This is the time of year when severe thunderstorms move across the South Plains, with strong winds, damaging hail, rain coming down so hard it floods because the plains are flat and there is nowhere for the water to go. These storms can build quickly, and become severe even quicker.
We had storms move in last night. After 9 PM, we had lightning, wind and rain. Actually, the wind kicked up the dust even earlier and cause power outages because of downed power lines. But the storms did not become severe.
Today was a beautiful day, and the clouds did not start building until early evening. About 6 PM, I realized that my joints were feeling really "stove up," the term I use when they are stiff and sore, and predict a change in barometric pressure. I moved around to get limber, and I was enjoying sitting in my back yard reading in the early evening, and began to hear the thunder rumble. I moved inside, just as I did last night, because I know the danger of being outside when there are lightning strikes even as far away as 15 miles. When I moved in tonight, I check the weather, and there was nothing sever predicted for Lubbock, unlike Sunday night. But within about 45 minutes, the severe weather had hit and we even had rain and marble sized hail. I would say I moved inside at about the right time. My joints told me the storms tonight would be more severe than they were last night.
My joints are usually correct. Very often, the change in weather is barometric pressure change with high winds being the biggest weather indicator. But almost always, I can tell when that is going to happen.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Memorial Day Ceremony, City of Lubbock Cemetery
I went to the Memorial Day Ceremony at the City of Lubbock Cemetery today http://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/memorial-day-service-at-the-historic-city-of-lubbock-cemetery-on-may-30-2016. It was a simple ceremony, and very brief, about a half hour. The guest speaker, Colonel Dave Lewis, United States Air Force (Retired), talked about everyone who puts their life on the line for their country, and that they pay for their service "in the currency of blood." I thought that was a very interesting way to talk about the ultimate sacrifice that is made by many of our freedom fighters: military, police, and other first responders. It is an accurate description: because even if these freedom fighters do not become injured or die during service, they are putting their lives on the line every time they respond on behalf of our country. They risk their blood. Every time.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
War Movies
I think I am weird. Well, I actually know that I am weird. And one of the weird things about me is that I like war movies. I do not like war, and my mantra for war is "Support our troops, Pray for peace." But I like war movies. I do not like the blood and gut and gore of war movies. I like the heroism, the bravery, the devotion and commitment to a cause of war heroes.
So, on weekends (or even weekdays) that commemorate veterans and war days, I usually look to one or more television channel to play a lot of war movies. Memorial Day, D-Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day, Pearl Harbor Day are times when this typically happens. This year, Turner Classic Movies http://www.tcm.com/ played war movies. But I was not particularly impressed. Hmmm. Some of the movies early on in the week were okay, but this weekend they played war comedies. And, in my mind, not even good war comedies. Maybe I am just not in the mood for comedies. Maybe I am seeing Memorial Day as a serious day to commemorate our veterans and their families and friends who sacrifice so much so the military members can serve.
Well, I should not complain too loudly. No other TV channel even recognized Memorial Day except PBS, with its National Memorial Day Concert!
So, on weekends (or even weekdays) that commemorate veterans and war days, I usually look to one or more television channel to play a lot of war movies. Memorial Day, D-Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day, Pearl Harbor Day are times when this typically happens. This year, Turner Classic Movies http://www.tcm.com/ played war movies. But I was not particularly impressed. Hmmm. Some of the movies early on in the week were okay, but this weekend they played war comedies. And, in my mind, not even good war comedies. Maybe I am just not in the mood for comedies. Maybe I am seeing Memorial Day as a serious day to commemorate our veterans and their families and friends who sacrifice so much so the military members can serve.
Well, I should not complain too loudly. No other TV channel even recognized Memorial Day except PBS, with its National Memorial Day Concert!
Memorial Day Rememberances
This evening, May 29, 2016, I was able to attend the Second Baptist Church Memorial Day Service http://www.secondb.com/calendar-item/memorial-day-service-2/. It was an hour and 45 minutes, and it ended too soon. It was very moving. This is the 4th time this church has had such a service, and the second time I had the opportunity to attend. I was honored to attend.
The service included song, pledges, prayer, and testimonials. There was a collection for the Honor Flight https://www.honorflight.org/. There was the opportunity to thank the veterans and their families.
I came home and was able to watch the rerun of the PBS presentation of The National Memorial Day Concert http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/about/the-concert/. I am so glad that it is being rerun, because I wanted to watch it, but I wanted to go to the live service at Second Baptist. It was raining in Washington DC, so the crowd was smaller than usual, but as the hosts said, our military have served in worse conditions, so the show went on!
I am honored to participate in Memorial Day in this way!
The service included song, pledges, prayer, and testimonials. There was a collection for the Honor Flight https://www.honorflight.org/. There was the opportunity to thank the veterans and their families.
I came home and was able to watch the rerun of the PBS presentation of The National Memorial Day Concert http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/about/the-concert/. I am so glad that it is being rerun, because I wanted to watch it, but I wanted to go to the live service at Second Baptist. It was raining in Washington DC, so the crowd was smaller than usual, but as the hosts said, our military have served in worse conditions, so the show went on!
I am honored to participate in Memorial Day in this way!
Friday, May 27, 2016
Taki on My Lap
So, tonight, Taki was on my lap. For a long time. And she let me pet her without trying to bite me, also for a long time. When she started biting, I made her get down. She came back, and stayed on my lap for the longest time before she started trying to biting, and even then, I could re-direct her. She is learning. She then moved to the desk, and kept moving onto the keyboard of the laptop. I get that. It is warm. She likes warm.
I have hope for Taki, that she may do better and better with snuggling and petting. She let me inspect her ears tonight, without objecting or trying to bite. Yes, she is doing better.
I have hope for Taki, that she may do better and better with snuggling and petting. She let me inspect her ears tonight, without objecting or trying to bite. Yes, she is doing better.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Affectionate Cats
Haiku likes to sit with me, especially on the sofa. There was a long period of time when I was not using the sofa, and I was mostly sitting in the computer room, on a folding chair, on the business chair, or on the lounge chair. Haiku would not be happy, but would eventually settle down.
So, a few weeks ago, I started moving to the sofa to read at the end of my day, and Haiku likes that. She climbs on the sofa and curls up, not on me, but near me. Sometimes she will sit on my lap, too.
Taki has taken to jumping on my lap when I sit at the computer. She starts off with snuggling against me, including snuggling against my face and neck. Sometimes she licks my face, my hair, my shirt. But almost always, she advances to trying to bite. I have been trying to teach her since she was a baby that biting is not okay. Now, at least, when she starts to bite, she knows she has to get down. Maybe, some day, she will learn not to bite
Taki also likes to climb on my lap when I am on the sofa. She snuggles at first, but often starts to bite. And, has to get down. She is heavy, too, and sometimes it bothers my back when she sits on my legs, as the pressure pulls at my back. So, I have to move her. She does not relocate well. She just leaves.
So, a few weeks ago, I started moving to the sofa to read at the end of my day, and Haiku likes that. She climbs on the sofa and curls up, not on me, but near me. Sometimes she will sit on my lap, too.
Taki has taken to jumping on my lap when I sit at the computer. She starts off with snuggling against me, including snuggling against my face and neck. Sometimes she licks my face, my hair, my shirt. But almost always, she advances to trying to bite. I have been trying to teach her since she was a baby that biting is not okay. Now, at least, when she starts to bite, she knows she has to get down. Maybe, some day, she will learn not to bite
Taki also likes to climb on my lap when I am on the sofa. She snuggles at first, but often starts to bite. And, has to get down. She is heavy, too, and sometimes it bothers my back when she sits on my legs, as the pressure pulls at my back. So, I have to move her. She does not relocate well. She just leaves.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
A Green Backyard
We have had a lot of rain recently, and my backyard is nice and green. The grass is green. The vines are lush. The trees are well foliated. It is so pleasant to be able to sit in the back yard and enjoy the luscious backyard. In the morning, the air is still cool. In the evening, there is a great deal of shade in my back yard, and it is cool enough to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. I have to use citronella candles and the Off Clip On https://off.com/product/clip-on personal fan to ward off the mosquitoes, but that is doable.
That is so nice! I suspect that before too long, the grass will start to dry out. I do not water my lawn, but I do water the trees.
That is so nice! I suspect that before too long, the grass will start to dry out. I do not water my lawn, but I do water the trees.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Honoring War Veterans
On May 22, the Remember our Heroes group hosted a memorial service for Veterans who commit suicide. It was at the Lubbock War Memorial http://www.americanlegionpost575.org/lubbock-area-veterans-war-memorial. It was well attended and it was a moving ceremony.
One of the few statistics they mentioned was that most Veterans who commit suicide are in their 50's or older. They related this to some Veterans who were in Vietnam, but not exclusively. And they acknowledged that there are many others who also commit suicide.
One of my maternal uncles committed suicide: Edward Crochier was my godfather http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edward-crochier_27468357. He died when I was 18, and away at college. I remember calling home in the middle of the week (usually my calls home were on weekends, because the rates were cheaper during the weekend day. But sometimes, I called home late on a week night, or even during the times when the rates were more expensive in the early evenings on a week night.) My mother was guarded when she asked why I called, and said she was going to wait until we talked on the weekend, to tell my about my uncle's death. I could not get home in time for the funeral.
The blessing was that we had a pastor who was immensely ingrained with the ecumenism and liberalism of Vatican II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council. He told my family about the "assumption of remorse," the sense that someone who attempts suicide, and is successful actually is remorseful for their act before they die, but too late to save themselves. My uncle was buried in a consecrated cemetery and his military service was acknowledged.
This is all vague to me. I remember that my mother's brothers were in the military, but I thought they were all just in the Korean War. Apparently, my Uncle Eddie, and maybe his brothers, were in World War II. I know my paternal Uncle Voss was in World War II. If we asked him about the war, he said "I went to San Diego" or "I was in England." He would not talk about the war. After he died, we found a letter of commendation to him from Admiral Nimitz for his service during D-Day!
I have no real idea why my Uncle Eddie committed suicide. I know he had physical pain, that my mother related to his work as a painter: he hurt his back and was in ongoing pain. I wonder how much of his pain was also emotional from the war. I will never know. I know he had problems with alcohol. All this happened in an era when the emotional and psychological impact of war was not recognized.
I am only grateful that due to the mercy of our pastor, my uncle can be honored as a war hero.
One of the few statistics they mentioned was that most Veterans who commit suicide are in their 50's or older. They related this to some Veterans who were in Vietnam, but not exclusively. And they acknowledged that there are many others who also commit suicide.
One of my maternal uncles committed suicide: Edward Crochier was my godfather http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edward-crochier_27468357. He died when I was 18, and away at college. I remember calling home in the middle of the week (usually my calls home were on weekends, because the rates were cheaper during the weekend day. But sometimes, I called home late on a week night, or even during the times when the rates were more expensive in the early evenings on a week night.) My mother was guarded when she asked why I called, and said she was going to wait until we talked on the weekend, to tell my about my uncle's death. I could not get home in time for the funeral.
The blessing was that we had a pastor who was immensely ingrained with the ecumenism and liberalism of Vatican II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council. He told my family about the "assumption of remorse," the sense that someone who attempts suicide, and is successful actually is remorseful for their act before they die, but too late to save themselves. My uncle was buried in a consecrated cemetery and his military service was acknowledged.
This is all vague to me. I remember that my mother's brothers were in the military, but I thought they were all just in the Korean War. Apparently, my Uncle Eddie, and maybe his brothers, were in World War II. I know my paternal Uncle Voss was in World War II. If we asked him about the war, he said "I went to San Diego" or "I was in England." He would not talk about the war. After he died, we found a letter of commendation to him from Admiral Nimitz for his service during D-Day!
I have no real idea why my Uncle Eddie committed suicide. I know he had physical pain, that my mother related to his work as a painter: he hurt his back and was in ongoing pain. I wonder how much of his pain was also emotional from the war. I will never know. I know he had problems with alcohol. All this happened in an era when the emotional and psychological impact of war was not recognized.
I am only grateful that due to the mercy of our pastor, my uncle can be honored as a war hero.
Time Warp
I am on vacation this week. Yesterday, I did several chores and errands that were on my "to do" list for this week. I think I over did something physically yesterday. I could not rest comfortably last night, and I woke up hurting this morning.
I had several more errands to do today. But early morning, I found myself thinking it was already Wednesday. It took me a few minutes to realize that the chores that I was planning to do today were the Tuesday chores. And that all the chores I did on Monday were just done the day before. It felt like those chores had been done several days ago!
I am not sure why this feeling of distance from the activities of the day before, but it was there.
And, it seems that as I do one thing, another chore arises, and another, and another. I could schedule more chores per day than I am, and in the past I would have done that. But, my new schedule reflects my efforts not to rush or stress myself. So, sometimes I feel I am wasting time, but generally, I can fill in the time with other things that have been on my list.
So, time is good.
I had several more errands to do today. But early morning, I found myself thinking it was already Wednesday. It took me a few minutes to realize that the chores that I was planning to do today were the Tuesday chores. And that all the chores I did on Monday were just done the day before. It felt like those chores had been done several days ago!
I am not sure why this feeling of distance from the activities of the day before, but it was there.
And, it seems that as I do one thing, another chore arises, and another, and another. I could schedule more chores per day than I am, and in the past I would have done that. But, my new schedule reflects my efforts not to rush or stress myself. So, sometimes I feel I am wasting time, but generally, I can fill in the time with other things that have been on my list.
So, time is good.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Immigration and Faith
So, when I went to see Freud's Last Session, the program advertised a talk on Immigration and Faith, presented by Tibor Nagy http://www.secondb.com/calendar-item/immigration-and-faith/, who is currently a Vice Provost for International Affairs at Texas Tech, and was previously in the foreign service, rising to the rank of U. S. Ambassador.
The program indicated this was open to the public, so I decided to go. I am glad I did. The audience was small. The congregants were welcoming of non-members, and the pastor indicated this was part of a new effort by the church to be more involved in the community.
I had heard Ambassador Nagy and his wife speak previously, both talking about their service and the people they served in foreign countries. As I expected, this was a really good presentation. I learned a lot, and it opened my eyes to think about some things differently, and be more confirmed in my thinking about other things.
The program indicated this was open to the public, so I decided to go. I am glad I did. The audience was small. The congregants were welcoming of non-members, and the pastor indicated this was part of a new effort by the church to be more involved in the community.
I had heard Ambassador Nagy and his wife speak previously, both talking about their service and the people they served in foreign countries. As I expected, this was a really good presentation. I learned a lot, and it opened my eyes to think about some things differently, and be more confirmed in my thinking about other things.
Shakti
In April, when I went to the Lubbock Arts Festival, I met the two girls, Yashvi and Anisha who were producing the Shakti Ballet https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Shakti%20Lubbockon May 21 2016 at the Lubbock Cooper High School Performing Arts Center. Their intent was to use a school project and change it into a social justice project: They started a ballet school, and produced a show highlighting human trafficking in Lubbock and in India. The wanted to raise funds for 2 agencies, in each part of the world, to help combat human trafficking. I was not sure I wanted to attend. I am not a ballet kind of person. I decided to buy a ticket to support their cause.
A couple of weeks later, I could not find the ticket. That made me decide I really did want to see the ballet. I went last night. It was obvious that the girls had a lot of family support and support of the Indian community in the West Texas area. I think that was a wonderful part of their show: They reached out to a large community, their community, and got support. There were a lot of people there: the audience members were of many ethnic backgrounds. It was good to see their efforts, and how successful they were.
And the ballet was good too. It was supposed to be Indian Ballet. I do not know ballet. But it was entertaining.
A couple of weeks later, I could not find the ticket. That made me decide I really did want to see the ballet. I went last night. It was obvious that the girls had a lot of family support and support of the Indian community in the West Texas area. I think that was a wonderful part of their show: They reached out to a large community, their community, and got support. There were a lot of people there: the audience members were of many ethnic backgrounds. It was good to see their efforts, and how successful they were.
And the ballet was good too. It was supposed to be Indian Ballet. I do not know ballet. But it was entertaining.
More May Activity
On May 7, in the evening, I went to see the play Freud's Last Session http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/nyregion/a-review-of-freuds-last-session-a-play-by-mark-st-germain.html?_r=0. It was presented at the Second Baptist Church in Lubbock http://www.secondb.com/calendar-item/freuds-last-session/. It was very interesting. I enjoyed the opportunity very much.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
A Busy Weekend
It was a busy weekend. On Friday, I was able to leave work early and did my weekly shopping. I attended an art exhibit that included some contributions by our patients, in recognition that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And then I went out to eat. Saturday I got up early and did my walk. I went to a memorial mass, went out for lunch, did housework, and went to a play tonight.
I have made some lifestyle changes and I feel better in one week's time, and have more interest, so I am able to encourage myself to do things. I have more energy, too. This is good.
I have made some lifestyle changes and I feel better in one week's time, and have more interest, so I am able to encourage myself to do things. I have more energy, too. This is good.
A New Experience
I had recently received my house tax statement, and there were some questions that I had, so I took off early from work one day this past week, and went to the Lubbock Central Appraisal District http://www.lubbockcad.org/Appraisal/PublicAccess/office to ask some questions. I was impressed. I have heard horror stories about going before the Appraisal District, and this was so unlike anything I expected. My questions were answered politely and thoroughly. The appraiser looked at my current appraisal, and was able to adjust it in my favor. I was more than satisfied. The appraiser said the office no longer takes an adversarial approach but sees itself working with citizens. They worked with me. This is how government should work.
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