Back from Springfield

I guess this will be my final post of the year. It has been a week since I last put anything on this blog, so I have some catching up to do.

On Christmas Day we went over to the Dobbs for a Mexican meal. (Next year will be a shrimp boil.) There were about a dozen people there. We played Dirty Santa. I was excited to win a waffle maker, but Jonathan took that off my hands. What I ended up with was much less impressive, so unimpressive that I do not recall now what it is.

As we opened the presents we tossed the wrapping paper into the fireplace. That my not have been the best thing to do for soon we had a roaring fire in the fireplace which set off a chimney fire. We all evacuate the house, and someone called the fire department. Soon they were on the scene with three trucks and a police car. It reminded me of the story by Dylan Thomas A Child's Christmas in Wales -- although it was not as funny.

On Sunday we observed Kzanzaa at church. Three drummers played African drums. Due to our guests, we had a larger than normal congregation. The three drummers plus their families added significantly to our small numbers. We must have had at least a dozen people there for the service.

On Monday, Gail came over and we practiced the duet we plan to play for the service this coming Sunday. The title of the piece is Walnut River Rag. We also played several other pieces which we might play at future services.

On Tuesday, we left for Springfield. J's brother Rick along with five others were heading for Springfield on something of a vacation. My son Nick was already at Branson on vacation. We all met in Springfield and took a picture of the four generations of Nerrens.

We ate lunch/dinner at the Golden Corral around 2:30 that day. There were 14 of us. The Golden Corral is always busy no matter what time of day you go there.

Rick and his wife both work at the auto assembly plant in Kansas City. They have plenty of money which they lavished on the grandchildren. A. was so impressed with Rich that she asked for his autograph. One day, Wednesday I think, we went to Branson and attended a show. We saw a group of singers by the name of New South. It was an all male quartet, but they had others as part of their act. Altogether they probably had a crew of a dozen. They sang a variety of music. They are basically a south style gospel quartet, but they also sang some Elvis songs, plus songs made popular by the Everly Brothers, James Brown, and more. It was 10:30 by the time the show let out. We went to the candy shop for a free sample of fudge. Nick and his family were staying in the hotel associated with the act.

We spent Thursday night with my parents at The Abbey. We drove home today. It is always good to get back home.

More photos discovered

As J was getting out the Christmas tree a few days ago for its annual resurrection, she discovered a batch of photos. Most of these photos were taken by me when I was in Germany (1971-73). I have just a few more of my grandparents on the Andrews side to post. Next I will post pictures from Germany.

Three aunts and grandparents

In this picture (L to R) are Walter Andrews, Reno Russell,

Bobbie Presley, Willie Andrews, and Billie Gibson.

Latest adventures in a nutshell

Tonight we opened presents at Nick's house. The Dobbs (Jennifer's parents) were there also. Before that we attended the Christmas Eve service at the Methodist Church. Earlier in the week we viewed a video of the NBC choir singing a Christmas program. That's about it for tonight.

Walking at the community center

This afternoon I went walking at the community center. The basketball court was closed due to some other kind of activity going on there. Some group had set up a few tables with gifts on them. About a dozen chairs were set up also.

This was the first time I had gone walking in a while. It was good to get some oxygen flowing again. The weather was chilly, but it was not too cold.

Merry Christmas to You

And now, my favorite vocal ensemble wishes you a Merry Christmas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqhHL7kMS9g&feature=related

A busy four-day weekend

THURSDAY
On Thursday, I was going to attend the Music at the Mansion program, but J said I had better conserve my strength for the evening concert we have been waiting on for several months.

That evening, we went to a concert at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. This was our first time to attend an event there. We got there early to be sure we could find a place to park. We parked in the parking garage near the BOK Center. Near the Center was a giant Christmas tree next to an ice skating rink which had been set up as a temporary thing.

To get out of the cold, we went inside the building and waited for the doors to open. At 7 pm, the doors opened and we went inside and found our seats. The group we saw was the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. You might think from the name that the TSO was an orchestra that played classical music, but it was more like a rock band. I counted 20 members in the group. Out of the 20, twelve were local musicians which had been hired for the event.

The concert engaged all of the senses. The light show was fantastic. Each piece played was accompanied by banks of lights which flashed on and off in a variety of colors. Streams of pencil-thin laser light shown just overhead. You could feel the heat when the gases on stage were ignited. At one point it started snowing inside the BOK. Snow drifted down and fell on the audience or the floor.

I was glad I had brought ear plugs for the volume was deafening. Musicians strutted about on stage and above the audience by means of floating walkways suspended from the ceiling by cables. The concert went on for two and a half hours. Attendance exceeded 10,000. Judging from the price of the tickets, this one show brought in more than a quarter million dollars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqJ1fSOgCqo&feature=related

FRIDAY
The Tulsa chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation had a special guest in town over the weekend: Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF in Madison, Wisconsin. On Friday evening, we attended a reception for Annie Laurie at the Dusenberry home. There were about 15 people there -- all members of the local FFRF chapter. I took my camera and came home with several pictures of the event. I will post some later. Annie Laurie thanked me for the indexing work I had done for them back in the 90s. The Dusenberrys providing lodging for Annie Laurie while she was in Tulsa in their half-million dollar home.

SATURDAY
We began Saturday by going to the campus of Oral Roberts University. There is a giant statue of praying hands just as you enter the campus. I brought my six-foot banner with the words "NOTHING FAILS LIKE PRAYER" on it. We stood beneath the statue with our banner unfurled for photos. Next we went to the prayer tower and were going to tour it, but it was closed for the Christmas holidays.

I returned home and got ready for the 2 pm HAT meeting. I went through the listing of members and gave each a reminder call about the meeting. The previous day I sent out an email to each to remind them of the meeting.

About 30 people showed up for the meeting at which Annie Laurie spoke for an hour and a half. She spoke about the recent history of FFRF litgation dealing with church/state separation. Annie Laurie once again mentioned my role in providing the Foundation with indexing of its newspaper, Freethought Today.

After the meeting was over, I returned home and took a nap. At 8 pm, I was at Randy's. Many people were there. I would estimate we had 30 people there. Will and I sat in the Bradley's entertainment center and played music. Will plays guitar. I played the electronic keyboard which I had brought with me. I was recognized for the small role I had played in the Foundation and given a "Founding Father" t-shirt.

SUNDAY
This morning I went to Church of the Restoration. There were just six and a half people there. The half person was Larry's five year old granddaughter who spent about half the time in the sanctuary and the other half outside the sanctuary. She was in and out quite a bit, but we are such a small church that no one cared about her comings and goings. Joy read a lengthy children's story. The main part of the message, delivered by Mary Rounds, pertained to the four basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water, and the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.

Quote?

"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are genuine."
-Abraham Lincoln

from The Oklahoma Observer and sent to me by Larry Hicks

Sights unseen until recently

Mysteries of the universe:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=11463115

Go to full screen and have sound on.

Maternal grandfather

This is Walter Andrews standing in front of his house in Carbon Hill, AL. This photo dates from around 1955.

Quote

The chains men bear they forged themselves. Strike off their chains and they will weep for their lost security.

--John Passmore, philosopher

Ft. Gibson visit

Over the weekend we made a trip to Ft. Gibson (near Muskogee). We went with Gail and Glenn Storey. We stopped for dinner at Los Cabos in Broken Arrow, but the place was packed. We went to a nearby Steak and Shake and ate there instead. By the time we left Steak and Shake, it too had customer waiting to be seated.

We arrived in Ft. Gibson. Tours were leaving the fort every 15 minutes. We had reservations for a certain time, which I don't recall right now. The tour consists of viewing re-enactors (actors) playing parts from the history of the area. Each room we went into had three actors going through dialogue about life in the area around 1830-40. It was quite enjoyable. Cold, but enjoyable.

Pappy with Aunt Billie

Aunt Billie with Pappy in the lush garden surroundings of the yard in Carbon Hill, AL.

Walter and Willie

These are my grandparents on my mother's side of the family. Their names are Walter and Willie Andrews. This photo was taken in Carbon Hill, AL.

Grandfather and aunt

Seen in this picture are my grandfather, Walter Andrews, and my Aunt Boots, Martha Plemmons.

Willie Andrews outside of house in Carbon Hill

Standing in front of the white picket fence is my maternal grandmother, Willie Andrews.

Go, Bernie, Go

Here is a speech by one of my favorite U.S. Senators, Bernie Sanders of Vermont:

http://bernie.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263:video-sanders-floor-speech-the-war-on-the-middle-class-cspan&catid=39:audiovideo&Itemid=96#scroll

Mammy Andrews and three daughters

In this picture are (L to R) Reno Russell, Willie "Mammy" Andrews, Martha "Boots" Plemmons, and Billie Gibson. This photo was taken c. 1955 in Carbon Hill, AL.

Christmas Shopping

Today we went Christmas shopping in Sapulpa. We went to a Dollar Tree store and bought several items. When we got back to Sand Springs, we went to Morrow-Gill and then to Atwoods.

When we returned home, J climbed up on the roof to glue down some shingles which had been disturbed by the weather.

Today I read the first 11% of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. All I can say about the book so far is that it is off to a slow start. I also worked on an "Every Word" puzzle on my Kindle.

More on reading

I finished reading The God Virus this morning. It is the best book I have ever read explaining how religion works. Everyone could benefit by reading this book, be you a Christian, Muslim, or atheist. Everyone is familiar how religion works like a virus in at least the most simple way. The author goes into much detail fleshing out the particulars of the analogy.

Knowing that people are reluctant to read material that disagrees with their worldview, I intend to quote snippets from the book occasionally on this blog. It's a sneaky was to expose you to material from this book.

Tonight I downloaded another book to my Kindle. It is Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins. It is a free download from Kindle. This book was originally published in 2001. From "Angels, From the Realms of Glory" to "White Christmas," the book tells the stories of the writing of 31 Christmas carols.

It begins,

There is a treasure of inspiration to be found in these pages. If you love Christmas, then this book is going to bless you time and time again. You will laugh and cry, and history will come to life. You will learn and understand things you didn't know before, giving you a much richer grasp of the music the makes this season so very special. You will probably also want to rush out and tell someone you know one of these stories.

After I read this book, I might want to download More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, which is also a free download for the Kindle.

But next I want to get into Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I had intended to start this book weeks ago but never got around to it.

Earlier today a friend, William, came over and we went through some music we might perform later on this month at Randy's annual Solstice Party. William plays the guitar. He is quite talented.

Maternal grandmother

This is my maternal grandmother, Willie Andrews. The picture was taken c. 1955 in Carbon Hill, AL. Do you remember that swing in the background?

Reading

I am currently reading a book by Darrel Ray by the title The God Virus. I am at the 91% point in the book, which I am reading on my Kindle. One thing about the Kindle -- you always can tell where you are in a book you are reading.

I am really impressed by The God Virus. The book deals with the subject of religion, and it is probably the best book I have read on the subject. If you have a Kindle, you should at least download the free sample.

This book is tightly written. Each sentence is important. I have been using the underline feature of my Kindle, and I find I have underlined about 5% of the book.

I should have the book finished sometime tomorrow. Maybe I can say more about the book then.

William is the new leader of Tulsa Atheists. He also plays guitar. I expect him to come over tomorrow so that we can rehearse for a meeting we will be performing at Saturday after next.

Today is Sunday

This morning I went to Church of the Restoration. This being the first Sunday of the month, today was Humanist Sunday. The "sermon" was given by Marilyn Clarke. Gail and I played the special music, which was three arrangements of "Silent Night." Various others had other parts to play in the service. Following the service, we had a meal together at the church.

Following the church service, I went to Randy's for a meeting of FFRF Tulsa. We made plans for Annie Laurie Gaylor's visit a couple of weekends off.

A volkswalk and a movie

This morning J and I drove out to Lake Keystone and walked the volkswalk which is set up out there. I also looked for and found one geocache, the only geocache inside the park. This cache is located along the fitness trail. It was a small cache. Small caches are easier to find than micros.

On the way back home we stopped at Subway and got a sandwich which we took home to eat.

This afternoon we went to the movies. We saw a thriller named "Unstoppable." It is the story of a runaway train in Pennsylvania. The main characters are the engineer, conductor, dispatcher, plus several other railway workers who get into the action. It is a thrill-packed adventure with much of the camera recording the trail speeding through the countryside or showing the outside from inside the engine. There is some great camera work in this film.

Below is a trailer for the movie.

http://www.unstoppablemovie.com/

Pappy and Bobbie

This is my garndfather, Walter Andrews, standing next to my aunt Bobbie Presley.

Willie Andrews

This is my grandmother on my mother's side of the family. This photo was taken in Carbon Hill, AL around 1955.

Grandparents and Bobbie

In this photo (L to R) are: Walter Andrews, maternal grandfather, Bobbie Presley, aunt, and Willie Andrews, maternal grandmother. This picture was taken c. 1955 in Carbon Hill, AL

Photo, 11.29.10

Here is a photo taken today, November 29, 2010.

Reno Russell (aunt) with her mother, Willie Andrews

Here are my aunt Reno and her mother, Willie Andrews. Willie was my grandmother. This photo was taken c. 1955.

Our day with Skeeters

Today we took Skeeters to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. We saw a show at the planetarium (a fantasy piece about a kid who makes a cardboard spaceship and tours the Solar System. He starts on the sun and travels to each planet. I think I dozed off between Mars and Jupiter. Then went over to the museum and saw a variety of aircraft. From there we went to Owasso and ate at Wendy's.

Skeeters had spent the night with us Friday. It was a big outing for him. We took him home this evening around 7 pm.

Earlier in the week, Gail and I practiced three arrangements of "Silent Night," which we will perform at Restoration in December.

We joined Naythem and his family for Thanksgiving on Thursday. The Dobbs were there along with Jonathan and Alicia.

On Friday we took our newer Saturn to South Pointe Chevrolet to get a problem with a door lock fixed. It was still under warranty and cost us nothing. The oil change was also free since we had received coupons for free oil changes.

I had to miss Food and Fellowship today. There will probably not be one in December since the fourth Saturday is Christmas Day. Perhaps I can make the January Food and Fellowship.

Pappy with Aunt Reno

This photo was taken in Carbon Hill, AL c. 1955.

My grandmother

This is a photo of my grandmother on my mother's side of the family. Her name is Willie Andrews.

Quotation

"Everyday,
Think as you wake up,
Today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive,
I have a precious Human Life,
I am not going to waste it."

- HH The 14th Dalai Lama

My favorite a cappella vocal ensemble

Here is a YouTube video of my favorite vocal ensemble singing one of my favorite pieces:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQN8yr-iibc

Video report about Skepticon 3

http://www.ky3.com/videobeta/882644f2-77b3-4680-8737-a624ba29116a/News/Skepticon

Home again, home again, jiggety jog

We returned today from a weekend trip to Springfield, MO.

We searched for three caches in Joplin. We found the first cache without much effort. It was a type of cache we have seen before and knew right where to look.

The second cache was more challenging. We did not find it until the next day. The cache information on the internet said it was not inside the opening but could be found hanging in the area. As it turned out, the cache was inside the opening to a tree in a cemetery. I suspect what happened is that a recent cacher did not replace the cache where it was found, but instead made the cache more difficult to find by hiding it inside the opening in a tree. So if you are out caching and cannot find the cache, expand your search to include those places which the cache information excludes.

The reason we did not find the cache until the next day is that while looking for the third cache, the wife of a local cacher saw us looking for a cache and struck up a conversation with J. We were talking about caching. I asked her about the cache in the cemetery and she said it was hidden inside a tree.

The next day we went back to the cemetery and found the cache quickly. It was a log only micro.

The third cache we looked for, we never found. The wife of the cacher we spoke to knew where the cache was hidden, but she was unable to find it. We suspect the cache had been “muggled.”

Thursday evening we ate dinner at Red Lobster. I had noodles with shrimp and scallops. After dinner we went back to our motel room and read. I continued reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins on my Kindle.

Upon arriving in Springfield, we went directly to the Expo Center on St. Louis where the convention was being held. We had already pre-registered. A green marker was used to mark my left hand with an “X.”

We heard two speakers at that time: Amanda Marcotte whose topic was “The Role of Irrationality in Sexism,” and David Fitzgerald who spoke on “The Ten Thousand Christs and the Evaporating Jesus.”

The next morning, we did the year-round volkswalk along the Galloway Creek. The walk starts at Sequoita Park on Lone Pine and goes along the Galloway Creek south from there. You go to where the walking trail is blocked off and then return to the start point.

We finished in time to go by Braum’s pick up some lunch, make a quick trip to my parents to eat and clean up, then go back to the Expo Center. While waiting for the next speaker, I walked down to Hoover Music and looked at the duet music they had on hand. I bought three selections: “The Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues,” “Walnut River Rag” by Melody Bober, and a collection of pieces under the title “Spotlight on Duets.” When I walked back to the Expo Center it was time for Dan Barker to speak. He spoke about the work of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He was followed by Richard Carrier speaking on “Are Christians Delusional?”

For dinner a group of ten of us from Oklahoma got together and went to Milly’s on Jefferson Avenue. I had the seafood pasta meal. Our time at Milly’s ran long and we missed hearing James Randi’s talk. He was followed by P. Z. Myers whose lecture was based on biology. We did not stay for Rebecca Watson’s talk.

We did not hear all the speakers. Those we did not hear include Lauren Lane, John Corvino, D. J. Grothe, Julie Galef, Greta Christina, Joe Nickell, Rebecca Watson, Victor Stenger, and J. T. Eberhard.

The next morning at 10:00 we heard Sam Singleton delivering a humorous sermon titled “Patriarchs and Penises.” Sam Singleton is a persona created by Roger Scott Jackson. Singleton is on the internet. If you Google his name, you can view some of his creative work.
We headed back toward Sand Springs after we heard Singleton. As we passed through Joplin, we stopped and ate at the Golden Corral.

It's a new day

Today is Friday. Yesterday was Thursday. Tomorrow is Saturday. What more can I say?

Steve Martin sings

Here is a video of Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers singing "Atheists Don't Have No Songs."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNesm6F27U

Cecil and Sybil

This is my grandmother on the left, with her cousin, Sybil, on the right.

Close up from photo below

James Abraham Maize

James A. Maize

This is a photo of my great grandfather, James A. Maize.

J. A. Maize, c. 1922

This is my great grandfather on my father's side, James Abraham Maize. This picture was taken in Dora, Alabama, a small town just to the north of Birmingham. The house in the background on the right is where my father was born. This photo was taken around 1922, the year my father was born.

On the beach

In the summer of 1963, my biology class mowed yards to raise the money to pay for a trip to the Gulf Coast. Here I am in Biloxi on a pier that extended out into the water. At this time I would have been 15 years old. We stayed in the motel seen in the background on the left.

About those quotes

Recently I quoted from The Woman in White, a novel by Wilkie Collins. First, I chose six words, followed by six phrases, and finally six sentences. Some of you might have thought I lost it. However, the project had more do with what was permissible than with any issue related to my sanity.

I am currently reading this novel by Collins. Years ago I read The Moonstone by the same author. Collins uses a similar technique in moving the narrative forward in both novels: he has the characters tell the story by quoting their own words found in their diaries.

Sentences

Miss Fairlie plays delightfully.
.
The moon was full and broad in the dark blue starless sky, and the broken ground of the heath looked wild enough in the mysterious light to be hundreds of miles away from the great city that lay beneath it.
.
I had mechanically turned in this latter direction, and was strolling along the lonely high-road--idly wondering, I remember, what the Cumberland young ladies would look like--when, in one moment, every drop of blood in my body was brought to a stop by the touch of a hand laid lightly and suddenly on my shoulder from behind me.
.
He has been punished, not because he said he saw a ghost last night, but because he is too impudent and too obstinate to listen to reason, and because he persists in saying he saw the ghost after I have told him that no such thing can possibly be.
.
Where is the woman who has ever really torn from her heart the image that has been once fixed in it by a true love?
.
The instant he spoke those words, Laura threw down the pen--looked at him with an expression in her eyes which, throughout all my experience of her, I had never seen in them before, and turned her back on him in dead silence.

Phrases

strayed into the plantations
chance which was now offered to me
a strange person in her manners
called away to speak to a strange gentleman
the creature lay lifeless under our hands
the want of his honest advice

Words

repairs
alterations
estimates
workpeople
reference
house

Political commentary

President Obama, having inherited a tanking economy, has taken steps to revive the economy, primarily through spending measures. He has tried to pump money into the economy to "kickstart" the spending again. Now with the Republicans in control of the House of Rep. and their being concerned with putting the brakes on spending, what lies ahead?

Is there any chance of a depression in our future? We will have to wait and see.

I would like to know what you think. Leave a comment below.

Mary Fallin

Tonight on the Oklahoma News Report there was a segment on governor-elect Mary Fallin. The report featured her hometown of Tecumseh. Part of the footage was shot in Gliori's Restaurant. It might be possible to view the report online.

I downloaded a new book to my Kindle tonight. It is The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, a contemporary of Charles Dickens. I read The Moonstone by Collins back in my college days. I remember enjoying it.

Vote

Tomorrow is election day. I would like to encourage everyone to vote!

Walking and memory

I found the following in my inbox this morning. Can't vouch for its accuracy.

Walking about six miles a week appears to protect against brain shrinkage in old age, which in turn helps stem the onset of memory problems and cognitive decline, new research reveals.

"We have always been in search of the drug or the magic pill to help treat brain disorders," noted Kirk I. Erickson, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and the study's lead author. "But really what we are after may be, at least partially, even simpler than that. Just by walking regularly, and so maintaining a little bit of moderate physical activity, you can reduce your likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease and [can] spare brain tissue."

I was walking a mile or two on average each day this year, up until March when I developed a disk herniation. I had back surgery on Oct. 4, and I am still taking it easy while my back heals. I will be glad when I can get back on the walking trail.

Bad news from Tulsa World

This morning the Tulsa World had some bad news. On the front page under the heading "Poll: GOP leads almost all races," are these words "the climate is ripe for a Republican takeover of statewide offices." That is a quote from Bill Shepard, president of SoonerPoll.

We have had it good the past eight years with the leadership of Governor Brad Henry. I am afraid things will be going downhill for the next four years (unless you are a part of the wealthy elite).

Dad in Fairbanks, AK

How far is it from Fairbanks to ___________?

Dad on a boat in Whitehorse, AK

Here is my dad in Whitehorse, Alaska. I don't know who the woman in this photo is. Date: Sept. 7, 1985

Dad in Alaska

Here is my father in Alaska. Date: Sept. 7, 1985.

Oklahoma News Report

Tonight, I watched the “Oklahoma News Report.” I have been watching ONR more frequently in the run up to the mid-term elections. It comes on at 6:30 pm – the same time as “Wheel of Fortune,” but it is on OETA.

The reporter, Dick Pryor, said that the state legislature had decided to not look into the tax exemptions granted to the oil and gas industry and other industries in the state. Wow! I guess we know who is calling the shots in Oklahoma.

Mary Fallin, the Republican candidate for governor, has called for the elimination of the state income tax. This tax accounts for 40% of all state revenue. Would she try to replace it with another revenue source? Mary is leading in the polls and it looks like she will be the next governor. It will be interesting to see what she does once she is sworn in to office.

Dad with Merrill (Bubba) Borders

Here is an early photo of my father with Merrill "Bubba" Borders.

Dad sitting at a desk

This is my father sitting at a desk in Germany at the end of WWII.

Another veiw of my dad

I don't know where this photo was taken.

Dad in Nettleton, MS

This photo was shot on June 22, 1949.

Dad at the CTC machine

This picture was taken at Amory, MS in the early 1960s. Here my dad is sitting at the CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) machine. This machine controls railroad switches from Memphis to Pensacola.

Young servicemen

Here is my dad (on left) standing next to my Uncle George.

Uniform swap

Here is my dad (on left) with my Uncle George. They have traded uniforms for this picture.

In Washington, D.C.

This photo was taken in Washington, D.C. in September 1955. Dad is pretending to be holding the Washington Monument in his hand.

Grandparents with dad

Here are George Luther Nerren, Sr., standing next to my father, Paul James Nerren (wearing the navel uniform of his brother George), and my grandmother, Cecil Nerren, standing on the right.

As a babe in arms

Here is an early photo of me, taken in 1948. My dad is holding me outside our first house in Nettleton.

My dad as an nfant

The Nerren boys

Here are the three Nerren boys on the beach in Pensacola. FL. From left are Floyd, George, and Paul. This picture was taken in September 1938.

Cemetery

This is a photo of my father in an old cemetery. Who left that car door open?

Dad in Carbon Hill

This is a picture of my father in Carbon Hill, AL.

Northeast corner of 933 S. Pickwick

This is my father standing at the northeast corner of my house in Springfield, MO.

Wedding day photo

This is a picture of my father taken on his wedding day, November 26, 1946. In the background is the first little house we lived in. Of course, I did not appear until 1948. Where was I before then? Same "place" I was in 1848, 1748, 1648, 1548, etc. I will be back there for the celebration of my 100th birthday, unbeknownest to me.

Southwest corner of 933 S. Pickwick Ave.

Southwest corner of 933 S. Pickwick Ave. in Springfield, MO. This is my father at the gate.

Paul and Floyd

On the left is my dad in his army uniform standing next to my Uncle Floyd. This picture was taken in Carbon Hill, AL in the 1940s.

My father seated

Here is my father seated. Date probably around 1946 to 48. Location unknown.

Dad on bike

Here is my father riding a bicycle, date unknown.

Jazz Heritage Society

Not long ago I joined the Jazz Heritage Society. Think of it as a book club for jazz aficinadoes, but instead of purchasing books you purchase jazz CDs. A short bit from several tracks of the CDs they sell can be heard by clicking on the appropraite tab. Click on Tracks and Soundclips; then click on the track shown below.

http://www.jazzheritage.com/product/J-J-Johnson-Quadromania-Jazz-Edition/8018719

Uncle George with my father

This is my Uncle George on the left and my father on the right.

Earthquake rattles Oklahoma

For the moments following 9:06 this morning, an earthquake shook the state. It was felt as far north as Kansas and as far south as Texas.

I recall what I was doing at the time of the quake. I was the first up this morning. I had just put a cup of Maxwell House instant coffee in the microwave for J. We were sitting at the dining room table; J was standing at the microwave. We were chatting about I don't recall what. 9:06 came and 9:06 went, and we did not feel a thing. We sat through the entire quake and did not even notice a thing.

We got out a ran a few errands. When we got back home around 1 pm, I decided to take a nap. I slept until almost 5:30 when J awoke me for the 5:30 pm news.

J is going to make some changes to the way I blog which may result in several of you who read my blog being unable to access it. For some of you, this may be the final blog post from me you will ever read.

Paul Nerren at Washington, DC

Here is a picture of my father in front of the Capitol building in Washington, taken in 1955.

The day in review

Inasmuch as I am temporarily somewhat limited in my getting around, I find that I do not have as much to write about as before. Here we are in October, and I have done few volkswalks this year.

On the bright side, I called Vicki, my cousin who lives in Houston, to thank her for the Amazon Gift Card, which she purchased for me. It is such a thoughtful gift.

Today I got out for the first time following my surgery. We went to the library. J drove. On the way home, we stopped at the Crescent and got an order of boneless chicken. We must be good customers there, for the clerk at the main checkout inquired about me. Am I famous or notorous?

My father (up close)

Here is a close-up of my father from the previous posting.

Sixth grade class, 1934

My father is standing in the front row on the left side.

Early photo of my father

Here is an early photo of my father, Paul James Nerren. The location I would guess to be Dora, AL.

The Nerren boys

This is a photo of the Nerren boys: George, Floyd, and Paul.

In Carbon Hill

My father and his parents on the 1940s. The location is Carbon Hill, AL.