraction seizing control of your life, carrying you farther off your course to flounder in the gray turbulent seas of uncertainty and denial to become the flotsam and jetsam washed upon the shores of self-pity and doubt. Make your destiny your own, follow your dreams and no others.

~RD

A steady hand on the tiller, a cup of hot coffee to fight off the chill, a stiff breeze to fill her sails, and a warm bed to come back to is all I ask.

~RD

The beginnings of a Poem Story?

Come along ye children let me recite thee all a tale, of an enchanted land not too far over there. Deep in the forests, beyond civilization’s cold reach, surrounded by thickets of bramble and moss tapestry trees, lies a mystical clearing where fairies truly appear, so ye not be frighten cause there’s nothing to fear.

There be flowers always blooming, grass taller than you, where spring always lasts throughout the whole year. A stream runs on through it, as calm as you please, do ye hear water bubbling across rocks and small boulders in the sweet summer breeze?

Little girls with elfin ears slumber upon mushroom caps laden with goose down filled soft satin sacks. Each one is combing each other’s long golden hair spun from strains of diamonds which are precious, added silver for its shine and gold that be rare and so hard to find. Their hair glistens and sparkles filling the dark void which threatens to devour and to destroy, their small little meadow that they call home with such joy.

They comb as they watch and start laughing at the boys with three hoof toes go dancing and a prancing, and a clowning, speaking in rhyming prose. Singing and playing their flutes to find the right tune, which will impress and lure the girls lying pretty off of their shrooms, and into the meadows to enjoy in the fun and frolic together as if they were one.

~RD

I am lucky to remember what I said or what I thought I would have said if I said it.

~RD

My response to an article “Ebook Reader Innovation was Stagnant in 2015”:

Well they haven’t upgraded the paperback for many decades now. Still no backlighting, same antiquated way to turn the page, and the memory storage hasn’t been improved since the papyrus era and takes up much wall space (good for insulation). My biggest complaint is you can’t change the font size and the pages yellow over time. Paperbacks tend to lose bookmarks if you drop them, but the dogeared ones stay put. The good news is that the page refresh hasn’t been affected since neolithic times.

I met a homeless woman sitting on blankets in front of Walmart with her little dog. I noticed people walking past her trying to avoid eye contact. I went in and did my shopping and came out the same door hoping to see her. She was still there and I stopped and asked her if she wanted anything from McDonalds. She wanted fries and a coke and she watched my groceries for me while I went inside. I chatted with her for a long spell to find out her story, as newspaper columnist like you and me like to do. It was a sad story about how she fell off her horse and broke her back a few years ago. She lost her job at the Eisenhower Hospital, has to take these horrible meds for pain, and her boyfriend had just kicked her and her dog out and she is now living in her car. I gave her ten dollars. I would have liked to have done more.

More should be done... there shouldn't be any homeless people in America unless they want to be (I've met a few fellow Veterans like that).

There is a lot of land out here where the homeless could setup tents or have them provided in a safe environment. Maybe purchase a large lot and work with the county to get around some of the code restrictions. There should be state, county and federal service counseling for programs that they qualify for, on site.

I believe it can be done if we want to do it... or maybe it's just me fantasizing; I do a lot of that.

Bob

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