A Nocturnal Visitor

Last night my wife and I went to bed around 11:30 pm. We had been asleep for a couple of hours when suddenly we heard the doorbell. Ding, dong, ding dong, ding, dong. I got out of bed and looked at my cell phone for the time. It showed 1:38 A.M. Who, I asked, comes visiting at this time of night?

Whoever it might be was persistent for he rang the bell a second time. Not knowing who was outside the door, I went to the door and said "Who's there?" loud enough so that the visitor could hear me through the door. The visitor made a short reply, but I could not make out what he said. I turned on the porch light to illuminate the area.

I proceeded to the window to see if I could get a view of the visitor. I went over by the piano hoping I could get a good view of the doorbell ringer. I saw the person -- a male, caucasian, about 25 to 30 years old, and rather swarthy looking -- standing in front of the door. It was no one I had ever seen before. He rang the bell once again.

By this time my wife was on the phone calling the police. The 911 center dispatched a patrolman, but he was in north Sand Springs when he got the call. The visitor decided to return to his vehicle parked in the street with motor running and lights on. There was also a second vehicle parked in front of our house, but it's lights were off. I could not tell if it was occupied.

The visitor got in the car and made a U-turn and proceeded south on 51st St. and disappeared into the night.

A couple of minutes later the police arrived. The patrolman came to the door and spoke with us. The patrolman just missed the visitor by two minutes.

After the visitor and policeman were gone, I noticed our neighbor was getting something out of his car trunk, or maybe he was putting something in it. As soon as he closed the trunk lid, he went inside his house. The time was a quarter until two.

We slept uneasy the rest of the night. When I got up at 7:15 this morning I notice the second car, the one parked in front of our house, was gone.

We were left to wonder what this whole incident was about.

Putting salmon on the grill

Today we had plank salmon cooked on the grill. You first have to soak the cedar plank in water. Then you build your fire. Next you place the marinated raw salmon on the cedar plank, cover, and cook for twenty minutes. After dinner I went to River City Park and walked three miles.

Walking and more

This morning I went walking. With the kids being back in school, I now walk earlier than I have been. When school was out, I walked from noon to 1:00 pm. Now that school is back in session, I walk between 10 and noon. I did my usual three-mile walk today. I am at 297 miles for the year to date. That is 297 miles of dedicated walking.

I have been listening to some new music, that is, music that is new to me. William Bolcom's "Three Ghost Rags" I find quite interesting. Bolcom was born in 1938, and I haven't checked to see if he is still living. His first ghost rag is titled "The Graceful Ghost." Thanks to Scorser.com, I was able to print a copy. It is a bit tricky to play as it begins with five flats and then transitions to six flats and then back to five. Another piece I am working on is titled "Twelth Street Rag." Gail still comes over on Mondays for duet practice. In September, she will be away. I will have to come up with an alternative or play a solo. I am also the speaker that day for the service.

An outing with Luke and more

Yesterday, which was Thursday, We took Luke, our grandson, to Tulsa for an outing. We went to a new place called the Air Port. It is an indoor trampoline playground located at Southroads Shopping Center. After Luke expended his energy there, we went to the nearby Schlotszky's for lunch. Then we dropped him off at his house and went to Reasor's grocery store here in Prattville. It is only about a mile from our house.

My son Nick came over today to work here. His internet service was down and he needs the internet to do his job.

Presently, Ayla is with us. She will stay here overnight, and we wil return her to her parents tomorrow.

Walking is going well. I have walked 12 miles this week. Yesterday, instead of walking at the Salvaton Army gym at noon as I usually do, I walking in the evening at River City Park. There is an ideal place to walk in the park. The walking trail is marked for distance. Starting at "0" by the Case Community Center, you can walk to the 1.5 mile post and turn around and walk back. It is about 3 or 4 miles to get there, as opposed to the 1 mile distance to the Salvation Army. Sometimes there are a lot of people at the park. They have soccer fields, volleyball courts, horseshoe areas, bike riding areas, and a skateboard facility there. However, when I walk there a usually few people around. Much of the trail is on the banks of the Arkansas River. Across the river is the BNSF rail line. I usually see a train or two while I walk.

Since I last posted here, Tulsa has hosted the FreeOK event for this year. It was held in the Convention Center again. Hundreds of freethinkers came from around the area to hear freethought speakers. My favorite speakers this year were C. J. Werleman and Steve Wells. I am currently reading a book by Werleman titled Crucifying America. Wells is the author of the well-known (at least among freethinkers)The Skeptic's Annotated Bible. The book is a great resource. I downloaded it recently to my tablet; however, I wish I had a conventional paper copy. It is the kind of book that a freethinker might use frequently in discussions with Bible believers.

The last several days...

There is not much to report on here. Last Sunday, I was the lay speakers at Church of the Restoration. The topic of my talk was "Songs of the Civil War." Gail and I provided the special music which was "Battle Cry of Freedom" by George F. Root. There were about 10 people in attendance. The first Sunday of the month is always "Humanist Sunday."

I am currently reading "12 Years a Slave." The book was made into a movie. I have not seen the movie, but I might see if I can rent the DVD. The book is fairly short as books go. I downloaded it to my tablet. The Methodist Book Club is reading this book as one of its next selections. The other selection we are reading is "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale. I finished reading it last week. The book club meets again next Monday.