Monday, January 19, 2015

What's happening?

When you think no one is reading your blog, you lose motivation to post to it. Anyway, in the hope that someone, somewhere might read this, I will update what is happening in my life.

Today, Gail come over this morning for our weekly piano duet practice. After she left, we went over to Nick's house and picked up Luke and took him to his favorite restaurant, the McDonald's in Sapulpa. We ate lunch there and let Luke play on the playground equipment there.

After lunch, we went to an outdoors playground where Luke played on some equipment there. Following that we went to a nearby Braum's for ice cream. Braum's ice cream is the best -- so smooth, and rich, and creamy. We took Luke home about 4 pm. I came home for a nap.

Basically, that was our day.

Now for my goals for 2015. Last year I met my goal of walking an average of a mile a day, or 365 miles for the year. I believe I logged 420 miles for the year (can't find my record book right now). I am going to set a goal of 400 miles for 2015. Last year I read 20 books, cover to cover. My goal for this year is 12 books, one per month. My favorite book from my reading last year was Manhunt, by James L. Swanson. It is the story of the search for Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The book was well researched and is a detailed account of what happened on the day of the assassination and the days following until Booth was caught.

The most important book I read last year is titled Crucifying America by C. J. Werleman. It is about contemporary politics.

One book I want to read this year is titled Masters of Deception. I have had this book in my library for a few years now. It is about optical illusion art and features the art of M.C. Escher and Salvadore Dali.

I was contacted by a representative of the Tulsa City Council to see if I would be available to give the invocation at a meeting of the city council this year. I said I would.

Last week I was sick. This week J is sick. We have also learned that Jen (Nick's wife) is sick. So, there seems to be plenty of sickness going around.

Friday, January 02, 2015

Back again from Missouri; tree of knowledge

We got back home from a few days in Missouri. In December, we spent more time in Missouri than Oklahoma. My Dad has not been doing well. He is 92 years old now and his days are growing short. Due to poor circulation in his feet, he has been seeing a wound doctor. Last week (or maybe the week before) he went to an appointment at Mercy Hospital to see the wound doctor. The doctor admitted him to the hospital. He stayed there a few days before going to a skilled nursing facility in Springfield. He has been having pain in both legs and receives periodic treatment for his legs. Both legs are wrapped with an elastic material.

Each year at Church of the Restoration we erect a tree. In addition to the usual ornaments, this year we decorated the tree with miniature book covers. I made the ornaments by bringing up the book from the Amazon web site and printing the image for each selected book (about 2 by 3 inches). I cut out the image after printing it and had it laminated. I punched a hole at the top and attached an ornament hanger. The book I chose was S. I. Hayakawa's Language in Thought and Action. Some of the other selected books were Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Stranger, The Little Prince, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

I have been thinking about goals I would like to achieve in 2015. Next time I post to this blog, I will write about that.