For the first time ever the WNBA final went the full seven games. The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63, in the 7th game tonight. Golden State has only been in existence for two years.
My Lynx got eliminated in two games early in the playoffs.
Rain predicted Monday and Tuesday so will delay my departure until Wednesday.
Takk for alt,
Al
On November 12, Lexington Landing, aka. the OFH, is offering a Veterans Day Luncheon for veterans and their spouses. Likely in South Dakota that day I will miss it. Frankly I'm relieved that I have an excused absence. Yes, this proves that I am incorrigibly anti-social. Why could I possibly want to be absent?
At the luncheon vets are expected to talk about their military experience. While there was a significant amount of boredom overall it was a fascinating experience for me. Why? because it was so different from my civilian life. That doesn't make it scintillating for anyone else. There was nothing in my enlistment that would be of much interest to anyone else. I was neither shot at, nor did I shoot at anyone.
That doesn't mean others, handed a mic, wouldn't drone on about their experiences. It isn't a risk I'd gladly take. Best to just be away and not risk showing oneself as a curmudgeon.
Takk for alt,
Al
At the orthopedic surgeon, when he injected my knee, he said, "Give it a week." He also said, "If it doesn't work, I'm authorizing a knee brace. That will shift the knee's alignment so the pressure will not be on the arthritic part." I thought, "Great one way or the other, I'll have relief." So, to be prepared I registered for the brace. When is my appointment? January 12, 2027. 😒
It's been a week and there is no relief yet. Hobbling around is getting old. I'm keen to return to my walking regimen. This is my sad tale of woe but at least it's not life threatening.
Takk for alt,
Al
Tom, a widower, lived happily in an OFH. His friends were surprised when he suddenly married. Talking to Tom they were quizzing him about his bride. "Is she good looking?" they asked. "No", he said, pleasant but not pretty." "Is she a good cook?" was the next question. Tom said, "No, hamburger helper is her specialty." "Mayber she's smart," his friends speculated. Tom's response was, "Not so much, she's happy with Reader's Digest."
Finally, the friends gave up and asked him, "So why did you marry her?" His quick response was "She can drive." 😁
Takk for alt,
Al
It's a rainy day on what seems to be a rainy week. A Marine Corps memory returns, or actually a snippet of one. The time we spent in Japan was called "cold weather training." That's a bit of misnomer, at least compared to Minnesota or South Dakota cold. Certainly, was colder that Camp Pendleton in southern California or Okinawa. It might have been called 'cool weather training'.
While there we made a long march in pouring rain. That's a totally miserable experience and our destination didn't make it any better. Were we headed for a warm dry barracks? or even the squad tents with heat that was our regular accommodation.? Nope, not that comfortable, it was pup tents for which we were headed.
Each Marine carried half a pup tent. It was rolled up and bent horseshoe shape around the backpack. Another Marine had the other half and put together they made a tent. The tent was just large enough to accommodate two persons lying down. At least there was protection from the rain. With an inflatable air mattress and a sleeping bag the tent served as a bedroom. The Marines weren't great on creature comforts. Perhaps experiences such as this accounts for me now being a 'rain wimp'.
Takk for alt,
Al
When MJV sent me this book she seemed to suggest not to expect too much. On the contrary I found it often profound. The author, among other things is a 'foodie' which is far from my reality. Many persons interested in the culinary arts will find much of that ilk in it.
It could be categorized as either an autobiography or memoir. The author, approaching middle age and a very successful journalist, enrolls in Princeton Seminary much to his surprise. Princeton has a small farm that's incorporated into its curriculum which accounts for the book's title. GOOD SOIL: THE EDUCATION OF AN ACCIDENTAL FARMHAND, by Jeff Chu, also leans much on his Chinese background. He was raised in China and California, and cooking is huge part of his family's life.
Little is revealed of the content of his seminary classes. It's the lessons from farming/gardening that fill the book with wisdom and reflections. Perhaps it's fair to say he's highly neurotic but it's out of those neuroses that he articulates deep insights about life and relationships. For example, as he grieves the death of a friend he writes; "To grieve is to feel the fullness of our humanity--the depth of our love, the reality of our fragility, the precarity of our existence." P. 274 The book is full of gems like this.
Thanks, MJV, I'm glad I read it.
Takk for alt,
Al
Today, Sella, my granddaughter, was confirmed at Grace University Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. It being Reformation Sunday, there likely were many confirmation services today, following a long tradition. It was a sweet blessing to be present.
Takk for alt,
Al
