Wednesday Wisdom

Last Thursday night's barchurch was closed with the reading of a well known prayer. Something that I didn't know is that its author was a Missourian.

I'm pretty sure I've posted this pic before, but I like the little spin on The Serenity Prayer so I'm posting it again.

John

This week's odds and ends

Yeah, the 2 in 1 is back to its old malfunctioning laptop mode so I'm doing the old two finger typing on the touch pad keyboard in tablet mode.
sigh

I managed a good make up day on the walking trend. Although we had several consecutive days of cold, wet weather, I only missed walking on one day. I made up for it on Friday by getting in two walks, one of two miles and one of three. With a walk Saturday and my 10,000 steps I'll at least average 10,000 steps per day for the week.
I've managed a few short (and slow) runs as parts of a couple walks.

Saturday night is a drop in Retirement party for Chris. She had a work party on Wednesday. This one will be for anyone that wants to swing by and wish her well. It's at Bair's on S Campbell from 6 - 9. It will be pretty informal. We'll buy some apps and there will be cake. Guest can purchase drinks or order food as they like.
If you are in the area, please stop in!

I'm finally getting my motorcycle repaired. It's been sitting in the garage all year in need of some wiring work. Now I no longer have a garage so (with the help of a friend) I hauled it to Spokes Garage to get it back into running condition. It's not exactly the ideal time for motorcycle riding, but I'm sure I'll manage a few days in the saddle.

The wet weather has stalled construction of our new home. They were finishing setting the forms on Friday and plan to pour the basement walls on Monday .

It's been a busy first couple of weeks in the apartment, but I think we're settling in. We're still working on a routine. That will probably take a little more time.

John <><

This date in history...

Okay, I'm not talking about the distant past or world history. One year ago today I set out on my epic motorcycle trip. It touched 21 states, two Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. I rode through some beautiful country, some mountain roads, and rush hour traffic in Chicago, Boston, and DC. I met with friends and family along the way and met some new friends, as well.

This year I haven't ridden as much nor as often as in the past two years. Although the motorcycle is still my transportation of choice, I've done considerably less pleasure riding this year. Perhaps, I'll start riding more often again this fall.
I'm replacing the existing saddlebags with locking bags. That will be nice for day trips to ballgames and such.
I need to plan another long trip and check off some more states -- maybe a Route 66 trip all the way to the ocean.

Be careful out there. Watch for us old, retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><

On the road ... again!

This morning I am preparing for another mini road trip; a brief 155 mile (according to Google Maps) ride to share an evening program at Enon Baptist Church near Holden MO. After the 7:00PM program, I pack up and make the return ride home.

I haven't spent a lot of time on the bike at night and hope to have an easy ride. On the few occasions that I have ridden at night, I tend to find a car or truck traveling at the same speed to follow. I can use their headlights to extend my sight range. I can also hope that they'll scare off potential wildlife ahead of me.

It's kid's night at the church's revival and I get to come in and share a message through magic. I'm looking forward to the 5+ hours on the bike as much as I'm looking forward to the 40 minutes of the actual program!
I really do enjoy the opportunity to perform a little magic and share the simple message that God loves you and Jesus died for you. When people respond to that message there is an energy that fills me up and drives me until I get the chance to do it again.
Currently, my August calendar is open. I am preaching in September, have a revival gig in October, and a youth conference in November.
Off of the ministry calendar, I have a road trip to central Illinois in August and (hopefully) another Chicago trip in November. I haven't been riding quite as much this year and only covered around 6,500 miles so far. Maybe I need to work on that!

Since tonight's event will wrap up my summer kid program schedule, I plan to write a little summary of the interactions I've had along the way and the things that I've shared through the programs, the planning, and the travel to and from the various programs. In spite of the negative stuff that we hear and see in the news and on social media forums, there are some incredibly good and kind people out there. They go about their days being kind because that's who they are. They come in all shapes and sizes and from all different walks of life. They're just good people.

I'll share more about them soon.
For now, I've a show to pack and a highway to travel.
Be safe and watch for old, retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><

Hot on the Highway!

Yeah, boy!
It is going to be a hot day for riding!
The temperatures for today and tomorrow are forecast to be in the upper 90s in the Midwest US. That's 36-37 for my Celsius friends.

Today I'll be riding to Grand Oaks Assembly campgrounds for a magic show at a kids' camp tonight. Tomorrow I'll make the return trip home. It's 225 miles (362 km) from my house to the camp.
In case you were wondering, riding in hot weather isn't cooler on a motorcycle. There is a point at which riding on hot asphalt (or concrete) through hot air while sitting on a hot engine is just plain... well, hot.
Here's a motorcycle wind chart to show what I'm talking about.

I'll be comfortable enough and it's worth the exchange of riding the motorcycle vs being stuck in a cage (car).

I need to get a walk in before I hit the road.
Watch for old, retired guys on motorcycles.

John <><

Thoughts from the Highway...

I spent a little time on the road last week and the highway can provide some good head clearing time.
While riding a motorcycle never really provides you with "down" time, it can give you time to ponder certain situations in life or think about absolutely nothing at all. The 1100 miles gave me plenty of time to do both when I wasn't in traffic or dodging raindrops.

I was thinking about some of the lessons that I've learned recently and how I wish I had learned them earlier. While I have never been a big worrier nor one to live in the past, neither have I been one to live in the moment. And by that, I mean that I rarely stopped to appreciate the moment or be fully aware of life as it is happening.

According to the wisdom of Ferris Bueller -- "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Maybe life has slowed down in retirement, or it could be that I'm learning to look around more often.
In any case, life is moving along and there are some pretty good things happening.

And that brings me to another thought from a post a few days ago -- depression and suicide.
Did you read those demographic indicators?

Men are much more likely to commit suicide than women (every age demographic). Check
Whites are more likely than any other race. (Although I'm mixed, I'm generally identified as white) Check
And LGBTQ persons are more likely than cisgender persons.
People with strong community ties are less likely to commit suicide, making loneliness a contributing factor. (pretty much a loner) Check
Retired and unemployed persons are more likely to commit suicide than working people, Check
and childless or empty nesters are more likely than those with children living at home. Check
Women that are suicidal are more likely to seek help than men and often exhibit signs and have failed attempts. Oftentimes, men show few signs and their deaths come as a complete surprise to the people that know them.
According to the World Health Organization, globally, someone dies of suicide every 40 seconds.
Unfortunately, teen suicides sometimes spike after a celebrity suicide and the media coverage that follows.
Russia and the former Soviet Bloc countries have the highest rates of suicide, while the Caribbean islands have the lowest rates.

Geez!
I'm not depressed nor suicidal, but looking at these demographics one can't help but wonder -- What little thing might shift the balance? Maybe I should start building those community ties or at the very least, move to the Caribbean! 

To be fair, I am working on the community thing a little bit, but it is a slow and unnatural process for me. I'm pretty much in the middle of my comfort zone when I am alone -- even when I am with people! At the UFC fights last Saturday, we were in the sold out United Center. Sitting next to me was a guy that had come to the fights by himself. I didn't think it was weird. I thought -- "That could be me." 

Although I have never gone to a UFC event by myself, I'm a regular at attending baseball games alone. Tonight I'll try to make some new friends as I go to a Springfield Cardinals' game with a bunch of people I don't know from a new church we've been attending. 

sigh

I'll need to remember that when people go to a game as a group, it's generally more about the group thing than about watching the game -- a trait I normally find annoying.

It should be interesting. 

It looks like the morning showers have passed through the Ozarks and it will be another hot, humid day. Maybe I'll spend it looking for a tropical beach home -- you know, just to be safe!

John <><

Baseball, BBQ and Bikes

I've opted out of today's ride to see the Cardinals and Royals in St Louis in favor of riding to Memphis next week for the day game between the Memphis Redbirds and the Oklahoma City Dodgers, AAA affiliates of their respective teams. Maybe I'll find some Memphis BBQ to enjoy instead of a ballpark dog!
I suppose I could ride to both games and I most certainly wouldn't mind seeing both games; it's just that I still have a need to watch the spending thing. Although I get good mileage, there's still the cost of gas, tickets, concessions at the game and snacks or meals on the road. Since I've already been to a couple of the big bird's games this year, I thought I'd ride for one of the last mid-week day games in Memphis.
It's only about 50 miles farther to Memphis (than to St Louis) but will take a couple of hours longer to ride since there is much less Interstate and much more rural highway.

Speaking of rural highways...
Yesterday's ride on the Twisted Lady route through northwest Arkansas was great! The scenery was magnificent, the ride was enjoyable and the weather was beautiful! As expected, I didn't stop for any pictures. For the most part, there just isn't a safe place to pull over and take pictures along the rural highways, and even if there were, pictures really fail to capture the real feel of the spectacular views. At some point, I'm going to need to get a Go Pro or other camera to mount to my helmet or bike so that I can share some of what I see on a ride.

When you encounter several signs that say "Crooked and steep roads next __ miles," you know it's going to be a good ride! Because I'm able to do these rides mid-week instead of on the weekends, there is very little traffic and that suits me fine. The My Tracks app on my phone says it was a 206 mile ride. I stopped once for fuel, once for a soda and restroom break, and ended at my neighbor's bar for a pork tenderloin sandwich for a late lunch. I was home in plenty of time to relax and have dinner ready for Chris when she got home from work!

All cooked on the grill -- BBQd spicy Italian sausage, asparagus w/olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, sweet potato w/butter and cinnamon.

I'll let you know about the baseball and BBQ ride next week.

John <><

Ride Day

I skipped the Springfield Cardinals day game today (Monday) to do a little yard work. I need to be out for a few hours tomorrow and want to try to make the big league Cardinals' day game on Wednesday. I figured to get the work finished today and then be able to ride guilt free for the next couple of days.

Tomorrow's ride (today, if you're reading on Tuesday) will take me to the south into Arkansas. I may pause for a little coffee in Branson, or I may just fuel up at home before leaving. It's a 60 mile ride from home to Harrison AR where I'll pick up the route for the Twisted Lady.
126 miles, 517 curves plus the 120 miles to and from Harrison will make for a nice ride. I may try to stop and take a few pictures along the way ... or I may just enjoy the ride and not worry about stopping.

If the weather allows on Wednesday (I may have to dodge an afternoon thunderstorm) I hope to ride to St Louis for the final game of the I-70 series. Maybe I'll have a couple of interesting people interactions to share with you later this week.

Keep an eye out for us old guys on motorcycles.

John <><

Ride Interactions

I took a little different route than I normally do on my road trip yesterday. And I made an unscheduled stop or two along the way.

Because the day was forecast to be warm, I opted for my Kevlar sweater rather than my textile motorcycle jacket. I figured it may be a little cool starting out, but it was cooler that I expected. Since I was going to stop to change into my jacket, I decided to have a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee as well. It was only about 45 minutes into my ride, but I wasn't in a hurry.

My next unscheduled stop was interesting.
My helmet started feeling a little tight at the temples and was starting to bother me so I stopped to adjust it. I was riding through a rural area and pulled off into a small church parking lot. A pickup truck that was going by stopped to check on me. It was an older couple that had switched from two wheels to a Can-Am Spyder when they could no longer manage balancing the weight of their motorcycle.
It's a part of the biker code to stop and lend assistance to another biker and they were doing that. They were also members of the Christian Motorcycle Association so they were quick to share their faith and offer me a New Testament. I thanked them, but told them I already had a couple in my saddlebags and was also a follower of Jesus. They prayed for my safe travels and we parted ways.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful (except for the lady that almost ran into me while merging onto I-270 N).

I changed back into the sweater when I stopped for lunch and gas at St James.
I tried to listen to the ballgame on my headphones but there was too much wind noise. No worries, the Cardinals didn't do well yesterday and I'm good with riding without the distraction.

All-in-all, a good day on the road.
Keep watching for us old guys on motorcycles!

John  <><

Sunday Night Reflections

It's Sunday evening and I'm just thinking about the day, the month past, and what I have to do in the coming days.

I've been on the road some this past month (about 2000 miles on the bike, a few hundred in the car). I was able to spend time with my folks and also got to see my kids in Chicago. Chris and I also had dinner with Hannah and Daniel on a couple of occasions here in the Ozarks. And I managed to make my way to a couple of Cardinal baseball games -- one in Chicago and one in St. Louis.
I had the evangelism conference at the beginning of the month and the revival that followed, so it has been a pretty busy month. I think I'll wrap it up by taking in a day game tomorrow as the Springfield Cardinals are in town and it's supposed to be another beautiful day in the Ozarks!

In thinking about this morning's church service and my continuing assessment of my role in the Kingdom, I was thinking -- If I didn't tell people that I am a follower of Jesus, would they know (or even suspect) that I am?
I don't have any problems talking about my beliefs. I even talked about it with the people sitting next to me in the bleachers at the game last Thursday. It turned out they were the staff from a church in St. Charles MO on a day out.

But what if I couldn't use words?
What if people judged my relationship with Jesus based on what I do?
Because I'm pretty sure that they do!

sigh
I'm afraid I still have a long way to go.
I think I'll step up the challenge (at least for me) from telling people -- "God loves you," to showing them that God loves them!

John <><

Question:
I know that tomorrow is April 30th, but if I get my bike inspected in the morning and get my plates renewed before going to the ballgame, can I say that I didn't really wait until the last minute to take care of it?
Just curious.

Not Your Typical Biker -- Or am I?

I still don't think of myself as a biker.

Part of the reason is that I still think of myself as a new rider. I've only had my motorcycle endorsement for 25 months. I'm nearly 58 and just started riding. I almost always ride alone. My bike is pretty simple -- no fairing or windscreen, no throttle lock or cruise control, no aftermarket seat, no radio or bluetooth sound system.
When I first got my bike, I rode often -- just to ride. Now I seldom ride just to ride, but I do use my bike as my primary means of transportation. If I'm going somewhere, I'm probably going on the bike.

I don't know anything about the biker life. I've been to one "Bike night" at a bar (not really my thing, but the free burgers and brats were a draw!) and to zero bike rallies. I've never participated in a Poker Run nor any other biker events. I don't belong to any biker clubs or groups, but I am on a few social media biker forums. I've only ridden with another rider a couple of times.

On the forums, I've noticed a few things.
It seems that most people (not all) use their bikes primarily for recreation.
Since recreation is the main use, they usually ride with others.
When you spend a lot of time with other people and other bikes, competition for looks and accessories is a natural thing -- even if it's only on a social media platform.
You can spend a LOT of money on your bike!

I have learned some good stuff from the bikers on the forums and I will continue to use them for the knowledge and info they provide. But I think I'll also continue as a lone wolf kind of rider. I enjoy the solitude and freedom that comes with going it alone and not having to consider another's plans or preferences.

In some ways, my ignorance of riding has been a blessing.
I didn't know that riding is purely recreational for most people -- so I rode for transportation as well as for fun.
I didn't know that a stock seat was supposed to hurt your back and butt after a couple of hours -- so I rode all day with the factory seat.
I didn't know that you can't take a long trip or ride in cold or rainy weather without a windshield -- so I took it off and rode on long trips and in all kinds of weather.
I didn't know that motorcycles have a "riding season" -- so I rode year 'round and just dressed for the weather.

I've ridden 500 miles round trip to have lunch with a friend and 600 miles round trip to watch a AAA baseball game. This summer I'l be making an 1100 mile round trip for a UFC fight in Chicago and I think I'll ride to St Louis on Thursday (500 miles rt) to watch a Cardinal's day game against the Mets.

When it comes to stereotypes, I'm not much of a biker.
I just ride.

John <><

Homeward Bound

It's a few degrees above freezing in Chicago this morning and I'll be starting for home in just a little bit. I expect I'll be shedding layers somewhere along the journey home as the day warms and I get further south. It was a quick visit, but the kids have busy lives to live and daily jobs and all of the stuff that goes with being young married kids living in a big city. I was just happy to be close enough to make an unscheduled visit and see a baseball game with Aaron.

I got to enjoy a Doug's Dog (I think it's Hot Doug's) at the ballpark. I'm glad they have them there since I understand they have closed the store front operation they used to have. Although we talked about going someplace else for dinner, we ended up at the default selection -- Lagunita's Taproom, which is just fine with me. It's hard to pass up a chance for a Hogunitas sandwich -- layers of bacon, ham and pulled pork! Yum! If I lived as close to Lag's as the kids do, I'd weigh a ton!

This morning I plan to ride out of the Chicago metropolitan area before stopping for some breakfast and coffee, then it will be back on the road for another 170 miles or so before stopping for gas and lunch. I should be home in time to have dinner with Chris.

All-in-all, not a bad little trip.

*****

I am about an hour into my morning ride and stopped at Dwight for gas and a cup of coffee. Traffic out of the city was moving nicely this morning. I had planned a little more scenic route for the trip home from my parents' place, but with the added miles and time from Chicago, I think I'll just stick to the Interstates and get home today. I'm sure there will be another trip for a scenic route.
It's sunny and the temperature is already at 41f (5c) so it should be a pretty pleasant day on the highway. I haven't seen any other bikes on the road (yesterday, nor today), but expect to see a few before I make it to Ozark later this afternoon.

Time to get back on the road.
Be careful out there
...and watch for us old guys on motorcycles!

John <><

Baseball in Chicago Spring (?)

So this happened:
I noticed a missed call from my son and called him back. He and Jenny had tickets to Wednesday's Cards/Cub game at Wrigley which is postponed to Thursday. Jenny can't go on Thursday and I'm only a few (about 3) hours away. Can I go?

Of course this will mean riding in 37-40 degree temps for a few hours tomorrow morning and bundling up like we were going to Soldier Field to watch the Bears play football in December, but what's a dad to do?

Another day on the road, a few hundred more miles on the bike -- all for Cardinal/Cub baseball with my boy!

Keep an eye out for crazy old retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><

On the road again...

Just a quick post as I get ready to head out for a quick little trip to Central Illinois. Today will be a relatively cool ride. Although the temperature in the Ozarks is forecast to reach 70f (21c) by mid afternoon, it'll be more like 50 (10c) where I'll be on the ride. Looking at the forecast for the route, I may see some 60s (15c) around St Louis, but will plan for a cool day and dress accordingly. I plan on taking my time this morning and starting a little later to take advantage of slightly warmer hours.

I'll be heading back home on Thursday and am thinking about an alternate route that will take me off of the interstate highway for most of the trip. It will add a few miles and about an hour of time, but the variety might be nice.

Hours of highway time is nice for clearing the head of all the junk that seems to accumulate there. If it's not too windy, I can listen to my headset radio or some tunes from my phone via bluetooth. Most of the time, I just listen to the wind and enjoy the quiet.

I spent the past week+ at an evangelism conference and a revival in the Waynesville/St Robert area. I need to share some thoughts on that but it will have to wait until I get back. We recently changed our cell carrier and I no longer have tethering or hotspot capability without paying extra. Creating a wifi hotspot was generally how I connected my laptop when traveling.
Fwiw, we switched from AT&T to Cricket Mobile. Cricket is owned by AT&T and uses their towers. Our coverage is the same and our cost is about 2/3 of what it was. I could add the hotspot feature and still be way under what we were paying, but I don't really use it that often. I kept my old phone and Chris upgraded to a new one.

I know it's still pretty cool and there aren't a lot of motorcycles on the road just yet, but do keep an eye out for old guys on bikes. Some of us aren't smart enough to wait for warmer weather!

John <><

Baseball Haiku

Baseball season's near.
It's always riding season.
Baseball and biking!

John <><

Biking and Baseball

This morning I've been checking baseball schedules for weekday, daytime baseball games.
During April and May, the Springfield Cardinals (the big league team's AA club) have several games that begin at 11:10am. They are often attended by busloads of school kids. I have been to several of these games in previous years and the park does a pretty good job hosting enough games to accommodate the many school districts of Southwest MO.

On weeks when the Baby Birds (Sgf Cards) are away, I can ride to Tulsa OK (420 mile round trip) or Springdale AR (230 mile round trip) and watch them play at their opponents' parks. It will make for a nice ride to and from the ballpark.
The St. Louis Cardinals also have several "businessmen's specials" (weekday daytime games) in the spring part of the regular season. I've marked the dates on my calendar and am looking forward to taking in a few games. (460 miles rt)
I've also noticed that the Royals (375 miles rt) have a couple of early season day games, and I still need to check out the Cardinals' AAA team in Memphis (600 miles rt).

Is there a better way to spend a day than a few hundred miles of riding my motorcycle and few hours at the ballpark?
It all begins in about a month!

John <><

Thoughts from the Highway

It is March 1st and another beautiful day in the Ozarks.
I am spending much of the day out on the motorcycle.

I didn't have any particular destination or route in mind when I started out today. I just filled up the tank and headed west on State Hwy 14. Near the small community of Boaz, I saw a sign for a rural baptist church that I just heard about yesterday and decided to turn off and ride by it. I ended up on rural county highways and rode past several small churches, numerous horse or cattle farms, many hay fields, rivers, forested hills, and over Table Rock Lake several times. I live in a beautiful area of the country!

I checked the odometer before starting out today, 49,500 miles. That's exactly 15,000 miles since March 1st of 2017. It's also 700 fewer miles than I rode in my first year of riding. I think that I rode on fewer days last year. My first year of riding, I rode nearly every day -- sometimes only a few miles, sometimes more. This past year, there were a lot of days that I didn't ride.
I imagine that this coming year will be the same, but I do hope to make several long trips.

Currently, I am stopped for lunch at a Pizza Hut in Shell Knob. I've been riding rural roads for about two hours and am ready for lunch and a little break. I suppose I'll end up at around 200 miles for the day and the first day of year three of owning this bike.

Last week I spoke with a couple of local bikers when I stopped for coffee in Branson. It's an interesting fellowship that bikers feel towards one another. People would rarely stop to talk to a stranger because they are driving a car, even if it's the same make they drive. Bikers will talk to each other no matter what kind of motorcycle they ride. These particular bikers rode HD Road Kings and had Christian patches on their jackets.
We talked for 10-15 minutes before they got back on their bikes and on the road while I enjoyed my coffee in the sun.

No conversations today -- just some quiet to go along with my pizza and diet soda.
Be safe out there and keep an eye out for retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><

Wisdom for the New Year

I recently re-posted a picture on Facebook (from a year ago) of a motorcycle t-shirt. The re-post was affirmation to my daughter in-law that she made a great choice for my Christmas present.

She had taken the t-shirt and had the saying put on a coffee mug.

If you can't read it, it says:

GOD
Grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things I cannot change
COURAGE
to change the things I can, and the
WISDOM
to know when to just go
RIDING

I suppose I could also use some wisdom as to when I shouldn't go riding.
It's currently 10 degrees (-12.2c).
I went out yesterday at 20 (-6.7c)

John

Looking ahead -- 2018

I know that 2018 is still a few days away, but I figured I get started with the look ahead.
I'm not real big into New year's resolutions, but I do think that reflection and planning are both activities that need to be done from time to time. Is there a better time than when we turn the calendar?

* I'm going to make a great effort in 2018 to be more civil. I don't think that I am generally uncivil, but I do realize that I often make broad sweeping general statements that often include people  that shouldn't be included in varying categories. Although that seems to be the way of things, it is not necessary that I (or we) conform to those behaviors.
I also want to be more positive and less critical (unless the criticism is constructive). It has been said that I am hateful, mean spirited, and have made inappropriate public criticisms. Even though I might dispute those things, the fact that they have been said should be reason enough for some reflection. Spending less time on Facebook and unlinking it from my Twitter account has helped.  However, there is still more that can be done in the life of a kinder and more gentle John.
Maybe I'll end up just saying less.

When I started this blog more than 11 years ago, it was just a place to write, vent, organize thoughts, etc. I never imagined that people from around the world would read it, much less come back for more. This is my 1,567th post. Although I don't have many local readers that I am aware of, I have had readers from across the US and from more than a dozen different countries in the past week alone. Several of you have expressed that you have found encouragement, comfort, or even wisdom in some of my posts.

I write that to say this -- This is my place.
Sure, I share it and that does create some responsibility on my part, but I am still entitled to my thoughts and opinions. I may no longer share my posts via Facebook (where every follower has a license to be hateful). It's not that important to me that others actually read what I write. If you are a FB follower and want to continue reading my posts, I'd say you probably need to subscribe or follow me on Twitter. I suppose I could continue FB links if that's what's wanted. Let me know what you think.

Back to looking ahead.
* I've ended 2017 by getting back on a more healthy lifestyle and want to continue that through 2018. I'll post more of my health goals in a separate post -- maybe on my other (forgotten) blog.

* We will be looking for a new church in 2018 (we've already started). I don't know what that will mean for other aspects of ministry, but I suppose I will find out soon enough. I have a multitude of thoughts on this that will have to wait for another post -- or not.
That responsibility thing, you know. Apparently some people are more sensitive about my thoughts than they have a right to be.

I also plan to write more often about my beliefs and how they affect my thoughts, attitude and life.

* I plan on riding.
Since I bought my motorcycle on Feb 28th, 2016, I've kept track of annual mileage from that date. Last year (2016) I rode 15,700 miles. This year I'll end up with about the same, around 16,000 miles by the time March 1 rolls around. I may make a couple of simple modifications to the bike this year-- we'll see.
I plan on riding to a few baseball games and maybe a few long distance lunch runs. I don't know if 2018 will include another long ride, but I'm certainly open to it.

Hmmm...
* being more civil
* finding a new church
* being more healthy
* riding my motorcycle
That's three things that will be a lot of work and one that will be a lot of fun.

I'll add one more that will be a little of both. I'd like to find a place to volunteer or maybe even work that will have some positive impact. I really don't know what that will look like but I have a couple of ideas.

But there are still a couple of days in 2017 to take care of.
Aaron and Jenny arrive from Chicago tonight. Everyone will be here tomorrow night for visiting and to watch the UFC fights and then again on Sunday for our Christmas exchange and for New Year's Eve.

I look forward to seeing you (virtually, that is) in 2018!

John <><

Looking back -- 2017

I guess it's a normal thing to look back at the past and see what we've endured or accomplished in the preceding year. 2017 certainly had its share of challenges. I thought about waiting until Dec 31st to post this, but figured that I'm thankful that the year is nearly over and a Thursdays are for thanksgiving post would be appropriate.

The year began only ten days after Chris' surgery for breast cancer. After surgery was chemotherapy and all of its joys. Reconstruction completion was put off until late this fall, so we end the year with her recovering from that surgery and she'll be back to work again on Jan 2. Life is at its new normal and we are adapting.

In other health related stuff -- after nearly 3 years of not having a primary physician (mine retired at the same time I did), I (and by I, I mean Chris) finally got around to getting a new one. Of course she immediately ordered all of the tests that I had been putting off for no good reason. The good news is that every thing came back with favorable results.
I'm back to needing to lose some weight and getting into better health. It is an ongoing struggle. For whatever reason, my life habits tend toward less healthful choices and I really need to change my way of thinking about about food and physical activity.

In between Chris' surgery and chemo, we managed a much needed vacation to the Dominican Republic. It was a good time to relax. We didn't really do anything away from the resort except for one day of shopping for cigars.

I spent another year putting miles on the motorcycle and am looking forward to more of that in 2018. The long trip was a highlight of my year. I may have to plan another one for next year.
I rode my bike to a few camps and usually rode when preaching. I'm guessing that there may be less of that in the coming year. I'll just have to see where life takes me.

All-in-all, 2017 wasn't a bad year.
Yeah, I've made some mistakes along the way, but they seem to be fewer than in the past. Maybe I'm finally starting to grow up.
As I look back, the one thing that is missing from 2017 is I don't think that I really did anything that matters. I didn't really help or encourage anyone. I didn't accomplish any personal goals in health or education. I didn't write a book or anything really meaningful on my blog. I can't even say that I've improved any old relationships or made many news ones. If anything, my world of people seems to have become smaller. I don't know if that's a bad thing, but it is something to consider as I look forward to 2018.

I do have some friends -- not many, but they are good ones. There are a few that I only know through social media and I hope to get to meet at some point. I managed to meet a few of you on my late summer ride. Maybe I'll meet a few more next year.

I hope you had a good 2017.
But whether you did or did not, we can put it behind us. It would be a shame if we wasted it to the point of not learning anything, so I hope you at least managed that.
In just a few days, we will throw out the old calendar and begin with a new one!
The adventure continues...

John <><