Archive for May, 2008

Hot and quiet on the front

May 18, 2008

Today we may break records for the highest outdoor temp on this date. A prediction of 94 before the day is over should do it.

I fully intend to empty out my old downstairs living room today. Just get rid of it. I’m taking books from authors to our local mailer for recycling, throwing stuff away, and putting some items out on the front lawn for people to pick up. The other day I put out a box of new books that I don’t want any more, and within twenty minutes the whole box was gone. I’d so much rather do that than throw books away.

Stopped by my cousin’s place on my way home from church yesterday. That happened because I drove home on Beech instead of Linden to save a few drops of gasoline. I saw action at the Eastham place and pulled in for a short visit. Tom says he hasn’t had any construction work for two and a half months, but he’s spent $8,000 and a lot of time fixing up the old house. Putting in new windows and repainting the exterior right now. Tom says he’s never had air-conditioning, not even when he and Diane lived in sweltering hot southern California. Kathy is always friendly and full of life.

I attended my bro’s class, taught by Marvin Moore yesterday, continuing on studying Romans. About 20 minutes of the 80 minutes in class were actually spent in the Bible, but it was an enjoyable visit anyway. Yesterday afternoon some of Dave’s class took their lawn chairs out to the upper dam (Lake Lowell) just to sit in the shade. On the first hot week end of the year, we expected to see hundreds of people there, and we were right. But we found shade and comfort to sit and visit anyway. I took Rusty, and she was well behaved around Leo, the miniature greyhound that belongs to my bro Dave. They usually get along well if they’re both outdoors.

I hope to get some lawn mowing done this evening before sunset. I think if I start mowing about 8 pm I should finish before dark.

The best time…

May 9, 2008

Life is good. Sunny weather all the way up to 65 or 70. My porch is a great place to reflect, and the dark green outdoor carpet makes me feel like I’m in the woods. I’ve been tearing out raspberry bushes to make a nook for contemplation in a corner of my property and to get rid of the ugly bushes. I wish I knew a better way. Clank, pop, cut. Stomp, pull, drag. I look like a case of chickenpox with all the thorn bites that penetrated my clothes. I still have a few days left on that project, and then I’ll start trying to make things a little bit prettier.

I’ve put off doing real work for about as long as I could and am rested and ready to get back to the grindstone full speed.

Happy Birthday for the 67th time

May 4, 2008

Yes, it’s true. I’ve crossed over into the world of people who are 67 or older. That’s a small accomplishment, I suppose. US Presidents who made it to age 67 but not all the way to their 68th birthday include George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, and Benjamin Harris. Gerald Ford holds the record for the longest-living US President, dying at the age of 93 in July of 2006.

One encouraging note I picked up somewhere is that elderly people who get going with healthful living can lengthen their lifespan. That means more fruit and veggies, JG, less ice cream and bread, and lots more exercise. Today I put in about three hours working on my lawn, but it’s still a mess. I am determined to get rid of all of the raspberries that have crept into my lawn and the space between my garage and the fence on the east side. I’d rather be hiking in the mountains, but I have to get in shape first.

JG