It's Only 9 PM (or so)

So, I left work a little late tonight, but got the cats fed, and a sandwich made so I could sit down and watch the Yankees and the Red Sox play baseball. I decided to take an exercise holiday tonight, although I could have used the Gazelle Elliptical while I watched the game.

It is only 9 PM CDT or a little after.  It feels like it has been a long night of baseball. It has, the game started at 6 PM CDT.  Typically, a Yankee vs. Red Sox game lasts longer than 3 hours, and this game is no exception.

It is a good baseball night.

The Yankees and the Red Sox

So this is baseball heaven:  Watching the Yankees http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy and the Red Sox http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos play baseball.  It does not matter the venue, although tonight it is Fenway Park https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenway_Park.  It is currently a close game, in the 7th inning.

For the regular reader, you know that I am a fan of both the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.  I am thrilled to hear tonight that these two teams have 7 more match ups this season, although, the likelihood of my seeing those games on TV is slim or none.

I do not care who wins tonight.  My favorite Yankees - Red Sox scenario is a close game, such as we have so far tonight, and extra innings. 

What is your favorite baseball scenario?

SPRINT Discount - Huh!

So, back in the spring, I found a SPRINT http://www.sprint.com/?INTNAV=LeftNav:Logo#!/ discount opportunity.  As an employee of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center http://ttuhsc.edu/ I qualified for a discount from SPRINT.  I am still qualified and  eligible for the discount, but the plan I chose is not eligible for the discount.  That is a SHAM and a CROCK.  What deceitful advertising that is. 

Except for a few glitches, I have been generally satisfied with SPRINT.  But this is now glitch number 3.  How many glitches do I put up with?  I don't know. Most people who talk about their cell phone services also have glitches, and several people I know pay much more than I do for monthly service.

So, I feel like I am at the mercy of my cell phone plan.   Oh well. It is what I chose. And I chose it knowing what it is.

Baseball

I was watching the Texas Rangers baseball game tonight http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tex because I like baseball, and it was a time filler until the local news started.

I saw an advertisement on the backboard that the New York Yankees http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy and the Boston Red Sox http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos will be on ESPN on Monday night.  My original plans for Monday night after work was to go to the pool to exercise, and then go to the Grove Library to get a couple of books on my reading list.

I can exercise on the Gazelle elliptical http://www.gazelleglider.com/how-gazelle-works.php and on Monday night, go to the library on Tuesday night.

Finding the States

One of the computer games that I really like is to work on finding the states in the United States http://sheppardsoftware.com/USA_Geography/USA_G2_1024.html.  This sight will give you various options for finding the states. I tried to send you to the one in which there are no outlines or clues, except rivers, to help you to place the states.  I can usually do this with less than 2 errors, although sometimes my computer betrays me, and says I made a move I did not try to make. Most of my errors are less than 10 miles.  But I rarely get it perfect.

If you back out of this site, you will find all kinds of geography identification games for the United States and the world.  I very good site.

Lazy

Today was a  lazy day.  I did not sleep in.  But I started and finished a book today.  I went to the pool, and started laundry.  Get that.  It is 8:30 PM and I have not finished laundry.  I am being lazy today. 

I think I am allowed.  I have worked hard this summer to take care of myself.  And the days I did not do much, I was not feeling well.

Today, I took a day for myself.

A Double Header

It has been some weeks since I have been able to watch the New York Yankees http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/ticketing/singlegame.jsp?c_id=nyy&y=2015&mlbkw=ma-x-KBsmIlCF or the  Boston Red Sox  http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bosbaseball teams on TV. 

Today, Fox Sports 1 http://www.foxsports.com/watch/foxsports1 aired both of their games.  The Boston Red Sox against the New York Mets (the Red Sox won) and the New York Yankees against the Atlanta Braves (the Yankees won) .

It was a good double header. Yeah!

A Different Exercise

So, I left work late tonight, not planned but as the result of being "task oriented" and not "time (clock) oriented."  I wanted to finish what I had started.

When I left work, there were storm clouds building, but the storms were some 30 or so miles away.  I had thought to go to the pool tonight, but by the time I got home, fed the cats, and got my swim bag together, it was late enough that a trip to pool was not practical (I would not have had much time in the pool.)  And, if a storm blew in, my time would have been even shortened more.

I decided to use the Gazelle Glider elliptical http://www.gazelleglider.com/gazelle-edge.php. It has been years since I have been able to use the elliptical.  I replaced the batteries in the timer/distance tracker, and went after it.  It took me a while to do a mile.  I had thought I might do more than a mile, but when I reached a mile, I was done. The good thing about the elliptical is that I can exercise while I watch TV.

A friend of mine talked about varying exercise: One benefit is that it prevents boredom with one type of exercise or routine. Another benefit is that it challenges different muscles. 

I am just so pleased that I can exercise again.

Lubbock High School Westerners Band

So, on August 27, 2015, I went to the Lubbock High School Westerners home opening football game against the Sweetwater Mustangs https://www.facebook.com/groups/220993337932514/.

I went because a friend's son is in the marching band http://lhs.lubbockisd.org/pages/LUBBOCKHS/School_Info/Lubbock_High_Videos/LHS_Band, and I wanted to support her and her son.  I love watching marching bands.  I was impressed at the size and performance of the Lubbock High School Westerners marching band.

The football game was not so good, and the Westerners were soundly beaten by the Mustangs 56 to 7  http://www.kcbd.com/clip/11800952/end-zone-week-1-Thursday.

It was a beautiful night.  There was a full moon. The night air was mild and refreshing.

The football was not good. The band performance was.

Taki and the Baby Blanket

A few of years ago, I knitted a baby blanket that did not meet my standards, so I kept it.  Recently, Taki has taken possession of it.  In the past, I have seen her grab an afghan in her mouth, and knead on it.

Well, I am seeing her do this with this baby blanket regularly and frequently. Not only does she knead on the baby blanket, but as she does so, she and the blanket move as she kneads. 

Sometimes, I happen upon her when she is doing this.  At first, she would totally stop, and move away from the blanket, as if she thought or knew she was doing something wrong. I have never stopped her from this behavior, or corrected her in any way.  So, now, she does not always stop her behavior if I happen upon her, although sometimes, she does. But,the baby blanket moves around the house, when I am not home,  which tells me that Taki spends some time kneading and moving the blanket. Good for her. 

My hope is that she will be comfortable doing this behavior, and continue to do it, even if I see her doing it!

Stairs

I grew up in a house with stairs. Whether it was the front door, or the back door, we had to climb stairs to get into the house.  That was a function of the fact that the house was built on the side of a hill.

The house in which I grew up had a basement and an attic.  It had two stories in between, which were designed to be two separate apartments.  As we grew as a family, we inhabited both stories, making most of the upstairs as bedrooms, but using the upstairs kitchen as a pool room and storage room.  The point is, we had to climb stairs daily and regularly in the house in which I grew up.  The stairs were steep, and had a wicked turn a little before reaching the top.

I live in a different place now, and most houses in this part of the world are one level, or maybe, split level, with one or two steps in the house.  Occasionally, a house has two stores, especially in the high dollar homes built in the newer additions in the south and west of the city.  Some, few, have basements. Some have detached storm cellars, used on rare occasions when tornadoes are possible. Some of these houses have attics, and if they do, the attics are unfinished and generally accessed by ladders or pull-down stairs. 

So, we do not see many stairs in this part of the world. I work in a building that has stairs, but for safety reasons, we are discouraged from using the stairs. I have worked in other places that had stairs, and I used to use them, for the exercise. But no more.

My most usual experience with stairs in the last few years has been when I go to the Lady Raider or Texas Tech Raiders basket ball games in the United Supermarket Arena http://www.texastech.com/facilities/fac-usa.html. I do not use the elevator to climb to the concourse, but climb the stairs, sometimes outside, sometimes, inside, and then walk down stairs to seating.

Other than that, I do little that involves steps.  I had been doing physical therapy routines at the Covenant Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx pool. Depending upon the routine, sometimes I did step exercises. 

Tonight, I went to Lowrey Field http://www.lubbockisd.org/files/_uNEgy_/16a1007a1bd59f713745a49013852ec4/LISD_101513_AD_Brochure_Web.pdf in Lubbock, Texas to watch a high school football game.  We had to climb stairs to get to seating and to find the best perch for our purpose.  We climbed stairs up and down. Sometimes, we climbed, up and down, over the rows of seating.  This has been my first experience with stairs and steps since last March.  I felt unsettled, and had some touch of vertigo.  I also had some physical sensation making me concerned if I could do the stairs. But I did!  With no problem.  Wow!  That is exciting for me.  

Listen to Your Body

I thought I was doing well starting the day today.  A co-worker told me I sounded congested, and as I listened to patients, sometimes their words were muffled, which made me realize I had some head congestion that was affecting my hearing. (Cotton head.) I apologized for same to my patients.

The same co-worker told me I looked "hurried."  Well, I was focused on getting to my office and going to the pod where I was scheduled to do a group.  I am often "tunnel vision focused" when I have a task to accomplish.  Some people think I am rude.  This co-worker recognized it as being goal or task oriented vs. not anti-social.

It was a full day, but not a difficult day. 

I had thought I would go to the Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx to walk and/or swim in the pool tonight. I saw the clouds building, but a check of the National Weather Service http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/ indicated that there were no storms in the vicinity of Lubbock. I had decided that if there were storms in the area that closed the pool, I would walk. I was set.

But, when I got out to the car, I realized that I had "hit my wall."  I wanted to just sit in the car and close my eyes.  My lower back hurt, which happens when I am tired, and is usually assuaged by analgesic patches or heat. I wanted to close my eyes and rest.  But the parking lot of a prison is not the place to do that.

As I drove home, I debated my plans for the night, and decided that I should 'listen to my body."  I felt feverish for a while when I was home, but did not check my temperature. I did some computering, while I ate a sandwich. Then, I sat back, relaxed, closed my eyes, opened my eyes after a while, read, and just chilled.  I really think this is what I needed to do tonight: relax; chill; just be.

I am not very energetic right now, but feeling less exhausted. I will go to bed early tonight.

As important as it is to stick to a routine, to push yourself, to keep going, it is also important to listen to your body.  Which is what I did tonight.

Solitaire

I do not remember when I learned to play Solitaire.  I think it might have been when I was in junior high, but maybe it was high school.  I have long played solitaire as a mind-numbing activity.  I play various versions, and even keep score for one version.   I cannot recall the name of that version, but that does not matter. I remember how I keep score, when I use a real deck of cards.

On the computer, I play Klondike Solitaire, which is one of the first versions I learned to play, and Spider Solitaire, which I did not learn to play until I had a computer.  I play on my IPhone, and find it very soothing.

My best friend from college reminded me, several years ago, that I could play Solitaire for hours on end, and waste time or while away the hours, depending upon your perspective (and mine), and the reason I was playing Solitaire.  Solitaire has been a way for me to relax enough to go to sleep, and I still use it as such, even on the computer.
   
I find Solitaire to be very relaxing.  I also like to play Solitaire when I am watching TV, especially a sporting event or a rerun, or a movie I have seen before.  I also play Solitaire when I am in a nervous waiting situation.

Solitaire is also called Patience Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_patience_games. The number of games is unimaginable.  But a few are common.  Mr. Hoyle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Hoyle is known as an authority of card games, including poker and Solitaire.

In the movie The Hellfighters  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfighters_(film)  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063060/combined  one of the characters, Madelyn refers to Solitaire as a the game of Patience, and the number of types of Solitaire that Mr. Hoyle depicts.  She also references "cheating" to win. Many people who play Solitaire cheat to win.   I do not. 

Swimming

I am really enjoying the opportunity to continue attending the Covenant Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx.  Although the water is cooler than I would like, at this time of year, it is indeed refreshing.  I enjoy the social interaction and the physical activity.  This is one investment I am very glad that I have made.

Weather Change

A cold front blew in today.  It was supposed to be much cooler. My outside thermometer said 91° but the breeze that came with the front made it feel much cooler, even in the direct sunlight.  There were some clouds and thunder mid-day, to the north and northwest, and less developed clouds to the south, early evening, but no rain.

The air is cooler tonight, in the low 70s.  That is nice.

There are some clouds to the south. I doubt that we will get any rain tonight.  As much rain as we had earlier this year, we could use more:  the high 90s dry everything out quickly.  Although we have had little over 100° temperature, the high 90s wreck havoc.

I Have Not Seen The Swallows Lately

I have enjoyed watching the swallows this summer.  The parents exhibited various emotions: dismay at the half-destroyed nest, diligence at tending the eggs, delight at the birth of the young.  I really tried not to get into their space, but watched as the young grew. 

One day, as a I sat outside in the shade, resting while I was trying to do yard work, the father swooped above me over and over again.  I think he was saying how happy he was to have his family.  I hope he was not distressed by my presence:  he did not make to attack or come to close.  His swooping was beautiful!

I have not seen the swallows swooping around lately. Tonight, there is one adult on the conduit near the nest, but the nest appears empty.  The guano pile has not expanded recently, and it is time to clean it off the porch floor.

The City Parks in Lubbock

I took a drive tonight, along the Canyon Lakes Parks in Lubbock, From Dunbar Historical Lake (Lake 6) to the Buddy Holly Park and Lake (Lake 1) http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/parks-recreation/top-navigation-menu-items/parks/attractions  http://texastrails.org/traildetail.cfm?id=347.

I am always pleased to see how many people use these parks.  There were gatherings all along the way  Joyland Amusement Park http://www.joylandpark.com/ was not too busy, but it was too early for the lights, which always makes it look busier. It has certainly expanded since the last time I was there, which was in the late 1980s. 

There are a lot of people in Lubbock who use the parks.  That is nice.

It Did Rain

Wednesday morning I awoke to hear an electric storm blow through.  I could see the lightning, and there was some rain. The storm did not last long.  But, a second storm started to blow through.  When I went to work, there was some rain, but by late morning, it was gone.

However, the air was cooler and fresher. It was nice. It was a wonderful evening for a walk, which I enjoyed very much.

Tonight, the air is cooler again.  That is nice...

Eating Out

For years, and years and years, I rarely ate out.  It was because I was frugal. It was because I could cook at home as good as food I got at restaurants. It was because eating out did not appeal to me.

Some several years ago, I was given a gift card to eat out.  I took a book, ordered my food, and really enjoyed just being able to sit and read while someone waited on me. After that, I started going out about once a month to eat out, taking a book, and just sitting back and relaxing.

I also was going once a month to eat out with the book club folks.  Which I really enjoy: I enjoy the camaraderie, and the opportunity to eat without having to cook or clean up.

Over the last couple of years, I have started eating out more and more. I just like being able to go somewhere, order my food, have someone bring it to me, or being able to pick it up, and just being able to sit somewhere and eat without having to cook or clean up. 

Some 20 plus years ago, I had gotten into the habit of buying food off the deli counter at a local grocery store. But the habit died due to a change in life style. But now, I even prefer to do that than cook.

Maybe I am lazy. Maybe I just do not care to cook. Mostly, I like the variety without having to deal with cooking, cleaning, and leftovers.

Reading

For reasons I choose not to share on the blog, I have had the opportunity to do a lot of reading lately.  I have really enjoyed that, for the most part. Sometimes, I got restless because I was ready to do other things.

But, I really like to read.  I have been reading the baseball mystery series by Terry Soos. I have continued to read the Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson.  I read the Cain trilogies by Miriam Grace Monfredo. I started the Longmire series by Craig Johnson, I continued reading Sarah Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski series, I read some Dick Francis, and Amy Tan.

I just really like to read.  I like to curl up on a sofa, or rocking chair, or chaise lounge, or overstuffed chair, and read.

I can get so involved in reading that I am oblivious to what is occurring around me.  My mother used to get really upset with me when that happened, because she thought I was ignoring her, when I really was not even hearing her.

I can get so immersed in a book that as I read The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson, set in the Wyoming mountains in the early fall (cold and grey weather) I was so transported to that weather that I really did not relate that Lubbock was experiencing almost 100° full sunny weather.

I like that. I like reading a book that takes me out of my current experience and into the world of the characters in the book. Not all authors can do that for me.  But for me, that is  the point of reading:  Whether it is fact or fiction, an author that can transfix me to a different time and place is a gem, and what I am looking for when I read.

The truth is, if I am reading a book like that, I can stay up all night reading, and not be tired the next day.  Because the transfixation is so relaxing and invigorating to me, I am not tired. I cannot do that several days in a row, but one or two, I can.

I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to do a lot of reading recently, and I am so grateful that reading is a pastime that is so pleasing to me. 

If you do not read, try it.  You might like it.

Rain Would Be Nice

Earlier this year, we had lots of rain.  So much so, that the water table was full, and the ground was saturated, and when it rained, there was no place for the water to go.

It has stopped raining, and the heat has arrived, late this year, but hot.  We have some cooler days, and chances of rain are sometimes at 20% or 30%.  But what that really means is that for our extended South Plains area, there is a 20-30% chance any one area will get rain.

There was a heavy storm southwest of Lubbock last night, near Brownfield, with possible street flooding.  The clouds were heavy to the northwest, but no rain in Lubbock.

When I drove to work this morning, there were sprinkles.  I walked from the parking lot to the Unit in the sprinkles.  I got wet, but dried off almost as fast as the sprinkles wet me down.  

We still have those sporadic chances of rain.

If we do not get it, I need to water the trees.

We Want a Treat

So, I had a social activity tonight, but after work, before I left for my social activity, I fed the cats.

I arrived back home a little before 9 PM.  The cats were glad to see me, but they let me know they wanted treats.  Well, sometimes, most times, I cannot resist, and such was the case tonight.

I put out one kind of treat, and Taki started to eat, but noticed that Haiku was not.  She was holding out for a different treat.  So, Taki stopped eating.  I put a second kind of treat in their dish, and that seemed to satisfy! 

Well, my girls tell me what they want.

The Heat

This is highly unusual, but Lubbock, Texas reached its first 100° day of the year on 8/6/15, that last 100° day being last September.  We have had a lot of rain this year so far, and the temperatures have been warm but not so oppressively so until the last three weeks.  So, the temperature has flirted with the 100° mark, but not made it until yesterday.  It happened again today, and probably will for some days to come.  There is no rain in sight.

We have been fortunate regarding the rain and the lack of oppressive heat. We live in semi-arid territory, in semi-desert, so what can we expect.  I am grateful for the respite we have had.

I can still get an evening walk in, if not every day, than every other day, braving the heat as it starts to cool down, after 7:30 PM, when the neighborhood is in the shade and the breeze helps to cool things off.  Even so, the pavement is hot on the feet.

It is West Texas.  It is summer.  It is to be expected.

The Republican Presidential Debate

My interest in politics waxes and wanes.  I am only mildly interested in the United States Presidential pre-primary races.  But last night, there was a "debate" of 10 of the Republican announced candidates that was nationally televised http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republican-presidential-debate-numbers/story?id=32937805.  I did not see anything else on TV that I wanted to watch, so I decided to watch the debate.

It was mildly interesting and entertaining.  For the most part, the participants performances were pretty much at the level I would have expected.  My opinion of most of the participants did not change much. 

I actually hoped Jeb Bush would perform better.  I feel sorry for Donald Trump.  He is like an oversized child in a sand box, who is tolerated because he is a bully and people like to laugh at him.  What is really sad is that the American public takes him seriously.  He is a caricature of a political candidate. He so wants to be accepted that I do not think he realizes that a lot of serious people are laughing at him, at best, and denigrating him at worst. He has a lot of public support because he is bold, outlandish, radical and straightforward, but he has no traits that would lend him to be the leader of the strongest nation in the world.  His business history indicates he is ruthless, and goes for the bottom line no matter the cost to his companies and their employees. And he does not care whose toes he steps on in the mean while.

The one candidate that I felt scored well in my book was Gov. John Kasich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kasich.  He could at least say this is what I did in Ohio, and it was successful in some degree.  He was human and humane. 

I may or may not watch the next debate.

The Air is Dead Still

I just came back from my evening walk.  What a wonderful thing to be able to do!  I really enjoy going for walks.

Tonight, I went a little earlier than I had been going:  I was waiting until after 8 PM because the temperatures were in the 90s, and after 8 PM, my neighborhood is heavily shaded, and often breezy.  But, tonight, I did not wait.  The temperature was 86°, feels like 87°.  The air is heavy and still. There are isolated storms in the area, which is overcast.  The likelihood of Lubbock getting a storm is small. It was small yesterday, but I did get rain in my neighborhood last night. However, there was less than 1/4" in the rain gauge.  There was lots of thunder and lightning around, though.  I opened my windows, and while the outside air was cool, there was not enough breeze to blow in and cool down my house, not an unusual phenomenon this time of year.

I will still hope for some breeze and rain, but no severe weather.