Apartment Living

It's a bit of a different world, but we are getting used to it. Aside from the smaller space, we also have neighbors that are in very close proximity. We hear people in the hallway, in the apartment above us and on one side of us, and we hear people coming and going in their cars and trucks.

For our situation, we've discovered that packages that come by UPS or FedEx can be delivered to our door, but packages that come by the USPS cannot. Weird.

Since my motorcycle has to be stored outside, we've added a covered parking space to our rent. I can fit the bike across the front of the space and Chris can manage to get her car into the space, too. My car is a little bit longer and would stick out a bit. This keeps Chris's car relatively frost free on cold mornings. I also bought a cover for my bike to be used when there is any precipitation since there still is some exposure to the weather. It looks like I may need it tomorrow.

Since ours is a furnished apartment, our lease includes utilities. If it didn't, we'd still be sitting pretty.
We face east so our windows aren't exposed to much wind or weather. We are not an end apartment so there are units on each side of us. We are on the 2nd floor of four so there are businesses below us and units above us. This apartment stays warm, too warm.
Even with the daytime highs in the 40s (about 5-10c), we have to open windows to keep the temp around 70 (21c). We've only had the heat on for a couple of days when it dipped into the teens overnight and didn't make it above freezing during the day.

We are also getting used to Chris being retired and living in a space that doesn't have separate places for us. Chris used to spend her time reading or watching TV in her space and I would do the same in mine. Now there is just our space.
The furnished couch isn't as comfortable as our sofas and we have new zero gravity lawn chairs for our living room chairs. They are pretty comfortable if you are outdoors for a period of time; not exactly ideal for actual living room furnishings.

But we're adjusting.
We are warm and safe and we have what we need.
Tonight we plan to attend an event called "Stories from the Streets" where we will hear from some of those that are living on the streets of Springfield. There will also be a panel discussion afterwards to address homelessness in our city.
While we are adjusting from our 4 bedroom home to a 1bdrm apartment, the simple amenities of this place would be luxurious to those we will see tonight. We have a kitchen and food. We have warmth. We have hot water and a shower. We have a locked door and security.

There was a line from last Sunday's sermon that has stayed with me:
Gratitude makes what you have enough.
Be grateful.
Bless others when you can.
I have a couple of coats that I'll bring to donate tonight and we'll buy some gloves that we'll donate, as well.
We (you and me) are a venue for God's love.

John <><

Friday Fun Facts

Okay, so maybe this isn't so much fun.
You can click here to see the US National Debt Clock.
The upper left box show the US National Debt at over 23 TRILLION dollars!
It also shows our annual deficit (same box) at over 1 TRILLION dollars.

Are we winning yet?

John

Gratitude

It's November and many people are using their social media accounts to share things for which they are thankful. I've noticed that there seems to be fewer people doing so this year than in years past -- just an observation.

I'm wondering -- Why?

Are we less grateful than we were a year ago?
Are we feeling more entitled than we were a year ago?
Have we become so used to complaining and griping about things that we find it difficult to be thankful or to express gratitude?

Do yourself a favor and listen to Pastor John's (not mine) sermon on Gratitude.
This link will take you to the message page. It is the message from November 10.
Be gracious and grateful today.

And thank you for spending a few minutes of your day with me.

John <><

Wednesday Wisdom

Now go use your power and make someone happy today!

John <><

Brrrrr...

It is cold!

The temperature in Springfield was 10f (-12c) at sunrise this morning. Today's high is forecast to remain below the freezing mark.
I am comfortably warm in my small apartment. I don't even have to leave for any reason today.
However, there are hundreds of people in the Springfield area that are homeless. Even as I type this, the overnight shelters are closing and they will be on their own to find places to stay warm throughout the day.

I was at a warming center last night where many gathered while waiting for the overnight shelters to open. I listened to their stories. Life is difficult for them. I don't understand why people seem set on making it more so.

For each of the people there that were working so hard to find resources to help our unsheltered friends, I heard stories of the opposition that they were up against as they worked.
I'm not sure that I ended up feeling good about my volunteer work last night. Mostly I came away sad that it was necessary and angry that there are actually people that are opposed to helping others that find themselves in a bad situation.

I want to encourage you to be kind to others.
But I get it. Being kind can be difficult and unnatural for many of us. If you are like I used to be, maybe you can begin by just deciding not to be ass ... for today. You don't have to make it a lifelong commitment. Just don't be an ass for today. If you mess up, try again tomorrow. If you succeed, maybe you can try for two days.

Be kind
...even if the kindest thing you can do is not to be an ass.

John <><

Monday Motivation

I'm using an old picture of my bike for today's post.

It is currently 38f (3c) and raining in the Ozarks. The temperature will continue to drop throughout the day until reaching the mid-teens for the overnight low. It won't be above freezing again until sometime Wednesday...

...when I will ride again!

What are you looking forward to this week?

John <><

Writing

The second Saturday of the month is our regularly scheduled Christian Writers' Club meeting. I generally come away from these get-togethers mildly inspired to write. It's pretty cool that people that actually write for publication let me hang out with them and pretend like I'm one of them.

Our meetings always have a workshop session and a guest speaker. Featured speakers might be authors, editors, publishers, or some other field expert. Some are poets, children's book authors, sci-fi, research writers, and many other genres. Their speech topics are rarely so narrow that they eliminate any of the various writers or wannabe writers in the group.

This month's keynote speaker was Tracy Garrett. Tracy writes romance books and brought another romance author, Addison Fox, with her. I think we all learned a bit about the rules of writing and when to break them. Tracy was informative, entertaining, and very much a down to earth kind of writer.

Maybe I'll have enough inspiration to write in earnest for a short time. It's a liitle crazy but I'm now following three romance authors on Twitter.
Andrea Thome @AndreaThome
Addison Fox @AddisonFox
Tracy Garrett @TGarrett_Author
Weird, huh?

Maybe I'll write a romance novel!

John

Riding season? Isn't it always riding season?

So I did a thing ... FINALLY!

A year after I retired, I bought my motorcycle ... and I rode it a lot. I didn't know anything about riding, so I just learned as I rode.
I didn't know that you need a windscreen for riding distance on the highway, so I took it off because I liked the way it looked better without one and rode long distance on the highway.
I didn't know that you need an expensive aftermarket seat or your butt and back will hurt after a couple of hours of riding, so I rode all day with the stock seat and didn't think anything of it.
I didn't know that you don't ride when it's too hot or too cold, so I dressed for the weather and rode year round.
I didn't know that a new guy shouldn't set out on a long trip solo, so I took a trip that was over 3700 miles, touched 21 states, two Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. I rode morning rush hour in Chicago, afternoon rush hours in Boston and DC, and rode the biker's bucket list ride -- The Tail of the Dragon.
I rode 500+ miles (and back) to see ballgames or UFC fights in Chicago with my son and rode to St Louis and Columbia MO just to have lunch with friends.
Of the more than 42,000 miles I rode in the first three years of riding, I only rode with someone else about 200-300 miles. The rest was all solo.

Then last fall I needed to replace some turn signals. How hard could that be?
I ran into some problems that I couldn't figure out and those problems caused other problems. It was fall and I ended up letting the bike sit for the winter...then for the spring...and then for the summer.
Finally I went back to my philosophy of -- They paid me well to do the job I knew how to do; I should be willing pay others well to do the job they know how to do.

I called Anthony at Spokes Garage.
I guess I'm a little pleased that it wasn't a run of the mill problem and was caused by a defect in the parts I bought. Anthony fixed me up and really took care of me on the price. I have used Spokes Garage pretty much since I bought my bike. I take it there for regular maintenance, for new tires, and for fixing my amateur screw ups. Fortunately, my bike has been super reliable and hasn't needed more than service and tires -- until now.
Seriously, if you ride in Southwest MO and need someone to work on your bike you need to check out their website here, or like them on Facebook. I promise you, you will be pleased with the service and the price.

When I picked up my bike it was about 40 degrees out (4 for my Celsius friends) and I rode for the first time this year. I could store it for the winter, but I think I'll ride it whenever I can.
I am going to have to be careful that I don't set aside my daily walks for daily rides too often.

It's supposed to be 60 (15C) on Saturday, so I'll be riding for certain!
Watch for us old retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><

It's Good Friday!

Tell me something good!

I've had a pretty good week (don't I always?).
We are slowly adapting to life in a small apartment. The walking trail is a nice amenity.
I had a very enjoyable breakfast with an old pastor/evangelist friend and a great lunch interview with another pastor friend about working as a volunteer chaplain for Mercy Hospitals.
An interesting side note to my chaplaincy meeting -- I left there to visit and pray with a member of our Venues community that was going into surgery. I was answering a call as part of our pastoral care team.

And ...
We have basement walls poured so construction can get started!

What's good in your world?

John <><

Thursdays are for thanksgiving

I always look forward to my Thursday evening Downtown Venues. Tonight is our final evening at Ernie Biggs. Next week will be our Grand Opening at our new facility at 425 Walnut. I think we are all excited about the new facility and what it can me for The Venues presence in the downtown community.
If you are in the Springfield MO area, come visit us tonight at 6:30 as we listen to some music and hear Pastor Ben's message on Out with the old; in with the new!

     * * * * *

In other news...
Yesterday I heard from the young couple whose wedding I'll be officiating later this month. They each sent me what they have written to say to each other. I am really so excited for them!
As the officiant, I usually try to find out the colors of the wedding and match my tie (or at least not clash with their colors). Because my black marryin' suit is old and I've gotten fat, I bought a new black marryin' suit. Yesterday I was in search of a tie.
Plum (that's purple for us old guys) and orange are the colors.
Here's what I ordered:

As I was looking at that, I thought it's too bad it doesn't come with matching socks.
Admittedly, I have a poor sock game. I'm typically just a plain black dress sock kind of guy. I decided to up my game for the couple's special day and found this set.

I'm thinking either the second set from the right or the second from the left. I'll decide when they actually arrive.

     * * * * *

I hope that you have something to be thankful for today and I hope that you have something to look forward to, as well.
Be a blessing to somebody today.
Share a smile.
Lift a burden.
Give a gift of love.
Be thankful for the people in your life.

John <><