Saw a great movie, "Hurt Locker" at the Baxter. It's about a bomb disposal unit in Iraq and is specific to that war and general to all wars. We were in the old 'hood for the movie and went to Kashmir for lunch before. I miss the Highlands; having all those restaurants at hand was nice. We have to drive so far to get any food except for Mexican or BBQ. There is one good Italian [run by Mexicans] but little else.
Speaking of restaurants, we are planning a drive to Jasper, Indiana one Wednesday to go to a German Restaurant.
I go see my cardiologist the 30th for the results of my stress test. The longer I go without hearing from him, the better I feel about the test.

Raain and a road trip

Wonderful day yesterday. Woke up to rain; sat in the living room and watched it rain. Around noon, Paul and Susan came over and we went to "Shack in the Back" for BBQ...and it rained...hard....for an hour. We sat outside under a metal awning and enjoyed the rain. We then went to Tuscany for dessert and coffee.

After coming home, we loaded a painting of Rob's and went to Bardstown. Doug volunteers for a group at a clinic there and they are having a charity auction the 31st for under-insured or non-insured patrons and we wanted to donate a painting. We expected to just drop off the painting but we got to see Cheryl as she was under the weather. On the trip down there, we listened to "Water for Elephants" on CD. Makes the trip pass quickly. After Doug and Cheryl's, we went to Brenda's and saw the girls [and Heddy the hedge hog].

Family members are often like scholars: they are not appreciated because we are too close to them. It's a personal manifestation of the adage, "100 miles from home with a brief case"; until we kinda' draw back and look at those closest to us, we really can't appreciate them.

After listening to the #8 CD on the way home, we pulled in the garage and sat in the dark for a while, finishing chapter 19. We need somewhere to drive as we have just a little over two disks to listen to.

Nuttin' Honey

Spent the day getting rid of old dishes; bought new ones. Pretty boring life. Judi Cherwak came by today. She was a student when she was a freshman and her daughter starts college this year. It's funny how you have 200 students a year, for 44 years and one remains your friend. Our lives intertwine every couple of years and it's always good to see her. I've watched her daughter over the years and I feel like I know her as well as anybody.
She used to babysit our children.
Speaking of children: My son is keeping us in the dark about a potential new job. We are supposed to hear about it on Tuesday: can't wait. Our daughter has brought a animal shelter dog into a House "owned" by a cat for years. Waiting to see what happens when the fur settles.

A Day at the Races

The first good thing about today is that I survived the cardiac stress test. I say "survived" because there was a point, late into the treadmill potion when I considered the alternative. I've been sedate for years and this was like going from 0 to 60. I also broke up "stuff" in my lungs , I guess, because I haven't huff and puffed so hard in years.
I won't know the official results until the 30th, but as long as I don't get a call before then to meet Dr. C at the emergency room, I guess I'll be OK.
After I got home, I found several bumps under my shirt. After a little digging, I discovered all the electrical leads still attached. I guess the reason they don't remove them is to avoid all the crying from ripping of those patches.
I got the bill for the telephone pole today: LG &E wants $3400 and change.
Off the "Singing in the Rain" tomorrow: a gift from Jo in Arizona. Look forwards to it.

i was driving past Valley High School this afternoon and I started to thinking about old friends from high school. Dennis O'Nan came to mind. Once, at a party at his house, minus his parent, we were 5 guys and three girls and at some time during the evening the other three guys took off with all the women and left Tony McAdam and me all alone. Too many frustrated hormones and too many beers and we decided to move Dennis' car....sideways.....in his garage. Using a floor jack, and moving the car a little at a time, we moved it until it sat sideways in the garage. It seemed really funny at the time. [see the previous part about too many beers]. When Dennis came home, we hid in the bushes down the street. Middle of the night, we were on our bellies trying not to snicker and Dennis was walking up and down the street, describing in great detail, what he would do when he caught us. It took several weeks for Dennis to calm down and we never talked of it again until 40 years later, sitting on a beach in Hawaii. I found out then that Dennis had been regularly going out at lunch in high school and stealing my car, driving his friends to lunch, and returning leaving everything as it was. So, it was a moot point about who was getting revenge on whom. Dennis is somewhere in Alabama and I haven't seen him for years. Dennis is a true friend. We ran together in high school and then he went into the Navy and I went to school. He came back to get married and start a family and we got together again for a few years. He moved to Harrodsburg and we lost contact. 30 years later, we meet again. We travelled some; gambled some, and then drifted apart again. I say he is a true friend because, if he walked in today, we would joke about how fat, and old we had become, then we would be comfortable together as if we had been next door neighbors for 50 years. As it is, we have just been friends for 54 years. Some of the best friends are some i made in high school and it is a shame I have not been able to keep them close to me.

O happy Day! My car is back. Even though it was 87, we put the top down and took the long way every where we needed to go. The gaps on the fenders; the paint; all the mechanical goodies [with the exception of the outside temp. Gage] works fine.

I'm busy all this week with the grand finale of a stress test on Thursday and Friday. Keep your fingers crossed!

Alone vs. lonely

I was alone today. After taking my sweet time eating breakfast and taking meds, I went across the river. Zu drove to Nicholasville for her oldest sister's 77th birthday. I say I was alone, but that shifted into lonely when I turned to suggest we go get something to eat and the Lady next to me wasn't who i thought she was. I've heard it said "you missed the rock in your shoe", well, I missed the shoe. 6000 People and I still looked for her. Gotta' get out more!
Going to see my siblings later [plus various daughters and nieces]: always look forward to that each month. More important now that Zu lost a sister. One probably won't come [too many bass left to kill] and another won't make it as she is recovering from yet another operation.
All of my dissertations are wrapping up. I have one Turk; two female Taiwanese; and one male Taiwanese. When they are finished, I don't know that I will take on another.
I can see the dawn light through the patio blinds; I guess the day is about to begin. I used to say, "They[the days] are all good", now I'm beginning to believe it.
50 days and still no car. I don't want to tell you what to do, but Swope Collison may not be my first choice in the future.

Date Day

Wednesday is "Date Day".. Paul and Susan go to a senior citizen discounted movie and we have lunch after. No movies this week so we just went to lunch. Lots of good BBQ and discussions about kids, parents, families, and gambling. Paul and I talked about cars and bored the girls to death. It's nice to just have time to do whatever.
Still no car. I'm going to give them another two or three days and then I'm going to start talking about people's mothers.

handguns in Turkey

Page 2, as Harvey used to say: Today, there was a big article on gun permits. I asked the Turks about the policy on carry at home. No carry, but if you want a hand gun for home protection, you have to go to a doctor to determine if you are crazy. Crazy: no gun. Then, to keep your gun, you have to go back every 5 years for the doctor to see if you've gone crazy in the meantime. Why not use that policy here? Only with politicans!! Maybe school teachers???

Turkish police

Started the day with my doctor and results from lab tests: so far, so good. Had lunch with two Turkish Policemen who had both finished their EDD degrees this month. They are returning to Turkey after 5 years. Murat has had two children while they are here and views their US citizenship as a pass to return for an advanced education. I took them to lunch when they first arrived and refused to let them pay and they returned the favor.
Celebrated the end of the day with stage two of a root canal.
Foreign students here struggle because my university doesn't provide any support; they are on their own. I question the ethics of inviting students here, taking their tuition, and then leaving them to their own devices for three to four years.

Rainy 4th

Good day. We met old friends and new friends; neighbors with rained out parties; and learned about families started. Yes, it rained. All day. The crowd varied from 25 to 40, depending on who dropped in. Great food. As usual, too much of it.
Of course, to celebrate America and it's over abundance of everything, an excessive picnic is just the thing.
After, we came home and vegged out, killing time until bed.

Spent that time thinking about how lucky I was. The recession never really touched me directly. Oh, I lost money in the stock market, but it was money I never really had. My job was secure until I wanted to give it up. I don't have any grandchildren to pay back all the handout goodies flowing out of Washington and to the Banks, auto companies, etc., and inflation is a boogie man around the corner. However, the "Change" in America saddens me because I know that will stay with us for years, regardless of what happens, politically, in the coming years. But, Happy 4th! Appreciate what you have .

4th day of July

Putting aside the fireworks, picnics, etc., today is a profound part of being an American. I've always felt that the government should make things possible and each individual should develop that possibility to the extent it could be developed, given talent, work ethic, and luck. Talent and work ethic no longer seem to matter much to those in line for a government "bail out" of one sort or another. When someone gives you something for "free", they usually want something in return. If you are lucky, it is appreciation, or friendship; if not, it is usually your self respect. I pray that what is happening will work out in the end and America will emerge a stronger and better nation. Happy 4th!!!

Stop by to see the car today; another week for wheels to come in. Rather drive their car then take mine back "partially done" Got to see Dr. C today; passed my first test and headed for my second the 16th and 17th. Dr. C looks younger and younger every time I see him. Must have a portrait in a closet somewhere. Played poker tonight; good game
Going to Vietnam Kitchen then the Casino tomorrow. Will come back home before the crowds arrive. Seeing Don and Nancy this weekend; always fun.

I spent my last day of work sitting in a dentist's office being treated for a lost filling and then the prep for a root canal. Is this symbolic of the end or the beginning?
I'm still waiting for my car. May 21, I put it through a utility pole and it has been all this time at the body shop. The rental, however, has Sirrius radio and I am hooked on a channel with music from my youth. Strangely, it is not the 60's. If asked, and sometimes when not, I would characterize myself as a child of the 60's, but I guess I am not. I really had my formative years in the late 50's. I guess we have other distractions during high school and really form our love of music during Junior High School. So, Channel 5 for the 50''s it is. I remember a metal Crosley AM radio, sitting in my bedroom window with a copper wire for an antenna, listening to Randy's Record Shop in Gallatin, Tennessee late at night. Cohort 6 and 7/8's, I think it was called. Funny, how 55 years later I still remember the words with only a few notes to prod me. Can't remember what I had for breakfast, but I can remember those songs.
Went to see Johnny Depp in his new movie today; went with Paul and Susan then to lunch after. Great detail in the movie: sets, costumes, music; mediocore story.
I'm reading a Balducci novel about the first family. I now have time to pleasure read and it is nice. Tomorrow to the cardiologist for my annual lecture entitled, " too much weight and too little exercise". It's good to have things to depend on.