Dec. 28, 2014

A quote from the book, “Travels With Charley” by John Steinbeck

I finished “Travels With Charley” and at the end as Steinbeck entered the deep south, he talked about racism, and this quote –

“When people are engaged in something they are not proud of, they do not welcome witness. In fact, they come to believe the witness causes the trouble.”

After 25 years in the newspaper business, this quote also resonated with me and the Forth Estate, without a free press, serving as the watchdog of government in all forms, we are in trouble. In fact the governor of the state I live in said – “We’ve frankly got enough psychologists and sociologists and political science majors and journalists,” he said, according to the Triad Business Journal. “With all due respect to journalism, we’ve got enough. We have way too many.” – hummm???

Dec. 27, 2014

Painting the new dog house.

Dec. 26, 2014

Bonus picture from Sam, I don’t know if the dog is bonding….

Dec. 25, 2014

Sam and Kodak unwrap presents.

Dec. 24, 2014

The elves start their shift.

Dec. 23, 2014

Christmas Cookie time. State cookie cutters.

Dec. 21, 2014

A quote that I took to heart – paraphrasing – ” Americans tend to travel, not to see, but to tell after.”

Dec. 22, 2104

Fostering this dog. Maybe a keeper? – naming it “Kodak”?

Dec. 20, 2104

I have been off the bike all week with a calf injury. I thought it was well enough for a quick trip to ride in Greensboro and do some shopping. I finished putting my 1995 Trek 930 back together and wanted to test it in the yard before driving up, as I “pushed” off to start, my calf tightened/locked and said nope…. rest of the day in compression sock, ice and rest. I hate being off the bike and on break!

Dec. 19, 2014

I decided to read some this break and started with “Travels With Charley” by John Steinbeck. Already I have had to remind myself this was published in 1961, as he writes about immigration, planned obsolescence, and people. I have laughed out loud several times –

“Strange how one person can saturate a room with vitality, with excitement. Then there are others, and this dame was one of them, who can drain off energy and joy, can suck pleasure dry and get no sustenance from it. Such people spread a grayness in the air about them.”