Paybacks vs Paying Forward

I'm kind of excited about something I get to do today.
First the back story --

Over the years, so many people have helped Mom and Dad with rides to doctor's appointments or treatments. Even now, Mom still gets rides from friends or relatives as she has surrendered her driver's license and sold the van. There really is no way to payback all of the folks that have helped them by providing transportation when I couldn't.

A week or so ago I saw a post about a resident of Eden Village that had an appointment for medical treatment and thought -- It's time for payback, or more correctly -- time to pay it forward. 
I contacted the director and offered to be available to provide transportation for residents that might need a lift to doctor's appointments or something like that. 
Yesterday I got a late request for today.
I'm pretty stoked about this.
The appointment is in the middle of the day and I won't get much else done today, but damn, I am really more excited about this than I probably should be.

It's grey, overcast, and cool
...and I am really looking forward to this day!
I hope you are, too.

John

Late post

 

Wednesday Wisdom

 

Twofer Tuesday

Ave Maria Immaculate

Kirkland's spiced rum eggnog 

NaBloPoMo Blues

I can tell it's about halfway through the month of November because I'm starting to ask myself -- Why did I start this NaBloPoMo thing again this year?
And I don't have a new pic to post this morning, either!
Maybe I'll take one later and have a twofer Tuesday post!
Maybe not.

I am so grateful for the nice weather we've been having -- both for the ability to get out and work and for each nice day that brings us closer to spring and seems to shorten the coming winter. It's too bad I am not very motivated to start working earlier on the daylight shortened days. At least any deadlines I have are pretty much self-imposed and easily shifted.

Today's journal prompt asks -- "What time of day are you most productive?"
It then encourages tracking activity and production for a week and learning to maximize that productive time.

I'd have to say that my best time is early afternoon -- sometime between noon and around 4 PM.
That isn't always ideal when it's summer time, but fortunately, I don't mind working in the midday sun. I'll need to start a little earlier than that today if I am to successfully move a couple of tons of dirt. I only managed a little more than one ton yesterday and am hoping to double that today. It's days like these that I really notice the effects of aging.

I am looking forward to a good day of work and then an evening cigar and perhaps, the first spiked eggnog of this holiday season.
What are your plans for the day and when is your most productive time?

John

Fall Gardening

Cleaning up garden spots in the fall isn't as enjoyable as planting in the spring. Honestly, it's a lot more like work than the labor of love it feels like in the spring.
I've already harvested some seeds and yesterday I was cutting back the stems and dead leaves from some of the hosta plants. I'll probably be thinning them in the spring so let me know if you want some.

I thought it was interesting that the few post-frost warmer days that we've had have encouraged some new growth among the hosta varieties that are in a more protected area.

These guys will have a couple of weeks until another overnight frost kills them off for the season. Nature always amazes me with its resilience.
Still plenty of work to do.

John

Gratitude

I'm sitting here this morning and wondering...
It seems that recent Novembers have been filled with thankfulness posts on different social media platforms. I haven't seen that this year and I wonder why.

It is pretty easy for me to take this quiet and simple life of mine for granted, but I rarely do. I am daily grateful for the privilege of living this retired life in this comfortable manner. It is difficult to express that with the intensity that I feel it. 
Saying (or writing) that I am thankful for family, or thankful for friends (both of you), or even thankful for things that make life easier doesn't adequately convey the gratitude that I feel.

Maybe that's why there aren't daily gratitude posts this year.
Maybe we've figured out just how empty it sounds to say -- I'm thankful for my _____ -- day after day.
In reality, those often simple moments of gratitude are the stuff that makes for a good life.

This past week I spent a few hours with a guy that just has a life giving energy. We exchanged and smoked cigars, sipped bourbon and talked. I don't think I would use the word "fun" to describe our time together, but it was definitely enjoyable and I am truly grateful for his friendship.
Later that evening, Chris and I went out to listen to our friends' band. That's always an enjoyable evening. While I am not much of a people person, I do enjoy these nights out whether it's just Chris and me or we meet some friends for the evening.
Maybe we should find another band or musician to follow, as well.

Here's another simple and seemingly worthless experience -- watching my crow friends eat the peanuts I leave for them.

They are so skittish that it is difficult to take a picture, even from this distance. If I start moving around on the deck after they land close by and start to make their approach to the rock, they sense the nearby movement and leave.
I am hoping to be able to get closer as they get more used to feeding there.

What is something you are grateful for today?
A simple pleasure.
Maybe something as simple as a favorite coffee mug or a cozy blanket.
Care to share?

John

16 Tons

You load 16 tons,
What do you get?

I'll let you know.
That's about how much topsoil was dumped onto my yard yesterday. I'll be moving it to my flower boxes and backyard over the next few days. It's too bad I don't have a tractor with a scoop. I suppose I could have if I want to make the deeper in debt part come true. I'll definitely be more than another day older by the time I finish.

Have a grand weekend!

John

Books

It's been awhile since I posted about books, so I thought I'd throw a couple of mini reviews your way.

The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess was much different than I was expecting. I was expecting it to be a bash on today's Christian Nationalism and the current state of the evangelical right in the US. 
It isn't.
Rather, it is a well researched and well written history of blending of religion and politics that examines how what we believe becomes who we are both as individuals and as larger communities, even nations. It wasn't a read that catered to my confirmation bias about religion and politics. It was more of a history lesson that teaches the past and reminds us of the effects of our religious/political ties of the past. Whether you are religious or not, this is a good read. I think Ms Schiess is changing the image of theologian from the bearded old white guy to an energetic and educated young woman. Don't walk barefoot around her. She is going to be breaking glass ceilings.

Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber. 
I've been following this pastor/author on social media for some time. I love her rebellious spirit and fresh outlook into the scriptures. Her transparency into her struggles in life and how her relationship with God and religion have taught her to love all of God's creatures is inspiring. I'm a little ashamed that this is the first book of hers that I've read and really only picked it up because I saw it at the library when I was looking for something to read.
I will definitely be reading more of her books!
Shameless takes a deep dive into how religion and society has bent the love of God into a controlling text that causes guilt and shame just for being who we were created to be. There is a story of one person that burned her bible -- all except for the four gospels. She said that Jesus never did or said anything to hurt her. She kept and cherished the words and stories of Jesus.
This is a book on learning to love ourselves. Once we've learned that lesson, we are much better equipped to love others.

Both books are well worth your time. 
What are you reading?

John

Cooler Temps Ahead

The last three days have been sunny and warm, but now the cooler temps are settling in and I think we've seen the last of the summer like days. It has made it into the 80s (27c) each of the last three days, but I don't even see a 70 (21c) degree day for the rest of the month. Nights will also be much cooler with a few nights towards the end of the month dipping down to the freezing point.

Sitting by the fireplace in the early morning or late evening is nice, but it really doesn't compare to sitting on the deck and enjoying the view and the sounds of nature. I know there are still going to be afternoons when I will sit out and enjoy a cigar, but the evening smokes are going to be few and far between as the colder nights settle in. I took advantage of last night's temp to enjoy a good, long smoke and sip a nice bourbon. 

I tend to smoke less expensive cigars during cold weather. That way I don't feel bad about letting them go out if I change my mind and decide it's too cold to be outside. I'm considering not putting up the plastic panels this year. I don't know if I'll stay with that or feel like I need to be out here enough to justify it. I guess we'll see.

Looking on the bright side, the daytime 50s (10c) and 60s (15c) will be perfect for shoveling the topsoil into the new flower bed!

John