Leap Year
Published for Thursday - February 29, 2024
Written Monday - 02/26/24 7:10 AM
Leap year. It only happens once every four years and the difference is that February will contain 29 days instead of 28 for a non-Leap Year February.
The good news is that it's easy to calculate when there will and will not be leap years in this century. If the year is evenly divisible by four, then it IS a leap year and February will contain 29 days. Otherwise, it's not a leap Year and there will only be 28 days in February.
To expand on the rule just a bit, every year that is evenly divisible by four is a leap year unless the year is also evenly divisible by 100. But, if a year is evenly divisible by both 100 and 400 then it is a leap year.
Leap Seconds:
To dive a bit deeper, a year is actually 365.24237 days. To make this a bit easier, the adopted length of a year is rounded up to 365.25 days. The .25 days, in the rounded up value, makes it a bit more clear as to why one day is added every 4 years.
But, considering the adopted length of a year (365.25 days) minus the actual length of (365.24237 days) there is still the difference of .00763 to deal with. To address this, leap seconds can be periodically added which will also ensure that dates and seasons do not get out of sync.
On December 31, 2005 a leap second was added. It was the first to be added since 1998. Another was added in 2008, 2012 and on June 30, 2015. The next may be added on the last day of this year. We'll see.
More to come:
To dive even deeper yet, the passage of time can now be measured to the extent that the rotation of the earth might be addressed as a variable and might be dependent upon other conditions such as how trees grow and their impact upon the distribution of the mass of the earth or weather conditions such as El Niño.
With those things accounted for, it's no wonder that there is no mathematical rule for the addition of leap seconds. They are called to be added based on the aforementioned conditions and the .00763 difference.
Ooops
Published for Wednesday - February 28, 2024
Written Tuesday - 02/27/24 4:20 PM
Ooops!
I just accidentally deleted this post. So now I'm posting and publishing at the same time.
That's because I've decided to revert back to my option of publishing a day early. With my test system, I'm already allowing myself the opportunity to write early. But I tend to be down here at night and want the option to publish too, so that I don't always have to do it first thing in the morning before I run.
I thought I had a pretty fail-safe methodology for avoiding deleted posts. But that's what happens when I'm not paying attention. My fail-safe just flies out the window as it did today. I wrote the post a few days ago but it's gone now.
Thanks
Published for Tuesday - February 27, 2024
Written Monday - 02/26/24 9:10 AM
I was just thinking to myself how amazing it is that I can send out a call on my Ham Radio and almost consistently receive a response. That's amazing!
That thought led me to the thought of how grateful I am to have had my son come over and assist with getting my antenna (hexbeam) up and working properly.
I've had a lot of help over time, but my son has traveled 1+ hours each way just to support my hobby and has done it more than once. That's pretty cool!
So this post is dedicated to him. I'm sending out a big THANK YOU for all of the assistance. Things are working out very well on this end and I have you to thank for it.
PPPd
Published for Monday - February 26, 2024
Written Sunday - 02/25/24 7:00 AM
Patty came across a YouTube video that really speaks to my balance condition. The name of the condition is PPPd which stands for Persistent, Postural, Perceptual, Dizziness. As I have looked further, there are many YouTube videos that address the topic.
The only condition that it led to that really fit my situation was Dysautonomia. As such, I plan to follow up with Dr. Paula Moore who treats that condition in my area.
As my wife has said, and with which I agree, it would be wonderful if they could treat my condition with medicine and actually have it show improvements. As it stands right now, therapy did not change things and so far it's been a condition with which I have had to learn to live.
One of the things that really stood out for me was the idea that it really kicks in when I stand up, but is not active when I'm seated or lying down. That is part of the PPPd definition and fits my condition completely.
In fact, I can drive all day long and do anything seated or lying down. It's when I stand up that things get wonky as I like to call it. To me, PPPd feels exactly like I drank too much wine, but only when I'm standing. And I live with that condition 24/7. I guess the 24/7 speaks to the first P in the name.
I have discovered that balance is communicated in the body via three things. They are 1) the eyes, 2) the inner ear, and 3) proprioceptive (sensory nerves.) I'm not really sure if all three of those are working well in my situation. I know I've had some serious changes in the eyes and even the inner ear has been a problem for me. As for the sensory nerves, I just don't know what I don't know.
Meal Prep
Published for Sunday - February 25, 2024
Written Saturday - 02/24/24 7:45 AM
I often write a post and then add the title and picture afterward. That way I can usually select a post title and picture (or pictures) that is/are fitting to what I have written.
I was going to title this post Mixture and write about Annabelle Langbein who always includes that word in her presentations. Her unusual accent only adds to the way she pronounces it.
Annabelle is a cook and food journalist who lives in New Zealand. Even when my wife is preparing a meal, I might toss out the word 'mixture' as sort of a tease to her food preparation.
My wife always makes awesome meals and I'm so grateful that she does all of our food prep. Taking on the cleanup chore is a trade off I willingly accept and one which I think I come out the clear winner when considering my wife's great meals.
Step Counting
Published for Saturday - February 24, 2024
Written Friday - 02/23/24 8:15 AM
Just finished my run for the day. Those are getting tougher and tougher, especially behind a weight training workout like I had today and even with the half mile breaks that consist of 1/20th of a mile or half of 1/10th.
I basically run 140 steps per 10th of a mile so at the half mile points, I run 70 steps and then break for 70 steps. That's how I keep up with it. Silly I know, but it works for my Asperger's brain. Oh, I only count the at rest steps to know when to prepare to jump back on the treadmill.
In fact, I don't know why but I always count my steps during a treadmill run. For some reason it makes the time pass more quickly. On the other hand, when I used to be able to run outside I only counted steps when I changed up the distance and just to see if my pace changed.
After all, more or less steps in a mile is typically indicative of a different pace. Faster means a bigger stride and less steps. Slower is usually the opposite.
Yard Work
Published for Friday - February 23, 2024
Written Wednesday - 02/21/24 6:05 PM
Patty has quite a vision for our yard. Today we worked on the entire project but most of what I've featured here is from the front yard and the addition of a pair of trellises (with rose bushes planted) by the garage windows (above.)
Below is the right side of the porch with black mulch distributed and a severely pruned massive holly bush.
And below is the left side of the porch with a well pruned gardenia bush and additional black mulch.
Energizer Bunny
Published for Thursday - February 22, 2024
Written Wednesday - 02/21/24 7:25 AM
Last night I watched Donald J. Trump on Laura Ingram's town hall. That guy is like the energizer bunny - he just keeps going and going no matter what he faces.
I really like that he feels he must go forward. What he has shared about the idea that they're coming for him and could change their focus to 'us' at any time has already proven true. The evidence is there for all to see.
I thought Laura Ingram was masterful in keeping former President Trump and the show on schedule. Her mentions and follow-ups on things seemed abrupt at times but was necessary to keep things focused and on schedule.
It was a good program and one of those good endings where you want more when it's over instead of looking for the clicker to change the channel in the middle of things. That's the way things should go with that type of program.
More Politics
Published for Wednesday - February 21, 2024
Written Tuesday - 02/20/24 7:00 AM
I was really disappointed to hear the results of the New York lawsuit against Donald J. Trump. The corruption was overwhelming.
The follow-up interviews of Trump and the one of his sons were both heart-breaking. Clearly Donald Trump was expecting a different outcome and, like the rest of us, was obviously aghast at the results from the lawsuit.
As one person put it on Fox News, he did not understand the high fine associated with an outcome where no one lost any money. And, as Trump Jr. put it during the same show, he did not understand why his father was being subjected to such hatred from the judge.
Trump was barred from operating a business in New York for the next 3 years and ordered to pay $354.9 million. That result and the proceedings in Atlanta, also featured on Fox News, both have me highly concerned with the level of corruption that is present in our legal system today.
Now the big question: Will the protest by the truckers make a dent in things up in New York City? I have great respect that they are stepping up to aid Trump. This will be interesting to observe.
The End of Everything
Published for Tuesday - February 20, 2024
Written Monday - 02/19/24 7:25 AM
Patty and I listened to a Victor Davis Hanson interview yesterday. It was hosted on Epoch Times TV by Jan Jekielek, an editor and host on Epoch Times TV.
During the interview, Jan mentioned Victor's latest, and still to be released, book entitled The End of Everything. I'm really looking forward to getting that book on Audible when it is released in May of this year.
I would not be surprised if some of the things Victor shared in the interview were taken from the book. There seemed to be an 'end of everything' theme that might have been present during parts of the interview.
One Thousand
Published for Monday - February 19, 2024
Written Sunday - 02/18/24 4:15 PM
Well, if 100 posts was a big deal and every hundred posts since then has been celebrated, then 1,000 posts would have to be a very big deal.
So, here we are with post number 1,000. It doesn't represent day 1,000 because there have been seasons (for example: a couple of months each time we moved) where I was focused on other more important things and wasn't staying with my one post per day goal.
Either way, 1,000 posts is a very big deal - for me anyway. And, if my math is correct there have actually been 1,218 days or 3.34 years since I started this project.
Diving Deeper
Published for Sunday - February 18, 2024
Written Saturday - 02/17/24 2:05 PM
Life presents so many distractions. Sometimes it's difficult to discern the difference between a distraction and a reality.
Sometimes, I tend to treat them the same. But, I shouldn't. Instead, I should ask God to provide an understanding of which is which.
That's because distractions are things that too often keep our focus away from God and that too often could have been completely ignored. Realities are things we must deal with, most often after prayer where we request guidance and wisdom from God.
It's almost sad how distractions always seem like emergencies and seem to leave no room for (at the very least) a quick consult with God.
Distractions tend to shock us and tend to make us want to get involved before we talk about it with God. Realities on the other hand tend to bring with them the ability to seek God's guidance - even when they come quickly and tend to require one or more quick responses.
I guess the simple rule of thumb is to be cautious around things that seem like an emergency. They might be a distraction. And, they might be better left along and completely ignored.
Realities, on the other hand, require a real response. Even when an item proves to be both a reality and an emergency, there's always an opportunity to seek God's guidance. Even when it only involves a quick plea for the Holy Spirit's strength and guidance as we launch into a clearly urgent matter.
Lord, help me to know the difference between the distractions and the realities that come my way. Help me to always seek your counsel on the realities and to steer clear of the distractions.
Faucet Dripping
Published for Saturday - February 17, 2024
Written Friday - 02/16/24 1:30 PM
We're headed for some cold weather this weekend. As usual, the night time is where the cold temps are slated to move in but cold days are also being called for. Just not at the same level.
Weather.com is calling for a low of 27°F on Saturday night moving into Sunday and a low of 26°F on Sunday night moving into Monday. Looks like I'll being doing some faucet dripping on those days. Highs are expected to be in the mid to upper 40's on Saturday and the mid to upper 50's on Sunday.
By the way, in a month with a lot of faucet dripping the water bill was only about $3.50 more than in a month with no dripping. I'm not concerned with dripping a faucet to avoid busted water pipes. I've seen where the water feeds into the house and fear we could indeed have a problem with sub-freezing temperatures. We're truly blessed to have very low water bills over-all.
I wish I could say the same for the electric bills, but they are a different matter altogether. Our average electric bill has been in the low to mid 100's. Unfortunately, on one very cold month this year we were left with a $311.87 bill. I guess that's to be expected when heating and cooling our home is completely a function of electricity.
No rain in the schedule until the week after next and those forecasted rains are slated to take us into the new month of March. The good news is that low temps are moving in an upward direction and should transfer from the 30's to the 40's the last week of this month.
My wife tells me that another gardener she ran into suggested that on average the local forecast is not really safe for staying above the freezing level until after Good Friday. In 2024, Good Friday falls on the last Friday in March.
I guess we'll see if that prediction holds true for 2024. I know my wife is ready to do some stuff in the yard and her garden! We started a stepping stone project in the highly sloped side yard this past week to kick off the season.
Balance
Published for Friday - February 16, 2024
Written Wednesday - 02/14/24 8:10 AM
I've grown quite confident that there is something to this balance problem I'm having. I've grown confident because it is well beyond what I had only a few short years ago, when we lived in Spanish Fort, AL.
At that time walking out to the pool to pour in some chemicals was a matter of just being careful. It was more a fear of falling in than any actual issue of balance.
But now, only a few short years later, the wonk factor has moved in and is showing a strong presence in my life. At one point, it was just a matter of concern for what could happen. Now it's more a concern of what might happen.
I look forward to what the doctors and specialists might find. In fact my amazing soulmate keeps finding things online that seem pretty persuasive. I wonder if the doctors might agree with some of her findings?
It will be interesting to see. I guess we'll find out...
Debt
Published for Thursday - February 15, 2024
Written Tuesday - 02/13/24 2:45 PM
As I type it's Tuesday afternoon. Our national debt clock reads over 34 Trillion dollars. And still, we're sending out funds to help other countries as if we have no debt and despite our problems in that arena.
I just watched Kentucky Senator Rand Paul make a speech favoring the idea that the Senate and House should not pass the bill (that would send out massive amounts of borrowed money to other countries at our own expense and which, by the way, was just passed in the Senate.)
Majority Speaker of the House, Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA), promises that the bill is dead on arrival despite being told by Democrat leaders that the bill would immediately pass a bipartisan vote in the house.
The complaints on X (formerly Twitter) are loud and unending. I don't see how anyone could favor such a bill. Some Republicans tried to get a border plan attached to the bill, but without success.
I stand with those in the House who feel that fighting the border crisis is worth the challenges associated with holding up this bill. Stay the course my friends. This is Basic Economics and Finance 101 and a real opportunity to hold Biden's feet to the fire regarding the border crisis.
Happy Valentine's Day
Published for Wednesday - February 14, 2024
Written Tuesday - 02/13/24 7:00 AM
Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful and beautiful soulmate!
Weather
Published for Tuesday - February 13, 2024
Written Sunday - 02/11/24 9:05 AM
As I write it's Sunday morning. This will be published the day before Valentine's Day.
We were slated for storms last night, but they either skipped over us, or went around us, or most likely just fell apart. That's usually what happens when we are slated for bad weather in the forecast.
We got some rain judging by what it looks like outside, but both my wife and I usually wake up when a storm passes through and last night we both slept like a baby as they say.
Looks like we're in for some more rain today with storms moving in this afternoon and hanging around until about midnight. We'll see if that happens.
Addendum: 02/12/24 07:20 AM
Well, looks like we got the midnight rain that was in the forecast last night. In fact, while Patty and I were watching YouTube everything went off for a few seconds - just long enough to show us how dark my office area is when the power is off.
Fortunately, the power stayed on the rest of the night and we got some good sleep after the storms moved through.
Champion
Published for Monday - February 12, 2024
Written Saturday - 02/10/24 10:45 AM
As I typie it's Saturday morning. Last night I watched a wonderful movie.
The movie was hosted by Pureflix and titled Champion. Despite how much I like Andrew Cheney who played the lead character and is also featured in two other movies I really like (Seasons of Gray - 2013 and 77 Chances - 2015) I feared that the race car theme was going to be a bit over the top and cut into the story.
Was I ever wrong. The story centered on forgiveness and was as good as I've seen in a very long time.
Faith
Published for Sunday - February 11, 2024
Written Friday - 02/09/24 8:15 AM
I went back into my spiritual posts (see categories) and noticed that I have written a lot about faith. It's so critical to my system of beliefs that it makes sense I would write so much and so often about it.
As noted here and above, I really like what Hebrews 11:1 has to say about faith:
Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I wish I had paid more attention to that passage earlier on in my walk. It would have helped me avoid a lot of unhealthy trials.
As I have noted before, there was a place and time in my walk where I did not believe faith was so critical to my belief system. I honestly believed I could walk this walk based on study. After all, that would enable me to talk to others and share Christ in a more persuasive manner. Or so I thought.
Only over time have I come to realize that study alone would not provide all that I needed in this walk. Only over time have I come to realize the importance of faith in my walk.
When someone argues that we can't go back and see what happened, they're right! There's no reason to argue that point, unless one does not see the importance of faith.
If someone thinks I am foolish for having such faith, then let him or her call me a fool. After all, 1 Corinthians 4:10 confirms it. And I really like 1 Corinthians 25 which says:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Running Deep
Published for Saturday - February 10, 2024
Written Thursday - 02/08/24 11:35 AM
I had a really nice chat with my son last night on the phone. He runs incredibly deep and I always enjoy, and am blessed by, our chats.
I remember back when he and my daughter were first born. I couldn't wait until I would be able to talk to them and to see what they think about things. I still don't understand how they both align so well with the way Patty and I look at life.
Speaking of how Patty and I look at life, that's another amazing thing. That God provided me a wife who was on the same page.
Back to our kids. There are so many cases where kids rebel against the way their parents look at life and those kids take on a completely different position. God in His infinite wisdom decided to wire our kids in such a way that we were all well aligned.
What a blessing! Well beyond anything I deserve.
I'm constantly amazed at how much there still is to learn about life, even at the senior point in life that my wife and I have reached. It's quite humbling to see our kids and their spouses learning the same lessons at their younger ages.
How does that happen? I always wonder!
I love the deep phone calls with both kids. And I love what I'm starting to experience with my older (12) grandson. It's all built around worldly experiences but that's okay.
When they start asking spiritual questions and wanting to talk about spiritual things, I hope to be available. Fortunately, they both have wise and Godly parents. That will take them the distance!
Five Years After
Published for Friday - February 09, 2024
Written Wednesday - 02/07/24 7:05 AM
Upon further research, I found that there are actually 4 books in the One Second After series. Writer William R. Forstchen has introduced Five Years After as his most recent release for the series.
I mentioned it to my wife last night. She's reading the books and is much faster than Audible's reading aloud. I suspect she will add the new book to her list.
I found that I really like the technical, but my wife had to help me understand that the heartbreak to the people is also an important element of the story.
I'm having to really change my perspective. After all, the technical stuff happened right up front and the rest of the story involves the pain being experienced by the characters as a result of all of the technical stuff that happened in the opening to the story.
The technical stuff is what grabbed my attention. I'm having to adjust to the fact that there's a lot more going on here in the later chapters of the book. It's just not the technical stuff but what has happened as a result of that technical stuff.
I'm beginning to see the difference between a neuro-typical's reading and reading being done by someone with an Autistic bent.
One Second After
Published for Thursday - February 08, 2024
Written Tuesday - 02/06/24 8:25 AM
Well, in keeping with writing from the heart, today is going to be one of those days where I have to dig deeply to produce a post. It's cold inside and out and I'm sitting here soaking wet from my run and without a shirt.
Last night my dear wife approached me with an idea. She's reading a book and thought I might enjoy it too.
I have a credit on my Audible account and decided to join her. After all, she was very persuasive in what she shared about the book and her excitement for it.
The book is titled One Second After and she was right. It's a very interesting story with a foreword by former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.
Amazon says this about it:
A post-apocalyptic thriller of the after effects in the United States after a terrifying terrorist attack using electromagnetic pulse weapons.
New York Times best selling author William R. Forstchen now brings us a story which can be all too terrifyingly real...a story in which one man struggles to save his family and his small North Carolina town after America loses a war, in one second, a war that will send America back to the Dark Ages...A war based upon a weapon, an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP). A weapon that may already be in the hands of our enemies.
Months before publication, One Second After has already been cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read, a book already being discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a truly realistic look at a weapon and its awesome power to destroy the entire United States, literally within one second. It is a weapon that the Wall Street Journal warns could shatter America. In the tradition of On the Beach, Fail Safe and Testament, this book, set in a typical American town, is a dire warning of what might be our future...and our end.
According to Amazon and Audible, the book is part of a 3 novel series and includes titles One Year After and The Final Day. If the book is as good as I hope it is, I would expect to read the other two books in the series and hope movies are produced for the stories.
Search Feature
Published for Wednesday - February 07, 2024
Written Monday - 02/05/24 3:20 PM
Unless you're a very observant reader on this blog site, you probably didn't notice that the Search Feature had been removed for a day or two. I can't help but laugh at what I did.
I actually removed the search feature because I thought I had mistakenly deleted the very large search file. In fact, as of February 5th the file is 1,820,476 bytes or roughly 1.82 meg in size.
I hadn't actually deleted the search file, but thought I had. As such, I went through the tedious process of removing the search feature since I thought there was no search file against which I could search.
The bad news is that updating that search file is an extra step that must be performed each time a new blog post is added. The good news was that removing that feature meant one less update since no search file meant no file to update.
But, the real bad news is the pain I experienced in the mistake I thought I had made. As much work as I put in to that search feature and the amount of updates that had been performed against it were now all gone. I don't mind admitting that I lost some sleep over that perceived mistake.
The amount of work and research to relearn what I did and how I did it made the task one that I just could not compel myself to pursue. I was confident it would literally take weeks, if not months, to completely replace that feature - not to mention the updates if I could even remember them.
Well, guess what? I decided to take on that lengthy project (although I honestly doubt the search feature has been used by anyone but me) and put the search feature back out there.
In doing so, I realized that I had not deleted the search file. In fact, I had deleted a file I use to test new posts and one that gets deleted for each new month. So, I had done just as I was supposed to do, but apparently incorrectly remembered that process after a certain point.
That's why I went looking for the contents of the search file in the wrong place. And I'm pleased to say that when I realized my mistaken assumption, and that everything I needed for my search feature was still available, I was able to reintroduce the search feature with little effort.
It's a feature I'm proud to have coded and updated, and one that I'm
glad is back in the blog - even if no one but me ever uses it.
Oh, and I decided to stop posting a day ahead and instead post (what will likely be a previously written blog post) each morning right before I jump on my workout and my run.
Blogging
Published for Tuesday - February 06, 2024
Written Sunday - 02/04/24 9:05 AM
I like the idea of moving my blog in a direction that I more intended. Less about facts and more about sharing from the heart. It makes it a lot more interesting to go back and read various blog posts.
Of course, it adds a bit of risk to the mix (of a potential reader who may not understand where I'm coming from) but that's life, isn't it? Life is about being intentional no matter the consequences. Blogging from a transparent perspective, and without worry of who is reading and what they're thinking, is sort of the whole idea, isn't it?
This morning, my wife reminded me that it would have been her mom's 94th birthday. It was just one more example of her deep sense of love and caring for people and the way that my Asperger's tendencies seem to carry me away from such thoughts.
Just another reason I'm glad she's in my life and provided by God to help me see that side of life. It's a terrible and difficult blind-spot with which I have had to live. I'm so thankful that God has helped me see life through her eyes.
From the Heart
Published for Monday - February 05, 2024
Written Friday - 02/02/24 7:55 AM
I was watching a Hallmark movie last night and the story involved a woman who was a writer. She seemed to be having some trouble writing although that was not critical to the story.
It does seem more critical to my story. Writing from the heart requires some risk taking and lots of humility. It involves a great deal of transparency and sometimes I'm just not ready to go there - especially when I realize that there may be a reader out there who is taking in the things I have to say.
But isn't that the point? Well, not for me anyway. I write for the opportunity to go back at a later time and see what I had to share. I used to seek an audience but no more. My writing is now geared more toward a scrapbook approach. What's going on in my life and that of my wife, kids, and grandkids.
The other day I was watching another movie. The leading couple was struggling to figure out how to follow their dreams and still stay together. One person's dream was pulling them one way while the other person's dream was pulling them in a different direction.
I made it a point to pause the movie and go talk to my wife. You see, my dream always involved finding Mrs. Right and loving her. That was my focus. It had nothing to do with a career or anything like that. It was about my focus on God first and foremost, and his call on my life to be a good husband, father, and now grandfather. That was my focus and still is.
The good thing about that kind of focus is that it keeps my priorities right where I want them to be. As was said before by someone else, it makes sure that the main thing in life is to keep the main thing the main thing. It's a worthwhile place to keep one's focus. Thank you, Lord, for that call in my life and thank you for so wonderfully filling my life with these blessings.
Just the Facts
Published for Sunday - February 04, 2024
Written Friday - 02/02/24 7:35 AM
Just finished up my 2 mile run. I did weights today, but that run is getting more and more difficult even with the shorter length.
Patty has been reading on some more protein-based diets that tend to leave out carbs and sugars. I'm okay with the lack of carbs but have yet to be able to kick the sugar craving. I'm at the top of my weight range once again and need to kick off some weight. Here goes!
I also wrote a $75 dollar check and got it in today's mail for the HOA dues. We've both been looking at some of the online home sales sites but have yet to see anything that gets our interest going enough to consider going through all that has to be done to move.
This has been one of those 'just the facts' sort of posts. I guess I'll try and share from the heart for tomorrow's post.
Drayer Physical Therapy Institute
Published for Saturday - February 03, 2024
Written Thursday - 02/01/24 5:35 PM
Well, as I type it's Thursday evening and today was my final day of physical therapy for my balance. The underlying problem is still there, but the therapy helped me learn how to better manage it in my day-to-day life.
I worked with several specialists over a month but the routine was consistent. I did everything from neck stretches to the management of eyes and other sensors. I even battled obstacle courses designed and set up specifically for my issues.
I did arm and leg exercises but primarily focused on balance management. In some of those routines for balance management, I had to close my eyes and push other senses to step up and take over. One never appreciates what one is able to accomplish, or how it is accomplished, until achieving the same objective must be done in a different manner and without some of the more typical sensors.
Politics
Published for Friday - February 02, 2024
Written Thursday - 02/01/24 7:40 AM
Well, it looks like the political season is kicking into full gear despite almost a year left before the elections. Actually, it's just over 9 months until we elect a president.
I started to type 'new president' but then I realized that I was surprised at the 2020 results and may be surprised again if Trump doesn't walk away with a win. It sure looks like folks are against Biden but I had thought the same thing back in 2020.
I still don't know what to believe about the actual results. There's enough evidence to me of a Trump win back in 2020. But there are many who would disagree with my perspective on that.
The corruption is so widespread on the Biden side of things and they're even talking about it on the ham radio. I had to turn the dial when the guy went off on Trump. Sure he's a wild man but I happen to agree with his policies and that's the basis for my vote in any instance.
The days of a requirement for a Christian candidate are long gone. That used to be a priority but not in a season where that is no longer a possible choice for a winning candidate.
I say that because I believe there were candidates who were Christians, just none that could pull off a win. And so we wind up voting for the best of the worst, or defensively, or something like that.
More Temps
Published for Thursday - February 01, 2024
Written Tuesday - 01/30/24 4:00 PM
Well, today as I type it's Tuesday the 30th of January and still Patty's Birthday. I managed to get my run in this morning and after a Therapy visit and a run to Walmart to pick up groceries, I also managed to stop by Mickey D's on the way home to pick up lunch for Patty and I. No cooking on her Birthday and especially with her under the weather (like we both seem to be.)
I'm spending a bit of time fighting the blog and scrambling to join the Pacific Maritime Mobile Net on 15 meters. Kevin is net control and seems a very nice guy. Yesterday and today he had me put out a call for check-ins and yesterday is was nice to meet Roger up in Oregon.
It's currently 63°F but looks like we're going to drop below freezing tomorrow night and then we're not slated for any drops below freezing in the 10 day forecast.
In fact, we are looking at low temps in the upper 30's ranging toward the upper 40's and highs ranging anywhere from 50°F to the upper 60's. That should present Patty with a welcome opportunity to enjoy one of the porches. I can tell she is chomping at the bit to get outside and do something in the garden and to enjoy those porches.
Copyright © 2024 Hutch DeLoach