Monthly Archives: August 2022

August 17, 1940, the newly nominated Republican candidate for president, Wendell L Willkie, returned to his hometown, Elwood, Indiana, to formally accept his party’s nomination. I am proud to have been born and raised in Elwood, Indiana just like Mr. … Continue reading →

1969. It was. Year of tremendous highlights! As if landing on the moon, Nixon’s inauguration, Woodstock, the release of The Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” the premiere of “Sesame Street,” BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID is released to movie theaters, and … Continue reading →

“Drop a beat” is something I hear several of my composition students say, or “don’t miss a beat,” but there’s also “Just Beat It” from the Michael Jackson era, or Taylor Dayne’s “With Every Beat of My Heart,” or “You … Continue reading →

From June 8th, 2015. David McCullough came to Dayton to launch his new book, THE WRIGHT BROTHERS. Mr. McCullough gave a warm, heartfelt speech to the enormous population gathered in Kettering Middle School’s auditorium. He also read some excerpts from … Continue reading →

It’s 60 degrees and on the chilly side and the high is only to reach 78 degrees for today. There are some birds chirping in an argumentative fashion, the traffic on Shroyer Road is a bit heavier, and around 7:10 … Continue reading →

After Zoom time with my London boys, I fed the dogs at 7:40 AM and moved to the deck with my coffee. I was trying to adjust the table’s umbrella and, well, in short, the large exterior light hanging from … Continue reading →

It’s a light shower but the walk is enjoyable. Christ United Methodist Church and Epiphany Lutheran Church always have tremendous floral activity during the spring and summer months. This morning I made a trip through Christ Church’s parking lot to … Continue reading →

I am sure many would find sitting outside on the deck to be a bit chilly but this 57-degree temperature is fine by me. The sun is bleeding around to the backyard and I am sure the front yard is … Continue reading →

Rain looks like it could come pouring down upon us at any moment, but radar shows it thirty minutes away. The 64 degrees and a passing breeze make it comfortable, but the steel gray sky is ominous. The radar indicates … Continue reading →

In the past fifty minutes, since I came out to the deck, the temperature has raised itself four degrees! It has gone from 54 degrees to 58 degrees. I am actually wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt. The forecast only promises a … Continue reading →

It’s a cool morning, but quite comfortable. Occasionally, the breeze brings on a chill but I am loving this weather. I am surrounded by the sounds of non-disturbing Shroyer Road traffic, a few birds scattered about the premises, and the … Continue reading →

It’s a dull morning with a dull sky and a dull atmosphere. Everything just appears and feels dull. Yesterday’s rain that was hoped for and boasted by weather folks and apps never appeared. I hesitated watering flowers in front since … Continue reading →

I needed something on the way home from The Greene and decided to stop at the Kroger by the intersection of Woodman Drive and Dorothy Lane. It was not my regular grocery stop but it was close by. My eldest … Continue reading →

It was a fun, productive day. My eldest son was in and out of Washington, DC, arriving by 3:00 AM, Tuesday, from London, giving a 10:30 AM presentation, and making a quick trip to Mount Vernon, one of his happy … Continue reading →

A swift rain drove through the valley this morning and returned the mugginess of the previous morning. The sky is overcast and feels heavy with rain which my body and sinus predicted. The rain is expected just as I am … Continue reading →

David McCullough | 1933 – 2022 My favorite author, historian, biographer, and one of my YouTube favorites during an interview has died… his passing is very sad. I’ve read TRUMAN JOHN ADAMS THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS THE WRIGHT BROTHERS … Continue reading →

It is not the most comfortable setting outside on the deck. The humidity is 97% and will remain in the 90%s through most of the morning. While the temperature is 74 degrees and a nice breeze circulates around the outer … Continue reading →

This meme reminded me of two incidents that involved my dog, Flyer (2000-2013). ON THE FLOOR We would finish our dinner plates, which almost never had remaining food, and set them on the floor for Flyer to give them a … Continue reading →

It is 10:35 AM and I am just beginning to rumble into my morning. After feeding the dogs and drinking a cup of coffee, I’ve been awake but still feeling puny with gut issues. Since most of my Sunday students … Continue reading →

It’s Saturday, my alternate Sunday since I return to teaching tomorrow. A brief rain cell passed through not more than an hour ago and dampness clings to the world around The Haasienda. It must have been quite the water dump … Continue reading →

My friend, Jeffrey Carter, is spending some holiday time in Washington, DC. I wake every morning to read Jeff’s blog posts, first, before even climbing out of bed. They are a smorgasbord of information, entertainment, education, seriousness, and amusement. This … Continue reading →

It’s been a semi-relaxing but semi-productive day. The lawn is mowed and trimmed. Research and some writing completed. Now, I’m in my study with lounging pooches and listening to THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. It was a good day.

Right now, at 8:15 AM, the morning is very comfortable, embracing, and peacefulness is only disturbed by the waste retrieval vehicles that semi-robotically empty our waste containers. Now and then, one of our resident cardinals pipes up. The Sisters, Bailey … Continue reading →

I don’t remember attending Soaring Sounds in 2019 as Mother was slipping away, and the Soaring Sounds contest of 2020 was canceled due to Covid. For some reason, I don’t recall my reason for not attending last summer. I saw … Continue reading →