The Haasienda on Shroyer…

On this date in history…

(1965) American-English author T.S. Eliot, a leader of the Modernist movement in poetry in such works as The Waste Land (1922), died in London. (1965) In his State of the Union message, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed his vision of a “Great Society” and called for an enormous program of social welfare legislation. (1960) French novelist and playwright Albert Camus, who received the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature, was killed in an automobile accident. (1948) The Southeast Asian nation of Burma (Myanmar) formally gained independence, completing the transfer of power negotiated by Burmese leader Aung San and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee in 1947. (1809) French educator Louis Braille, who developed a system of printing and writing that is extensively used by the blind and that was named for him, was born near Paris.

On this date in history…

(2004) NASA‘s Mars Exploration Rover Spirit landed on Mars to study the chemical and physical composition of the planet’s surface. (2001) Hillary Clinton was sworn in as a U.S. senator from New York, having become the first first lady in U.S. history to win elective office. (1990) After undergoing 10 days of psychological warfare—which included U.S. forces blasting rock music at the Vatican embassy, where he had sought refuge—Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega surrendered to the United States. (1977) Apple was incorporated by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and it later became one of the most valuable companies in the world, known for innovative computer and electronic products. (1962) Pope John XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro, who had transformed Cuba into a communist state; at the time, the Roman Catholic Church opposed communism. Alaska became the 49th U.S. state. (1938) U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis (later called the March of Dimes) to find a cure for polio, a disease he had been stricken with in 1921. (1892) English author and scholar J.R.R. Tolkien, who was perhaps best known for his richly inventive epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings (1954–55), was born in South Africa. (1793) American reformer Lucretia Mott—who, with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founded the women’s rights movement in the United States—was born. (1777) The Battle of Princeton (New Jersey) was fought during the American Revolution; the clash, along with the Battle of Trenton, marked the first victory for the Revolutionary War general George Washington in the open field.  (1521) Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, excommunicating Martin Luther, the German priest whose questioning of certain Roman Catholic practices initiated the Protestant Reformation.

I wish the happiest of days to my family and friends this new year.

For me, this is simply another day. I shall set about my schedule with no celebration or enthusiasm normally experienced with dinners, parades, ballgames, or resolutions.

It’s a year of anniversaries. My bonus sister, Laura, and I will both turn sixty, three months apart. My friend, Brian Pollock will usher in the landmark age in February before Laura and me take over June and September. A good number of my friends and classmates from Elwood and Ball State University will also embark on Club 60. My maternal grandmother, Donna Clary Barmes, who passed in 1992, would have turned 100 this May 8^th. This year will also usher in the fifth anniversary of the deaths of Mother and my younger brother, Destin.

We have a dusting of snow covering the Miami Valley and the deck looked clean and pretty until the stampede of paws took over the artistry of nature. At the moment, it is 32 degrees and we’re promised a climb of six more to top off the day at 38 degrees.

My Sunday was longer than anticipated due to an unplanned hitch. However, it was a good day. I was home by 8:15 PM and after letting the dogs out, took a 3.5-hour nap, waking with fifteen minutes of the old year remaining. I wanted to be sure the dogs had their final potty break prior to fireworks. Generally, there’s a feast of boomers sounding throughout the neighborhood, even when there’s no official celebration during the summer months, but last night, the fireworks were faint and minimal.

The pooches seem to have rebounded from Bailey’s passing. Harrigan is still clingy and more snuggly, now often sharing my pillow when we sleep. I’m sure Chief misses being Bailey’s pillow – she always snuggled with him and on him.

It is time to begin my Monday. It is merely another day. No celebrating for the new year to come, and I offer no prophesy about proposed accomplishments. For me, it is simply another day, and another year.

Make it a great day!

I am glad to welcome January 2^nd as it signifies the official end of the holidays.  I appreciate the holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas, and on to the new year but I no longer actively participate in the season, and have not done so for a decade. I have a holiday dinner at the home of my bonus sister, Laura Parker, with her children, her parents (my neighbor, Mama Kay), and her cousin, but that is pretty much the extent of my holiday activities, and I am terrifically content with that.

As a musician, my holiday season was always crammed with performances and/or church duties that often shaped my family’s celebrations. Beginning in 1990 and for the following decade, it also meant a two-hour drive back to Central Indiana following midnight Christmas Eve services, arriving at the family home by 3 AM or 4 AM with official family commemorating commencing within a few hours. I recall being exhausted throughout Christmas Day and frequently removing myself from the throng of guests to nap.

The rest of the holiday season was spent catching up on rest and other responsibilities, most often preparing for the school’s spring musical. Following my Hoosier family gatherings, I often crawled to time-shares in Myrtle Beach, Orlando, or the condo on the Florida Gulf side. However, there was always much sleep and work planning involved.

I do not miss the stresses from the preparations, both musically and personally. I no longer feel that physical, mental, and emotional grind of “getting it all done.” When I had sons at home, it was nice to share the traditions and trappings of the season as these experiences were often their first introduction to family celebrations. However, the preparation stress was more extraordinary.

Now, with some physical limitations and fatigue my constant companions, the quiet of my holidays are so much more enjoyable as I observe the world around me busied with preparations and celebrations. This year, due to my house manager duties with Dayton Live, I did add a splash of holiday festiveness at the Schuster Center semi-watching, mostly listening to the sounds of THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS, The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, THE NUTCRACKER, and Handel’s MESSIAH. On December 14^th, with Mama Kay and friends, I attended the annual performance of “A Back Lunch” featuring The Carillon Brass and that night, a Christmas party. This season was busier due to the new duties, but not as physically taxing as the previous year.

I am certain that my existing attitude to individual involvement in the holiday season is horribly Grinchy or Scroogey to some folks. The older I become, I find myself wondering how all this preparatory stress and exhaustion honors the original intent of the season. Still, again, I am satisfied and what is more, I simply no longer bother with what others think of life within the confines of The Haasienda. It’s personally freeing, and peaceful. I am content.

And with this official non-holiday start to the new year, I intend to make it a great day.

On this date in history…

(2004) NASA‘s spacecraft Stardust collected dust grains from the comet Wild 2, and the cometary material was later revealed to contain the amino acid glycine, an essential building block of life. (1967) American Republican politician Ronald Reagan, who previously worked as an actor, was sworn in as governor of California. (1935) The widely publicized trial of Bruno Hauptmann began in New Jersey as he faced charges of kidnapping and murdering the infant son of famed American aviator Charles A. Lindbergh; he was found guilty and executed. (1920) The most spectacular of the Palmer Raids took place when 3,000–10,000 were arrested in more than 30 U.S. cities, accused of being foreign anarchists, communists, or radical leftists; the raids, led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, were viewed as the climax of that era’s so-called Red Scare. Dziga Vertov, a Soviet motion-picture director whose kino-glaz (“film-eye”) theory had international impact on the development of documentaries and cinema realism during the 1920s, was born. (1863) The Battle of Stones River came to an end during the American Civil War; although indecisive, the clash was a psychological victory for the Union forces, which were led by General William S. Rosecrans. (1861) Frederick William IV, king of Prussia from 1840, died at Sanssouci Palace on this day in 1861. (1492) On this day in 1492, Granada, home of the Alhambra palace and the seat and final stronghold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain, was surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, ending the Reconquest.

Sunday, December 31^st, 2023… it’s the last day we can claim for this year. Some might say, due to Bailey’s passing on December 27^th, that it was a bad year. Not necessarily. It was just a year, like any other year, that promoted good, bad, indifferent days and events. This has been much like any other year, and I am glad I can say I lived this year.

I offer no accounting of this waning year. Making an account of the accomplishments or a lack thereof seems to matter little to me as the years pass on. There is much for which I can brag but I find it pointless. I respect the journey: the highs, the lows, the gleaming, the flaws, the joy, the heartaches, the gains, the losses, the carefree days, the stressful days. I lived another year, this year, and that is enough. And as always, there were the friendships of many, close and just familiar, that kept me buoyant in all areas.

I go into the new year with no resolutions except to be kind to all. The year is but a marker or collection of days and not one to be compared to previous or coming years.

And with that, I urge you to make it a great day!

The trailer for THE COLOR PURPLE is a piss poor representation of the actual movie. I went in to this movie with terribly low expectations and left the movie with hopes of seeing it again.

It’s a beautiful script, a great musical score, phenomenal cinematography, extraordinary performances by a solid cast, and splendid, thrilling choreography. I’m betting a lot of show choirs will be incorporating several of the songs and possibly, dance moves.

The movie is extraordinarily beautiful and moving. Ignore the shoddy movie trailer!

It’s Saturday afternoon and we’ve only two days remaining of 2023. 2024 will usher in my 60^th birthday. It will also be a year without Bailey.

I have a pot of cabbage and vegetable soup on the stove. It will be gone by tomorrow evening as it is one of my favorites.

The weather for the past several days has been dreary with grey clouds, some occasional winds, and moisture – a little rain and a little snow. Thursday, our morning was greeted by a very thick fog.

The Haasienda is beginning to see through the interior gloom and grief of Bailey’s passing at 2:52 PM, Wednesday afternoon. I had just returned home at 2:35 PM, fearing she had already passed; however, she stood at the gate with the others. While the pooches were eating their lunch, which Bailey ignored, I carried her outside to potty. She looked around the yard for a minute and then collapsed. I carried her inside to the bedroom believing she had passed. Bailey rallied in my arms for a few more minutes and then slipped away with the other sitting close by.

Chief sniffed Bailey’s body and retreated to the hall where he paced in circles, a strange cry coming from his throat. Harrigan, who was Bailey’s biological sister and littermate, sat next to me groaning and growling. Erma went to the far end of the bedroom and lay down. After a few more minutes of holding my Miss Wigglesbottom, it was time to wrap her up in her blanket. My friend, Kim Lade, and her daughter, Kaylee, drove me to The Pines for Bailey’s cremation.

The past several days, Harrigan, who has always slept at the foot of the bed, has been burrowing her head into my chest. She has been extra clingy. After all, she knew Bailey the longest by two months.

Naturally, all the photos of The Sisters’ arrival on Christmas night 2013, are resurfacing in Facebook memories. My favorite photos are the ones that show her “black heart” that appeared when she curled up.

Despite the presence of dogs, Bailey’s departure has left a huge sense of emptiness. It’s to be expected. She is missed and will continue to be missed for a long time to come.

On Tuesday, I resume house managing at Dayton Live and look forward to that diversion. In the meantime, it is spending time with the pooches and preparing to welcome the new year.

Make it a great day!

On this date in history…

(2014) German-born actress Luise Rainer, the first person to receive two Academy Awards for acting, died at age 104. (2006) Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was executed after being convicted of crimes against humanity. (1986) The British government announced that electronic sensors would begin to replace canaries as early-warning detectors of carbon monoxide in coal mines. (1984) American basketball player LeBron James, who was one of the NBA‘s superstars, was born. (1975) American golfer Tiger Woods—the first player to win consecutively the game’s four major tournaments (the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship)—was born.  (1922) The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, formed this day in 1922 with its capital in Moscow, eventually incorporated 15 republics and constituted (in area) the largest country in the world until its dissolution in 1991. (1918) The Spartacus League was transformed into the Communist Party of Germany at a party congress. (1916) Grigori Rasputin was murdered by Russian conservatives—who reportedly poisoned, shot, and then drowned the Siberian mystic—in an effort to halt his influence over Empress  Alexandra and the royal family. (1896) Philippine nationalist José Rizal was publicly executed, enraging and uniting Filipinos.  (1853) The United States acquired nearly 30,000 square miles (78,000 square km) of additional northern Mexican territory with the signing of the Gadsden Purchase.

On this date in history…

(2020) French designer Pierre Cardin, a pioneer in the design of high fashion for men, died at age 98. (1998) Leaders of the Khmer Rouge, the radical communist movement that controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, publicly apologized for the estimated 1.5 million people who were killed during their rule. (1937) With the enactment of a new constitution, the Irish Free State became known as Ireland. (1936) American actress Mary Tyler Moore, best known for her roles on two iconic TV sitcoms—The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–66) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77)—was born in Brooklyn, New York. (1890) U.S. troops under Colonel James W. Forsyth massacred more than 200 Sioux Indians in the area of Wounded Knee Creek, southwestern South Dakota. (1845) The annexation of the Republic of Texas by the United States, approved by the U.S. Congress this day in 1845, sparked the Mexican War because land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River was disputed territory. (1809) British statesman William Ewart Gladstone, who served as prime minister of Great Britain four times (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, 1892–94), was born. (1808) Andrew Johnson, 17th U.S. president and the first ever to be impeached, was born. (1170) Knights of King Henry II of England killed the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, in the cathedral.

On this date in history…

(2016) American actress and singer Debbie Reynolds died, a day after the sudden and unexpected death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, who was a noted actress and writer. (1973) U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act, which obligates federal and state governments to protect all species threatened with extinction that fall within the borders of the United States and its outlying territories. (1954) American actor Denzel Washington—noted for his engaging and powerful performances in such films as Glory (1989), Malcolm X (1992), and Training Day (2001)—was born. (1923) Gustave Eiffel, designer of the famous Eiffel Tower, died at age 91. (1895) The first public demonstration of the Cinématographe, an early motion-picture apparatus designed by the Lumière brothers, took place at the Grand Café in Paris.  (1832) Following his election to the Senate, John C. Calhoun became the first U.S. vice president to resign; at that time the Constitution did not have procedures for filling such a vacancy, and the post remained empty until Martin Van Buren was sworn in the following year. (1734) The outlaw Rob Roy, known as the Scottish Robin Hood, died. (1694) Mary II, who became queen of England in 1689, died of smallpox in London at age 32. (1065) The original Westminster Abbey, located in London, was consecrated and opened this day in 1065 by Edward the Confessor and became the site of coronations and other ceremonies of national significance in England.

Wednesday? Or, is it Tuesday?

The calendar says it is Wednesday, December 27, 2023, however, my body and mind believe it to be Tuesday.

Yesterday, I made a good deal of headway on one project and feel positive about the results. I intend to have as much success, today.

Last night, Bailey continued to join all of us in my study as I worked. When the other dogs would head outside to potty, I’d spend time with Bailey, reassuring her, telling her how loved she is, and letting her know it’s Okay to let go.

This morning when I woke, she was snuggled next to her favorite, Chief. She opted to go outside rather than eat. After the others came inside, I found her standing beside the deck, looking out into the still-dark backyard. She moved around to the steps with ease but lost her strength halfway up the steps, and slid back down. I carried her up to the top of the deck and she is now lying at my feet (photo) as I attend to some items at my desk. The others are subdued and respectful. Even the ever-playful Colonel Deeds is not in “let’s all play!” mode.

I believe Bailey has but hours, perhaps a day to remain with us. She appears comfortable and without pain and wants to be with us in the study.

The day must continue, and I have a number of things to do before officially beginning my day.

Make it a great day! (Whatever day it is to you!)

On this date in history…

(2015) American painter, sculptor, and printmaker Ellsworth Kelly—who was a leading exponent of the hard-edge style, in which abstract contours are sharply and precisely defined—died in Spencertown, New York. (1932) The internal passport system, previously denounced by Vladimir Lenin as one of the worst stigmas of tsarist backwardness and despotism, was reinstated in the Soviet Union by Joseph Stalin. (1901) German American film actress Marlene Dietrich—whose beauty, voice, aura of sophistication, and languid sensuality made her one of the world’s most glamorous movie stars—was born. (1831) Charles Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle, beginning the voyage on which he would formulate his theory of evolution. (1571) German astronomer Johannes Kepler, who discovered three major laws of planetary motion, was born.

It was such a lovely day.

The clock showed 7 AM. Surely, not. One hour past my routine of waking up. The dogs allowed me to sleep in additional hour! Merry Christmas, Dad!

I fed the dogs, ate my omelette, and returned to bed for two more hours. By 10:30 AM I was in the kitchen to make my Jell-O (box) cheesecake, and drizzled lemon icing over prebaked sourdough and sugar cookies. And that was the extent of my holiday baking – nothing was actually baked but it sure looked dazzling when I entered Laura‘s house for for our Christmas Eve dinner.

2 PM was Christmas Eve dinner with Mama Kay’s crew, my much loved bonus family. The food was delicious, and the company and conversations were delightful.

It’s nearing 8:30 PM and I am filling the pull of the body setting in. Rain is expected in the next few days and the burning sensations in my body, especially my hands, are spreading. I will take some ibuprofen before bed and a comfortable sleep.

As I write, I am listening to documentaries on Leonard Bernstein. I saw MAESTRO last night and was enchanted with Bernstein’s non-career story. The movie, which I am still striving to complete a blog post, was remarkable. I am still struggling to wrap my mind around the extraordinary life of the man.

I anticipate a quiet day tomorrow, and I am pleased with that. In the morning, and now what has been a tradition, I shall open and read through all my Christmas cards and letters received this year.

Merry Christmas!

In England, it is Boxing Day. As Wikipedia describes, ” Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to people in need, today Boxing Day forms part of Christmas celebrations, with many choosing to take advantage of Boxing Day sales.”

My Christmas was spent just how I wanted to take on the day. It was quiet and productive. The day was unseasonably warm but by midafternoon the rain had moved in.

Bailey has been up and moving, mostly drinking water and going out to potty with the others. Her appetite has diminished, and her long naps are more frequent. Bailey continues to join the others in the study as I work and doesn’t seem to be in discomfort despite the great loss of weight.

Ten years ago on this day, I woke with the two Sisters asleep in bed with Chief and myself. They had turned two months old on Christmas day. They’ve each been wonderful companions this past decade.

I continue listening to Ron Chernow’s HAMILTON and the Federal government is off and running with Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton’s bank bill being battled. Having just listened to several audiobooks on John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Chernow’s GEORGE WASHINGTON I still hold my breath. I am numbed by what transpired in those years of revolution. I am both impressed and grateful.

I shall work on research and writing and loving on the wonderful pooches. It is Taco Tuesday and I shall join Mama Kay and our friend, Mary, for this fun repast.

Happy Boxing Day, and make it a great day!

On this date in history…

Boxing Day is celebrated as a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about English culture and custom.]

(2006) American politician Gerald R. Ford—who was the 38th president of the United States (1974–77) and the country’s only chief executive who was not elected as either president or vice president—died in California. (2004) A large earthquake shook the Indian Ocean floor west of the island of Sumatra, triggering a devastating tsunami that swamped coastal areas from Thailand to Africa and killed more than 200,000 people.  (1985) The slain body of American zoologist Dian Fossey—the world’s leading authority on the mountain gorilla—was found in Rwanda; it was widely suspected that she was killed by poachers. (1973) The horror classic The Exorcist, an adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s book about a young girl possessed by the Devil, was released in the United States. The recipient of 10 Oscar nominations, including for director William Friedkin, it became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. (1963) The Beatles’ single I Want to Hold Your Hand, with I Saw Her Standing There on the B-side, was first released in the United States; hugely successful, it helped launch Beatlemania. (1943) The German battle cruiser Scharnhorst was sunk by the British battleship Duke of York during World War II. (1805) Napoleon enforced harsh penalties on Austria with the signing of the Treaty of Pressburg. (1791) English mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, who is credited with having conceived the first automatic digital computer, was born.

Not too many years ago, my friend, Jeff Carter, introduced me to this beautiful, powerful piece that has since become a favorite of mine that I play each Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas….

This Christmastide (Jessye’s Carol)

Green and silver, red and gold, and a story born of old
Truth and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

Holly, ivy, mistletoe, and the gently falling snow
Truth and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

From a simple ox’s stall came the greatest gift of all
Truth and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

Children sing of peace and joy at the birth of one small boy
Truth and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

Let the bells ring loud and clear, ring out now for all to hear
Truth (truth and) and love (love and) and hope (hope) abide (bide) this Christmastide, this Christmastide

Trumpets sound and voices raises in an endless stream of praise
Truth and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

Green and silver, red and gold, and a story born of old
Peace and love and hope abide this Christmastide, this Christmastide

D. Fraser

Make it a great day!

On this date in history…

Though the precise origin of the date is unclear, Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated on this day, having been first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221.

(2006) American singer and songwriter James Brown, known as “the Godfather of Soul,” died at the age of 73. (1991) Mikhail Gorbachev resigned the presidency of the Soviet Union, which ceased to exist at the end of the year. (1962) The film adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird premiered and became a classic, especially noted for Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch. (1821) Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born in Oxford, Massachusetts. (1776) During the American Revolution, General George Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised the British at Trenton, New Jersey. (1066) William I was crowned king of England, formally completing the Norman Conquest.

In October 2011, as my cat, Logan, prepared for her journey to Rainbow Bridge, I adopted what would become a personal tradition. I took off her collar when I sensed she was near her end.

I did the same with my dogs, Flyer and Navi, in 2013, five months apart.

I take off the collar for two reasons: 1) it gives the beloved dying family member permission to take leave, to take their eternal rest; 2) it allows myself to enter into the spirit of release, and farewell.

Bailey has continued participating in family life, eating and drinking, and still wiggling. This evening, I entered my bedroom and she was unresponsive, but still breathing. She eventually roused and began licking her leg but I fear the time of farewell is approaching.

Tomorrow, Monday, December 25, 2023, is Bailey and Harrigan’s tenth anniversary of their Gotcha Day. They arrived late Christmas night, a few days following Navi’s passing.

This evening, I was prompted to remove Bailey’s collar. The other pooches are subdued and I am certain they understand what is transpiring.

Godspeed, my dear Miss Wigglesbottom…

On this date in history…

(2008) English playwright Harold Pinter, who achieved international renown—and was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature—as one of the most complex and challenging post-World War II dramatists, died at age 78. (1997) Japanese actor Mifune Toshirō, known internationally for his energetic, flamboyant portrayals of samurai characters, especially in films directed by Kurosawa Akira, died near Tokyo. (1973) American writer Stephenie Meyer—author of the popular Twilight Saga, a series of vampire-themed novels for teenagers—was born. (1943) General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II. (1905) American manufacturer, aviator, and film producer Howard Hughes, who was known for his reclusiveness and for the uses to which he put his vast wealth, was born. (1814) The United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium, ending the War of 1812, marking a decline of American dependence on Europe, and stimulating a sense of U.S. nationalism.

On this date in history…

(2013) Russian weapons designer Mikhail Kalashnikov—who invented the AK-47 (automatic Kalashnikov Model 1947), an assault rifle that became one of the most successful and ubiquitous firearms of the modern era—died in Izhevsk, Russia. (1995) Aleksander Kwasniewski, formerly an apparatchik of Poland’s ruling communist party, was sworn in as the country’s president in 1995, having narrowly defeated Lech Wałęsa, Poland’s first post-communist president. (1968) Eighty-two crewmen of the USS Pueblo were released after being held in captivity for 11 months by North Korea, which claimed the U.S. Navy intelligence ship had crossed into its waters. (1929) American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker, noted for the plaintive, fragile tone of his playing and his singing, was born. (1913) With the signing of the Federal Reserve Act by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the Federal Reserve System came into being. (1815) British author Jane Austen published her fourth novel, Emma, which centers on a precocious young woman whose misplaced confidence in her matchmaking abilities occasions several romantic misadventures. (1805) Joseph Smith, an American prophet whose writings, along with the Bible, provide the theological foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Mormon denominations, was born. (1783) Before the Continental Congress, George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

After feeding the dogs and taking a nap, I quickly decided to hop on No. 17 at 4:43 PM. I needed a few things from Walmart and decided I might as well stop at one of my favorite places to research, write, edit, and graze.

I was in and out of Walmart within 15 minutes, nine items in tow.

My dining experience in this familiar haunt was typical. As I entered and paid for my meal, the new associate working the register kept messing up and was getting quite flustered. She apologized several times, and I kept reassuring her that I was not impatient.

I said, “I’ve been in your shoes before. It’s always when things become tense, your breathing gets heavier, your hands begin shaking, you keep majorly messing up, and you’ve got everyone around you terrified.“

She asked what I did for my career.

I said, “I’m a brain surgeon.”

To erase the horrified look on her face, I reassured her that I was a teacher and not a brain surgeon.

While I work and dine, I’m also a people watcher. Sometimes, I regret watching folks. Tonight, I had to shove my face back to the printed pages I was editing. Common courtesies and table manners seem to be missing from our current society. I know and appreciate the fact that things do change but some things should never be relegated to the furthest reaches of the attic’s storage, left for good.

It 6:56 PM and I’m on No. 17 heading south toward downtown Dayton and Kettering.

It’s been a good day.

Thursday passed with little to note.

Before 5:30 PM, I was stepping onto No. 17 for the main bus terminal downtown to grab No. 12 for the short trip to the Chinese buffet. The food seemed unsatisfactory to me and I took leave to saunter along the main thoroughfare of Fifth Street in The Oregon District where I grabbed some photos.

There is little on the docket for today and I anticipate little to no excitement. That is well with my soul!

On this date in history: (2010) U.S. President Barack Obama signed legislation to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the policy regarding the service of homosexuals in the military; it took effect the following year. (2001) British Islamist militant Richard Reid attempted—by trying to ignite explosives hidden in the soles of his high-top basketball shoes—to blow up an airplane on which he and some 200 other passengers were traveling; he was restrained by other passengers, and a U.S. court later sentenced him to life without parole. (1989) The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was reopened, signifying the reunification of East and West Germany. (1984) Bernhard Goetz, an American electrician, shot four African American males on a New York City subway train, alleging that they were mugging him; the incident triggered widespread debate about race and crime in the United States. (1965) The American movie Doctor Zhivago, David Lean’s adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel, had its world premiere; the hugely popular drama, which starred Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, became one of cinema’s highest-grossing films. (1941) U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Washington, D.C., to discuss World War II. (1894) On this day in 1894, based on specious evidence and anti-Semitism, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was sentenced to life in prison for treason, sparking a controversy that divided France for 12 years. (1856) Frank B. Kellogg, U.S. secretary of state from 1925 to 1929 who negotiated the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928—a multilateral agreement designed to prohibit war as an instrument of national policy—and won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1929, was born.

Make it a great day!

Today is the 10th anniversary of Navi’s being hit by a van on Shroyer Road and a few hours later, her being released from life. Navi was Chief’s sister and littermate. Within five months, I lost both Flyer and Navi and gained two more pooches that 2013 Christmas night, Bailey and Harrigan. And now, Bailey is preparing for her arrival at Rainbow Bridge.

It doesn’t seem like Christmas should be upon us with four days to go. Despite multiple performances of THE NUTCRACKER, one performance of THE MESSIAH, a Christmas party, and The Air Force Band of Flight concert, all the music has not kicked it into gear for me. But, that really is not unusual as seasonal traditions continue to move further away – and that’s okay. I simply do not wish to invest in the former seasonal stress of preparing for Christmas.

The night passed with limited rest. I could not ease the gut and muscle discomforts, so I sat with Bailey, assuring her that she is loved. I am intensely yearning for my Chinese buffet and may still address this desire in the late afternoon. I have had mucus in the head and a bit of the chest, and for over a week, the gut discomfort has lingered and driven out much energy. Still, partaking of my favorite Chinese dishes at this buffet is a definite pull.

On this date in history: (2017) American astronaut Bruce McCandless II, the first person to conduct an untethered free flight in space, died at age 80. (1988) Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, because of a terrorist bombing; in 2003 the government of Libya accepted responsibility for the explosion and in 2004 agreed to compensate the families of the victims. (1968) Apollo 8 was launched from Cape Kennedy (Cape Canaveral) and eventually completed 10 lunar orbits. (1958) Charles de Gaulle was elected president of the French Fifth Republic. (1945) U.S. General George Patton, known as “Old Blood-and-Guts” by his men, died following an automobile accident in Germany. (1937) The classic animated movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered, establishing Walt Disney as one of the world’s most innovative and creative moviemakers. (1913) The New York World published the first modern crossword puzzle. (1898) On this day in 1898, having recently discovered polonium, future Nobel Prize winners Marie and Pierre Curie discovered the radioactive chemical element radium, a silvery white metal that would be used to treat cancer. (1864) General William Tecumseh Sherman captured Savannah, Georgia, during his “March to the Sea” in the American Civil War.

Continue to rest in peace, Navi. You are still loved…

Make it a great day!